About Me

I was born in Anchorage, Alaska, where my father was a general medical officer in the public health service. My parents grew tired of the cold so when I was four years old, we moved to sunny Hawaii and never looked back. They continue to live here to this day as I build my own family with my wonderful husband, who is a professional artist, and our two young children. One of my biggest influences was my father. Although he never pressured me to follow in his footsteps, I grew up noticing how satisfied he was with his work as a physician. Practicing medicine provides me with a variety of experiences, intellectual challenges and the opportunity to work with and educate people; all of which were factors I was looking for in a career.

About my practice

I was drawn to obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) medicine because of the ability to practice surgical skills and procedures and to develop long-term relationships with my patients. One of my responsibilities as an Ob/Gyn physician is to educate my patients on how to maximize their well-being and guide them through changes to their body, from puberty through their reproductive years and into menopause. I enjoy sitting down with my patients and using visual aids to explain their health concerns or treatment options. I believe that health care is a team approach with the patient playing a key role, so taking the time to ensure they understand their options builds a sense of trust. Trust is one of the most important aspects of my patient relationships. It is my duty to provide my patients with options for care based on the most evidence and current information available. When a course of care is not clear, I listen carefully to their concerns rather than tell them what their concerns should be. I ensure that my patients know that they have been heard and in so doing, they are fully able to participate as a partner in their care. I love the integrated health care model we practice within the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group. The strong infrastructure ensures that my patients have easy access to specialists, and I find that electronic medical records make the transfer of information from one provider to the next very smooth. Members are treated equally and with the same emphasis on education and prevention. In addition to my duties as an Ob/Gyn physician I am involved with a number of projects and roles. I am honored to be the physician champion for the Intimate Partner Violence Prevention group for Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. In this role I help to develop screening recommendations and operational policies that support patients who are victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

How I thrive

To stay physically healthy, I try to eat well and enjoy swimming, hiking, snorkeling and kayaking. Reading and knitting helps me stay mentally fit. I also love to travel and explore new places and activities, and I draw on my family and friends for balance, perspective, and support