|
About Me
Why I Became a Physician
My dad was an old-time family physician who did everything – surgeries, delivering babies, caring for families. Later in his career, he learned and added acupuncture to his wide array of skills to help people. Through my growing years I was able to work in his clinic as receptionist, medical technician and assistant, billing, and secretary. He even brought me into the operating suite to observe surgeries firsthand. Watching him bring healing to his patients was an amazing experience. Probably his example, more than anything else, inspired me to be a physician.
Why I am a Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist
In my generation, medicine has become more specialized. Internal Medicine, which I prefer calling Adult Medicine, still allows me the ability to minister to the whole person. But now even Adult Medicine has been separated into outpatient and inpatient care. After 14 years of taking care of patients both in and outside the hospital, I decided that I especially enjoyed and excelled in the challenge and satisfaction of caring for patients when they are most in need - in the hospital. So since 1997, I have been a Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist at the Vallejo Medical Center.
Why I Work In Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is an amazing organization of people caring for people. The whole philosophy of keeping people as healthy as possible, and caring for them when they are ill, at an affordable price, is unmatched. We physicians can concentrate on just taking care of our patients, with ready access to the assistance of a multitude of dedicated, skilled, colleagues from the entire spectrum of specialties and subspecialties.
If we feel our patient really needs some test or treatment, even if outside Kaiser, it generally gets done. And our health education: how to become and stay healthy, or how to cope with a chronic condition, is unsurpassed in the world. It has been an outstanding experience to be a part of this group since 1983.
My Philosophy on Healing
The complexities of caring for the human body has challenged healers through the ages. Allopathic medicine (what M.D.s are trained) brings tremendous scientific scrutiny and understanding to bear on the task, but there are other successful forms of treatment besides drugs, surgery, and radiation. That is why other therapies such as acupuncture, mindful meditation, and bodywork treatments have a place in healing.
I have been trained in Bowen Therapy, which is an amazingly powerful bodywork therapy, and I am exploring electro-accupuncture. Herbal therapies and supplements can be quite effective, but there are big problems with verifying quality and effectiveness of the products being sold. There are so many unverified claims, that I must urge caution in using these. Go to reliable sources, such as Naturaldatabase.com, for information. Most of all, I enjoy getting to know my patients, carefully studying to know what has made them ill, then marshalling all the necessary resources to work with them and their families to regain their health.
In Addition...
My “spare” time is occupied with family, church work, gardening, woodworking, a little traveling, playing the saxophone, and reading. Go Giants, A’s and 49ers.
My Credentials
| Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA |
| Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA |
| Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA |
| Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine |
Helpful Information for Members
Be sure to check the "Get Health Advice" and "Appointments/Rx refills" menus above for additional information regarding appointments, prescriptions, health education classes and other health-related topics. You can also click on my department link above to receive additional health information.
If you are looking for more specific information about our hospital or our clinics in the Napa Solano Service Area, you can check us out at www.KPNapaSolano.org.
To choose your own personal physician, click here.
Here is some additional information you may find helpful:
Kaiser Permanente Member Resources
Find a Physician
Appointments/Rx refills
Health Encyclopedia
La Guía en Español
Privacy Statement
Terms & Conditions
|