Danah Rios, M.D., M.B.A


Dr. Danah Rios received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. She received her medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine and completed residency training in pediatrics at CHOP. She is currently an attending physician at CHOP’s South Philadelphia clinic and serves as a recruitment advisor for AMP.

What made you interested in  your current field of medicine?
“I love kids! They are fun, enjoy life to the fullest, and when they are ill – they usually just want to get better. I believe that adults can often learn a lot from children - they just need to pay attention. 

I find pediatric medicine challenging and quite interesting. Pediatricians often find themselves playing “detective” as they examine young children who are not able to verbally express their symptoms. Kids are not just small adults. As they grow, their bodies (and in turn disease processes) change. For a given chief complaint, the differential diagnoses are often different depending on a patient’s age.  

I love my job. I have enjoyed the practice of pediatric medicine but have equally enjoyed watching my patients grow over the years. It has been a true honor to hear that my patients play “Dr. Rios” at home!”

What do you enjoy about working in the UPHS-CHOP system?
“With the exception of business school, I have been in the Penn and CHOP system since I was a first year medical student (and plan on staying!). Over the years I have benefitted from many wonderful mentors throughout the system. I am proud to be part of the UPHS-CHOP URM family and enjoy serving as a resource to those coming up.
 
I find working at CHOP's South Philadelphia clinic quite rewarding. I have the opportunity to serve a diverse patient population, including a large community of Spanish-speaking under-served immigrants.  In addition, I like working within a system where one has immediate access to some of the best minds in medicine. They are eager to share their knowledge and foster an environment where we all encourage each other to be better and reach higher to provide our patients with the best of care.”

What are some of your favorite things to do in Philly?
“One of my favorite things to do in Philadelphia enjoying the amazing restaurants. I also like walking through the city as the weather gets warmer.  And of course there is nothing better than watching my boys play tee-ball and little league baseball on fields throughout the city.”


Any words of wisdom to share?
“I have 3 pieces of advice for those just starting out in medicine.  First, remember to take care of yourself - you are better able to take care of others if you yourself are well.  Next, never stop asking "why".  We should not let things become routine or manage patients "out of habit", we should always understand the reasoning behind what we do.  Lastly, remember that as a physician you are entering a sacred space. You become a unique part of your patients' lives and recognizing that fact allows us to practice good medicine, and reminds us to remain humble while we do so.”