Dr. Andrew Garcia

Biography

Dr. Garcia, a native of the East Los Angeles area, is passionate about helping foster scientific curiosity, which led him to pursue a career in medicine. He early understood that a patient should be seen as more than just a disease to be treated; they are a person deserving of compassion and care. He found a particular interest in family medicine, which allows a physician to care for not just a single patient, but for a family unit and the community at large. He completed his family medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he worked primarily in underserved and underrepresented Latinx, Hmong, and Somali immigrant communities. During this time, he came to appreciate the importance of being heard and understood by patients facing serious illness, recognizing the impact on one's quality of life. This led him to pursue fellowship training in hospice and palliative medicine at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Garcia’s training in both family medicine and palliative care has equipped him with advanced communication skills and clinical expertise to deliver exceptional, whole-person care. He is adept at working within multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that patients' needs are met in the health care system. Dr. Garcia is dedicated to caring for patients of all ages and illness stages, helping them understand their conditions and improve their overall quality of life regardless of their prognosis. He has a strong passion for patient advocacy, clinical education, and communication training, with particular interests in LGBTQ+ health and geriatrics, specifically in managing serious illnesses.

Research Interests