As a physician, Kevin Nguyen, MD, has always been drawn to the sacred space created within each clinical encounter and the healing power of empathic communication. After joining TPMG in 2012, he began exploring opportunities to support colleagues to deepen…
When a patient shows up in the emergency room with a sudden, painful headache, a CT scan is usually the first test the doctor orders. If the CT scan does not diagnose a severe, life-threatening brain hemorrhage, the next test…
As KP East Bay’s Chief of Anesthesiology, Michele Arnold, MD, has consistently shown the ability to tackle complex, cross-departmental challenges, and she has been instrumental in driving meaningful change with wisdom, patience, and steady leadership. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she…
As chief of KP East Bay’s Spine Surgery department for nearly 2 decades, Ravi S. Bains, MD, has been a transformative force in the field of spine surgery, demonstrating innovative leadership, unparalleled dedication to patient care, and a profound commitment…
When Molly Tolins, MD, created the Peer Outreach Support Team (POST) program in 2019, she couldn’t have known how critical “healing the healer” would be for her colleagues during the COVID 19 pandemic. “Talking about challenging experiences and processing them…
For Margaret “Peggy” Desler, MD, leadership is grounded in humility and a deep respect for the expertise of The Permanente Medical Group physicians and staff. She leads inclusively, valuing every voice and perspective, and maintains an open-door policy that welcomes…
Christy M. King, DPM, director of the KP San Francisco Bay Area Foot and Ankle Residency Program, says her success as an educator and leader stems from years of playing sports, especially as catcher for her college softball team. “The…
Transgender and gender-nonbinary people face enormous barriers to their safety, health, and well being in the United States. These include high rates of poverty, harassment, and violence, as well as limited job opportunities and isolation from their larger communities. They…
Transgender and gender-nonbinary people face enormous barriers to their safety, health, and well being in the United States. These include high rates of poverty, harassment, and violence, as well as limited job opportunities and isolation from their larger communities. They…
When Dr. Rajagopal became chief of Infectious Diseases for the East Bay in January 2020, he couldn’t have predicted what was to come. Yet just 2 months later, when faced with the harrowing reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, he didn’t…
With a proactive yet patient approach, Gretchen Mello, MD, is a highly versatile leader that excels in offering innovative solutions to complex problems. As the Assistant Physician-in Chief, she thrives on The Permanente Medical Group’s model for patient care and…
The number of U.S adults who develop gastric or esophageal cancer each year is small – approximately 2.5% of all new cancer diagnoses. This means most oncologists or surgeons outside of a tertiary academic center might see only a few…
The number of U.S adults who develop gastric or esophageal cancer each year is small – approximately 2.5% of all new cancer diagnoses. This means most oncologists or surgeons outside of a tertiary academic center might see only a few…
Respected for her broad understanding of the organization, Julie Sandoval, MD, is widely lauded for her collaborative and empowering leadership style. She attributes her most important lessons about leadership to her training as a geriatrician, where teamwork is essential. In…
Always forward-thinking, David Ng, MD, challenges those around him to think creatively and to constantly innovate. Throughout his long career, Dr. Ng has advanced revolutionary ideas that now underpin the unique care delivery system within Kaiser Permanente. Never one to…
While most patients visiting the emergency department for chest or abdominal pain do not have a life-threatening condition like a heart attack or appendicitis, determining who is indeed at high risk and in need of urgent management can be a…
While most patients visiting the emergency department for chest or abdominal pain do not have a life-threatening condition like a heart attack or appendicitis, determining who is indeed at high risk and in need of urgent management can be a…