Bio
I am excited to be back to California and especially delighted to make Santa Rosa our new home! My family immigrated from El Salvador to the US in 1983, setting up roots in San Francisco. After finishing high school at St. Rose Academy, I obtained my Bachelor of Science at the University of California at Davis in 1995. I decided to pursue a career in medicine at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medical School after I interned for a local Osteopathic physician.
As a medical student, I enjoyed rotating through all the specialties, but only Family Practice appealed to me because it encompassed the whole Osteopathic philosophy of treating the patient as a whole and not a system.
After completing a Family Practice residency at La Grange Memorial Hospital in 2002, I joined a private practice in Wheaton, Illinois, where I practiced for three and a half years. I enjoyed living in the Chicago land area and have many fond memories. I met my husband while in medical school, married during residency, delivered both our children at the hospital where I trained, and made many lifelong friends. But no matter how exciting one place can be, there is truly no place like home. I was ecstatic when we made the decision to move back to the Northern California this past January 2007 and officially began working at Santa Rosa Kaiser in February.
Growing up in San Francisco with its cultural and social diversity has definitely shaped me as a person and helped me understand and be open to my patients. I strongly believe in the importance of establishing a solid patient- doctor relationship through active listening and open communication. I am open to incorporating alternative medicines into the treatment of my patients when appropriate and safe. My medical and professional philosophy has always been to provide my patients with the same care that I would expect for my own family and friends. I am happy and proud to be working for a health system that shares the same philosophy and whom spends time and resources in one the most important aspects of medicine, preventative care.
Outside of medicine, my family and kids are my passion. Both my husband and I agree that raising kids is one of the hardest but also most rewarding things in life. As a family we enjoy long walks, sunny days at the park, evenings cooking together, and traveling. Personally, I enjoy a great physical and mental workout when I practice Bikram yoga. The practice of yoga has taught me to be persistent but patient with myself.
|
