Krisztina Balazs, MD

Bio

I had worked part time for Kaiser Permanente for almost a year before joining as full time physician in May 2005. I am a pediatric hospitalist, which means that I work in the hospital and provide care for sick newborns and children admitted to the hospital. I also attend high risk deliveries to provide help for the babies if necessary.

My maternal grandparents and great grandfather were physicians. I decided to become a pediatrician when I was in the hospital with a pneumonia at age fourteen. I had always loved children and had no doubt in my mind from that point that pediatrics is what I want to do.

I graduated from Semmelweis Medical School in Budapest, Hungary. After working for two years at a children's hospital in Budapest, I was offered a pediatric residency position in Detroit, Michigan. That's how my family moved to the United States.

I love my job. I feel honored to be able to provide care for babies and children. Working as a pediatrician for Kaiser Permanente makes my job even more enjoyable: I have my independency, backed up with wonderful colleagues and a full support system. I am very proud to be a physician in a system where for every employed doctor there are 7 applicants! Our Pediatric Hospitalist Team is awesome; there are six of us and I am so proud to be a part of this group. Our comeradery and friendship are priceless to me.

Throughout my careerI have worked extra time in newborn intensive care unit. If I had to pick a favorite interest, caring for newborns would be it, although I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of pediatrics.

I have four children and a grandson. Several years ago I home schooled for two years. I loved teaching and learning with my sons!

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

I have always wanted at least three children, and I decided to become a pediatrician at age fourteen. Well, instead of three children, I am the prod mother of one girl and three boys! I also followed my dreams to become a pediatrician. I love children. Being a doctor is very challenging and rewarding. I feel very lucky to be able to love and enjoy my work every day!

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

I am a member of the American Board of Pediatrics and Sonoma County Medical Association. My special interest is in newborn intensive care and also in preventive medicine. After my children are grown, I am planning to go to countries in the Third World and help children there. I will have to go to high places (Ethiopia, Ecuador), because I am rather allergic to insect bites, so tropical weather would make me quite miserable.

Current projects or research:

I graduated from Regis University's MBA with emphasis on health care management a few years ago. I had started the school with a hope to understand (a little) better all the challenges and changes the US health care faces today. I am glad the school is over, but I certainly have gained a lot of understanding and knowledge.

Great health resources that I refer to:

The American Academy of Pediatrics has a very extensive, good information source for parents:

http://aap.org/topics.html

Kaiser Permanente also has wonderful resources regarding all aspects of health and healthy living. Here is a link to children's health topic:

http://members.kaiserpermanente.org/kpweb/entryPage.do?cfe=288&rop=MRN

I love Dr. Preston Maring's website, it has awesome recipes:

http://www.permanente.net/homepage/kaiser/pages/f23597.html

Interests

Currently reading:
Hungarian books I picked up at my last trip to Hungary

My favorite book or author:
Favorite authors: Bernard Malamud, Oriana Fallaci

Great movie:
Forrest Gump

Hobby Photos & Links:

My yearly Marathon

Family & Friends

People in my life:

One of the hardest part of leaving Hungary was to leave my parents behind. My parents and my brother are physicists and we are just as close six thousand miles away as we were when I lived at home.

My children and people I care about:

We have four children and a grandson. I know I am blessed to have such wonderful children and I try to enjoy every moment with them. Judit, who is 23, is about to graduate from the same medical school I had attended in Budapest. Atti (21) and Daniel (19) are students in Santa Barbara; Atti is at UCSB in physics major (should I say BORING? both parents, a brother and now a son in physics!), Daniel is at the city college, planning to go to UCSB (aiming for engineering or physics). Benjamin (13) is in 8th grade. Aiden, my grandson is just turning eight years old.

Buffy is our Rat Terrier. Elzie is our German Shepherd and my running companion when I am allowed to run. We have two cats: Neptune is a Bengal cat and Jupi is an Abyssinian.

Travel

An adventure I've had:

I have had numerous fabulous trips with my parents as a child, including discovering Hungary, Finland, Bulgaria, Krk Island, just to name a few. The most exciting trips with my husband were to Israel and Sydney. I have had wonderful trips with my children to the East Coast, Grand Canyon, Utah, Mexico, Italy, Norway..... This year I took an unforgettable trip to Italy, Croatia and Hungary with my three best friends, and I am about to leave for Tonga for yet another very special trip for three weeks.

Favorite place in the world:

Budapest - I grew up there and I miss it very much. The Castle, the Danube, the bridges... oh and the pastries!
Take a virtual tour at:
http://www.virtourist.com/europe/budapest/index.html
(sorry, no virtual pastries!:-))