About Me

Hello, and welcome to my Web page. I'm excited about having this opportunity to tell you about myself and the philosophy of my practice. Sports and physical activity are a lifelong passion for me. Because of this, I enjoy working with athletes and active people of all ages. I also really enjoy working with young adults to help them develop lifelong healthy habits.

Biography

I was born and raised in sunny California. I’ve been an athlete my entire life. I started running cross-country races at age 11. I was an intercollegiate student athlete in cross-country and track at beautiful UC Santa Barbara. While studying exercise physiology there, I was the school record holder in the 5,000-meter race in track. I’ve also run several marathons, and was the first woman to finish in the Santa Monica Marathon many years ago. I have competed in Kaiser Permanente–sponsored half marathons and 5Ks, and have done a couple triathlons. I went into medicine because I was interested in the prevention of disease through lifestyle changes. Because of this interest, I did a combined medical degree/master's degree in public health at Tulane University School of Medicine and Tulane University School of Public Health in New Orleans. I then did a residency in preventive medicine and public health, prior to my residency in family medicine.

About my practice

My approach to preventive medicine has changed over the years. Before I went to medical school, I used to think that almost everything could be cured with lifestyle changes. I now know that genetics, stress, environmental exposures, and other factors also have a lot to do with the development of disease. Even some Olympic athletes with extremely low body fat have to take medications for chronic medical conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Taking medicines and getting vaccinations to help control and prevent disease are now a big part of preventive medicine. I’ve seen over the years how detrimental the effects of stress can be to a person's health. Exercise is medicine, diet is medicine, sleep is medicine, and relaxation is medicine. Exercise, play, laughter, and getting together with friends are some of the things that can decrease stress.

How I thrive

I try to stay active and eat healthy foods. I enjoy all types of sports and physical activities. My current activities of choice are biking with friends, jogging, and swimming. I'm thinking of training for a reverse triathlon, where the events are in reverse order—running, biking, and then swimming. I like to relax by scheduling quiet time and spending time with my husband and family.