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Department Hours
| 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 |
Hello and welcome to my home page!
As a specialist in geriatrics and the primary care provider for patients in the skilled nursing facilities, I am experienced and proficient in managing the unique medical needs of skilled nursing patients. Please rest assured that I will communicate with your primary care physician regarding your condition, treatment, changes in medications, and follow-up care. Your primary care physician will resume your care after you are discharged from the facility. I will be the primary care provider for those of you who will continue to reside at the nursing facility on a long-term basis. I will visit regularly, as well as when needed for unexpected problems.
My Background...
I volunteered in nursing homes in Elementary School; I wrote articles on the lives of people residing in nursing facilities in High School; I practiced home health care during and after college, caring for debilitated elderly in their homes; I volunteered for hospice; and spent one summer working as a nursing assistant in a nursing home. I realized I wanted a career in medicine caring for the unique needs of the elderly. My mentor was an osteopathic physician, whose focus on holistic care and hands-on approach to caring for people lead me to apply only to osteopathic medical schools. This brought me to Kirksville, Missouri, home of the first osteopathic medical school.
Living in Missouri was quite a culture shock to a native Californian who had never experienced living & driving in the snow and ice. After four years in Missouri, and one year in Indianapolis for internship, I moved back West, to Scottsdale, Arizona. There I completed residency at Mayo Clinic, followed by a geriatric fellowship in Sun City, Arizona. I proceeded to work in Sun City for two years, as the medical director of a skilled nursing facility, as well as the lead subacute hospitalist. I was also faculty for the geriatric fellowship program, teaching the subacute care rotation. Fortunately, I relocated to Northern California, near my family and where I am practicing for Kaiser Permanente in the field I am most passionate about.
My clinical interests include palliative care, pain management, and dementia- mainly providing quality care to patients during their transition from the hospital into a rehabilitation setting and on to the next phase of their life.
In addition to practicing medicine, I enjoy jogging through the redwoods, walking on the beach, traveling to beautiful places, taking lots of pictures, and spending quality time with my new family.
My Philosophy of Care
I am a strong believer in quality of life. I respect the wishes of my patients. My goal is to aid people in feeling comfortable, cared for, and listened to. This is especially important during transitions, such as decline in health or a change in living condition. I believe that pain and fear should not be part of life, especially not near the end of life. I work with the mind and body to assist people to achieve and maintain peace and comfort while they are under my care. I understand that being in a skilled nursing facility can be emotionally difficult, but it can be a positive experience when one is treated with respect and dignity.
I hope you find my home page helpful. In addition to the resource links to the left, I've selected some other web sites you might find useful:
American Geriatrics Society
California Geriatrics Society
American Osteopathic Association
My Credentials
| Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO |
| Westview Osteopathic Hospital, Indianapolis, IN |
| Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ |
| Sun Health Resource Center, Sun City, AZ |
| Family Practice, American Board of Family Medicine |
| Geriatric Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine |
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