I went to medical school at the University of Colorado following post-baccalaureate research work in targeted gene therapy for cancer. I was fortunate to subsequently train here in the East Bay through the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) - East Bay Surgery program which is integrated into the Northern California Kaiser Permanente system. I spent an additional two years at UCSF researching the pathophysiology of pancreatitis and the immune systems response to infection.

After residency I spent two years at the University of Washington in Seattle in an Abdominal Transplant Fellowship to solidify my understanding of hepatobiliary surgery and oncology.

Professional Interest
I am a board certified general surgeon and my focus is in the open or laparoscopic management of gastrointestinal tract malignancies. This includes surgery of the stomach, small bowel, liver, pancreas and bile ducts, and colon and rectum.

In addition to being a clinician, I conduct and enjoy clinical research and teaching of surgical residents. I am the Kaiser Permanente Liaison to UCSF for medical student surgical education through the newly developed KLIC program. I am a Candidate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of multiple surgical societies including the Society of Surgical Oncology and the Americas and International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Associations.

Practice Philosophy
Even with the continued evolutions in medicine, surgery is still an art. My goal is to provide each individual with the most accurate and honest information that will assist them in their decision-making regarding their health and well being. I respect the right of an individual to make a well informed decision consistent with their values and beliefs and I will always do my best to support and advocate for each individual’s agenda.

My objective is to deliver compassionate care in addition to excellent surgical outcomes. Fortunately, having trained in both community and academic centers I am acutely aware of the opportunities to facilitate optimal surgical care. The best results are achieved when challenging problems are addressed in a multidisciplinary fashion with providers from multiple disciplines advocating for the individual patient. The Kaiser Oakland facility is an ensemble of highly trained physicians and surgeons with the most up-to-date resources and I am proud to ask for both their recommendations and help in optimizing your care.