Bio
I hope that you will use this web page to gather useful health care information and to learn more about me and my practice philosophy.
You can also use the links to access health education materials and other useful resources including online appointments and medication refills.
I joined Kaiser Permanente in 2002, having spent most of the previous 14 years enduring the frigid winters of Chicago where I attended the University of Chicago for both college and medical school. This was followed by a 3 year residency in Family Practice at a local community hospital. I spent 2 more years working for a hospital practice before my wife and I decided that we had seen enough snow, so we headed west. We enjoy living in Santa Rosa but we still remain loyal Cubs fans and try to visit our friends in Chicago often (but only in the summer).
When I am not working, I am usually helping my wife Michelle raise our two children, Sara and Ethan. We also have a black lab, Sammy, who has an endless urge to chase things, which also keeps me from spending too much time on the couch. I also enjoy cooking, cycling, running, hiking, and fishing, and I have completed several triathlons. My wife and I actually got engaged just after I crossed the finish line of my very first triathlon.
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More details about my specialty:My Practice Philosophy:
I believe that my role is to advise you on how to maintain good health, but ultimately, it is up to you to take responsibility for your well-being. I am here to listen to your problems, answer questions, suggest testing and treatment strategies, and be supportive, but the rest is really up to you.
Here are a few tips which I strongly believe will help you stay in good health:
1) Do not smoke, use drugs, or drink too much alcohol. How much is too much, you ask? It is advisable for men to have no more than 2 drinks per day and for women no more than 1 drink per day. One alcoholic drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or one ounce of hard alcohol.
2) Like it or not, exercise is critical to our health. The more exercise, the better, but you should ideally get at least 30 minutes of exercise, 5 or more days per week. A neglected body soon becomes weak and flabby, gaining fat and losing muscle mass. But remember, you are much more likely to stay on an exercise program if you enjoy it, so make it fun. And if your knees, hips, ankles or other weight-bearing joints hurt when you walk, then be creative and do "low impact" exercises like swimming or cycling which will slow down arthritis and keep your joints healthy. We even offer a "chair dancing class" which is easy on the joints, but still gives you a great workout.
3) Eat healthy foods. There are many "fad" diets being marketed right now (Atkin's, South Beach, etc.), but you should develop healthy eating habits which are tailored to your lifestyle. Here are a few basic principles to follow: Do not eat more than you really need (i.e. smaller portions, please!). Try to eat as many "whole foods" as possible (e.g. lots of raw fruits and veggies). Avoid eating processed foods. Eat foods low in saturated fat and eat fewer carbohydrates such as white rice, potatoes, pasta and white bread. Eat more whole wheat breads, whole wheat pasta, wild or brown rice, lean meats, beans, tofu and foods that are high in "good fat" such as fish, canola oil, olive oil and nuts.
If you are planning on making a change, do it gradually, one change at a time. And remember to enjoy what you eat! It is virtually impossible to maintain healthy eating habits if you don't like what you're eating, so be creative and dress up your food to be both tasty and healthy. For more tips on healthy eating, contact our health education department at 571-4167.
4) Be an optimist and stay close to your family and friends. If you're finding difficulty with this one, we have a lot of resources to help you stay mentally healthy. It is normal to get depressed or "stressed out" from time to time, but if it is interfering with your ability to function well, please let us know.
A word about medications:
Obviously, an important part of my job is to prescribe medications, and I try to use current clinical evidence on which to base these decisions. This means that I try to use a medication for a specific problem which has been backed up by solid scientific studies. All medications have potential side effects and toxicity. Sometimes I may tell you that it is better to simply let the body heal itself, rather than use a medicine which has the potential to harm you.
For example, traditionally, antibiotics have been used to treat many infections which cause coughs, colds, and sore throats. Recent clinical studies show that antibiotics are ineffective for many of these infections which are usually caused by viruses, so it is often best to let these illnesses resolve on their own. Using antibiotics when they are not needed will only lead to problems such as side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) or worse yet, lead to the development of resistant bacteria.
The same is true for many over-the-counter medicines. For example, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), while safe in most instances, can sometimes cause ulcers or kidney damage.
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which medications to take or not take, based on my recommendation. I hope to help you make informed decisions, so that you understand both the potential benefits and harms of each medicine.
My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:Preventive Health
Wilderness Medicine Great health resources that I refer to:American Family Physician Journal
American Academy of Family Practice Website: aafp.org |
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People in my life:My wife, Michelle and I actually met on a blind date in Chicago. After realizing that we couldn't live without eachother, we decided to get married and head back to Northern California, where we had left our families for school many years before. We were married at Hans Fahden Winery in Calistoga, and we spent our honeymoon hiking through Corsica, returning just in time for me to start my new job with Kaiser Permanente!
Michelle is passionate about motherhood, having happily traded her stressful management consulting career for the even more stressful but highly more rewarding job of stay-at-home Mom. She also loves to hike, read, cook, decorate and organize (and organize and organize). My children and people I care about:We have two young children, Sara and Ethan, who are just 17 months apart. They keep us extremely busy and constantly amused. Sara (age 4) loves swimming, jigsaw puzzles and gymnastics and is ready to show off her skills at all times. Ethan (age 2) is an energetic boy who loves to climb and jump, throw his football and play with his trucks. |
Photos of my Family & Friends:
Along Our Honeymoon Trek 
Just Married! 
Xmas 2006 
A New Playmate! 
The Whole Family 
Little Gymnasts 
Fishing Buddies 
Echo Lake |
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My pets: We rescued our dog, Sammy, from a shelter in February 2003, and he was truly our first child. He has a seemingly endless amount of energy which keeps us from getting too lazy, and of course, our children adore him! Sammy was unexpectedly reunited with his brother, Maverick, a few years ago, and they enjoy creating mischief and havoc together at the dog park on most weekends. |
Pet Photos:
Sammy the Dog |
An adventure I've had:During my Family Practice Residency, I spent a month working on a Navajo Reservation near Gallup, New Mexico. This was an eye-opening experience on many levels. Most of my patients had no phone or electricity, and many relied on their horse to travel to our clinic. In fact, one of the more common reasons for an office visit was: "Thrown from horse."
Besides the amazing people I met, I had a chance to explore some of the most unbelievable scenery in the world, from bizarre rock formations carved from wind and water, to some incredibly pristine Native American ruins and artifacts. I even considered returning after my residency to take a permanent position at the Navajo Clinic, but my heart ultimately led me back to California. Favorite place in the world:My grandfather built a cabin in the Sierras more than 50 years ago. This is where my family and I spend our vacations, and as a child, this is where my father taught me the basics of life: fishing, self-reliance, and an appreciation of the wilderness. When I need to escape from life for a few hours, I love the exhilaration of a hike to the top of Pyramid Peak in the Desolation Wilderness. One of my recent trips:My wife and I have always enjoyed exploration and hiking in the Western U.S., and our most memorable adventure was a road trip through Oregon and Washington just before we were married. Our trip was highlighted by a climb to the top of Mount St. Helens which gave us one of the most amazing views of our lives! |
A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:
Pyramid Peak in Background |
