Dec. 9, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Sanford Health.

No two patients are alike, and neither is their diagnosis and treatment journey, which is why Dr. Rachel Starks, a molecular pathologist at Sanford Imagenetics, is revolutionizing the care experience for patients and providers in and around Sioux Falls.

Sanford Health is excited to welcome Starks, the first molecular pathologist to join the health system’s team. There aren’t many physicians who can do what she does, which is bridge the gap between pathology and genetics.

Bridging the gap

Pathology is the study of disease, and molecular refers to molecules within each cell, such as DNA. Starks is a physician who specializes in characterizing diseases by analyzing blood and tissue at the molecular level.

This kind of testing is vital in genetic medicine, improving how diseases are identified and treated, especially when determining between illnesses or disorders with similar symptoms. This type of testing also is becoming standard for cancer patients to assist in accurate diagnosis and targeted cancer therapies.

Looking within

Every day, humankind is learning more about how genetics influences health and disease, and Starks helps the genetic medicine team at Sanford Imagenetics do this better.

“My job ensures high-quality testing during screening or diagnosis. I am looking at all the information, performing lab tests, and analyzing and interpreting the results for the genetic specialists.”

Similar to exploring the depths of the ocean and the mysteries of our universe, Starks is delving deeper into the human body to understand what is going on within the cells and how that contributes to diseases like cancer.

In every cell in your body, something incredible lives: your genetics. We all have unique changes to this genetic code that we inherited from our parents or acquired over our lifetime from environmental exposures, imperfect cell replication and other factors.

“It makes the most sense to me to look at things at that level: in the cell,” Starks said. “When examining the processes and mechanisms of DNA and RNA, I can see how those changes regulate what is happening in the cell and what occurs later on in the tissue.”

Sometimes, these changes have no effect on our health. Other times, a genetic change alters the way a cell functions and can result in increased health risks or the development of a disease. And, Starks is there to explain exactly what is happening and why.

“A lot of what I do is for cancer patients,” Starks explained. “I can look at tumors, identify their specific mutations and use that information to make a diagnosis, prognosis and treatment recommendation – all right in Sioux Falls.”

Caring for community

Starks’ path to medicine – and improving diagnosis specifically – was personal.

“When my mom found out she had type 2 diabetes, she really struggled with the diagnosis and lifestyle changes,” she explained. “I wanted to help my mom understand everything better. That’s really where my interest in medicine began.”

Starks completed her medical degree, her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology and two fellowships in surgical pathology and molecular genetic pathology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City.

“I am and have always been very family- and community-oriented – in large part because of my parents. I grew up in Arizona with a strong emphasis on family values,” she said. “I knew I wanted to stay in the Midwest, and joining Sanford Health was a great opportunity to do just that.”

The environment in Sioux Falls and at Sanford Health “is so welcoming. It’s the perfect fit for my family,” she added. “I am excited to bring my skills to our community, and I am equally excited to learn from the expertise of my colleagues at Sanford Imagenetics.”

When not working, Starks enjoys reading, baking and spending time with her teenage daughter and son.