Salir
About Me
At the age of 19 I left the beautiful Stellenbosch Valley in South Africa to join my mother and sister in California. I received my medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and did my family medicine internship and residency at the University of California, Davis, where I was chief resident. During residency, I was involved in medical student teaching and volunteered in the free, student-run clinic.
When my husband and I came to Hawaii to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, we fell in love with the island’s natural beauty, rich cultural traditions, and warm people, which reminded us of home. After we had our son and daughter, we knew we wanted to raise them in this beautiful place.
About my practice
During my formative years in South Africa I witnessed extreme poverty and inequality and became passionate about finding a career that would allow me to help those in need. Given my interest in the sciences and my love of people and their lives, I decided to become a physician.
The family medicine specialty appealed to me because I enjoy working with all age groups, getting to know an entire family, and knowing more about people than just their medical problems. I learn something new every day because anyone of any age with any kind of problem can come in to see a family doctor! My other professional interests include lifestyle changes for treating chronic conditions, integrative medicine, and child and adolescent health.
To stay current in medicine, I attend professional conferences, read journals, subscribe to email resources, and learn from situations I encounter in the clinic. My membership in the American Academy of Family Physicians, an educational and professional organization, also helps to keep me informed.
Hawaii Permanente Medical Group strives to provide care that’s integrated, efficient, and based on the latest research findings. Prevention is emphasized, and primary care providers like me are well supported by great staff and specialists.
My goal is to identify the root causes of my patients’ conditions, including any lifestyle factors that may be causing or contributing to their health problems. This way we can create a plan together that best fulfills their needs, including recommendations for home remedies or complementary therapies, referrals to other specialists, and drug and medical treatments.
How I thrive
My main exercise is running after my two young children. We also hike, bike, and play for what sometimes feels like 24/7! For my mental health I go to the library, read novels, listen to audiobooks, bake, spend time in nature, hike with my dogs, and swim in the ocean. I also keep a gratitude journal that helps me to focus on the positives in my life.