Everyone’s life has a story. I come from a diverse cultural background, and thanks to my father’s career in international shipping, I grew up living all around the world – Singapore, China, Panama, and the US. These experiences have informed my world view.
I was inspired to become a doctor by my grandfather, who was both a small-town physician and a cattle rancher in Panama. Through him, I began to understand the connection between where our food comes from and our overall health.
My medical training took me to a Caribbean island and then to England. I completed my residency in Brooklyn and began my career as a fully licensed physician in Gatesville, Texas. I’ve been practicing in Houston since 2022. In addition to English, I speak Spanish fluently and am proficient in Mandarin.
Just as my life experiences have shaped who I am, understanding my patients’ lives is essential to understanding their health and the way they experience illness.
A person is more than their A1c, LDL level, or TSH. They’re more than a CT scan result or a BMI. To truly understand your story is the key to how to help you get better – to nourish your health and live well.
I became a doctor to truly care for people, but over time I saw the profession I loved taken over by corporate interests and profit-driven models. Insurance rules, loss of autonomy and pressure to see more and more patients left me burned out—and left my patients greatly underserved.
I nearly walked away from medicine. Instead, I chose a different path – membership care. Now I can give my patients the time, attention, and whole-person approach they deserve. This shift has restored meaning to my work and supports my healing philosophy. Going out on my own allows me to be the doctor I always wanted to be and to provide the kind of care people truly want and need.
On a personal note…
I live in Houston Heights with my wife and young daughter, I’m a fluent Spanish speaker. I enjoy writing and am an avid runner. Reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan forever shaped my views on food in and outside the healthcare setting. In addition to creative cooking, I make homemade yogurt and bake sourdough bread every week. You may catch me serving my homemade bread or grissini in my office so stop by!
Charles Rismyhr, MD