Facility San Jose Medical Center Department of Genetics Address 5755 Cottle Road - Bldg. 1 San Jose CA 95123 Map & Directions Telephone Office: (408) 972-3300 Office: (408) 972-3300 E-mail your doctor View your preventive services

Department Hours

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Closed	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	8:30 am 5:00 pm	Closed

My Biography

I was born in Oakland Kaiser and raised in the Bay Area where I became interested in medicine and pediatrics during junior high school and college. I began volunteer work organizing service projects for children with various cognitive and physical disabilities. I was intrigued by the many causes of their disabilities and was motivated to better understand them. It was through these projects that I further defined my goal of a career in medicine. I also learned there was a need for physicians to care for these children. I began my journey at UC, Berkeley as an undergraduate and UC San Francisco for medical school. I then left the Bay Area to do my Pediatric training at Children’s Hospital, Philadelphia. I returned to sunny California to complete training in Child Neurology at Stanford University Hospital followed by a fellowship in Medical Genetics at UC San Francisco Medical Center. After 18 years of college and medical training I got my first real job. I was the Service Chief in Pediatric Genetics at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and founded the Neurogenetics Clinic for children and adults. I left Stanford to join the Genetics Department at San Jose Kaiser in 1996 to practice general genetics and to run the Northern California Regional Neurogenetics Clinic.

I am excited to work in the rapidly changing field of genetics. I play “detective” using my clinical skills, available technology, and gene tests to help diagnose and care for children and adults with inherited disorders and birth defects. I believe the patient and their family are part of the “team.” Together, with mutual respect and understanding we can accomplish more. Much of my time is spent coordinating the complex care of these patients and educating the patient and their families about their conditions. This education is essential for patients to make informed decisions about their care.

I am proud to be a member of the Genetics Department, a nationally recognized Center of Excellence for Clinical Genetics. My clinical practice is cutting edge as the knowledgebase in genetics is constantly changing. I keep abreast of new clinical practice guidelines through my membership in the American Society of Human Genetics, as a Founding Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and as a member of the American Academy of Neurology. I am also a member of the Northern California Regional Kaiser Genetics Treatment Advisory Board and the Community Advisory Committee for the Special Education Local Plan Area III.

My special interests in genetics are neurogenetics (neurological syndromes, degenerative disorders, brain malformations, and neuromuscular disorders), inborn errors of metabolism (enzyme replacement therapy, nutritional management of biochemical disorders like PKU and fatty acid oxidation disorders, and mitochondrial disorders), provider/patient education, and the ethical and moral controversies that our expanding genetics knowledge impose upon us all. I provide continuing genetics education to physicians in practice and training. I am also a member of The Mentor Network of the American Society of Human Genetics providing educational support to educators in the community.

My personal interests include comparative genomics (comparing genetics of humans and cats), cats (Laurel Burch and the real ones), Halloween (big neighborhood parties, pumpkins, and lots of black cats), and herpetology (the art and science of identifying reptiles and amphibians in our backyards and beyond).

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My Credentials

Medical school	UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Internship	Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Residency	Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Residency	Stanford University Hospital, Stanford, CA
Fellowship	UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Board certification	Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics
Board certification	Child Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Board certification	Clinical Genetics, American Board of Medical Genetics

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