Teresa Bau, MD, MPS

I chose to become an advanced practice provider because I enjoy getting to know patients and their families. My approach to care includes giving recommendations and coming up with a plan with the patient. My areas of interest include pediatrics, diabetes management and helping patients meet their goals whether it is blood pressure or weight loss. Outside of work, I enjoy deep sea fishing and gardening.

Although a nurse at heart, I knew my soul ached to serve patients in a deeper way by being an advanced practice provider. Supporting patients in an expanded way was my motivation to care for other as a provider, such as by advocating for their health, providing evidenced-based interventions to them and walking with them towards a holistically healthier lifestyle. When I am in a patient’s room, I like to focus on them and nothing else. It is important to me to treat every patient like they are my family member and to make sure they feel important and heard. For each visit, I make a point to sit down, ask questions, and review my patient’s situation in detail with them while working to determine a plan of care that will work for them. It is important for me to explain care in a way that patients understand and to provide information that will help support them in their journey to health as well. Every person in our community plays an important part, and I am grateful to serve our community members in the role as a primary care provider. When I am not at work, I enjoy traveling, hiking, trying new restaurants, watching baseball and serving the community with my local church.

As a doctor, I understand that health is influenced by various factors such as genetics and environment. Having emigrated from Portugal, I have personally witnessed how health directly impacts the social and economic success of individuals and communities. My approach to patient care revolves around working collaboratively with patients to establish goals that alleviate the burden of diseases and improve quality of life. Driven by the specific needs of my patients, my medical interests encompass a wide range of areas. I have experience in comprehensive family medicine, covering all age groups from newborns to the elderly. This includes delivering babies, perinatal care, treating pediatric patients, managing critical care in the intensive care unit (ICU), sports medicine, handling emergency medical situations, assisting with weight management, and medical/surgical management of skin disorders, among other areas. Presently, my focus lies in outpatient primary care, where I take pride in using my training to educate, support, and advocate for my patients while drawing from my special interests in obesity medicine, reproductive health including birth control implant and intrauterine device placement, medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder, medical/surgical management of skin disorders, joint injections, LGBTQ+ health. Outside of my professional life, I value the time I spend with my family, friends, and our beloved dogs. Whether we are experimenting with new recipes in my kitchen or exploring new local and international destinations, these moments are truly cherished.