Joel LeMaitre, MD

Bio

I was born in Palo Alto, California, the second son to a young couple finishing their education with the benefit of the GI bill. Although my father aspired to a career in broadcasting, the necessities of food on the table and rent being paid prompted a change to corporate life. He soon was working for an oil company and we began moving here and there across the country at the whim of his employer. During these years we moved all over the US, east to west, north to south.

I started my undergraduate study in Engineering at Purdue. One Indiana winter and a pretty difficult calculus course helped me decide to transfer to Stanford the following year where I pursued a degree in Biology. From Stanford I went to Houston to attend Baylor Medical School. I completed my four years of Residency training in Pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco with an additional year of training as Chief Resident in Pediatrics at San Francisco General Hospital.
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My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

I was the first in my family to enter the medical field, so my concept of being a doctor was pretty much a total mystery until I started medical school. I loved biology, in particular the study of anatomy and physiology. I initially thought medicine would provide a way to apply scientific knowledge to help people in a direct way. What I didn't realize was the huge role non-scientific skills would play in the practice of medicine. I learned that the ability to communicate, listen closely, teach and empathize were essential skills in caring for people. As I went through the various courses in medical school, I found Pediatrics to be a perfect match for me. I'm reminded daily of a child's remarkable ability to rebound from illness. I deeply value their honesty and innate integrity.

I found my way to Kaiser Permanente largely through the advice of one of my medical heroes, Dr. Moses Grossman, a professor and Chief of Pediatrics at San Francisco General Hospital during my training. It was Dr. Grossman's advice to have a look at Kaiser Permanente, which in his opinion represented the future of medicine. Many years later I can attest to the accuracy of his prediction. I work in the best possible of practice settings. My peers are superb clinicians. Our consultants are nationally renown. Our support staff is expert and focused on assisting me in providing the best possible care. We have the ability to practice truly cutting-edge medicine with Kaiser Permanente Northern California being a national leader in vaccine research. Our computerized medical record system is state of the art and helps us in many ways to provide the best care for your children.

Since starting at Kaiser Permanente I've tried to keep my practice true to the principle of putting your child's welfare first. I'm a very strong supporter of immunizations and other forms of preventive care. I use antibiotics and choose medical tests as carefully as possible. I believe in a collaborative effort between doctor and family to ensure the health of your child, and encourage you to come with questions and concerns. If you haven't yet done so, please sign up to "e-mail" your doctor. It's a wonderful way to communicate with me and get other health information on your own time. Follow the link near the top of my homepage next to my picture for more information.

My practice is busy, but I'm able to follow everyone by enlisting help from our nurse practitioners. I'll usually have them see your child for one of the check-ups in that busy first year. I believe our nurse practitioners do a wonderful job, and if any questions arise they can always consult with me.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

Although I have no subspecialty training, I've developed particular interests in medical education and the use of computers in medicine.

There's a good chance in the fall or spring that I may ask if it's okay that a visiting medical student from UCSF accompany us in the room. It's the best way for them to learn some of the non-scientific aspects of medicine and can be a very rewarding experience for everyone.

Current projects or research:

Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect (our computerized medical record system) - I'm part of the content development team for Pediatrics.

Interests

Currently reading:
The Mindful Brain - Daniel Siegel, M.D.

My favorite book or author:
anything by Barbara Kingsolver, The Secret Life of Bees, The Song of the Dodo, The Lovely Bones... too many good books to pick one

Hobby Photos & Links:

Lotus 7

That Old Spitfire

Family & Friends

People in my life:

I've lived in Santa Rosa with my wife Nancy and two sons Jim and Eli since starting with Kaiser Permanente in 1983. Since our arrival we've seen a lot of change with the boys, who are both now adults with households of their own. Luckily they're still local so we get together fairly often. We're lovers of dogs with our current contingent consisting of Annie, a mix of brown and white dogs of some sort, and Bella,who has black curly hair and an impressive spirit to match.

Photos of my Family & Friends:

Nancy, Annie and Bella on the trail

Travel

Favorite place in the world:

I'd have to say that the region of the Sierra Nevada around Truckee is my favorite place to go for a vacation. More than 20 years ago my father had the foresight to build a cabin in the woods in that area, and every year my wife and I spend at least a few weeks there. The smell of the air while reading a book and swinging in the hammock on the front deck is priceless. Although it's a bit of a quirky place in many ways, reflecting the unique way my father did things, we love it. It's our home base for hiking, rafting, fishing and just plain relaxing.

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

the Truckee River, September 2007

Up on the Trail

A Hike in the Snow

Other Links & Photos