About Me

Welcome to my Web page. I have been a Kaiser Permanente physician for seventeen years. I'm glad to have this chance to introduce myself to you and tell you about my life and practice. I feel very fortunate to work at Kaiser Permanente because of the integrity of my colleagues, and the diversity of our members. I look forward to working with you, and caring for the health of your bones, joints, and tendons.

Biography

I was born in Palos Verdes, which is in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. I grew up on a very quiet street, but there were about fifty neighborhood kids who used to play together and keep things lively. I have my own family now. My wife is a very accomplished administrator in city government, and she is also involved in various charities. We have two sons and a daughter. The kids are doing well in school, and I am told they are well-mannered at other people's homes . Our ever-hungry cocker spaniel keeps watch over the household. There are always a few other pets around the house in various stages of planning an escape. Since I was a small child, I wanted to be a physician. My father was a family practice doctor in San Pedro. In my life I have pursued many different passions, but I have always come back to medicine.

About my practice

I believe that I am doing what I was born to do. Orthopaedics is a perfect blend of my interests: building things, solving problems, improving function, and caring for people. When I began medical school, my professors told me that I would recognize my future specialty when I saw it. In my first semester, I became enamored with human anatomy and the sameness of all people just below the surface. I knew I had to become a surgeon. My philosophy is that the human body is always trying to heal itself, and the role of the orthopaedist is to try to restore equilibrium. Most of the time, this can be accomplished without surgery. I always try to treat people without surgery. Surgery is the treatment of last resort. I give patients options, and they decide whether they want surgery. Once a patient decides to have surgery, I use my experience, knowledge, resources, and skills to achieve the best possible health outcome.

How I thrive

My job is a big part of my life, but it is only a part of my life. I am very involved in the lives of my family members, and belong to an extensive community network. At every opportunity, I hop on one of my road or mountain bikes . Over the decades, I have found that aerobic exercise keeps my mind clear and my body aligned. I especially like working out early in the early morning, which gives me a mental and physical boost all day long. I have competed in a number of triathlons. I love crossing the finish line with my three kids who always join me for the last hundred meters. Other hobbies of mine include playing golf and tennis, traveling, working on the house, solar power, watching movies, and (gulp) reality TV.