Family Doctor
The good doctor is in town — a few towns, really. This year’s favorite family doctors are: In San Francisco, Dr. Lisa Sterman; in the East Bay, Dr. William Strauss; and in the South Bay/Peninsula, Dr. Gary Aron.
Sterman has developed a following of around 2,000 patients in only three and a half years. She works with mainly older families, and believes spending a “good five minutes looking and listening to patients” is far more important than “spending time with a computer.”
Strauss practices geriatric and internal medicine in Moraga, and has been in the profession for 30 years.
Aron has been in his profession for 32 years. Practicing internal medicine in Redwood City, he is a graduate of the Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska.
In second place are Dr. Marci Gottlieb in the East Bay and Dr. Gary Zweig in the South Bay/Peninsula.
FIRST PLACE
San Francisco
Dr. Lisa Sterman
(415) 863-3366
East Bay
Dr. William Strauss
Moraga
(925) 376-5161
South Bay/Peninsula
Dr. Gary Aron
Redwood City
(650) 298-8774
SECOND PLACE
East Bay
Dr. Marci Gottlieb
Oakland
(510) 465-6700
South Bay/Peninsula
Dr. Gary Zweig
Palo Alto
(650) 324-1250
Pediatrician
If you have kids, it’s not even a question that you’ll need a good pediatrician — and that’s where these four come in. Readers voted these established pediatricians as their favorites in their area: Dr. Ami Goodman in San Francisco, Dr. Arnold Blustein in the East Bay and Dr. Douglas Kaye in the South Bay/Peninsula.
Goodman began his practice in 1985, and has been doing pediatrics ever since. Goodman, who now works for Kaiser, not only knows some Hebrew, but is also fluent in Spanish. He works as part of the clinical faculty at U.C. San Francisco.
Blustein has been practicing in San Leandro for 29 years. The doctor finds himself “looking at how the entire family relates to itself [and] to each other” to better understand patient care. While some of his patients are Jewish, he emphasized that he sees a wide variety of people from different geographic areas and from different socio-economic backgrounds.
Kaye, who has been at his Sunnyvale practice for 15 years, really is attuned to both children and parent concerns. Because many of the patients he saw as children are now going off to college, Kaye feels like a “proud father sending them off into the real world.” He admits to having a large Jewish, particularly Israeli, base of patients, and is returning to Israel this summer to take his kids there for the first time.
Second-place winners are Dr. Mary Piel in San Francisco, Dr. Myles Abbott in the East Bay and Dr. Kenneth Rosenbaum in the South Bay.
FIRST PLACE
San Francisco
Dr. Ami Goodman
Kaiser Permanente
(415) 833-2200
East Bay
Dr. Arnold Blustein
San Leandro
(510) 352-2425
South Bay/Peninsula
Dr. Douglas Kaye
Camino Medical Group
Sunnyvale
(408) 730-4251
SECOND PLACE
San Francisco
Dr. Mary Piel
(415) 668-0888
East Bay
Dr. Myles Abbott
Berkeley
(510) 841-6451
South Bay/Peninsula
Dr. Ken Rosenbaum
San Mateo
(650) 343-4200
Cosmetic Surgeon
Bay Area residents in search of a little nip/tuck, take heed: The gorgeous have spoken. This year’s favorites in the category of cosmetic surgeon excel in both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, though the latter dominates the practice of each.
Dr. Roland Minami of Greenbrae, the winner for Marin/Sonoma, calls plastic surgery “the only creative and artistic field” in medicine. Whatever the procedure, he says the goal is to “enhance natural beauty. We don’t try to change [a patient] into a different person. We want to create something that doesn’t look like it was done.”
Dr. Bryant Toth credits his win to his staff. Having an operating room in his San Francisco office means he has the advantage of working with the same team every day. But bedside manner helps, too. “It’s important to treat every patient uniquely,” he says. “We tailor the procedures to what the patient wants, but we try to make sure expectations don’t exceed what we can do.”
For 24 years, East Bay winner Dr. Elliott Lavey has called Danville home. Lavey says new technology in recent years — from lasers to liposuction — has been a boon for the field. “It’s important to understand my patients’ goals,” he adds, “and to design procedures uniquely suited to each individual.” He’s also a proud member of the Jewish community, and once did a residency at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital.
FIRST PLACE
San Francisco
Dr. Bryant Toth
(415) 923-3008
East Bay
Dr. Elliott Lavey
Danville
(925) 820-3633
www.elliottlaveymd.com
Marin/Sonoma
Dr. Roland Minami
Greenbrae
(415) 461-1240
www.drminami.com
Dentist
If you need a tooth pulled and want to make sure it’s done right, give these Readers’ Choice winners a call: Dr. David Rothman in San Francisco, Dr. Eric Citron in the East Bay, and Dr. Ron Hamako in the South Bay/Peninsula.
Rothman is a longtime favorite of readers in the San Francisco area, and since he began working alongside Dr. Lionel Traubman (who retired in 2000) has received rave reviews from all around. Rothman also is an officer of the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry.
Citron, in the East Bay since 1990, prides himself on using a “traditional style” of dental practice, and has many patients come to him from the Jewish community.
Hamako, who won for the South Bay, practices general dentistry in the Palo Alto area.
Second-place winners are Dr. Richard Rozen of San Francisco and Dr. Arthur Amos of the East Bay.
FIRST PLACE
San Francisco
Dr. David Rothman
(415) 333-6811
East Bay
Dr. Eric Citron
Berkeley
(510) 849-1660
www.ericcitron.dds.com
South Bay/Peninsula
Dr. Ron Hamako
Palo Alto
(650) 321-3959
SECOND PLACE
San Francisco
Dr. Richard Rozen
(415) 334-1737
East Bay
Dr. Arthur Amos
Orinda
(925) 254-4877
Health Club
If you’re looking to fulfill that New Year’s resolution and get in shape, these Bay Area health clubs are sure to help in your success. Readers highly approve of these four health clubs: the San Francisco Bay Club in San Francisco, Renaissance ClubSport in the East Bay, the Peninsula JCC’s Byer Athletic Center in the South Bay/Peninsula, and Osher Marin JCC’s Koret Center for Health & Fitness in Marin/Sonoma.
Among other offerings, the San Francisco Bay Club features swimming, a mind and body center and many fitness machines. But it’s not just about the members — “A big part of our mission statement is corporate philanthropy,” says Communications and Marketing Director Christine Blake. The club is the main donor for the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” campaign, and holds fundraisers and silent auctions throughout the year.
Over in Walnut Creek is Renaissance ClubSport, a combined fitness center and resort that offers an array of activities. From basketball to golf to teen training programs, Renaissance provides programs for all ages. One unique program is the weekly Friday event “Dive-In Movie Night,“ inviting members to a free poolside barbeque and movie. “The social component is ... a big part of our culture and how we keep our members happy, “ said Sales and Marketing Director Kevin Cabral.
The Peninsula JCC’s Byer Athletic Center is only three years old, and already a Bay Area parenting magazine presented its swim school the family favorite award two years in a row. It has a plethora of programs available for children and adults, like Stay Fit for Life for adults over 55. “You’re not just here to work out,” says Athletic Center Director Dan Burns, reiterating the center’s motto.
Osher Marin JCC’s Koret Center for Health & Fitness just experienced a renovation, reopening its doors in January. Additions include a large fitness area with up-to-date equipment, along with several studios, pools and gyms. Its “Sunday Family Funday” is one of the most popular events, with activities from art projects to swimming.
Second-place winners are the JCC of San Francisco’s Koret Center for Health, Fitness & Sport, Oakwood Athletic Club in the East Bay, Pacific Athletic Club in the South Bay/Peninsula, and Bay Club Marin in Marin/Sonoma.
FIRST PLACE
San Francisco
The San Francisco
Bay Club
(415) 433-2200
www.sfbayclub.com
East Bay
Renaissance ClubSport
Walnut Creek
(877) 274-9900
www.clubsports.com/renaissance
South Bay/Peninsula
Byer Athletic Center
Peninsula Jewish Community Center
Foster City
(650) 378-2703
www.pjcc.org
Marin/Sonoma
Koret Center for
Health & Fitness
Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
San Rafael
(415) 444-8000
www.marinjcc.org
FIRST PLACE
San Francisco
Koret Center for
Health, Fitness & Sport
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
(415) 292-1200
www.jccsf.org
East Bay
Oakwood Athletic Club
Lafayette
(925) 283-4000
www.oakwoodathleticclub.com
South Bay/Peninsula
Pacific Athletic Club
Redwood City
(650) 593-9100
www.pacclub.com
Marin/Sonoma
Bay Club Marin
Corte Madera
(415) 945-3000
www.bayclubmarin.com
Hospital
J. readers’ favorite hospitals may not have McDreamy or McSteamy on staff, but seriously, wouldn’t you rather be treated by doctors at one of these great Bay Area institutions than by a bunch of overpaid Hollywood actors? We thought so.
Kudos to S.F.’s California Pacific Medical Center for winning the category three years in a row. That says a lot about patient care at this four-campus community-owned hospital, which traces its history back 155 years. CEO Martin Brotman says CPMC gives patients “the best in both the science and art of medicine.” Among CPMC’s latest achievements: a new pediatric clinic in Bayview and multiple partnerships with other community agencies promoting wellness.
Taking first in Marin/Sonoma was Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center. Area Manager Judy Coffey is proud that Kaiser was named “Best Place to Work” two years running in the North Bay Business Journal. A new cardiac lab and ongoing community health education are highlights, but mostly, says Coffey, “We’re all about service. You want to make sure things are very patient-centered. That’s our business: making sure you’re healthy.”
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame took the crown in the South Bay/Peninsula. How’d they do it? Says Mills CEO Bob Merwin, “We spent a great deal of time enhancing our service levels as well as the quality of care.” That should get even better upon completion of Mills-Peninsula’s $528 million, 428,000-square-foot facility, due to open in 2010. “We take care of a third of all the residents of San Mateo County,” adds Merwin.
Over in the East Bay, John Muir Medical Center was voted favorite hospital. Make that “hospitals,” given its Walnut Creek and Concord campuses. Known for their Behavioral Health Center and the John Muir Physician Network (800 primary care and specialty physicians), John Muir offers many areas of specialty, including high- and low-risk obstetrics, orthopedics, neurosciences, cardiac care and cancer care.
In second place are Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in the East Bay, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center in the city and Stanford Hospital & Clinics in the South Bay/Peninsula.
FIRST PLACE
San Francisco
California Pacific
Medical Center
(415) 600-6000
www.cmpc.org
East Bay
John Muir
Medical Center
Various locations
(925) 939-3000
www.johnmuirhealth.com
South Bay/Peninsula
Mills-Peninsula
Medical Center
Burlingame
(650) 696-5304
www.mills-peninsula.org
Marin/Sonoma
Kaiser Permanente
San Rafael Medical
Center
(707) 571-4000
www.kaiserpermanente.org
SECOND PLACE
San Francisco
Kaiser Permanente
San Francisco
Medical Center
(415) 833-2000
www.kaiserpermanente.org
East Bay
Alta Bates Summit
Medical Center
Berkeley
(510) 204-4444
www.altabates.com
South Bay/Peninsula
Stanford Hospital
& Clinics
Stanford
(650) 723-4000
www.stanfordhospital.com
CopyrightJ, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California