Christopher Barker, MD

Bio

As your physician, I am interested in attending to your health care needs and concerns. I will listen to you and together we will determine how best to help you. I initially joined Kaiser Permanente as a Family Medicine Physician in 2005. Previously, I enjoyed private practice in Santa Rosa from 1981 to 2005. I explored the idea of continuing to practice medicine in Kaiser's comprehensive, coordinated preventive care health system, and was fortunate to be invited to join. In 2007, I increased my hospital inpatient care duties, and in 2009, began working full time as a Hospital Based Specialist.

I grew up in Chicago, Illinois and went to Brown University in Providence, R.I., where I studied electrical and biomedical engineering. There I learned to fly and became a glider flight instructor and tow pilot for the Brown University Soaring Club. I was able to continue flying on weekends in the Mojave Desert, while studying medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. My internship was at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in San Francisco, where I met my future wife. Subsequently, I worked a short time in (of all places) Santa Rosa, New Mexico, in the National Health Service Corps, but returned to Northern California for a Family Practice Residency at Community Hospital in Santa Rosa, California. After residency, I spent three years, again for the National Health Service Corps, in Geyserville, California, at Alliance Medical Center and was fortunate to improve my Spanish while working there.

My wife, Valerie, is a Marriage Family Therapist and has worked in hospice care for many years. Our son graduated in environmental studies in college at Boulder, Colorado. He worked on salmon restoration on the Klamath River, and is now teaching Non-Violent Communitation in New Mexico. Our daughter crewed on the sailing team in college in Boston, and graduated in international relations. She now works for a global public relations firm in Manhattan.

In an effort to stay fit, and more importantly, to have fun, I've played ice hockey at Snoopy's Ice Arena for the past 21 years. When the kids were in school, I enjoyed coaching my daughter in soccer and my son in ice hockey.

I try to play in the Snoopy World Senior Ice Hockey tournament each July, and at the Playmaker's Senior Ice Hockey tournament each spring in Victoria, BC, in Canada.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

As your physician, I am interested in attending to the problems that brought you in to the hospital. I will listen to you and together we will determine how best to help you. I look forward to following up on your care and making sure your ongoing health is well managed in the hospital, and that there is a good plan for optimal health when you are able to leave the hospital. For you and your family, it is important to me to ensure your needs are met by me and our enthusiastic and expert staff.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

I enjoyed a long career as a family physician, caring for families, delivering babies, assisting at surgeries, and caring for my practice patients when they needed hospital care.
At this stage in the development of medical care delivery, I have come to value focusing on the inpatient, acute care hospitalization management of people, when ill enough to require and benefit from Kaiser's unique integrated care system. Working with specialists, nursing teams, therapists, and social workers; and using the electronic medical record and ordering system, we are able to provide accurate care in a personal manner, striving to achieve best results.

Interests

Great movie:
My favorite movie is old (1940's) and short (75 min.): The Oxbow Incident. It is all about how rushing to judge people can make your life miserable. It is actually a study in why American law protects citizens against inappropriate government actions.

Hobby Photos & Links:

Chew your food with your mouth closed! Hold that tummy in!

That's me with the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau

That's me, first row, second from left

This is also my home ice

Family & Friends

People in my life:

My wife, Valerie, is a Marriage Family Therapist and has worked in hospice care for many years. She enthusiastically met the family's sporting requirements.

My children and people I care about:

I roped the kids into rock climbing.

An interesting story about my family or friends:

Our son played defense on Maria Carillo's varsity soccer team and graduated in environmental studies in college at Boulder. Here he is checking out the untracked snow "off-piste", in Idaho.

Photos of my Family & Friends:

Valerie and I in Wengen, Switzerland

That's our daughter

My son will study any environment.

Our pet is a miniature apricot poodle, Atticus, a delight, but not pictured here.

Instead, and even better, this is our daughter who crewed for the college sailing team in Boston, and now sails on Long Island Sound, with her fiancee'.

Pet Photos:

Now she's trimming the jib

Travel

One of my recent trips:

I bought this '71 Chevy Suburban while in college in Providence, RI. Together we've traveled over most of the country, including up into some high country in the White Cloud Mountains of Idaho, and down into Death Valley. Now my son uses this 38 year old truck, hauling firewood, dirt, and vegetables in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of New Mexico.

Travel Photos:

Valerie and I skied at Grindelwald in Switzerland

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

A search for peace and wisdom at Shambhala in Colorado

Trip Photos:

I bought this 71 Chevy in college and it's still healthy.

Other Links & Photos