About Me

Welcome to my Web page. I feel very privileged to be able to share with you a little about myself and my practice here at Kaiser Permanente. I look forward to us getting to know each other as we work together to improve and maintain your health.

Biography

I was born in Taiwan but also lived for two years in Rockville, Maryland, during first and second grade. I then returned to Taiwan for several more years before finally immigrating to Southern California at age 14. I have remained here since then. My early exposure to different people, cultures, and languages has taught me valuable lessons on the diversity of humanity. I enjoy being with individuals from different backgrounds. I have always been fascinated by things that grow, whether they are flowers, trees, caterpillars, puppies, or people. My work as a pediatric gastroenterologist allows me to literally watch babies and children grow and thrive, facing challenges and overcoming obstacles as they strive toward maturity.

About my practice

My work as a pediatric gastroenterologist (or a pediatric GI doctor) brings me face to face with children who have various digestive diseases, and I have at my disposal a considerable arsenal of laboratory tests, imaging studies, endoscopies, medications, and other specialists' tools. However, most of the issues that my members and their families face are more than just disease. They have problems with pain, difficulty sleeping, trouble in school, family stress, poor lifestyle and dietary habits, teachers who don't quite understand what is going on with them, and anxiety. These often need to be handled with more than just tests, medicine, and surgery. Because of this, I try to spend time listening to their concerns, and doing my best to address these issues.

How I thrive

As a physician who witnesses the many medical complications of childhood obesity, I feel that it is important to set a personal example of healthy living. I started running seriously for the first time in late 2003, after my son, who was in second grade, started to brag incessantly about his teacher who has run numerous marathons. A few months later, I managed to complete the 2004 Los Angeles Marathon in a little under six hours, and I immediately caught the running bug. I have since completed 23 more marathons, including the 2007 Boston Marathon, and have logged approximately 30,000 miles of running. I am also encouraging my children to be physically active, and every Sunday morning we walk or run to a breakfast destination of their choice. These are our weekly "special dates," which I hope will continue for years to come.