About Me

I have always felt fortunate to have been born and raised in Honolulu during a special time for the State of Hawaii as she transitioned into the 50th State. Later in life I learned Hawaii made education one of her highest priorities, and having attended some of Honolulu's finest public schools, I was a beneficiary of that system. My home today is only a few blocks from the childhood home where I grew up.

About my practice

Science and nature fascinated me as a child and continue to amaze me even today. Because medicine also involves helping people, it seemed like a natural career choice for me.During medical school, I attended a clinic in rheumatology. It was a specialty with more questions than answers at the time, but I saw rheumatologists help people who were suffering to control their condition and live life as fully as possible. I knew I wanted to be a part of this effort.I enjoy working at Hawaii Permanente Medical Group because the collegiality of the entire practice breeds a healthy professional environment. Our robust electronic health record gives me to access physician notes, lab tests, imaging studies and pharmacy actions, enabling me to make the best informed decisions for my patients.Research has been a key element of my work. I have published and lectured extensively on rheumatoid arthritis treatment, pain management, autoimmune disease, and innovations in medical education and funding, among other topics. I am currently a consultant to the FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel, Center for Devices and Radiological Health. In past years I have served as a board member and committee chair for the American College of Rheumatology. I have been on the editorial board of the Southern Medical Journal and Arthritis and Rheumatism.

How I thrive

Running before work is a habit, and I have recently added resistance exercises for strength training. Staying mentally healthy means staying active, so I enjoy body-surfing, diving and spearfishing, hiking, and reading.Spending time with my family helps me to maintain my perspective on the things in life that are important to me.