About Me

Welcome to my Web page. It is a privilege to serve in my department and develop the special kind of relationships a physician can have with patients and their families. I know how important it is for people to feel comfortable with their choice of a physician, so I hope the information presented here will give you a glimpse about myself and my practice.

Biography

I was born in the Midwest, the youngest of seven children. I always knew I wanted to have a career in a helping profession. I began my studies in speech and hearing, and then continued in medical school to pursue my goal of working to improve lives, which led me into my specialty of pediatrics. My first priority has always been to take care of my patients. I feel very fortunate as well that my role as chief of pediatrics allows me to work collaboratively with so many other talented colleagues at Kaiser Permanente. I received my medical degree in 1980 and completed my pediatric residency in 1983, both at UC San Diego. I moved to LA in 2001 and started my career at Kaiser Permanente’s South Bay Medical Center. I have been chief of the Department of Pediatrics since 2011.

About my practice

My perspective on care is based on the age and development of my patients. An infant, child, or teenager will communicate his or her problem or pain differently based on his or her developmental stage. Taking this into account helps me adjust my approach when interacting with the family. This perspective can also be shared to help parents better understand their child’s behavior.

How I thrive

I enjoy relaxing at home with my family and friends as well as traveling to new places. I enjoy learning new languages and experiencing new cultures. I often will plan a trip or establish a goal that helps keep me physically active or allows me to learn about a new culture or language. I enjoy hiking, bike riding, skiing, and yoga.