My Philosophies

Pediatrics is more than just taking care of colds and earaches. I provide guidance on child development, nutrition, and safety during well child visits. I am happy to discuss your child's behavior, sleep and eating habits, and his or her social and academic progress. Just let me know your concerns, and I can give you my advice or find you someone else who can provide what you need.

I try to recommend sound medical advice and practical parenting. I hope to blend information from the most current medical literature with time-honored practical parenting tips. In some situations, times have changed from the way Grandma used to do it. In other situations, the advice from today's popular press isn't practical or prudent for the busy Mom and Dad. By reading current pediatric journals and regularly attending continuing medical education conferences, I am able to help you sort out information that you receive from well-meaning friends, family, and the Internet.

I support breastfeeding. Mom's milk is the best possible food for any infant. Having personal experience breastfeeding both of my children, I can provide breastfeeding counseling for you and your baby. If you have further concerns, our department also has well-trained nurse practitioners who can provide lactation consults.

On the other hand, many mothers choose to bottle-feed. It is important not to feel guilty if you decide to bottle-feed your baby. I am happy to help you choose an appropriate iron-fortified formula.

I strongly support vaccinations as one of the most important ways to protect the health of your child and our community. However, I realize that many parents have concerns regarding the safety of vaccines. I want to reassure you that I do believe in the parental right and duty to make medical decisions for his/her own child. I admire parents who make the effort to be educated and well-informed. Below I have included some links to Internet websites with excellent information on immunizations, and I encourage you to ask me if you have further questions or concerns about immunizations.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Immunization Action Coalition

I use antibiotics carefully. Bacterial infections can be cured by antibiotics, but common viral infections never are. Treating viral infections with antibiotics to prevent bacterial infections does not work. Unnecessary antibiotics can be harmful by promoting resistant organisms in your child and the community. In addition, antibiotics can cause side effects, such as rash, diarrhea, and allergic reactions. I try to educate parents on the differences between bacterial and viral infections so that we can balance the risks and benefits of using antibiotics.

Most importantly, I support open communication. I want you to be happy with your care here at Kaiser. Just like anyone else, I have my good days and I have my bad days. If for some reason I fail to meet your expectations, please let me know. I am a parent too, and I would want the best for my own children. I hope that you will find the best here at Kaiser.

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.

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