Best Doctors

Choosing a doctor is not like choosing a kitchen appliance. Sure, you want your new toaster to do its job quickly and efficiently, with minimal fuss. But the consequence of not choosing the highest-quality toaster could
be . . . scorched toast. Still edible, but not the best. By now, you can see where we are going with this: A slice of toast is hardly an eye, or a hand, or a heart. That’s why Sacramento magazine has secured rights to publish Best Doctors, Inc.’s regional list of doctors as excerpted from the 2015–2016 Best Doctors in America® database. 

The physicians on the list were chosen through a peer-to-peer process similar to the informal process doctors themselves use to connect their patients to the right specialists. Doctors cannot pay to be included on the list, and they cannot nominate or vote for themselves. Best Doctors’ team of researchers has verified their credentials and areas of expertise. 

We also interviewed nine of these Best Doctors to hear in their own words what experiences shaped them and what thoughts inspire them. So sit back, enjoy a snack (something warm and toasty, perhaps?) and peruse these 10 pages. 

Gallup® has audited and certified Best Doctors, Inc.’s database of physicians, and its companion The Best Doctors in America® List, as using the highest industry standards survey methodology and processes. These lists are excerpted from The Best Doctors in America® 2015–2016 database, which includes over 40,000 U.S. doctors in more than 40 medical specialties and 400 subspecialties. The Best Doctors in America® database is compiled and maintained by Best Doctors, Inc. For more information, visit www.bestdoctors.com or contact Best Doctors by telephone at 800-675-1199 or by email at research@bestdoctors.com. Please note that lists of doctors are not available on the Best Doctors Web site. 

Best Doctors, Inc. has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list, but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person or other party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

BEST DOCTORS, THE BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA, and the Star-in-Cross Logo are trademarks of Best Doctors, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries, and are used under license.

ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY 

Bradley E. Chipps 

Capital Allergy and Respiratory Disease Center 

5609 J St, Ste C 

Sacramento, CA 95819 

Phone: 916-453-8696 

ANESTHESIOLOGY 

Cathleen R. Lammers 

UC Davis Medical Center 

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine 

2315 Stockton Blvd 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-5311 

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 

William J. Bommer 

UC Davis Medical Group 

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine 

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Lower Level, Ste 0200 

4860 Y St 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-3761 

John Laird 

UC Davis Medical Group 

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine 

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2100 

4860 Y St 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-3800 

Reginald I. Low 

UC Davis Medical Group 

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine 

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Lower Level, Ste 0200 

4860 Y St 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-3761 

Jignesh K. Patel 

Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center 

Department of Nephrology 

Medical Office Bldg D, 2nd Fl 

1600 Eureka Rd 

Roseville, CA 95661 

Phone: 916-784-4050 

Saul Schaefer 

UC Davis Medical Group 

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine 

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Lower Level, Ste 0200 

4860 Y St 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-3761 

Charles Whitcomb 

UC Davis Medical Group 

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine 

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Lower Level, Ste 0200 

4860 Y St 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-3761 

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE 

Tim E. Albertson 

UC Davis Medical Center 

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine 

4150 V St, Ste 3100 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-3565 

Roblee P. Allen 

UC Davis Medical Center 

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine 

2825 J St, Ste 400 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-5360 

Susan Murin 

UC Davis Medical Center 

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine 

4150 V St, Ste 3100 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-3565 

R. Steven Tharratt 

UC Davis Medical Center 

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine 

2825 J St, Ste 400 

Sacramento, CA 95817 

Phone: 916-734-2737 

DERMATOLOGY 

Robert L. Burns 

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center 

Rancho Cordova Medical Offices

Department of Mohs Surgery

10725 International Dr

Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Phone: 916-631-3010

Michael J. Fazio

2805 J St, Ste 100

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-492-1828

Ann F. Haas

Sutter Medical Group

Department of Dermatology

1020 29th St, Ste 570A

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-733-3792

Suzanne L. Kilmer

Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Northern California

3835 J St

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-456-0400

Jan A. Okimoto

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center

Rancho Cordova Medical Offices

Department of Dermatology

10725 International Dr

Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Phone: 916-631-3010

Margaret Parsons

Dermatology Consultants of Sacramento

5340 Elvas Ave, Ste 600

Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916-739-1505

Marc A. Silverstein

1 Scripps Dr, Ste 300

Sacramento, CA 95825

Phone: 916-920-0871

Emil A. Tanghetti

Center for Dermatology and Laser Surgery

5601 J St

Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916-454-5922

Summer R. Youker

2805 J St, Ste 100

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-492-1828

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Tim E. Albertson

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

4150 V St, Ste 3100

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3565

FAMILY MEDICINE

Heather Joy Bevan

UC Davis Medical Group – Campus Commons

Department of Family and Community Medicine

500 University Ave, Ste 220

Sacramento, CA 95825

Phone: 916-286-8700

Henry Go

11733 Highway 160

Courtland, CA 95615

Phone: 916-775-1711

Carol Havens

Chemical Dependency Recovery Program

2829 Watt Ave, Ste 150

Sacramento, CA 95821

Phone: 916-482-1142

Jack Jue, Jr.

UC Davis Medical Group – Elk Grove

Department of Family and Community Medicine

8110 Laguna Blvd

Elk Grove, CA 95758

Phone: 916-683-3955

Jeff Tanji

UC Davis Medical Center

Sports Medicine Program

3301 C St, Ste 1600

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-734-6805

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Joseph W. Leung

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Gastroenterology

2825 J St

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 919-734-2737

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Stuart H. Cohen

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Infectious Diseases

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 0101

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2737

Neil M. Flynn

Cares Community Health

1500 21st St

Sacramento, CA 95811

Phone: 916-443-3299

Richard B. Pollard

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Infectious Diseases

Patient Support Services Bldg, Ste G500

4150 V St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3742

INTERNAL MEDICINE/HOSPITAL MEDICINE

Paul Aronowitz

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Internal Medicine

4150 V St, Ste 3100

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-7506

MEDICAL GENETICS

Mark H. Lipson

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Point West

Department of Medical Genetics

1650 Response Rd

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-614-4785

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY

David R. Gandara

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Division of Hematology and Oncology

2279 45th St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-703-5210

Karen Kelly

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Division of Hematology and Oncology

2279 45th St, 2nd Fl

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5959

Primo N. Lara, Jr.

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Division of Hematology and Oncology

4501 X St, Ste 3016

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-703-5210

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

Kee D. Kim

UC Davis Spine Center

Department of Neurosurgery

3301 C St, Ste 1500

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-734-7463

NEUROLOGY

Mark A. Agius

UC Davis Medical Group

Department of Neurology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 0100

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3588

Paul T. Akins

Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center

Department of Neurosurgery

2025 Morse Ave, Station 3D

Sacramento, CA 95825

Phone: 916-973-5490

Charles De Carli

UC Davis Medical Center

Alzheimer’s Disease Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 3900

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5496

David E. Pleasure

Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California

Department of Neurology

2425 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-453-2331

David P. Richman

UC Davis Medical Group

Department of Neurology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 0100

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3588

Craig Watson

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Neurology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 0100

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3588

NUCLEAR MEDICINE

David K. Shelton

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Radiology

Davis Tower 1, Rm 1893

2315 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-703-2273

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY

Janice Andreyko

Northern California Fertility Medical Center

1130 Conroy Ln, Ste 100

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-773-2229

Victor K. Chan

2901 K St, Ste 209

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-733-1720

Jacquelyn K. Chyu

Perinatal Associates of Sacramento

1625 Stockton Blvd, Ste 205

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-862-9900

Jeffrey R. Cragun

Folsom Obstetrics and Gynecology

1735 Creekside Dr

Folsom, CA 95630

Phone: 916-983-3500

Jose J. Cueto

Sutter Medical Group

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

3 Medical Plaza Dr, Ste 260

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-773-7977

Nancy T. Field

UC Davis Medical Group

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2500

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6900

William M. Gilbert

Perinatal Associates of Sacramento

1625 Stockton Blvd, Ste 205

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-862-9900

Laurie Cullen Gregg

Sacramento Women’s Health

2277 Fair Oaks Blvd, Ste 355

Sacramento, CA 95825

Phone: 916-927-3178

Herman Hedriana

Sacramento Maternal Fetal Medicine Group

1792 Tribute Rd, Ste 200

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-678-5400

Stephen G. Hiuga

Sacramento Women’s Health

2277 Fair Oaks Blvd, Ste 355

Sacramento, CA 95825

Phone: 916-927-3178

Walter Kinney

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Point West

Division of Gynecologic Oncology

1650 Response Rd, Ste 3C

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-614-4120

Jan Marie Lanouette

Sacramento Maternal Fetal Medicine Group

1792 Tribute Rd, Ste 200

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-678-5400

Gary Leiserowitz

UC Davis Medical Group

Division of Gynecologic Oncology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2500

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6941

James Maher

Sutter Medical Group

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

3 Medical Plaza Dr, Ste 260

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-773-7977

Sherrie S. McElvy

Perinatal Associates of Sacramento

1625 Stockton Blvd, Ste 205

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-862-9900

Lynn McLean

Sacramento Maternal Fetal Medicine Group

1792 Tribute Rd, Ste 200

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-678-5400

Michael Murray

Northern California Fertility Medical Center

1130 Conroy Ln, Ste 100

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-773-2229

David B. Schrimmer

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2500

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6900

Jeffrey S. Skilling

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Point West

Division of Gynecologic Oncology

1650 Response Rd, Ste 3C

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-614-4120

Carlos E. Soto-Albors

Northern California Fertility Medical Center

1130 Conroy Ln, Ste 100

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-773-2229

Jean-Claude L. Veille

Perinatal Associates of Sacramento

1625 Stockton Blvd, Ste 205

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-862-9900

OPHTHALMOLOGY

James D. Brandt

UC Davis Medical Group

UC Davis Eye Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6602

Jeffrey Caspar

UC Davis Medical Group

UC Davis Eye Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6602

Robert Anthony Equi

Retinal Consultants Medical Group

Mercy Medical Plaza

3939 J St, Ste 106

Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916-454-4861

Richard D. Grutzmacher

Surgical Eye Specialists

1515 River Park Dr, Ste 100

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-649-1515

Richard A. Lewis

Surgical Eye Specialists

1515 River Park Dr, Ste 100

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-649-1515

Jennifer Li

UC Davis Medical Group

UC Davis Eye Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6602

Michele Lim

UC Davis Medical Group

UC Davis Eye Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6602

Mark J. Mannis

UC Davis Medical Group

UC Davis Eye Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2400

4860 Y St.

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6602

Lawrence S. Morse

UC Davis Medical Group

UC Davis Eye Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6602

Susanna S. Park

UC Davis Medical Group

UC Davis Eye Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6602

Arun C. Patel

Retinal Consultants Medical Group

Mercy Medical Plaza

3939 J St, Ste 106

Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916-454-4861

Joel Abrahm Pearlman

Retinal Consultants Medical Group

Mercy Medical Plaza

3939 J St, Ste 106

Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916-454-4861

Ivan R. Schwab

UC Davis Medical Group

UC Davis Eye Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-6602

David G. Telander

Retinal Consultants Medical Group

5 Medical Plaza Dr, Ste 180

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-774-0100

Robert T. Wendel

Retinal Consultants Medical Group

Mercy Medical Plaza

3939 J St, Ste 106

Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916-454-4861

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

William L. Bargar

Orthopaedic Specialists of Sacramento

2801 K St, Ste 310

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-389-7977

Stephen M. Howell

8120 Timberlake Way, Ste 112

Sacramento, CA 95823

Phone: 916-689-7370

Amir Ali Jamali

Joint Preservation Institute

2825 J St, Ste 440

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-492-2110

Mark A. Lee

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 3800

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2700

Richard A. Marder

UC Davis Medical Center

Sports Medicine Program

3301 C St, Ste 1600

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-734-6805

OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Peter Belafsky

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 7200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

Hilary Brodie

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 5200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

D. Gregory Farwell

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 5200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

Quang Luu

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 5200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

Kevin McKennan

Sacramento ENT

Bldg 700

1111 Exposition Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-736-3399

Craig W. Senders

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 5200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

E. Brad Strong

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 5200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

Jonathan M. Sykes

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 6206

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2347

Travis T. Tollefson

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 6206

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2347

PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT GYNECOLOGY

Barbara J. Hays

77 Scripps Dr Ste 109

Sacramento, CA 95825

Phone: 916-927-8001

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGY

Cathleen R. Lammers

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

2315 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5311

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

Stuart Berger

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Pediatric Heart Center

2521 Stockton Blvd, Ste 3200

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3456

Jeanny Kim Park

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Pediatric Heart Center

2521 Stockton Blvd, Ste 3200

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3456

PEDIATRIC CARDIOVASCULAR ANESTHESIA

Cathleen R. Lammers

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

2315 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5311

PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE

John Holcroft

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Division of Pediatric Critcal Care Medicine

2516 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-7840

James P. Marcin

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

2516 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2131

Stephanie N. Mateev

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

2516 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2131

Theresa Murdock-Vlautin

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

2516 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2131

Jonne Natale

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

2516 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2131

David M. Steinhorn

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

Ticon II Bldg

2516 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5177

PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

Robin Lee Hansen

UC Davis MIND Institute

2825 50th St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-703-0248

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY

Nicole Glaser

UC Davis Medical Group

Division of Pediatric Endocrinology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 3200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3112

PEDIATRIC MEDICAL GENETICS

Mark H. Lipson

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Point West

Department of Medical Genetics

1650 Response Rd

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-614-4785

PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Craig W. Senders

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 5200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY

Bradley E. Chipps

Capital Allergy and Respiratory Disease Center

5609 J St, Ste C

Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916-453-8696

Albin B. Leong

Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center

Division of Pediatric Pulmonology

Medical Office Bldg C, 2nd Fl

1600 Eureka Rd

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-474-2250

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ABUSED CHILDREN

Kevin P. Coulter

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Pediatrics

Ticon II Bldg, Ste 320

2516 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-8396

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE

Robin Steinhorn

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Division of Neonatology

2516 Stockton Blvd, 3rd Fl

Sacramento, CA 95617

Phone: 916-734-5177​

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/NEUROLOGY, GENERAL

David E. Pleasure

Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California

Department of Neurology

2425 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-453-2331

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/PEDIATRIC METABOLIC DISEASES

Mark H. Lipson

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Point West

Department of Medical Genetics

1650 Response Rd

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-614-4785

PEDIATRIC SURGERY

Diana L. Farmer

UC Davis Children’s Hospital

Division of Pediatric Surgery

2315 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 800-482-3284

Stephen K. Greenholz

Children’s Specialists Medical Group

2801 K St, Ste 220

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-887-4220

Shinjiro Hirose

Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California

Department of Surgery

2425 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-453-2050

PEDIATRIC UROLOGY

Eric A. Kurzrock

UC Davis Medical Group

Urology Clinic

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2200

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2222

PEDIATRICS/GENERAL

Scott C. Budd

Pediatric Medical Associates

425 University Ave, Ste 200

Sacramento, CA 95825

Phone: 916-924-9337

Thomas A. Bullen

UC Davis Medical Center

University Pediatric Associates

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 4100

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5846

Robert S. Byrd

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Pediatrics

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 2200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2105

Caroline J. Chantry

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Pediatrics

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3112

Kevin P. Coulter

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Pediatrics

Ticon II Bldg, Ste 320

2516 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-8396

Erik O. Fernandez y Garcia

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Pediatrics

2521 Stockton Blvd, Ste 2200

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5387

Richard Gould

Pediatric Medical Associates

650 Howe Ave, Ste 100

Sacramento, CA 95825

Phone: 916-924-9337

Richard S. Lloren

Pediatric Medical Associates

1580 Creekside Ave, Ste 200

Folsom, CA 95630

Phone: 916-924-9337

Michael Lucien

UC Davis Medical Center

University Pediatric Associates

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 4100

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5846

Amy L. McNelis

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Pediatrics

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 2200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2105

Kevin A. Tracy

UC Davis Medical Center

University Pediatric Associates

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 4100

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5846

PEDIATRICS/HOSPITAL MEDICINE

Laura E. Poggel

Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center

Pediatric Hospital Medicine

1600 Eureka Rd

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-784-4000

PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION

Brian Davis

UC Davis Medical Center

Sports Medicine Program

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 3850

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-0171

Jay J. Han

UC Davis Medical Group

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 3850

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2923

Craig McDonald

UC Davis Medical Group

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 1700

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-7041

Thomas Pattison

3939 J St, Ste 200

Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916-456-2220

Brandee L. Waite

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 1700

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-7041

PLASTIC SURGERY

Jonathan M. Sykes

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 6206

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2347

Granger B. Wong

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Plastic Surgery

Cannery Bldg, Ste 1100

3301 C St

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-734-7844

PSYCHIATRY

Cameron S. Carter

UC Davis Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic

Wong Bldg

2230 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3574

Mark E. Servis

UC Davis Medical Group

Department of Psychiatry

2230 Stockton Blvd, 2nd Fl

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2614

PULMONARY MEDICINE

Tim E. Albertson

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

4150 V St, Ste 3100

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3565

Susan Murin

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Pulmonary, Critical 

Care and Sleep Medicine

4150 V St, Ste 3100

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3565

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Richard K. Valicenti

UC Davis Cancer Center

Department of Radiation Oncology

4501 X St, Ste 0140

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5810

RADIOLOGY

Craig B. Glaiberman

Sutter Diagnostic Imaging

Interventional Radiology Center

3161 L St

Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-732-7777

Lotfi Hacein-Bey

Sutter Medical Center

Department of Diagnostic Imaging

1500 Expo Parkway

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-646-8300

Richard E. Latchaw

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Radiology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 3100

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5733

Karen Lindfors

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Radiology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 3100

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3606

RHEUMATOLOGY

Nancy E. Lane

UC Davis Medical Center

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 0400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2737

Richard H. White

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Internal Medicine

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 0101

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2737

Kenneth B. Wiesner

Sutter Imaging

1500 Expo Pkwy

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 877-515-0053

SURGERY

Mohamed Ali

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Gastroenterology

Cypress Bldg, Ste E

2221 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2680

D. Gregory Farwell

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 5200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

Quang Luu

UC Davis Medical Center

Department of Otolaryngology

Glassrock Bldg, Ste 5200

2521 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5400

Richard Perez

UC Davis Medical Center

UC Davis Transplant Center

Cypress Bldg, Ste C

2221 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-2111

SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Richard Bold

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Division of Surgical Oncology

2279 45th St, 2nd Fl

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-5959

Scott Hundahl

Sacramento VA Medical Center

Department of Surgery

10535 Hospital Way

Mather, CA 95655

Phone: 916-843-7174

UROLOGY

Ralph W. de Vere White

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Division of Urologic Oncology

2279 45th St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-703-5213

VASCULAR SURGERY

Richard M. Florio

Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center

Department of Vascular Surgery

Medical Office Bldg D, 1st Fl

1600 Eureka Rd

Roseville, CA 95661

Phone: 916-784-4144

Julie A. Freischlag

UC Davis Vascular Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 2100

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3800

William Pevec

UC Davis Vascular Center

Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, Ste 3400

4860 Y St

Sacramento, CA 95817

Phone: 916-734-3800

Best Doctors, Inc. is transforming and improving health care by bringing together the best medical minds in the world to help identify the right diagnosis and treatment. The company’s innovative, peer-to-peer consultation service offers a new way for physicians to collaborate with other physicians to ensure patients receive the best care.

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The result is the Best Doctors in America® List, which includes the nation’s most respected specialists and outstanding primary care physicians. These are the doctors that other doctors recognize as the best in their fields. They cannot pay a fee and are not paid to be listed and cannot nominate or vote for themselves. It is a list which is truly unbiased and respected by the medical profession and patients alike as the source of top quality medical information.

Copyright 2015, Best Doctors, Inc. Used under license, all rights reserved. This list or any parts thereof must not be reproduced in any form without written permission from Best Doctors, Inc. No commercial use of the information in this list may be without the permission of Best Doctors, Inc. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

ROBERT ANTHONY EQUI, M.D.

OPHTHALMOLOGY, RETINAL CONSULTANTSMEDICAL GROUP

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?

Dr. Harrington, an orthopaedic surgeon at UCSF who interviewed me when I was applying to medical school, told me to always pursue the path in my heart, not in my head. In essence, do what you love. Second, my chairman at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins during my residency in ophthalmology used to say, “Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.” As goofy as that sounded at the time, I still repeat it to myself regularly and, much to the chagrin of my kids, I repeat it to them, as well. 

Describe the hardest day on the job. 

The hardest part is budgeting my time in order to provide the maximum amount of time that each and every one of my patients deserves. Some days I fail miserably at this and I feel as if I let them down. Thank goodness for my spectacular staff, who do a tremendous amount of work to allow me the time to focus on my patients’ needs as best I can. 

Why did you choose your specialty? 

When I was about 14 years old, my sister developed a rare condition called acute retinal necrosis. From then on, I only wanted to be an ophthalmologist specializing in treating diseases and disorders of the retina.

What do you enjoy most about working with patients? 

The continuity of care. Many of the conditions I take care of require treatments that are administered nearly every month. Many of my patients see me more frequently than any of their other doctors. I love learning about them. I am humbled by the strength and courage of my patients who endure sometimes-uncomfortable surgeries or treatments for scary diseases that sometimes cause blindness. I don’t always cure them or restore sight or even prevent blindness, but I care for them the best I can, and their gratitude and grace provide me a comfort and peace.

LAURIE CULLEN GREGG, M.D.

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, SACRAMENTO WOMEN’S HEALTH

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?

Choose what you love to do and then you’ll never feel like you’re going to work. I got that advice from a professor in my third year of medical school. He was on my obstetrics and gynecology rotation and met with me after I was up all night delivering three babies, and he said, “You look like you didn’t work. You look energized.” 

Describe the hardest day on the job.

Sitting with a mother grieving the loss of her stillborn child or having to tell a woman she has cancer. For the physician (the “second victim” who is healing from the devastation even though the primary person suffering is the patient), meeting with my colleagues to talk and sharing that experience helps, and being around family and friends.

Why did you choose your specialty?

What initially attracted me is the joy of the birth of a baby. What kept me going is helping women be healthy through the course of their lifetime.

Describe the best day on the job.

A variety of patient interactions: establishing a doctor-patient relationship with a young woman seeing a gynecologist for the first time; learning the medication I prescribed helped a woman become pregnant; improving the quality of a woman’s life by removing a thyroid that was bothering her or helping her through menopausal symptoms; and, of course, my favorite experience is delivering a baby. Then having a nice dinner with my family.

If you could have any other profession, what would it be?

A globe-trekking writer for National Geographic. Or a professional athlete.

KAREN KELLY, M.D.

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY, UC DAVIS COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?

Never underestimate yourself and what you can accomplish. 

Describe the hardest day on the job. 

My clinic days are tough. With lung cancer being the No. 1 cancer killer worldwide, my patients can be very ill. I always wish I could do more for them. They are my inspiration to work hard every day to find new treatments.

Why did you choose your specialty? 

I had the opportunity to train with a world-renowned lung cancer expert at the University of Colorado. His mentorship has been invaluable in shaping my success. 

If you could change something about medicine, what would it be? 

Increased funding for clinical cancer research so more treatments can be discovered and ultimately a cure for cancer can be found. I am saddened by the fact that we have amazing science around cancer biology that’s ripe for exploitation to develop new treatments but limited funds to pursue them. Over the past decade, we have seen a revolution in effective cancer therapies solely based on our understanding of cancer biology. In my field of lung cancer, we have made great strides in the treatment of advanced disease and are on the cusp of bringing additional therapies to patients. But this is jeopardized by minimal funding. I urge everyone to support cancer research.

If you could have any other profession, what would it be?

I have a fantasy of being a professional golfer, but realistically I would be a college professor teaching molecular biology courses. I love the college campus environment with the inquisitive minds of students and faculty. 

JAN A. OKIMOTO, M.D.

DERMATOLOGY, KAISER PERMANENTE MEDICAL CENTER

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given? 

My UC Berkeley honors adviser asked me where I was applying to medical school. Noting I selected only California programs, he made one request: Let him (add) one school to my list. He added Harvard. He opened doors I would have never known existed. My exposure to brilliant professors, scientists, clinicians and fellow students at Harvard’s medical school presented me with many role models and opportunities to become a caring clinician and patient advocate.

Describe the hardest day on the job. 

The most difficult visits to face have been those with terminally ill patients whose days ahead were uncertain but likely few. The realization that a visit would be a last visit can be emotionally draining and quite sad. 

Why did you choose your specialty? 

Dermatology was my first clinical rotation as a medical student. I was impressed with the clinical skills of my resident and attending: Like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson piecing together clues from the history and examination of the crime scene (the skin), they were able to determine a wide array of clinical conditions, many with implications of disease involvement in other body organ systems.

For you, is medicine more of an art or a science? 

Medicine is a blend of science and art—inseparable. I need to review and incorporate scientific information gleaned from the literature to keep up with developments in understanding diseases and to apply therapeutic innovations. But such knowledge alone can’t make the important connection between physician and patient. As a care provider, I must appreciate and respect cultural, gender and lifestyle factors that assure a solid doctor-patient relationship.

What’s the most annoying thing people do with their skin? 

I would ask patients to not pick or manipulate a lesion or rash just before being evaluated. Doing so impairs my ability to see the problem as is and may delay an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. 

AMIR ALI JAMALI, M.D.

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY, JOINT PRESERVATION INSTITUTE

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?

When you take care of the patient, then everything else will take care of itself. A mentor from my fellowship in Boston (at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School) told me that, and I’ve been telling that to other people ever since.

Describe the hardest day on the job.

When we’re doing a lot of paperwork. The days when we take care of patients and do surgeries, those are absolutely the fastest days in the world. You look up and suddenly it’s 6 p.m. before you know it.

Why did you choose your specialty?

I chose orthopaedics because it is one of 

the most immediately satisfying fields in medicine. Patients come in with pain and unable to do simple things, and they often leave feeling like they can conquer the world.

If you could change something about medicine, what would it be?

The fact that there are all these demands on seeing more patients in a given amount of time and that I don’t have as much time to spend with the patient as I would like. 

What’s your favorite thing about Sacramento?

I love the medical community. It’s very collaborative, and we have great health systems in a very small area and a tremendous amount of talent in the area. So that’s what’s most rewarding for my career in Sacramento. And my favorite thing to do is go water skiing on the river. 

JACQUELYN K. CHYU, M.D.

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, PERINATAL ASSOCIATES OF SACRAMENTO

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given? 

Listen to your patient. She will tell you the diagnosis. Sometimes the key to the correct diagnosis lies in the nuances of her description of her symptoms, in the way she carries her body, in what she intuitively did to alleviate her pain, or in picking up on cues that she would like to speak in privacy.

Describe the hardest day on the job.

The day began in the ICU. My patient, 28 weeks pregnant, had several days of high fevers and was deteriorating rapidly. We couldn’t figure out what the fevers were coming from. We wanted to keep the pregnancy going as long as possible for the baby, but now she wasn’t able to breathe on a ventilator and her blood pressure was dropping. The only thing we could 

do was to make room for her lungs to expand by delivering the baby or she was going to die. In the waiting room, I found her husband and members of her church. They asked me to join them in prayer. During surgery, the mother sustained a cardiac arrest, was revived and a beautiful—but premature—baby boy was born. The baby passed away after a couple weeks of life. The mother eventually recovered. Later, we discovered the whole thing was due to a rare virus. So many people had faith in me, but in the end we must acknowledge our limitations.

Why did you choose your specialty?

Being a maternal-fetal medicine specialist affords me the privilege of taking care of a mother and her unborn child. This privilege is akin to being invited to make my contribution to the creation of life. To care for women with high-risk pregnancies is inspiring, challenging and humbling. 

Describe the best day on the job.

On [one very busy] day, a patient came to see me who wasn’t scheduled. She explained it was very important. I speedily entered the room and my entire world slowed down when I gazed upon a beautiful baby boy in the arms of his mother. I had [previously] met this boy inside his mother’s womb, only 20 weeks old. He’d had an uncommon fetal condition of fluid accumulating around, and squashing, the lungs. The prognosis was dismal, especially without intervention. I offered to perform a procedure in which I would slip a shunt, or a tube, into the fetal chest using ultrasound to drain the water and make room for the baby’s lungs to expand so he might be able to breathe after birth. This procedure isn’t always successful. The mother agreed. I told her that if her son survives his first year, I wanted her to bring him in to see me. A year later, she kept her promise.

STEPHANIE N. MATEEV, M.D.

PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE, UC DAVIS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?

I can’t be the best at everything all at the same time. I can’t be the very best doctor and the best mom at the exact same time—one thing is going to give a little bit. You can be the best doctor at that point of the day, and a good mom and a good wife. Or you can be a good doctor and then be the best wife. But when you try to do it all, you’re going to drive yourself crazy.

Describe the hardest day on the job.

We have to talk to families about their child making the transition from living with a disease to dying from that disease; we are not going to be able to stop that process. It’s always sad when the patient dies, but it’s more sad for me with the families because I support them through the grieving process, and it breaks my heart to see them so sad.

Why did you choose your specialty?

Kids are awesome. I knew pretty early on I wanted to do pediatrics. You help kids grow through their health, which is nice because hopefully you can build a path that starts them on preventative care and that’s when you can really make an impact. I chose critical care because I like taking care of really sick kids. I like the physiology. I like watching them get better. I like doing procedures in the ICU.

If you could change something about medicine, what would it be?

I’m a first-generation American, so I’ve seen health-care systems in other parts of the world. While we clearly have very good health care in the United States, it’s not necessarily the absolute best. Some of that has to do with how we regulate it, our insurance companies and how we view health.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Superspeed, because then I might actually be on time. Although cloning is a close second—it might help with chores.

ROBERT L. BURNS, M.D.

DERMATOLOGY, KAISER PERMANENTE MEDICAL CENTER

What is the best career advice you’ve been given? 

I was a second-year medical student at the time and unsure what specialty I wanted to pursue. My brother (a podiatrist at Kaiser in Fresno) encouraged me to look into dermatology. After a third-year rotation in dermatology, I was convinced it was the best specialty for me.

Describe the hardest day on the job. 

The hard days often involve a young patient with an unexpectedly large skin cancer on a cosmetically sensitive area such as the tip of the nose. It’s very difficult, yet gratifying, for our Mohs surgery team to help calm people’s fears and provide an environment that alleviates the stress of surgery. In the end, the combination of removing as much stress from a surgical situation and performing a difficult reconstructive procedure to restore a person’s appearance with minimal scarring make the most difficult days some of the best days. 

Why did you choose your specialty? 

Dermatology is a very visual specialty and I am a very visual person. As I progressed through my residency, I became most interested in surgical dermatology and specifically Mohs surgery—a subspecialty that combines the skin cancer aspects of dermatology, the visual aspects of pathology and the creativity of reconstructive surgery.

For you, is medicine more of an art or a science? 

Mohs surgery is a combination of art and science. Early in my career, I focused on the science of medicine and the technical aspects of surgery. As I have matured, the art of medicine has become more important: the patient experience; the interactions between physicians, staff and patients; the humor that can be brought to situations; the treatment of patients like family; and the subtle creative nuances in reconstruction.

What’s the most annoying thing people do with their skin? 

The most frustrating thing people do with their skin cancers is putting their trust for treating the cancer in “Internet miracles.” These miracle cures and creams can partially treat skin cancer, which can lead to delays in treatment and larger, more difficult-to-treat tumors that appear years later. They can also lead to significant disfigurement.

CHARLES DE CARLI, M.D.

NEUROLOGY, UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?

As a clinician: Listen to the patient. They tell you more in five minutes about their problem than any list of directed questions you give them. Have compassion. After years and years of practice, there are some things I can just talk about, but it can be extremely overwhelming for the patient. So how can I present this in the best way? If I talk a bunch of jargon, they don’t get anything out of it and it can actually be more scary because then they’ll look it up on the Internet.

As a researcher: When I was a resident and wrote my first neurology paper, I was asked to present at a national meeting. I was freaking out. A good friend said to me, “These people want you to succeed, and the one or two people who even know what you’re talking about are so excited about the topic that they’ll be delighted to hear it.” Since then, I’ve been much more relaxed doing presentations.

Describe the hardest day on the job.

As a clinician, the hardest thing is when I’m presented with a patient who’s deteriorating and I don’t know why, and ordering more tests is not necessarily the best way to know. If I figure it out, it is the most gratifying thing to watch them come out of the hospital better than when they went in.

What do you enjoy most about working with patients?

Their stories. I work with older patients. They have so much to tell and I learn an incredible amount from them. They can be a little chatty, but I’m Italian so it works fine.

What do you love most about Sacramento?

I love two things. The first is the American River Parkway. The second thing is the food.