Graduating from medical school, completing a residency and obtaining a state medical license are high achievements, yet some doctors have reached an even higher level. Sacramento Magazine’s Top Doctors list includes only physicians who have received a nod of approval from their peers. In fact, they have been chosen through a formal process similar to the informal peer-to-peer process doctors themselves use to connect their patients to the right specialists. Professional Research Services, LLC conducted our survey, verifying each doctor’s credentials and specific areas of expertise. To learn more about the selection process, go to prscom.com. We also asked nine Top Doctors to explain the latest information on subjects ranging from vaping dangers to advances in immunotherapy.
The professionals listed herein were selected by their peers in a survey conducted by Professional Research Services Company of Troy, Michigan. Professionals may be screened and selected through the verification of licensing and review of any infractions through various applicable boards, agencies and rating services. For further information visit prscom.com or email PRS at sshevin@hour-media.com. To purchase Top Doctors plaques, please see prsawards.com.
Addiction Medicine
Alicia Lauren Agnoli – UC Davis Health, (800) 282-3284
Martin Leamon
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-5846
Daniel Lewis
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 482-1132
Allison Meisner
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 482-1132
Christopher Zegers
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 482-1132
Adolescent Medicine
Laura Kester
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-3112
Allergy and Immunology
Ali Amirzadeh
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3303
Matthew S. Bowdish
Sutter Independent Physicians – The Allergy Center at Sacramento ENT, (916) 736-6644
Bradley E. Chipps
Sutter Independent Physicians – Capital Allergy & Respiratory Disease Center, (916) 453-8696
Angelina Crans Yoon
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Sean Deane
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 627-7500
Asha Desai
Sutter Independent Physicians – The Allergy Center at Sacramento ENT, (916) 736-6644
Victoria Dimitriades
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-3112
Gordon Garcia
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 627-7500
M. Eric Gershwin
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Mark I. Grijnsztein
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 478-6555
Rosemary Hallett
UC Davis Health, (916) 783-7109
Marc Ikeda
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 627-7500
S. Rubina Inamdar
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3304
Nayoung Kim
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 480-6500
Arvind Kumar
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4220
Binita Mandal
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 844-1590
Joseph T. Marino
Sutter Independent Physicians – The Allergy Center at Sacramento ENT, (916) 736-6644
Rajan Merchant
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Travis A. Miller
The Allergy Station, (916) 238-6238
Neil Parikh
Sutter Independent Physicians – Capital Allergy & Residential Disease Center, (916) 453-8696
Chiraag Patel
Sutter Independent Physicians – Pulmonary Medicine Associates, (916) 325-1040
Troy Scribner
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4220
Suzanne S. Teuber
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Local, Seasonal Allergies
Mark Grijnsztein, MD
Allergy/Immunology
Sutter Medical Group
Depending on who you ask, Sacramento is the City of Trees—or the City of Wheeze. Come spring, it’s hard to go a day without hearing someone sneezing, coughing, rubbing their eyes, or simply talking about their allergies. Is it true that seasonal allergies are worse in Sacramento than other places?
Do allergies seem to be worse in Sacramento than other parts of the country? If so, what contributes to this?
Allergies are bad in Sacramento due to the warm, windy climate during the spring and summer months, which is conducive to pollen distribution. Since we are a large agricultural region, there is high exposure to allergens like grass pollen. That being said, there are many areas in the country that have bad allergies as well.
Is it true that Sacramento has some of the unhealthiest air quality in the United States? How does this affect allergies?
According to the American Lung Association, Sacramento has some of the worst exposures to ozone and particle pollution. Ozone and particle pollution are airway irritants that cause allergy-like symptoms of the nose and sinuses along with respiratory problems, including asthma and COPD exacerbations.
Are things like a whole house fan bad for people with seasonal allergies?
Whole house fans without filtration of the air being used can obviously increase allergy exposure to whatever is outside in the environment.
What’s the connection between local honey and allergies? Is that a valid form of over-the-counter relief?
There is a widespread belief that eating local honey will help allergy symptoms by exposing you to pollen in small amounts to desensitize you (similar to allergy shots). Local honey does in fact contain small amounts of pollen; however, it is pollen from local flowers which are less likely to cause allergy symptoms compared to allergenic airborne pollen from trees, grass and weeds. This makes it less likely to help for significant allergy symptoms.
What is something that the average person might not know about allergies?
Two things: Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and may help control allergy symptoms. Also, viral illness is the most common cause of hives, rather than pollen or food allergies.
Anesthesiology
Dondee Almazan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4000
Richard L. Applegate II
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Anitha Ayyalapu
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2574
Jens Bjerregaard
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5000
Karyn D’Addio-Riley
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5000
Rajvinder Dhamrait
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Richard Dunbar
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4000
Kenneth Furukawa
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Thomas L. Hughes
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Erin Kong
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5000
Seth Lerner
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2574
Michael Lovely
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 733-4100
Elmo Orlino
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4000
Hiral Patel
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4000
Niroop Ravula
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Catherine Whang
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4000
David Lewis Wolf
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Aubrey Yao
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Breast Surgery
Balazs Bodai
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4055
Richard J. Bold
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Thomas Dugoni
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Joyce A. Eaker
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9404
Lisa M. Guirguis
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 733-9660
Joelle Jakobsen
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-3500
Margaret Mentakis
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Melinda Mortenson
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
Candice A. M. Sauder
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Reid Towery
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Brooke Vuong
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Mindy Young-Reeves
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Cardiac Surgery
Michael Chow
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 733-4100
Joseph Huh
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 733-4100
Michael T. Ingram
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Cardiovascular Surgeons, (916) 452-8291
Richard Kaplon
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-6850
Robert Kincade
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Cardiovascular Surgeons, (916) 452-8291
James Longoria
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Cardiovascular Surgeons, (916) 452-8291
Allen Morris
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-6850
Teimour Nasirov
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, (916) 340-0111
Paul Anthony Perry
UC Davis Health – Cypress Building, (800) 282-3284
Gary Raff
Shriners Hospital for Children, (916) 453-2191
Amy Rahm
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-3112
Victor M. Rodriguez
UC Davis Medical Center – Cypress Building, (916) 734-2680
Stephen Rossiter
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-6850
Kapil Sharma
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-6850
Frank Slachman
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-6850
J. Nilas Young Jr.
UC Davis Medical Center – Cypress Building, (916) 734-3861
Henry Zhu
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 733-4100
Cardiology
Scott Baron
Capitol Interventional Cardiology, (916) 967-4278
Howard Dinh
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4000
Richard P. Ericson
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 887-4040
Thomas Fitzpatrick
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5657
Kathryn A. Glatter
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Krisztian Kapinya
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5282
Anuradha Khurana
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5657
Peter Kim
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5282
Robert Kirchner
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5657
John Ko
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4000
Joseph Kozina
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 736-2323
David Lao
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-3560
Reginald Low
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-5678
Peter Miles
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4000
Sandeep Mittal
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5657
Stephen Morrissy
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4000
Minal Patel
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4000
Stephen R. Peters
Sutter Independent Physicians – Roseville Cardiology Medical Associates, (916) 782-2146
Femi Philip
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5657
David K. Roberts
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 887-4040
Jason H. Rogers
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (800) 282-3284
A. Sheehy
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5282
Inder Singh
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3344
Thomas Smith
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (800) 282-3284
Jeffrey Allen Southard
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (800) 282-3284
Kevin Stokke
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Garrett B. Wong
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (800) 282-3284
Zijian Xu
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 887-4040
Scott Yang
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4000
Vaping Dangers
Samjot Singh Dhillon, M.D.
Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Kaiser Permanente
Vaping—smoking an electronic cigarette with a handheld battery-powered vaporizer—was once thought of as a “safer” alternative to conventional smoking. Turns out, that claim was hot air. With nearly 20 fatalities due to complications related to vaping and more than 1,000 vaping-related illnesses across the country coming to light, it’s time to talk.
What is the biggest danger of vaping?
The two biggest dangers are acute lung injury, which is now being increasingly recognized, and the increasing prevalence of vaping in the younger population, who presumes this to be a safer alternative to smoking and are oblivious of the risks.
In the instances of death due to complications from vaping, were there special circumstances? Is everyone at risk?
At this time, anyone vaping is at risk of lung injury. No pre-existing ailment has been identified yet which specifically predisposes to this condition or death.
E-cigarettes have been popular for a while. Why are we just hearing about how dangerous vaping is now?
Isolated cases have been published for more than seven years, so this phenomenon is not entirely new. In 2018, more than 3.6 million American middle- and high-school students used e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days, including every fifth high-school student and every 20th middle-school student. Since the industry is not FDA regulated, the exact ingredients of e-cigarettes are not even known in many instances. Increased prevalence of vaping, alteration of chemical composition and modification of devices, illicit production and improved recognition have all likely contributed to more reports of harm.
What symptoms should people who vape look for? Is the damage irreparable
Symptoms could be respiratory (cough, shortness of breath, chest pain); gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain); or systemic (fever, weight loss, fatigue). The acute respiratory disease related to vaping seems to respond to the cessation of vaping and treatment with corticosteroids in the vast majority of patients, but some patients did not survive the condition, so this response cannot be generalized. Long-term consequences of vaping-related respiratory illnesses are not yet known.
What is something that the average person may not know about vaping?
While most vaping-induced lung injury was reported in those who used THC, one study reported that 17 percent of the patients used nicotine-only products. E-cigarette devices while stored or while being used have also been reported to cause chemical injuries, burns and even explosive injuries. Cases of liquid nicotine poisoning were also reported in children, resulting in legislation requiring child-resistant packaging.
Colon and Rectal Surgery
James M. Conner
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group, (916) 966-6121
Wissam J. Halabi
UC Davis Health – Cypress Building, (916) 734-2680
Burzeen E. Karanjawala
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group, (916) 231-1050
Joshua Kehoe
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Thomas Magrino
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Ranganath Pathak
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group, (916) 960-0466
David Rodriguez
Capitol Colon and Rectal Surgery, (844) 269-4349
Daniel Shibru
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Patrick Sullivan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Jeanne Yu
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Colon and Rectal Surgery Medical Group, (916) 231-1050
Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Disease
Jason Yeates Adams
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3565
Muhammad Afzal
Sutter Independent Physicians – Pulmonary Medicine Associates, (916) 325-1040
Shawn S. Aghili
Sutter Independent Physicians – Pulmonary Medicine Associates, (916) 786-7498
Timothy E. Albertson
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-8230
Sherry Andrews
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5375
Parimal Bharucha
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3323
Hugh Black
UC Davis Medical Group, (916) 734-8230
Sabrina Chen
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4821
Samjot Dhillon
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5375
Darshan Dhingani
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3304
Amit Gupta
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-7618
Paul Hoffman
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3323
Nour Karzoun
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-7618
Francis Lam
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4821
Petey Lao
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4821
Gregory Marelich
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4821
Brian M. Morrissey
UC Davis Medical Group, (916) 734-8230
Dan-Vinh Nguyen
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4821
Seth Robinson
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Christian M. Sebat
UC Davis Health Medical Group – Folsom, (916) 985-9300
Walter Shakespeare
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5375
Dermatology
Smita Awasthi
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-6111
Susan Boone
Kaiser Permanente – Elk Grove Big Horn Medical Offices, (916) 478-5671
Christie Carroll
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Cynthia Chambers
Sutter Independent Physicians – Pacific Skin Institute, (916) 925-7020
Monica Constantinescu
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2045
Christine Doherty
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-7700
Sean Doherty
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-7700
C. Stephen Goetz
C. Stephen Goetz MD, Inc., (916) 966-6444
Farzam Gorouhi
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2045
Mary E. Horner
Sutter Independent Physicians – Dermatology Consultants of Sacramento, (916) 739-1505
Debra Horney
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Paula Huber
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2045
Sam T. Hwang
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-6111
Lia Keller
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 771-7700
Jesse Kramer
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3304
Wen En Kuo
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 771-7700
Sangeeta Marwaha
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2045
Karen Y. Nishimura
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 797-4766
Kory Parsi
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2045
Margaret E. Parsons
Sutter Independent Physicians – Dermatology Consultants of Sacramento, (916) 739-1505
Adam Pettey
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-7700
Jasdeep Sharma
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2045
Marc Silverstein
UC Davis Health, (916) 286-6130
Raja Sivamani
Sutter Independent Physicians – Pacific Skin Institute, (916) 925-7020
Danielle Marie Tartar
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-6111
Sima Torabian
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 771-7700
Ear, Nose and Throat
Ben Balough
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6350
Peter Belafsky
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5400
Arnaud Fassett Bewley
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-5400
Hilary A. Brodie
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-5400
Montague Carr
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5322
Anton Chen
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5322
David Cua
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5322
Vishal Doctor
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5880
David A. Evans
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Ear, Nose & Throat, (916) 736-3399
D. Gregory Farwell
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-5400
Tim A. Fife
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Ear, Nose & Throat, (916) 782-1291
Jamie Lauren Funamura
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-5400
Eli R. Groppo
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Ear, Nose & Throat, (916) 736-3399
Anne Johnstone
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6350
Sally Kamal
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5880
Michael J. Kearns
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Ear, Nose & Throat, (916) 966-2700
Maggie A. Kuhn
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-5400
Levi Ledgerwood
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6350
Allen Lue
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6350
Richard McHugh
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6350
Deanne Nyland
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-3600
Randall A. Ow
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Ear, Nose & Throat, (916) 782-1291
Nima Pahlavan
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5322
Shannon Poti
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (915) 525-6350
Brian Rubinstein
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2600
Craig W. Senders
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-5400
Shoab Siddique
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3312
Toby O. Steele
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-5400
Travis Tate Tollefson
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-2347
Steven Wright
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Matthew Benjamin Zavod
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Emergency Medicine
Emily Andrada
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Trevor Cadogan
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Rupinder Chima
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Andrew Elms
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Nathan Kuppermann
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Joseph Morris
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5380
Jeff Rodgerson
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
William Shane Trythall
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Samuel D. Turnipseed
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3790
John Wong
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Immunotherapy for Cancer
Lai Fong Hui, M.D.
Hematology/Oncology
Kaiser Permanente
Chemotherapy blasts cancer cells directly, but some types of cancers are being successfully treated with immunotherapy. Immunotherapies alter our immune systems to prevent or treat infection, autoimmune diseases and, in some cases, cancer. Here’s the latest on this treatment.
What exactly is immunotherapy?
Vaccination is one type of immunotherapy that most people are familiar with. The hepatitis B vaccine was approved in the 1980s to prevent liver cancer, a vaccinelike drug was approved in 2010 to treat prostate cancer, and the HPV vaccine was approved in 2014 to prevent HPV-related diseases such as cervical and oral cancer. Another type of immunotherapy is monoclonal antibody, which binds to the receptors on the surface of cancer cells, triggering the immune system to kill those cells. The two hot topics in the immunotherapy world today are checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T (chimeric antigen receptor T cell). We have checkpoints in our immune system to prevent it from overworking and attacking our own organs, but these checkpoint proteins can keep T cells from killing cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors block these links, so the T cells can attack them. During CAR T therapy, a patient’s T cells are collected, modified and expanded in the laboratory. These CAR T cells are then re-infused back into the patient to kill the cancer cells.
What kind of cancers can be treated with immunotherapy?
Checkpoint inhibitors are mainly used in solid tumors, such as melanoma, kidney, lung, bladder, and head and neck cancers. It can also be used in some specific types of breast, stomach and intestinal cancers. CAR T cell therapy was first used successfully in children with leukemia, and it is now also used in adults with non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas.
How effective is immunotherapy?
Monoclonal antibodies are usually combined with chemotherapy and produce a response rate in 40 to 70 percent of patients, depending on the stage of the cancer. For metastatic melanoma, 50 to 60 percent of patients are alive at the three-year mark in this otherwise deadly disease. For kidney cancer, the response rate can be 50 to 60 percent, and patients live longer.
What are the side effects of immunotherapy?
Patients undergoing immunotherapy are usually admitted to the hospital during treatment. Vaccines are generally very well-tolerated. Monoclonal antibodies are also well-tolerated, except some manageable acute reactions during infusions. The antibodies can cause infections, but very rarely serious organ damage. Checkpoint inhibitors work by boosting the immune system. When the immune system is overactivated, a patient can experience inflammation or organ malfunction, such as diarrhea, shortness of breath, cough, and high or low thyroid function. CAR T therapy can cause cytokines to be released during the treatment, so patients can have severe acute reactions, like high fever, chills, low blood pressure or confusion.
What is something that the average person may not know about immunotherapy?
Some patients with leukemia, lymphoma or melanoma can achieve very long remission, and therefore possibly or likely be cured. We are truly making progress on cancer treatments. I’m hopeful and very grateful.
Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
Adeela N. Ansari
Adeela N. Ansari, MD, (855) 539-5966
Stephanie Crossen
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3112
Shazia Faiz
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Kent Ishihara
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4004
Siddika E. Karakas
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Joyce Leary
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4644
Ginger R. McMullen
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 455-3700
Patricia Ostrander
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3346
Deborah Plante
Plante Wellness, (916) 367-4000
Chaithra Prasad
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4004
Pamela T. Prescott
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Saima Sajid-Crockett
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4004
Alison Marie Semrad
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Dana M. Sheely
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Craig Smith
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4644
You Sher Tay
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-6200
Daniel Wong
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 455-3700
Family Medicine
Alicia Lauren Agnoli
UC Davis Health, (800) 282-3284
Nova Aguila
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Peter Ash
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4040
Mark Babo
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5243
Thomas Balsbaugh
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Railyard Med Center, (866) 454-8855
Kimberly Cafarella
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 351-4800
Biljinder Chima
Sutter Independent Physicians – Rocklin Family Practice and Sports Medicine, (916) 624-0300
Rino Dizon
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Railyard Med Center, (866) 454-8855
John F. Gisla Jr.
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 351-4800
Anthony F. Jerant
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3630
Sarah Anne Marshall
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3630
Mary Monroe-Rodman
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Christopher Olson
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 933-4222
Anna Rose Pinlac Sanchez
Kaiser Permanente – Elk Grove Big Horn Medical Offices, (916) 478-5100
Joan Bianca Roberts
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 575-8000
Olivier Seban
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Katherine Stewart
Kaiser Permanente – Folsom Medical Offices, (916) 817-5200
Christopher Swales
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Timothy Takagi
Mercy Family Health Center, (855) 784-7289
Daniel S. Wittkop
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4040
Gastroenterology
Yasser Al-Antably
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2028
Amar Al-Juburi
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-0779
Latifat Alli-Akintade
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2028
Ali Azarm
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5380
Sreepriya Balasubramanian
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-6221
Christopher L. Bowlus
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-0779
Kathlynn Caguiat
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5380
Albert Chang
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2028
William Chen
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-2596
Serag Dredar
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9370
Theodor Feinstat
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 773-6200
Jason Guardino
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2028
Chhaya Hasyagar
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5380
Thomas Imperato
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 423-2124
Abdul M. Khaleq
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9370
Rana Khan
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3370
Linda Lee
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5380
Robert Levy
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2028
John McCracken
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5380
Christopher Romberg
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-6221
Kuldip Sandhu
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-2596
Bhavneet Singh
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-6221
Jesse Stondell
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-0779
Loc Ton
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2028
Cara Torruellas
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2028
Jason Umphress
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Shiro Urayama
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-0779
Anastasia C. Waechter
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-0779
General Surgery
John T. Anderson
UC Davis Health, (800) 282-3284
Michael Beneke
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9404
Natasha Bir
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Christopher Chiu
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Andres Crowley
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Thomas Dugoni
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Sepideh Gholami
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Damon Herr
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
Joelle Jakobsen
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-3500
David Kissinger
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Jason Londeree
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
Eric T. London
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9404
Eric Morse
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-3500
Carlos Perez
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
Kristen Rathbun
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Michael Schlieman
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Sharon Shiraga
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
Patrick Sullivan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Christian Swanson
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 351-4800
Thomas Walbolt
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Karen Win-Vroom
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Mindy Young-Reeves
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Genetics
Kristin Curtis Herman
UC Davis Health – MIND Institute, (916) 703-0300
Mark Lipson
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4075
Madelena Martin
UC Davis Health – MIND Institute, (916) 703-0300
Billur Moghaddam
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 614-4075
Katherine A. Rauen
UC Davis Health – MIND Institute, (916) 703-0204
Suma P. Shankar
UC Davis Health – MIND Institute, (800) 282-3284
Kamer Tezcan
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4075
Geriatric Medicine
Calvin H. Hirsch
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Ashkan Javaheri
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3460
Huey C. Lin
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3630
Vanessa Mandal
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3460
Janice Rogers
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 627-7685
IUD Facts
Karyl Andolina, M.D.
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Kaiser Permanente
IUDs are more popular than ever. In 2002, only 1.5 percent of women used IUDs, but a 2018 study showed that a record 4.4 million women—7.8 percent of all American women—now have an IUD. Is it finally time to ditch the pill?
What are the risks and side effects?
The biggest risk is very rare: During placement, the IUD can go through the uterus and require surgical removal. Though there is less than a 1 percent chance of pregnancy with an IUD, if you do get pregnant, there is a risk of it being ectopic (outside of the uterus). However, the risk of this is still lower with the IUD versus not being on birth control or being on the pill, because the risk of pregnancy is so much lower.
Are there any clear benefits to choosing an IUD instead of the pill?
They don’t cause weight gain or mood changes. They do not increase your risk of stroke or high blood pressure. They are much more effective in preventing pregnancy than the pill, because it’s easy to miss a pill. You don’t have to think about the IUD.
What are the different kinds of IUDs?
There are two types: with and without hormones. The copper IUD is effective for 12 years and doesn’t change the timing of your period. It may increase menstrual cramps and bleeding, so it’s best for women with lighter periods. The progesterone IUDs help to significantly lighten your period, decrease pelvic pain, decrease risk of uterine cancer and decrease pain during your period. Depending on the brand, they are effective for three to seven years. This IUD can really help teenage girls who miss school or sports due to their painful, heavy periods, or have a low blood count (anemia).
What’s something the average person might not know about IUDs?
Progesterone IUDs are so effective at slowing blood loss due to periods that the hysterectomy rate in the United States has dropped significantly.
Gynecologic Oncology
Rebecca A. Brooks
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Priyal Dholakiya
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 556-3164
Kevin Elliott
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 556-3164
Wiley Fowler
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5300
Vanessa A. Kennedy
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Gary Scott Leiserowitz
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Vikas Mahavni
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4055
Rachel Ruskin
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Neha Shah
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4055
Jeffrey Skilling
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4055
Nell Suby
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4055
Hand Surgery
Robert H. Allen
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2700
Christopher O. Bayne
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2700
Benjamin Bluth
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-2408
Stephen Hankins
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 797-4725
Chetan Shawn Irwin
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (800) 482-3284
Elspeth Kinnucan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4045
Clifford Thomas Pereira
UC Davis Health – Cypress Building, (800) 282-3284
Sean Rocha
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2030
Daniel N. Switlick
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 797-4725
Robert Morris Szabo
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2700
Hoang N. Tran
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Michael Vance
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5275
Christopher J. Wilson
Sutter Independent Physicians – Hand Surgery Associates, (916) 457-4263
Hematology and Oncology
Alborz Alali
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Deepti Behl
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 453-3300
Kristie A. Bobolis
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 782-5106
Michael P. Carroll
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 733-4400
Helen K. Chew
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Scott D. Christensen
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
I-Yeh Gong
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2086
Richard Guy
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5626
Lai Hui
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Railyard Med Center, (916) 497-3100
Brian A. Jonas
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
John Kailath
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sierra Hematology Oncology Medical Center, (916) 962-1544
Ram Lalchandani
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sierra Hematology Oncology Medical Center, (916) 962-1544
Lisa Law
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5626
Anjlee Mahajan
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3461
Sarah Perez
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2086
Sivakumar Reddy
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 782-5106
Sonia Reichert
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Jonathan Riess
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Ana Rodriguez Fahrni
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2086
Philip Sardar
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5626
Antoine Sayegh
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5626
Samer Shihabi
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 691-8500
Shahzad Siddique
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5300
Ryan Stevenson
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2086
David Sun
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2086
Joseph M. Tuscano
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Stephen Wang
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2086
Theodore Wun
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Nathan Paul Fairman
UC Davis Health – Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, (916) 734-3574
Shelly Garone
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-6590
Margaret Leung
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-6590
John F. Macmillan Jr.
UC Davis Health, (800) 282-3284
Janelle Minter
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Greg Naughton
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 648-6920
Jennifer Osborn
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 537-5079
Janice Rogers
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 627-7685
Jeffrey Yee
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Infectious Disease
Sanaz Abderrahmane
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5995
John Belko
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Stuart H. Cohen
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Matthew Eldridge
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6229
Jose-Mario Fontanilla
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 973-5230
Mohammad Jaber Kabbesh
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5995
Ranjani Kalyan
Sutter Independent Physicians – Pulmonary Medicine Associates, (916) 786-7498
Brett R. Laurence
Sutter Independent Physicians – Pulmonary Medicine Associates, (916) 325-1040
Lenora Lee
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5230
Andrew McNeil
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6229
Meryl Perez
Sutter Independent Physicians – Pulmonary Medicine Associates, (916) 786-7498
Sriharsha Rao
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6229
Sudershan Singh
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
George Thompson
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Angelique Tjen-A-Looi
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5230
Robert Zimmerman
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5995
Internal Medicine
Joi Barrett
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 733-8713
Nelson Chiang
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Gary Chu
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Shahnaz Iqbal
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Craig Raymond Keenan
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Lisa Liu
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Eliot Mah
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4040
Kathryn Diane Newell
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Jon Oide
Kaiser Permanente – Elk Grove Big Horn Medical Offices, (916) 688-2106
Jane Tsai
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3333
Morgan Waters
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2106
Scott M. Wigginton
Scott M. Wigginton, MD, (916) 570-2850
Jeffrey Yee
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Nina M. Boe
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6900
Nancy Terrell Field
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6900
Matthew Garabedian
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4148
William Gilbert
Sutter Independent Physicians – Perinatal Associates of Sacramento, (916) 862-9900
Herman Locsin Hedriana
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6900
Amelia S. McLennan
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6900
Edward Mentakis
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4148
Kristina E. Milan
Valley Children’s Medical Group, (916) 758-6670
Carey Moreno-Hunt
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4148
Sima Parmar
Sutter Independent Physicians – Perinatal Associates of Sacramento, (916) 862-9900
Carolina Reyes
Valley Children’s Medical Group, (916) 758-6670
Veronique Tache
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6900
Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
Carolyn Getman
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 537-5135
Kristin Robbins Hoffman
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Satyan Lakshminrusimha
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Francis R. Poulain
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Catherine Anne-Marie Rottkamp
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-0491
Mark A. Underwood
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3248
Nephrology
Shubha Ananthakrishnan
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3761
Adarsh Bhat
Sutter Independent Physicians – Summit Nephrology, (916) 789-1505
Janeline Daubert
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6988
Burl R. Don
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3761
Elena V. Gelfand
Sutter Independent Physicians – Capital Nephrology Medical Group, (916) 929-8564
Kai-Ting Hu
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6988
Jasminder Momi
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5336
Jignesh Patel
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 973-5230
Roopinder Poonia
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-2466
Vijay Rathore
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6988
Jeffrey Stewart
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5230
Brian Thornton
Sutter Independent Physicians – Summit Nephrology, (916) 789-1505
Nick Youssefi
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6988
Annie Yu
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 973-5230
Franklin Yuan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 973-5230
Wine, Cannabis and Pregnancy
Debra Wright, M.D.
Obstetrics/Gynecology
UC Davis Children’s Hospital
When you’re literally growing a human, it’s your instinct to do everything you can to protect it. But at the same time, you’re a human, too—and nine months without a glass of wine can be a long time. Perhaps you have a friend who swears her doctor said a glass was fine. Plus, your own mom confesses that she drank some wine, and you turned out OK. What’s the truth about wine?
Real talk. Is a little bit of wine OK? Like, even half a glass, one time?
The thing is that we don’t know, so the safest amount is to avoid alcohol during pregnancy. It’s something that you can’t ethically do a research study on—like, “OK, you have a sip of wine, you have a glass of wine, you have two glasses of wine” and see what happens. We probably won’t ever be able to answer this in a definitive way.
Do things become more relaxed during the third trimester?
Even in the third trimester, there is still some concern that there could be cognitive or behavior deficits to the baby.
Why are there so many conflicting news articles and books? Is this largely a matter of opinion?
Possibly, to some degree. Some of it may be cultural: In Europe, some people are a bit more relaxed about alcohol intake in general. My opinion is that when we don’t know the answer and it’s something that you don’t need to use, it’s safer just to avoid alcohol.
Many pregnancies are unplanned, so presumably, there are plenty of babies born whose mothers did unknowingly drink at some point at the beginning of the pregnancy. How often do we see the effects of this early consumption?
In a perfect world, people wouldn’t drink if they were at risk of pregnancy, but many women will have a story about how they drank alcohol before becoming aware that they were pregnant. Of course, many have babies that are not impacted, but then, some will. One thing that people might not be aware of is that binge drinking has been associated with fetal alcohol syndrome—so someone who isn’t a heavy or regular drinker, but has a binge, [can be affected]. The CDC defines binge drinking for women as consuming four or more drinks in approximately two hours.
What is something that the average person might not know about alcohol consumption and pregnancy?
Actually, most women are concerned about alcohol intake during their pregnancies. Many stop drinking, and they stop eating sushi and deli meats. But they don’t follow the same recommendations when it comes to marijuana intake, especially now that it’s legal. We don’t know the impacts of marijuana on pregnancy and babies, but that drug has a tendency to be attracted to fat cells—which is what makes up the baby’s brain. We still see people smoking or eating cannabis, and a surprising amount of people do it for nausea symptoms related to their pregnancy.
Neurology
Ryan Armour
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5779
Jason Chang
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2050
Shahnawaz Karim
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2050
Suzanne Koopmans
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2050
Neuzil Lai
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2050
Marc Eugene Lenaerts
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Peter Skaff
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 351-4800
Eric Van Ostrand
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5175
Vicki L. Wheelock
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Neurosurgery
Amit Banerjee
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5490
Samuel F. Ciricillo
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 454-6850
Cully Cobb III
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3401
Huy Duong
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5490
Fady Girgis
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-4300
Kern Guppy
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5490
Griffith R. Harsh IV
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (800) 282-3284
Mark Hawk
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5490
Brian Jian
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5490
Kee D. Kim
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-7463
Joshua Lucas
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-3665
David Moller
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5490
Praveen Prasad
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3401
Kiarash Shahlaie
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
James Silverthorn
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5490
Marike Zwienenberg
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Nuclear Medicine
Cameron C. Foster
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (800) 282-3284
Erno Gyetvai
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5720
Vicki Nagano
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
John Webb
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Karyl Andolina
Kaiser Permanente – Rancho Cordova Medical Offices, (916) 631-3080
Jennifer Baumbach
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4148
Jocylen Glassberg
UC Davis Health, (530) 747-3000
Laurie Gregg
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Women’s Health, (916) 927-3178
Melody Y. Hou
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6900
Christine Jang
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2055
Rebecca King
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4055
Kim Kopecky
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4148
Alexander Locke
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2055
Judith Mikacich
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Women’s Health, (916) 927-3178
Bahareh M. Nejad
UC Davis Health – Roseville, (916) 783-7409
Clara Paik
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6900
Kathleen Rooney
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Women’s Health, (916) 927-3178
Debra D. Wright
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Amira Zaid
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Occupational Medicine
David Caretto
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3390
Stella Dao
Kaiser Permanente – Folsom Medical Offices, (916) 817-5667
Wesley Hashimoto
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2005
Susan Scholey
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2005
Ophthalmology
Robert Bellinoff
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3311
James David Brandt
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6602
Carmine Cammarosano
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Margaret Chang
Sutter Independent Physicians – Retinal Consultants, (916) 454-6191
David Cupp
Sutter Independent Physicians – Retinal Consultants, (916) 454-6191
Mark Drabkin
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6400
Nandini G. Gandhi
UC Davis Health Medical Group – Roseville, (916) 783-7109
Sukhjit Johl
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4015
Richard A. Jones
Sutter Independent Physicians – Eye Site Sacramento, (916) 452-8105
Louis Klieger
Kaiser Permanente – Rancho Cordova Medical Offices, (916) 784-4185
Samuel H. Lee
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Eye Consultants, (916) 649-1515
Sung Lee
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6400
Richard A. Lewis
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Eye Consultants, (916) 649-1515
Jennifer Y. Li
UC Davis Health – Cadillac Drive Facility, (916) 734-6650
Mark J. Mannis
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-6602
Joel A. Pearlman
Sutter Independent Physicians – Retinal Consultants, (916) 454-6191
Gregory Rabin
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6400
Patricia B. Sierra
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Eye Consultants, (916) 649-1515
Christianna Stuber
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 351-4800
David G. Telander
Sutter Independent Physicians – Retinal Consultants, (916) 454-6191
George Watson
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4185
Robert T. Wendel
Sutter Independent Physicians – Retinal Consultants, (916) 454-6191
Peter Wu
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-4015
Orthopedic Surgery
Amy Black
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2030
William Bragg
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5700
Christian Bromfield
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2030
Mark Dillon
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5275
Jonathan G. Eastman
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2700
Holly Haight
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5275
Domingo Hallare
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2030
Mark Hofer
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5275
Samuel Hu
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5700
William Junglas
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5700
Eric Otto Klineberg
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-7463
Raphael Klug
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4045
Mark A. Lee
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2700
Holly Bee Leshikar
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2700
David Manske
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2030
Richard A. Marder
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-6805
Dennis Meredith
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
R. Lor Randall
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2700
David W. Tai
Sutter Independent Physicians, (916) 732-3340
James Voigtlander
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4045
Jason Zemanovic
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4045
Screen Time and Eye Health
Dr. Robert Bellinoff, MD
Ophthalmology
Mercy Medical Group
Even if you’re eating well, staring at screens all day can’t be optimal, can it? What can we do to mitigate eye strain and dryness? Are those blue-light filtering glasses worth anything? And is scrolling Instagram before bed hazardous to your health? Here’s some insight.
As the current screen-heavy population ages, can we expect to see more eye problems and diseases than in previous generations?
There’s no scientific evidence that screen time, in and of itself, causes damage to the eyes. Unlike exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun, which can increase the risk of eye diseases including cataracts and cancers on the surface of the eye, there is no evidence that the blue light from digital screens has a harmful effect on the eyes themselves. That being said, one can certainly get eye strain and dry eyes from spending extended periods of time on a digital device. This is because we tend to blink less often when we are focused on looking at a screen, reading a book, or doing other close-up work for extended periods of time.
How much screen time per day is considered safe?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has spelled out digital device time recommendations for each age group. Children under 18 months should avoid all use of screen media other than video chatting. Children between the ages of 2-5 years should be limited to one hour per day of high-quality programs. Ages 6-12 years should be limited to two hours per day of screen time. Ages 13-18 years also should be limited to less than 3 hours per day. As with all guidelines, parents must use their best judgment and common sense when it comes to their individual child’s screen time. The bottom line is that less is better when it comes to our exposure to screen time and health.
Does taking breaks from looking at the screen help?
Taking a break definitely helps. Prolonged digital device usage often leads to a syndrome called “digital eye strain.” Typical symptoms include eye pain, blurred vision, dry eyes, headaches, and even neck and shoulder pain. While on our digital devices, the following can lead to eye problems: blinking less, poor posture, bad lighting, and prolonged reading up close. The first step to combating digital eye strain is to make sure your contact lens or eyeglass prescription is up to date. Then, you should practice the 20-20-20 rule for eye strain. After 20 minutes of screen time, take a 20 second break to look around at objects 20 feet away to help the eye refocus and relax the eye muscles. There are apps that can help remind you to take a break. Also, remember to use artificial tears to help with dry eye.
“Screen glasses,” or blue light glasses, are gaining some popularity in online conversations. Are they necessary?
When we use our computers, smart phones, or tablets, we are exposed to the blue light emitted from the screens. While there aren’t any studies that show blue bight damages the structures of the eye, there are other concerns associated with blue light exposure. Blue light affects the body’s circadian rhythm, which controls our natural wake and sleep cycle. During the daytime, blue light—which also comes from the sun—helps stimulate us and wakes us up. Excessive exposure to blue light at night can make it harder to sleep. Blue light glasses can reduce the amount of blue light your eyes are exposed to, and help avoid throwing off your circadian rhythms, but more research is needed for definitive answers on how much they help. There are also “night shift” modes on most smartphones, tablets, and computers that will adjust the screen’s setting to emit less blue light, which may be helpful.
What is something that the average person might not know about how screens and blue light may impact their eye health?
Most people would be surprised to know that there are several studies that suggest that not enough time spent outdoors and exposure to sunlight can affect the growth and development of a child’s vision. Parents should encourage their children to play outside, not just for exercise and fun, but for their eye health, too.
Pain Medicine
David J. Copenhaver
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Heather Rachel Davids
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 454-6850
Scott Fishman
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Andrew Linn
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5844
Gagan Mahajan
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5031
Vinay M. Reddy
Sutter Independent Physicians – Spine and Nerve Diagnostic Center, (916) 419-9900
Rod Youssefi
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6353
Pediatric Cardiology
Jonathan Dayan
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3456
James Hill
Sutter Independent Physicians – Capital Pediatric Cardiology, (916) 750-2328
Frank F. Ing
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Oleg Kovalenko
Sutter Independent Physicians – Capital Pediatric Cardiology, (916) 750-2328
Luz Natal-Hernandez
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Jeanny K. Park
UC Davis Health – Pediatric Heart Center, (916) 734-3456
Andrew Nicholas Pelech
UC Davis Health – Pediatric Heart Center, (916) 734-3456
Ernesto Rivera
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Lance Shirai
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Sherzana Sunderji
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3456
Luca Trento
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Stanley Wright
Sutter Independent Physicians – Capital Pediatric Cardiology, (916) 750-2328
Jay Yeh
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3456
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Sara Aghamohammadi
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Robert Alisharan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
Anne Camerlengo
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
Constantine Dimitriades
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Daniel A. Falco
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Children’s Center, (916) 887-0360
Kevin Haug
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
John Holcroft
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
James P. Marcin
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Stephanie Nicole Mateev
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-7840
Michael Myette
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
JoAnne E. Natale
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Jennifer L. Plant
UC Davis Health – Ticon II Building, (916) 734-5177
Viyeka Sethi
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-7840
Jessica Kim Signoff
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Craig Swanson
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Children’s Center, (916) 887-0360
Pediatric Dermatology
Smita Awasthi
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-6111
Pediatric Endocrinology
Christina Chao
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Stephanie Crossen
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Mirna Escalante
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Abigail Claire Gelb Fruzza
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3112
Nicole S. Glaser
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Francis Hoe
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Lindsey Loomba-Albrecht
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5177
Ulhas M. Nadgir
Sutter Independent Physicians – Center of Excellence in Diabetes and Endocrinology
(916) 426-1902
Gnanagurudasan Prakasam
Sutter Independent Physicians – Center of Excellence in Diabetes and Endocrinology (CEDE), (916) 426-1902
Sudha Reddy
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Dennis M. Styne
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-3112
Diet + Eyes
Nandini Gandhi, M.D.
Ophthalmology
UC Davis Health
An unfortunate story about a boy who went blind after subsisting on potato chips, white bread, fries and processed meat was widely circulated earlier this year. If we changed our diets to his, would our eyes likely suffer the same fate? And is there anything we can eat to keep our peepers peepin’ into old age?
How much does our diet impact eyesight and eye health?
Many of the visually active structures in our eyes are highly dependent on a steady supply of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to function well. Chronic deficits in these nutrients can result in permanent vision loss. The boy in the news story ultimately developed a nutritional optic neuropathy, presumably as a result of vitamin B-12 deficiency.
If an otherwise healthy adult changed his/her diet to the boy’s diet for a long enough time, would they likely go blind?
While the case of this child is extreme, chronic malnutrition can have permanent effects on vision. By depriving visually active structures of the nutrients that they need to function, a previously healthy individual can develop poor vision in the long term. So blindness isn’t guaranteed, but vision impairment is certainly a possibility.
Pop science taught us that carrots were the best vegetables for eye health. True or false, and are other vegetables better?
Carrots are an important source of beta-carotene, which is used to make vitamin A. Vitamin A, in turn, is vitally important for the functioning of multiple structures of the eyes, from the cornea to the retina. However, carrots are not the only vegetable important to maintain good ocular health. Green leafy vegetables are an important source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which contribute to retinal health, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that may also contribute to long-term ocular health. In general, a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is advised to maintain long-term ocular health.
Do vegetables help ward off glaucoma?
There is no definitive evidence that vegetables ward off glaucoma.
What’s something the average person might not know about how their diet impacts eye health?
The eyes are fed by tiny blood vessels, so foods that are good for the blood vessels and heart are also good for the eyes. What this means is that a heart-healthy diet is also beneficial in promoting good long-term ocular health.
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Jonathan A. Africa
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 887-4780
Yinka Davies
Sacramento Pediatric Gastroenterology, (916) 332-1244
Arthur J. de Lorimier
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3112
Michael Durant
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Kelly Beth Haas
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3112
Sunpreet Kaur
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Pratima Kodali
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Johann M. Peterson
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 887-4780
Daphne Sy Say
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Edward Talya
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Trinh Thi Nhat Truong
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3112
Danielle Usatin
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Scott Adams
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Elysia Alvarez
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Jong Hee Chung
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Jonathan M. Ducore
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Kent Jolly
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Sonali Lakshminarayanan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Christina Lettieri
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Marcio H. Malogolowkin
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Anjali Pawar
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (916) 734-5959
Aarati Rao
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Pediatric Infectious Disease
John Belko
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Dean A. Blumberg
UC Davis Health – Ticon II Building, (916) 734-5177
Ritu Cheema
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-3112
Natasha A. Nakra
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Elizabeth Partridge
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-2105
Pediatric Nephrology
Ari Auron
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Lavjay Butani
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Maha Haddad
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Arundhati Kale
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-2011
Stephanie Tram-Anh Nguyen
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-5177
Pediatric Neurology
Shailesh Asaikar
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Children’s Center – Child and Adolescent Neurology Consultants, (916) 649-9800
William Steven Benko
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Celia H. Chang
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Shubhangi C. Chitnis
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 454-6667
Katie Friederich
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
Richard Friederich
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
Trishna Kantamneni
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Shannon N. Liang
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Brian Masselink
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
Gregg Nelson
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Samuel F. Ciricillo
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 454-6850
Sean McNatt
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2600
Marike Zwienenberg
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Pediatric Psychiatry
Andrew Bregman
Kaiser Permanente – Elk Grove Big Horn Medical Offices, (916) 525-6100
Anne McBride
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3574
Pediatric Pulmonology
Diana Go
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Sanjay Jhawar
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (800) 282-3284
Rory J. Kamerman-Kretzmer
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (916) 734-3112
Kiran Nandalike
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (800) 282-3284
Myrza Perez
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Wan Tsai
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Pediatric Sleep Medicine
Diana Go
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Sanjay Jhawar
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (800) 282-3284
Kiran Nandalike
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (800) 282-3284
Myrza Perez
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Pediatric Surgery
Lisa P. Abramson
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 887-4220
Erin Brown
UC Davis Children’s Hospital, (800) 282-3284
Thomas Curran
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2600
Diana L. Farmer
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-7844
Joy L. Graf
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 887-4220
Shinjiro Hirose
Shriners Hospital for Children, (916) 453-2191
Jennifer Keller
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2600
Douglas Miniati
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2600
Payam Saadai
Shriners Hospital for Children, (916) 453-2191
Jacob T. Stephenson
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-7844
Pediatric Urology
Andrew Huang
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4160
Eric A. Kurzrock
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2222
Jennifer H. Yang
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2222
Pediatrics (GENERAL)
Robert S. Byrd
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Diane Chan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4190
Sean Cooke
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-6800
Eric Joseph Crossen
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Albina S. Gogo
UC Davis Health – Glassrock Building, (916) 734-3112
Thomas R. March
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Dee Jay Miranda
Kaiser Permanente – Folsom Medical Offices, (916) 817-5400
Ashley Sens
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Jonathan E. Thygeson
Sutter Independent Physicians – Jonathan E. Thygeson MD. Inc, (916) 924-8754
Lenore Reeva C. Youssefi
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 817-3700
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Ryan Carver
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-6611
Steven Chan
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-7481
Loren Thomas Davidson
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-7041
Satinderpal Dhah
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2036
Maya Capoor Evans
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-7041
Lawrence Manhart
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Craig M. McDonald
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-7041
Vanessa McGowan
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2036
Lynn Nakamura
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-6611
Vinay M. Reddy
Sutter Independent Physicians – Spine and Nerve Diagnostic Center, (916) 419-9900
Joel Schaffer
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2036
Akshat Dhiren Shah
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2036
Mark Tyburski
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-6611
Jeremy Wren
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-5779
Pediatric Sleep Medicine
Myrza Perez, M.D.
Pediatric Pulmonology/Pediatric Sleep Medicine
Kaiser Permanente
Every parent is sleep-deprived, right? But when should your baby keeping you up all night be cause for concern? Are your kids getting enough sleep? And how can you tell when your children are sleep deprived? Here’s the eye-opening truth.
When should a parent begin to suspect that they should see a pediatric sleep medicine specialist?
By 3 months, babies should be developing a more predictable schedule with longer stretches of sleep at night. Many babies naturally start doing this without help from their parents. By 6 months of age, most babies are physiologically capable of going through the night without any feedings. If a baby older than 6 months seems irritable at night or is difficult to console, this baby may have a medical problem leading to a sleep problem. This would be a reason to see the pediatrician to assess what might be the cause.
What is the most common sleep disorder that you see?
Obstructive sleep apnea, which presents as nighttime snoring, gasping in sleep, mouth breathing and restlessness in sleep. It can be difficult to assess whether a child is tired during the day—tired children are sometimes hyperactive, not focused, struggle with school or are irritable. Unlike teens and adults, who recognize that they’re tired, many children don’t necessarily want to sleep. In young children, the most common cause is large tonsils and/or large adenoids, so removing them can cure them. In older children, like preteens and teens, the most common cause is being overweight or obese.
Is sleep training, or letting a baby cry it out, still a recommended practice?
In healthy infants older than 6 months of age who are still struggling with falling asleep on their own or who wake up several times overnight, this method is the fastest to teach them to soothe themselves and learn to fall asleep alone rather than continuing to signal by crying to their parents that they need help falling back to sleep. All infants and children have brief awakenings throughout the night, but in the children who have learned to soothe themselves, these arousals are brief. Parents often have no idea that the child has awakened.
Are sleep disorders with children typically physiological, or something else?
Sleep apnea is physical: obstruction from tonsils and adenoid enlargement, or from obesity. Many insomnias or other sleep problems are behavioral: Young children go through phases of testing their limits and their parents. Sleep problems such as insomnia are commonly seen in psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety, and untreated sleep problems make it more difficult to adequately treat depression and anxiety.
What is something that the average person may not know about children’s sleep?
The average older infant should sleep for 10 to 12 hours overnight, plus at least one nap during the day. By school age, the overnight sleep need is about 10 hours per night, and this does not decrease significantly into adolescence. Teens should be aiming for about nine hours of sleep per night on average, though many are getting much less than this.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Carrie Black
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-2400
Christa Clark
Christa Clark MD, FACS, (916) 246-2662
Jesus Garcia
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5515
Karly Kaplan
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5515
David Kaufman
Kaufman & Davis Plastic Surgery, (916) 983-9895
Gerald Khachi
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2045
James Kim
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2045
Tom S. Liu
Liu Plastic Surgery, 408-418-0808
Pirko Maguiña
The Plastic Surgery Center, (916) 929-1833
Kenneth Phillips
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5515
Lee L.Q. Pu
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-7844
Granger Wong
Centre for Plastic Surgery, (916) 791-7088
Michael S. Wong
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-7844
Podiatry
John Benson
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4045
Timothy Bernard
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
John Dawson
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 351-4800
Amy Duckworth
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4045
Jeremy Evans
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3359
Matthew Garrison
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3359
Daniel Lee
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2030
Roya Mirmiran
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9464
Damon Namvar
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9464
Beth Noe
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4045
Lindsay Russell
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2030
Michael Scatena
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5275
Tanya Singleton
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2030
Michael Starkweather
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Kirsten Van Voris-Scatena
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5275
Preventive Medicine
Cheree Dunbar
Northern California Wellness, Inc., (916) 790-5352
Psychiatry
Bradley Briercheck
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5300
Arlene Burton
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6100
Nathan Paul Fairman
UC Davis Health – Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, (916) 734-3574
Jonathan Funk
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Maria Koshy
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6100
Alison Newman
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6100
Lorin M. Scher
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3574
Humberto Temporini
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 525-6100
Paula Marie Wadell
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-3574
Angie Yu
Kaiser Permanente – Elk Grove Big Horn Medical Offices, (916) 478-5850
Radiation Oncology
Allan Chen
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-2871
Rachel Chou
Kaiser Permanente – Rancho Cordova Medical Offices, (916) 631-2730
Megan E. Daly
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (800) 362-5566
Ruben Fragoso
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (800) 362-5566
Christopher U. Jones
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 781-1225
Derrick Koo
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-2871
Charlotte D. Kubicky
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 781-1225
Vincent Lee
South Sacramento Cancer Center, (916) 978-1947
Melissa Lemieux
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 556-3131
Arta M. Monjazeb
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (800) 362-5566
Nathalie Nguyen
Kaiser Permanente – Rancho Cordova Medical Offices, (916) 631-2730
Shyam Rao
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (800) 362-5566
Seth A. Rosenthal
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 781-1225
Derrick Schmidt
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-2871
John Stevenson
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 863-8700
Matthew Wheatley
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 863-8700
Ellen Wiegner
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 556-3131
Radiology
Matthew Bobinski
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (800) 482-3284
Karen Brown
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 817-5250
Jennifer Chang
UC Davis Health, (800) 282-3284
Farhad Farzanegan
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Brian Gunter
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Choo-Won Kim
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Chia-Li Lai
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Charles H. McDonnell III
Sutter Medical Group, (877) 515-0053
Tan Nguyen
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Gregory Rogalski
Dignity Health – Mercy imaging Centers, (916) 434-7600
Michael Silberstein
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 817-5250
Reproductive Endocrinology / Infertility
Lisa Cookingham
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-5005
Manuel A. Doblado
Sutter Independent Physicians – Northern California Fertility Medical Center, (916) 773-2229
Laurie P. Lovely
Sutter Independent Physicians – Northern California Fertility Medical Center, (916) 773-2229
Michael J. Murray
Sutter Independent Physicians – Northern California Fertility Medical Center, (916) 773-2229
Sahar M. Stephens
Sutter Independent Physicians – Northern California Fertility Medical Center, (916) 773-2229
Kenneth Vu
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 614-5005
Rheumatology
Gurtej S. Cheema
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Minzi Chen
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Mohammadomid Edrissian
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2330
Lloyd Ito
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2330
Anand Lal
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-5616
Diana W. Lau
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Joy Mombourquette
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 474-2250
Minhchau Nguyen
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2330
Thitinan Srikulmontree
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 844-1592
Kenneth Billings Wiesner
Sutter Independent Physicians – Sacramento Rheumatology Consultants Medical Group
(916) 343-8538
Sleep Medicine
Paramjeet Atwal
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4821
Richard Beyer
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Matthew Chow
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Robert Dias
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 733-3372
Kimberly A. Hardin
UC Davis Health – Midtown Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3588
Nour Karzoun
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-7618
Jamal Mujaddid Mohammed
UC Davis Health Medical Group – Sacramento, (916) 734-8230
Swapna Parikh
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-7618
Frederick Edward Ramos
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4821
David Tzeng
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-4821
Lydia Maria Wytrzes
Sutter Independent Physicians, (916) 564-3610
Sports Medicine
Jason Brayley
Kaiser Permanente – Elk Grove Promenade Medical Offices, (916) 544-6160
Kevin James Burnham
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2737
Biljinder Chima
Sutter Independent Physicians – Rocklin Family Practice and Sports Medicine, (916) 624-0300
Brian A. Davis
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-6805
Marcia I. Faustin
UC Davis Health Medical Group – Elk Grove, (916) 683-3955
Julie Lynn Ingwerson
UC Davis Health, (916) 734-6805
Susan Joy
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Railyard Med Center, (916) 326-8200
Richard A. Marder
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-6805
Scott Meier
Kaiser Permanente – Elk Grove Promenade Medical Offices, (916) 544-6160
Daniel Parker
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Jeffrey L. Tanji
UC Davis Health – Cannery Building, (916) 734-6805
Brandee L. Waite
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-7041
Craig Ziegler
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 771-6611
Youth Suicide
Maria Koshy, M.D.
Chief of Department of Psychiatry
Kaiser Permanente
It is an unspeakable horror to lose a child, and it’s a conversation that no one wants to have, but we have to: Youth suicide is on the rise. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255.
What are the current youth suicide rates? Who is most at risk?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 30 percent increase in suicides from 2000 to 2016 across all age groups. Between 2007 and 2017, the suicide rates among adolescent boys increased by 31 percent. The rates for adolescent girls doubled in the last decade, and in 2015, it was the highest it has been since 1975. LGBTQ+ youth are particularly at risk: They are four times more likely to seriously consider suicide, make a plan for suicide and attempt suicide than their peers.
What unique challenges are young people facing today?
Economic recessions, such as the one that occurred in the late 2000s, have historically been associated with changes in suicide rates: Financial stressors in the family can exacerbate mental health symptoms in children and adolescents. Opiate-use disorders have also increased in prevalence in the last decade across age groups, and substance-use disorders are an established risk factor for suicide. Teenagers have more access to opiates than they did in prior decades, which can increase the likelihood of overdoses (and deaths related to accidental opiate use may also be mislabeled as a suicide). Lastly, with the increase in the use of social media and technology, children may be spending less time face-to-face with their peers engaged in direct social interaction, which can be socially and emotionally isolating.
What role does social media play?
Social media can have benefits such as exposure to current events, increasing connectivity between family and friends who would otherwise be separated by geographical distances, and social inclusion for marginalized teens who may otherwise struggle with social acceptance in their day-to-day life. Excessive use of social media in teens can also result in some unforeseen outcomes in mental health. A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association Psychiatry of more than 6,000 adolescents showed that those who spent more than three hours per day on social media may be at a higher risk of mental health problems, specifically feelings of sadness, nervousness or sleep issues. This study echoed many other previously published studies, which showed a similar association between excessive use of social media and a low or unhappy mood. The one-sided narratives created on social media may lead teens to develop feelings of inadequacy or dissatisfaction with their own lives, and they are more vulnerable to cyberbullying on social media by their peers.
What are signs that your child or student may be thinking about suicide?
Changes in sleep pattern (excessive sleeping or too little sleep), a change in self-esteem, loss of interest in favorite pastimes, a decline in academic performance, dramatic changes in weight and appetite, increased aggressiveness and anger that are out of character, or making statements about self-harm or not wanting to be around may all be red flags to watch out for, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The key to intervening is to create an environment of open communication and to be proactive in reaching out. When teenagers make statements like “nothing matters” or “I wonder how many people would come to my funeral,” it is important to pay attention and take these statements at face value. It can be tempting to minimize the statements because it can be difficult to accept that your teenager may not be doing well, but addressing these issues early on can help prevent later suicide attempts.
What is something that the average person may not know about youth suicide?
Youth suicide can be preventable. The majority of adolescents who attempt suicide have risk factors for suicide, such as mental illness or substance use, but they are often not engaged in treatment prior to their attempt.
Thoracic Surgery
Matthew Agnew
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Lisa M. Brown
UC Davis Health – Comprehensive Cancer Center, (800) 362-5566
David Tom Cooke
UC Davis Health – Cypress Building, (916) 734-3861
Costanzo Di Perna
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-3665
Stephen D. Maxwell
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 878-2555
Rick Peng
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
Brian Rezvani
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Trevor Williams
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Group, (916) 536-3665
Transgender Health
Christopher Swales
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Urology
Aron Bruhn
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4160
Samuel T.H. Chan
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4160
Marc A. Dall’Era
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2222
Christopher P. Evans
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-2222
Joyce Loeffler
Dignity Health – Woodland Clinic, (530) 668-2600
Megan Merrill
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2081
Brian N. Naftulin
Folsom Urology, (916) 983-5557
Tan Pham
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2081
Carmen Stapp
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4160
Kimberly Takahashi
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4160
Scott Troxel
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4160
Alice Tsao
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2081
Jared Whitson
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2081
Vascular / Interventional Radiology
Braden Boice
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5720
Matthew Danielson
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 817-5250
Mark M. Davidian
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 453-9999
Lawrence Davis
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Brandon Doskocil
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 817-5250
Farhad Farzanegan
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Robert Freed
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5720
Jonathan Hartman
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5490
Alexander M. Kane
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Maud Morshedi
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2029
Derek Vien
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 817-5250
Vascular Surgery
Christopher Abbot
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
John Brawley
Kaiser Permanente – South Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 688-2014
Charles T. Brownridge
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9400
Richard Campbell
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
Richard Florio
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Dmitri V. Gelfand
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 773-8750
Blake Hamby
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
Misty D. Humphries
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3800
Addison McMurtry
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Matthew William Mell
UC Davis Health – Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, (916) 734-3800
Brian D. Park
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9400
Thomas C. Park
Sutter Medical Group, (916) 262-9400
Victor M. Rodriguez
UC Davis Health – Cypress Building, (916) 734-2680
Samantha Stradleigh
Kaiser Permanente – Roseville Medical Center, (916) 784-4144
Ali Tajlil
Sutter Independent Physicians, (916) 733-6890
Eric Williams
Kaiser Permanente – Sacramento Medical Center, (916) 973-5235
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