Lydia Schindler, MD

Bio

I am a family doc, a provider for adult, pediatric and gynecological care.

I have been a practicing Board Certified Family Physician for 27 years in Sonoma County. I joined Kaiser Permanente in February 2003. I feel honored to be part of the Kaiser Permanente family with so many competent physicians and health providers. One of the greatest rewards in becoming a physician is seeing the children I delivered, now as young adults. Through the years I have always felt passionate and privileged to participate in the healthcare of families and individuals.

Raised in southern California, I graduated from UCLA and later attended the University of California, San Francisco Medical School. I completed my Family Practice Residency training at Sutter Medical Center in Santa Rosa.

I have many special interests. One passion is the study of western herbalism, the practice of healing with plant medicine. I have been studying for a few years with some great mentors and nationally known herbalists. Nature walks are becoming a necessity and more often taking the place of distant travels. I enjoy my family and seeing my two daughters discover their life's passions.

My goal is to provide you with the best medical care in a collaborative manner. It is your responsibility to develop a lifestyle for good health, both body and spirit. I will help guide you in the right direction. We will discuss healthy diet, exercise and substance avoidance such as smoking and excess alcohol. I will participate in your acute and chronic health issues. We can discuss alternative health care if that is your desire. I often use our outstanding support team such as health educators, physical therapists and psychologists to provide you with the best care possible. If a medical problem requires further attention, I will refer you to the appropriate specialist. These decisions and recommendations will always remain a collaboration between you and me.

You can contact me via telephone appointment, message or email. E-mail should be for non-urgent inquiries.

My response may not be immediate. When you visit please bring your medications and supplements, or a list of your medications. Also, if you have not already done so, on your next visit to see me, ask Adelia, my medical assistant for a history form, and fill it out. I will know you better.

I look forward to our working together!

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

One never stops learning to develop compassion for others. A physician's responsibility is to provide healthcare in a professional and compassionate manner. How fortunate I am, as a family physician, to be in this most privileged role of caring for others.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

Dr Mertens and I have been working together for over 15 years. Initially, we had a private practice in Petaluma. Now, we continue to work in collaboration in the family medicine department in Rohnert Park. They call us "The Lydia's."

An interesting story from my training:

My first position finishing my residency was working for a community clinic in Rutherford, Napa. Our clinic was located in a doublewide trailer next to a vineyard. I remember driving over the "mountain" to Santa Rosa Community Hospital to deliver a baby every now and then. The following six years I worked at the Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg. At the time, it was a small stand-up community clinic with two doctors serving indigenous patients and migrant workers. It was our custom to do home visits, care for our patients in the hospital, assist in surgeries, and deliver up to a few dozen babies a month. Those were the days!

Photos from My Training Years or of Practicing Medicine in My Field:

Petaluma private practice with Drs. Lydia Mertens and Lana Nguyen late 1980's

One of my first babies delivered-1980's

Interests

Currently reading:
Interesting journal for herbal information-Herbalgram, The Journal of the American Botanical Council. My last good read was The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.

Hobby Photos & Links:

Foundation done

Breaking ground for strawbale house

Roof in place

The strawbale next!

working on the inside

outside done

Family & Friends

My children and people I care about:

Camille, my youngest daughter, graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor's degree in Cell Developmental Biology and History. She's teaching part time at the Santa Rosa JC. By the way, she's a passionate musician, songwriter and artist. Boy, can she belt out a tune.

An interesting story about my family or friends:

Mary, my oldest daughter, graduated from UC Berkeley in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in English. 3 years ago, she embarked on an adventure to Brazil to learn the Capoiera Martial Arts and the Portuguese language. She just returned to California after 2 years bicycling with her husband Fabio. They have bicycled 5,280 miles from Sao Paulo, Brazil to California. They traveled along the Brazilian coast into Venezuela, Columbia and through Central America. Her objective was completed, to visit various Capoiera academies along the way and exchange information with these groups. Her hope is to make a documentary.

Travel

An adventure I've had:

I have been fortunate enough in my life to visit many places around the world, including such destinations as Machu Pichu, the Amazon, Bali, and many countries in Europe.

One of my recent trips:

After not seeing my oldest daughter Mary, for 7 months I went to visit her in Brazil in January 2005. We traveled from Salvador, in the state of Bahia, to Rio de Janerio by car. Brazil has some of the most beautiful coastal beaches in the world. Mangos, coconuts and fresh squeezed sugar cane. The people are beautiful, generous and open hearted.

Travel Photos:

Rafting in northern Thailand

Trip Photos:

Small cove along the Brazilian Coast