Dr. Sydney Sawyer of MarinHealth Pediatric Care | A UCSF Health Clinic wanted to be a pediatrician since the age of six! Her goal is to partner with parents and guide them through their children’s ages and stages, from birth to age 22. A New England native, the UCSF trained physician has three children of her own....
Dr. Cindy Greenberg, a Pediatrician at MarinHealth Pediatric Care | A UCSF Health Clinic, has always enjoyed working with kids. Dr. Greenberg grew up in Marin where she has raised three children of her own. Here, she discusses how a lifelong calling to care for others has informed her choice of career and philosophy of care....
Dr. Elisa Washburn's hands-on approach to care stems from her 16 years as a rolfer. She worked with many people who were living with chronic pain and wanted to learn new ways to help them. A graduate of TUCOM, TOURO Osteopathic College of Medicine in Vallejo, she has a strong background in osteopathic manipulation. Dr. Washburn is a committed advocate for her patients and believes in including them as partners in their own care....
Joint replacement surgery can be a daunting prospect without the right education and preparation. An informative joint replacement class and a caring Nurse Navigator can make all the difference! Amy Blevins is a Nurse Navigator and Director of two MarinHealth service lines: Orthopedic Surgery and Gender Alignment. In this podcast, Amy explains how a Nurse Navigator can help you through every stage of your knee or hip replacement....
An internist with the MarinHealth Internal Medicine | A UCSF Health Clinic, Dr. Gurkamal Hans was inspired to go into medicine after the unexpected and unexplained death of her beloved uncle. Originally from Canada, Dr. Hans married a native Californian, also a MarinHealth doctor, and the couple is delighted to call the Bay Area home. Dr. Hans has a passion for preventive medicine and patient education....
Dr. Megan Reeves, a Pediatrician at MarinHealth Pediatric Care | A UCSF Health Clinic, has an interesting take on the role of a pediatrician. She believes it’s the ultimate form of preventive medicine–an opportunity to partner with families and get youngsters on the path to a lifetime of good health....
Can’t find your keys? Left the oven on? Blurted out the wrong word? You don’t have to be a senior to have these moments, but as we age, it’s only natural to worry about dementia. In this podcast, Dr. Melanie Lising, a neurologist at MarinHealth Neurology | A UCSF Health Clinic, discusses the types of dementia and their various causes. Learn when to seek help for a loved one. Find out what’s really worrisome, and what could be just a momentary mental lapse. And discover why exercise might not jus...
Did you know “Caregiver Stress” is an actual condition that affects people physically, mentally, and emotionally? Over time, the demands and responsibilities of caregiving can affect your blood pressure, your concentration, your digestion, your sleep, and many other aspects of your health. And sadly, caregiver stress is all too common. Kora Schmid, palliative care supervisor, and spiritual care advisor at MarinHealth, is seeing a lot of caregiver stress these days as the hospital medical teams t...
Whether it’s a fracture, a dislocation, or a torn meniscus, a knee injury can really hobble you. As an active person, how do you reduce your risk of knee injuries? When should you see a doctor? And what’s new in knee surgery? Get the scoop from a man who really knows knees, MarinHealth Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Michael Brown. This podcast covers a lot of ground, from the impact of osteoporosis on knee health to custom knee replacements. Take a listen – your knees will thank you....
Your neighbor’s hooked on Keto. Your boss swears by the Mediterranean Diet. Your cousin’s lost ten pounds with intermittent fasting. And your best friend says she’s got to DASH. Which diets are good for weight loss? Which is sustainable long term? In this podcast, Pam Riggs, Outpatient Nutrition Coordinator and Registered Dietician Nutritionist at MarinHealth, breaks down the popular diets. Listen to learn the pros and cons of various eating styles from a nutrition professional and figure out wh...
Just because you’re currently enrolled in Medicare doesn’t mean you have the plan that best fits your circumstances. Now’s the time to review your options and, if desired, make a change. Anyone who has Medicare part A and part B can enroll, disenroll or change their Medicare Advantage Plan during Medicare Open Enrollment, from October 15th through December 7th. In this podcast, Joe Valenzuela, a Licensed Agent with Vista Mutual Insurance Services who works with MarinHealth partner Canopy Health,...
Many people look forward to making the move to Medicare. But first, it’s essential to understand the basics because you have some important choices to make before arriving at the option that best fits your needs. Ivan Lopez, a licensed agent with Van Berg Insurance Services who works with MarinHealth partner Canopy Health, specializes in educating people about their Medicare options. In this podcast, he provides an overview of Medicare and offers advice on how to transition onto the program, wal...
These are challenging times and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Rather than give in to worry and negative thinking, take a few minutes to clear and refresh your mind with this guided meditation led by Kia De Lao from MarinHealth Integrative Wellness Center....
How’s your stress level these days? On second thought, let’s ask a different question: would you like to reduce your stress level–right now? Find a comfortable spot to sit or lie down – anywhere quiet where you won’t be undisturbed by children, pets, or outside noises. Then, close your eyes and let Healing Arts Practitioner Corliss Chan guide you through a peaceful imaginary landscape and watch your troubles float away like little white clouds. This guided meditation is eight minutes well-spent....
Whether you just bike to and from work or you’re a hardcore mountain biker, there’s a lot more to bike safety than just putting your helmet on. Especially in Marin, where we have six times the number of bicycle accidents per trauma patient compared to your average trauma center! As a Board-Certified General Surgeon at MarinHealth General & Colorectal Surgery | A UCSF Health Clinic and Trauma Medical Director of MarinHealth Medical Center, Dr. Edward Alfrey has plenty of hands-on experience with ...
If you’ve never smoked in your life, lung cancer may be the least of your health concerns. Unfortunately, lung cancer does occasionally develop in non-smokers and doctors are studying a variety of potential causes. In this podcast, Dr. Alex Metzger, a Hematologist and Oncologist at Marin Cancer Care, discusses the incidence of lung cancer in never-smokers. Learn about symptoms, risk factors, and potential treatment options....
You could have kidney stones and not know it. That is, until one of those nasty little crystals forming on the surface of your kidneys break off and tries to pass through your urinary tract. The pain can be absolutely excruciating. In this podcast, MarinHealth urologist Dr. Patrick Bennett explains what kidney stones are made of and how they form in your body. Learn about the risk factors and treatment options for this common, unpleasant, but ultimately curable condition....
As the Coronavirus Pandemic sweeps across the nation, we keep hearing about pre-existing conditions that increase our risk of complications from COVID-19 and other illnesses. One of the most critical aspects of total wellness is cardiovascular health. So how can you reduce your risk of developing preexisting conditions like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or atherosclerosis–conditions that can lead to heart attack and stroke and make you more vulnerable to disease? In this podcast, MarinHealth car...
Kia De Lao leads a guided meditation.
An ostomy is a surgically created opening in the abdomen used to pass urine or stool from the body. Over a hundred thousand ostomy surgeries are performed each year, for a variety of reasons, from birth defects to cancer to bowel disease. Now, North Bay ostomy patients can get the specialized care they need at MarinHealth’s new Ostomy Clinic. In this podcast, MarinHealth certified ostomy wound nurses Alice Basch and Jean Wize, supervisor of Wound Ostomy Services, tell us about the new clinic. Ba...
Not every pregnancy is planned, but if you want to start a family in the not- too-distant future, a little planning can’t hurt–including talking to an OBGYN before you conceive. Dr. Tamar Segev, an OBGYN at Marin Health, provides lots of useful information for wannabe moms-to-be. Find out what health conditions your doctor needs to know about. Get tips on healthy pre-pregnancy habits for both you AND your partner. Learn what you should–and should not–eat when you’re expecting. You’re bound to le...
If you’re raising a teen, you know moodiness comes with the territory. Teenagers are sensitive creatures and they’re not always emotionally mature enough to process what’s happening around them–especially in a global pandemic. How well is your teen handling the stress of current events, a disrupted school schedule and being away from their friends? Dr. Sydney Sawyer, a Pediatrician at Marin Health, discusses how the pandemic is affecting teens at a stage in their development where they would nor...
Are you one of those folks who call a gastroenterologist for a stomach bug? Do you Google ENTs when you get a sore throat? Do you go straight to an urgent care clinic for a minor health issue? The truth is, a primary care physician (PCP) can help with the majority of your everyday ailments. In this podcast, Dr. Elizabeth Lowe, Medical Director of Primary Care Physicians at MarinHealth, explains the value of a PCP, the doctor in charge of your overall health. Find out how a PCP can help you manag...
According to a recent study by the World Health Organization, Americans are 25 times more likely to be victims of a gun related murder and 8 times more likely to commit suicide by firearm than the citizens of other developed countries. Is there a way for us to come together and change these sad statistics? Like most trauma surgeons, MarinHealth’s Dr. John Maa has operated on his share of gun violence victims. In this podcast, Dr. Maa discusses his recent article in the New England Journal of Med...
By now, many people have heard about Telehealth, but that doesn’t mean they feel confident enough to use it. Yet Telehealth is so convenient and easy, you don’t even need a computer to have that virtual appointment. In this podcast, Debra Roy, a MarinHealth Medical Network Practice Manager, explains how you can schedule that doctor’s appointment you need, even in a pandemic. She also addresses ease of use, privacy, and security concerns, and when an in-person appointment becomes necessary....
You need help getting something off a high shelf because it hurts too much to reach. You roll over in bed in the middle of the night and shoulder pain wakes you up. Your arm feels week and you have a hard time picking up heavy objects. Shoulder problems can impact daily living in a multitude of ways. Dr. Eric Bava, an Orthopedic Surgeon at MarinHealth Orthopedic Surgery | A UCSF Health Clinic, has helped many people resolve their shoulder issues, both through noninvasive treatments and innovativ...
Gender affirmation surgery. Gender confirmation surgery. Gender alignment surgery. Surgeries to treat gender dysphoria go by a few different names, but the patients would all call them life-changing. Here, Dr. Dave Gurajal discusses the latest female-to-male procedures, including new techniques for creating a functional phallus. He also covers the necessary preparation for gender affirmation surgery, involving a support and care team that can include a variety of specialists....
Gender dysphoria, in which the mind isn’t aligned with the gender you were born with, is a lifelong, emotionally painful condition. Fortunately, surgery that can help is now considered reconstructive and covered by most insurance plans in California. In this podcast, Dr. Thomas Satterwhite, a surgeon who specializes in these sophisticated surgeries, discusses his passion for helping people suffering from gender dysphoria. While this podcast focuses on some of the male-to-female procedures now of...
Home is the most reassuring place to be for most of us, especially our children. But in this unprecedented pandemic, kids have to deal with a major life disruption they can barely comprehend. They may get anxious, have problems with sleep and concentration, or even develop symptoms of PTSD. In this podcast, MarinHealth Pediatrician Cindy Greenberg explains how structure and routine can help ground and reassure your child. Dr. Greenberg offers advice on how to engage and support youngsters during...
While the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of family, being homebound together can be stressful. Lack of exercise and too much snacking can impact children’s physical health. Little kids may be anxious and more accident-prone. Teens may act more sullen and rebellious. Dr. Sydney Sawyer, a MarinHealth pediatrician, discusses the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on children’s physical and emotional health. Listen for advice on how to reassure your children and keep them safe and well...
