Advertise | About Us | My Account | Log In

 

The East Bay's Top Doctors

66 Physicians Make the List

    Oakland Magazine turns to Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. this year to identify the East Bay’s top medical practitioners. A New York City-based research and publishing company, Castle Connolly has carved out a powerful niche conducting extensive physician surveys for national and regional magazines, hospitals and private corporations.

    The firm’s lengthy evaluation process to identify top doctors begins with a randomly selected pool of board-certified doctors who then nominate other physicians they feel are clinically outstanding and exhibit excellence in patient care. In other words, nominating physicians are identifying doctors to whom they would feel comfortable sending members of their own family.

    The Castle Connolly physician-led research staff reviews and verifies credentials and conducts extensive phone interviews before compiling the final list.

    From that tally, Oakland Magazine highlights five outstanding physicians who graciously share their stories with us. For a change, we get to be the ones asking the personal questions like where does it hurt and how do you feel?

    What strikes us most about these physicians is that they uniformly share a true fondness for their patients and express sincere gratitude for being allowed into their patients’ personal lives at a time of great vulnerability.

    Otherwise, we found these doctors’ lives to be just like the rest of ours: busy, engaged and replete with wonderful learning experiences that define who we really are.

Lisa Bailey, M.D.
Surgical Oncologist

    The mere mention of spare time or hobbies makes Lisa Bailey emit a contagious laugh. As a single parent to three children, full-time surgeon and medical director of the soon-to-open comprehensive breast center at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center’s Summit Campus, Bailey doesn’t wake up wondering what she’s going to do every day.

    When Bailey arrived in the East Bay in 1982 from Northwestern University, where she did all of her training, she was the only woman surgeon in the area practicing surgical oncology. When 90 percent of her practice became devoted to breast cancer, Bailey decided to shift her focus to this one area of women’s health.

    “It wasn’t right of me to spend 10 percent of my time doing everything else. So I stopped doing other kinds of surgery and concentrated on being as good as I could be doing this.”

    Bailey sees 30 patients a day with at least six new patients a week. Those first conversations, when fear and anxiety are prevalent, are the hardest for everyone. But for Bailey, the rewards are in the relationships she builds over time.

    “I have patients who have been coming in for 17 years, and I know where they’ve been on vacation and what their kids are doing and what they’re reading. To see how well they do and get back to their normal lives, that’s the good part.”

Robert Eppley, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon

    It’s fair to say that Bob Eppley is up to his elbows in knees and shoulders. He operates on 600 such joints every year, effectively restoring function to people whose lives were impacted by injury or disease. Eppley has undergone three surgeries on his own knee. And he has become something of a sub-specialist because he often is called on to correct other surgeon’s mistakes.

    “I have seen less than ideal care through the years,” he says. “And it’s made me realize how important good care is. So we try hard to do the best thing.”

    Eppley sees many patients in their 40s, 50s or 60s who “just want to keep going” despite the normal wear and tear of life. But he also spends a lot of time on the sidelines with the University of California, Berkeley’s football team.

    As chief orthopedist for the Bears, Eppley attends all home games and at least half of the away games, despite a hectic life with his wife, an emergency room physician, and their three kids.

    “Working with elite athletes offers a very particular challenge, because it’s hard to restore function at that level after a major knee blowout or shoulder dislocation. To be able to fix them and see them go on to a professional level, that’s very rewarding.”

Elizabeth Gleghorn, M.D.
Pediatric Gastroenterologist

    Twenty-five years ago when Beth Gleghorn was training to become a doctor, the push was to become a primary care physician. But upon completing a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, Gleghorn realized there were many compelling reasons to park herself in pediatrics instead.

    “Pediatricians are prejudiced and think children are more interesting than most adults,” she says. “And children are inherently getting better most of the time. There isn’t a doctor in the world who doesn’t want to have that on their side.”

     For 18 years, Gleghorn has been working at Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland, diagnosing and treating disorders of the digestive system on newborns all the way up to teenagers.

    The team approach has been her favorite aspect of the job, not only in terms of working with a wide variety of doctors, but also in her interaction with her patients’ families.

    “The really gratifying thing is that every time you walk into a room, you are so privileged just to be able to be allowed into the families’ lives and help them face their child’s illness,” she says.

    Gleghorn’s personal pressures are more down-to-earth. With her long-term partner, she has been reforesting 12 acres of land in New Mexico and farming another 12 in the Central Valley every weekend when she’s not on call.

Ursula Guidry, M.D.
Cardiologist

    Ursula Guidry has a stunning pedigree that would allow her to be any kind of a doctor she wanted. A native of Texas, Guidry studied at Harvard University as an undergraduate before heading to the University of California, San Francisco for medical school before returning to Cambridge for her residency and fellowship in cardiology at the Harvard hospitals.

    But she nixed the idea of cardiac surgery for one important reason.

    “I knew back then that it was important for me to be able to talk to patients—when they are awake!”

    Since 1999, when she returned to the Bay Area, Guidry has been a staff cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente focusing on preventive medicine, especially for patients who have already suffered a heart attack.

    While Guidry, the mother of two small children, has long been known as a warm and fuzzy physician, her patients’ fear and pain have resonated deeply since she was treated for breast cancer.

    “I feel like I am more in tune,” Guidry says. “Now before I walk into a patient’s room, I take a deep breath, center myself and listen from my gut. The exam room is a sacred place, and patients are so vulnerable. I just want to make sure I honor that.”

Peter Sun, M.D.
Pediatric Neurosurgeon

    If operating room hours earned airline frequent flier miles, then Peter Sun would be able to fly to the moon. That is because as the only staff neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland, Sun logs about a thousand hours a year operating on children’s brains.

    Born in Taiwan to Chinese parents, Sun says he’s known since he was a child growing up in Los Angeles that the brain and nervous system held a particular allure for him. By the time he had to decide between internal medicine and surgery in medical school at Columbia University, Sun knew that working with his hands and getting immediate results meant neurosurgery was where he was headed.

    “I like delicate work,” says Sun. “Some of the complex brain tumors that we get require meticulous dissections, and we have to spend time avoiding critical structures. These require very patient dissections that benefit my personality.”

    While Sun says brain tumors are fairly common, he also does more than 300 operations a year on congenital brain and spinal problems, skull abnormalities, vascular problems, trauma and cancer.

    While the vast majority of conditions Sun operates on are dramatically fixed by surgery, the hardest parts of his job is giving bad news to families about things he can’t cure. Another taxing part is spending long hours away from his wife and two young sons.

THE EAST BAY’S TOP DOCTORS

>Allergy & Immunology

Michael LeNoir, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    401 29th St., Suite 201
    Oakland, CA 94609-3581
    (510) 834-4897

>Cardiovascular Disease

John S. Edelen, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    Berkeley Cardiovascular Medical Group
    2450 Ashby Ave., Floor 2
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 204-1691

Garwood Gee, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-6474

Ursula C. Guidry, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-6474

Paul L. Ludmer, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group-East Bay
    365 Hawthorne Ave., Suite 201
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 452-1345

>Child Neurology

Jean C. Hayward, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1200

>Dermatology

Greta F. Clarke, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2500 Milvia St., Suite 124
    Berkeley, CA 94704
    (510) 843-2384

Warren I. Dotz, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2999 Regent St., Suite 300
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 540-5010

Tracie B. Tavel, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Fremont Medical Center
    39400 Paseo Padre Parkway
    Fremont, CA 94538
    (510) 795-3045

>Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Amer A. Budayr, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-7635

Craig N. Sadur, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center
    7601 Stone Ridge Drive
    Pleasanton, CA 94588
    (925) 295-6400

>Family Medicine

Khalid A. Baig, M.D.
    Washington Hospital Healthcare System
    632 Mowry Ave.
    Fremont, CA 94536
    (510) 793-2113

Peter L. Candell, M.D.
    Alameda Hospital
    Alameda Family Physicians
    2433 Central Ave.
    Alameda, CA 94501
    (510) 521-2300

Barbara H. Kostick, M.D.
    Washington Hospital Healthcare System
    Washington Family Health Medical Group
    38069 Martha Ave., Suite 300
    Fremont, CA 94536
    (510) 608-4800

David Louis, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    350 30th St., Suite 540
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 836-0223

>Gastroenterology

Thomas B. Hargrave III, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    3300 Webster St., Suite 312
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 444-3297

Cynthia Morton, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1282

>Internal Medicine

W. Irving Johnson, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    418 30th St.
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 208-5100

Carolyn B. Klebanoff, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    3000 Colby St., Suite 200
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 848-7977

Dianne C. Martin, M.D.
    Washington Hospital Healthcare System
    2191 Mowry Ave., Suite 500C
    Fremont, CA 94538-1725
    (510) 790-1045

Victor Silvestre, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1190

Steven R. Una, M.D.
    Eden Medical Center
    20130 Lake Chabot Road, Suite 307
    Castro Valley, CA 94546
    (510) 889-1673

>Medical Oncology

David M. Baer, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1295

Michael J. Cassidy, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center
    2001 Dwight Way
    Berkeley, CA 94704
    (510) 204-6401

Peter P. Wong, M.D.
    ValleyCare Health System
    5555 W Las Positas Blvd., Suite 400
    Pleasanton, CA 94588
    (925) 734-8130

>Nephrology

Malcolm L. Karlinsky, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2905 Telegraph Ave.
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 841-4525

>Neurological Surgery

Peter P. Sun, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    744 52nd St.
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 428-3319

John G. Zovickian, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd., Mosswood Bldg
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1749

>Neurology

Garrick P. Amgott-Kwan, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1088

D. Eric Collins, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    365 Hawthorne Ave., Suite 203
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 834-5778

John J. Ribaudo, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Fremont Medical Center
    39400 Paseo Padre Parkway
    Fremont, CA 94538
    (510) 795-3572

>Obstetrics & Gynecology

Catherine M. Behrens, M.D.
    Washington Hospital Healthcare System
    1895 Mowry Ave., Suite 103
    Fremont, CA 94538
    (510) 792-5990

Goldee H. Gross, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    365 Hawthorne Ave., Suite 301
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 893-4459

John T. Husokowski Jr, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
     280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1100

Risa Kagan, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2915 Telegraph Ave., Suite 200
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 845-8047

>Ophthalmology

Richard A. Brown, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1235

Mark Lurie, M.D./Ph.D.
    Washington Hospital Healthcare System
    38707 Stivers St.
    Fremont, CA 94536
    (510) 794-0660

Rona Z. Silkiss, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    491 30th St., Suite 103
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 763-0881

Robert L. Sorenson, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    3010 Colby St., Suite 114
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 848-1413

>Orthopaedic Surgery

Robert A. Eppley, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2999 Regent St., Suite 225
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 704-7760

Scott A. Hoffinger, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    747 52nd St.
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 428-3238

Steven S. Isono, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    5915B Hollis St.
    Emeryville, CA 94608
    (510) 208-5633

>Otolaryngology

Bernard J. Drury, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2961 Summit St., Suite 1
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 465-0941

Richard J. Kerbavaz, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2316 Dwight Way
    Berkeley, CA 94704
    (510) 845-4500

Barry M. Rasgon, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1115

Robert M. Wesman, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    744 52nd St., Suite 4200
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 428-3456

>Pediatric Cardiology

Howard M. Rosenfeld, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    Pediatric Cardiology Medical Group East Bay
    747 52nd St.
    Oakland, CA 9460

>Pediatric Gastroenterology

Elizabeth E. Gleghorn, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    747 52nd St.
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 428-3058

>Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Laura A. Campbell, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 596-6592

>Pediatric Infectious Disease

Ann Petru, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    747 52nd St.
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 428-3336

>Pediatric Surgery

Karen C. Cartwright, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    Pediatric Surgical Associates of the East Bay
    747 52nd St., Suite 4100
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 547-1600

>Pediatrics

Myles B. Abbott, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    East Bay Pediatrics
    2999 Regent St., Suite 325
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (925) 254-9203

Barbara Anne Parker, M.D.
    Alameda Hospital
    Alameda Pediatrics
    1332 Park St., Suite 202
    Alameda, CA 94501
    (510) 523-3417

Willie Van Ross, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    Castro Valley Pediatrics
    20101B Lake Chabot Road
    Castro Valley, CA 94546
    (510) 581-1446

>Plastic Surgery

Michael G. Cedars, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    3300 Webster St., Suite 1106
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 763-2662

Eric T. Hisaka, M.D.
    ValleyCare Health System
    5720 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 130
    Pleasanton, CA 94588
    (925) 463-1809

>Radiation Oncology

Myles E. Lampenfeld, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    1034 A St.
    Hayward, CA 94541
    (510) 583-2273

Patrick Sean Swift, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    Alta Bates Cancer Center
    2001 Dwight Way
    Berkeley, CA 94704
    (510) 204-1244

>Surgery

Lisa Bailey, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2500 Milvia St., Suite 120
    Berkeley, CA 94704
    (510) 883-1095

Richard S. Godfrey, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center
    27400 Hesperian Blvd.
    Hayward, CA 94545
    (510) 784-4070

Bruce D. Moorstein, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    418 30th St., Suite 430
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 835-2070

Kelly C. O’Neal, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    280 W MacArthur Blvd.
    Oakland, CA 94611
    (510) 752-1105

>Thoracic Surgery

Dennis S. Durzinsky, M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    Summit Providence South Pavilion
    3012 Summit St., 2nd Floor
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 869-8660

Thomas A. Gonda, Jr.M.D.
    Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
    Summit Providence South Pavilion
    3012 Summit St., 2nd Floor
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 869-8660

>Urology

James M. Betts, M.D.
    Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland
    Pediatric Surgical Associates of the East Bay
    747 52nd St., Suite 4100
    Oakland, CA 94609
    (510) 547-1600

Jon W. Floyd, M.D.
    Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
    2999 Regent St., Suite 612
    Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 848-1727



A copy of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.’s America’s Top Doctors™ (6th edition) is available for $29.95 by calling (800) 399-DOCS (3627) or from the company’s Web site, www.CastleConnolly.com.




Click here to check a doctor's disciplinary record - courtesy of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.,  Alameda Publishing Group’s partner for our "top doctors" feature.