Facility Walnut Creek Medical Center Department of Rehabilitative Services Address Walnut Creek Medical Center and Medical Offices 1425 South Main St. Walnut Creek CA 94596 Map & Directions Telephone Office: (925) 295-6390 E-mail your doctor View your preventive services

Department Hours

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Closed	8:00 am 5:00 pm	8:00 am 5:00 pm	8:00 am 5:00 pm	8:00 am 5:00 pm	8:00 am 5:00 pm	Closed
Closed during lunch, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

** Please note I am available variable hours Monday through Friday

About me

The medical setting more or less chose me, as my background includes the domains of school/education, clinic, sub-acute and acute hospital, and acute rehab hospital. For several years I combined teaching, supervision and hospital work, which was a wonderful mix, but ultimately I had to make a choice, and I was not yet ready to give up direct patient care. The hospital setting affords the challenge and complexity inherent in being human, with the goal of helping someone feel and be better physically, psychologically, and cognitively. The interactions I have with patients and their families usually involve brief but intense intervention, and I value being able to step in at a critical time to hopefully contribute something useful.

I look at my work and my patients from a very holistic standpoint, finding there is no better fit for me than to take the long view, to see everything as comprehensively and compassionately as I am able, yet realizing that what I do and have to offer is one small part of the whole.

I like offering knowledge and explanations to patients and their families so that they can make thoughtful, informed decisions about their medical diagnoses and care. Most of us like to understand things and know the reasons of “why” and “how.” And when it comes to our bodies and medical problems, that inclination to be informed is very present and powerful. When that void of the unknown or the seemingly incomprehensible is filled, the best chance for mutual interaction and meeting health goals occurs. The patient, family, and I become a small team who work with and rely on all of the other disciplines in the medical setting. The end result, when it all works the most optimally, is leaving the hospital or clinic better informed, with a plan of direction for managing health-related issues and hopefully achieving an improved quality of life.

I enjoy the partnership and interaction with the many specialties, the diversity of thought, and the support from the many therapists, doctors, social workers, nurses, dieticians and all staff who help me do my job. We’re all dependent on each others’ expertise, and there is a real openness about seeking another’s opinion here at Kaiser Permanente. The focus of this organization on education and prevention, how to take better care of ourselves, and lessen our vulnerability to illness or disease also appeals to me.

Clinical interests and affiliations

As a speech pathologist, I am, of course, interested in communication, whatever form that may take. Being able to speak or convey our thoughts is what sets us apart as human beings, and is what drew me to the field of speech and language disorders. I work primarily with swallowing disorders in the acute hospital, but I always find ways and time to address communication skills. Clinically, I am interested in neurogenic communication disorders, particularly those occurring post-head trauma and post-stroke. Some of my graduate studies focused on degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s, so I am very comfortable with and interested in those very unfortunate and devastating disease processes. My other primary love is pediatrics, especially early intervention with infants, toddlers and pre-school aged children, whether it involves speech and language development or feeding problems. Youth translates to so much hope, resilience, and pliability that it cannot help but be infectious!! I have seen phenomenal changes occur in babies and young ones; they are so fragile and dependent, yet so eager and trusting, like little sponges soaking it all up. My pediatric work brings a satisfaction and joy that no other facet affords. That’s one of the beauties of being a speech pathologist—there are many different aspects of the field.

My education and certification information as a Speech-Language Pathologist:

Undergraduate Education	Bachelor of Science, CSU Hayward
Graduate Education	Master of Science, CSU Hayward
Certification	Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC) awarded from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Licensure	California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board (SLPAB)
Credential	California Clear Credential for Speech-Language-Audiology Rehabilitative Services
Membership	American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Membership	California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA)

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