I was born in Yokohama, Japan. My family moved to California when I was in elementary school and then to Hawaii when I was in middle school. I consider Hawaii home and am glad to be able to practice in a place with such strong community values.
I have always enjoyed getting to know people with varied backgrounds and personal histories. As an occupational medicine physician, I have the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, from bakers to teachers to construction workers, and understand their work requirements and what hazards are associated with different occupations. It is especially wonderful to meet patients who love their jobs; their joy and pride makes it even more rewarding for me to help them to heal and return to doing what they do best. Practicing within the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group has allowed me to provide patients with high quality care and do what is best for them. I feel fortunate to have access to cutting-edge electronic medical records, extremely skilled physicians and specialists, and state-of-the-art medical procedures, all while still being able to practice highly personalized medicine.
Just as flight attendants tell us to "Put on your oxygen mask first and then assist others," I also try to take care of myself in order to best take care of others. I strive to eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. It can be hard to find enough hours in a day to do it all, but I try! When I do have an opportunity to run or attend an exercise class, I feel really great afterwards. I love to golf whenever I get the chance, and spend as much free time as I can with my family.
