Hello, I am Dr. Vaghjiani, head of the Palliative Care Department in the Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley Medical Offices. Our palliative team is comprised of doctors, nurses, social workers, clergy members, and other specialists who work with members and their families.
Born and raised in Kenya, educated in India and England, I now call Southern California my home. After attending medical school in Bombay, I completed my internship at King Edward Memorial Hospital there. I went on to serve my residency in Nairobi and later at the VA Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. My postgraduate studies were conducted at Ashford Hospital outside London. I am board certified in both internal medicine and palliative care. I started at Kaiser Permanente in 1993, and today, I serve as assistant medical director for the Antelope Valley.
Unlike curative treatment, palliative care focuses on improving the patient’s quality of life by tending not only to the body but the mind and spirit as well. We help families work through difficult questions and decisions by providing answers and insights that are not just based in science and medicine but in sensitivity and compassion also. An understanding look or a reassuring touch of a hand when it is needed is often just as important as any medicine we might provide. To me, being a physician is a special opportunity to connect with and help people in a meaningful way. I feel fortunate to be a part of the palliative team at Kaiser Permanente, providing compassionate care to our members and their families.
As a wife, mother, and caregiver, I understand the importance of family. Spending time together is precious and often fleeting. Our family enjoys spending weekends in the mountains, relaxing by the pool, or simply sitting around and enjoying each others company.
