Facility Martinez Medical Offices Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Address 200 Muir Road Hacienda Building Martinez CA 94553 Map & Directions Telephone Cancellation: (925) 313-4740 Appt/Scheduling: (925) 313-4740 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
Closed during lunch, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm

Welcome to my Home Page

This site gives me the opportunity to tell you something about myself and about my philosophy on spine treatment. It also links you to information about the Diablo Service Area (DSA) Spine Service and to information about spine problems and treatments.

My Approach To Your Spine Evaluation

The first part of the Spine Consultation consists of collecting information to make a diagnosis. We will discuss your medical history, your current situation (including the characteristics of your job and workplace) and response to previous treatments. Next, I will conduct a thorough spine related physical examination and review all x-ray and MRI images and lab tests. With this information, I am usually able to diagnose the cause of the problem. If not, additional tests or treatment trials will be discussed to further clarify the diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been reached, we will spend a considerable amount of time discussing the diagnosis. I think it is important for people to know as much as possible about their specific problem.

The final step of the consultation is the discussion of treatment options. I use a process called Shared Decision Making. I see my role as explaining the diagnosis and the variety of treatments available for that diagnosis then helping each patient decide what would be best for his or her individual situation. Each person has a different set of goals and circumstances that affect the treatment decision.

About Me

My philosophy on patient care is to treat each patient as I would treat a member of my own family. I believe in giving clear explanations and involving my patients in the care plan. I was motivated to become a physician after experiencing serious medical issues within members of my own family growing up. I became a family physician because I want to treat my patients as a whole person, not as separate body parts or organ systems. I believe each individual needs to take personal responsibility for their health and well being, and look forward to helping my patients achieve their optimal level of health.

After graduation from Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles Medical School, I joined Kaiser Permanente in 1992 where I completed my family practice residency training program at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. I then joined Kaiser Permanente in West Los Angeles in the Family Practice department until 1998. After the birth of my first child, my family moved to Northern California, and I worked in the Kaiser Diablo Service Area Minor Injury Centers from 1999-2006.

I began my tenure in the Kaiser DSA Spine Clinic in October 2005. My background in injury care and musculoskeletal medicine has served me well in my transition to the spine team. Currently I am delighted to be part of the tremendous team of physicians and other medical personnel working with the Spine Care program in Martinez.

Background/Interests

I was born in Taiwan and immigrated with my family to America at the age of seven. I have lived in Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, and California. I love Northern California, its climate, culture, people, and diversity. I am blessed with a wonderful husband and two active young sons. In my spare time I enjoy being with family and friends, swimming, reading, gardening, digital movie making, and traveling. I am able to speak Mandarin Chinese and always enjoy learning more Spanish and French with my patients.

My Credentials

Medical school	UC Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Internship	Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Residency	Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Board certification	Family Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine

Disclaimer
If you think you have a MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or go to the nearest hospital. DO NOT attempt to access emergency care through this web site. An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in any of the following: serious jeopardy to your health, serious impairment to your bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. An emergency medical condition is also "active labor," which means a labor when there is inadequate time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery or if a transfer poses a threat to the health of the member or unborn child.

This site may contain links to other web sites outside of www.permanente.net. Kaiser Permanente has no control over the content or the availability of these sites, and is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites. Web links are provided as an educational tool, and should not be relied upon for personal diagnosis or treatment. A link or reference to a web site should not be construed as an endorsement of the site or its contents. Any medical content that you feel may be important to your health should always be discussed with your Kaiser Permanente physician.