Maury Schulkin, MD

Bio

I grew up in New Jersey, moved to Los Angeles at age 10, and then went to U.C. Berkeley, where I met my wife, Ann. My medical schooling was at U.C. San Diego, followed by a Family Practice Residency at Santa Monica Hospital.

I ended up as a family physician at Kaiser in Rohnert Park after a somewhat roundabout professional journey, including the last 13 years in emergency medicine.

In 1982, after completing my residency, I joined a group practice in the South Bay, at a time of economic turbulence in health care (come to think of it, things haven't changed much, have they?). After 5 years of practice, the tenuous finances of that business finally collapsed, forcing me to work urgent care centers to support my family.

To my surprise, I found that I was then able to schedule time during the week for activities such as coaching my son's soccer team, volunteering in the classroom, and otherwise being available for family school and sports events. When I moved with my family to Santa Rosa in 1989, I worked a mixture of family practice and urgent care in Rohnert Park, but, having once been burned by a sinking business, I was hesitant to commit to another group practice.


After much soul-searching, I ultimately decided to change to a career in emergency medicine. I worked first at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, and then, for the last eight and 1/2 years, at Petaluma Valley Hospital.

In the ER I was always a family doc at heart, paying attention to my patients' "big picture" when possible (not always an efficient stance in a busy emergency department). There is a quotation that best sums up my approach to my patients, and often served as my mantra when tempted to take someone's problem lightly: "Be kind, for everyone is fighting a great battle" (Philo of Alexandria). People don't like having to go see a doctor. I need to take the time and thought to understand what their concerns and unspoken fears are, and try to address them before they leave.

This year, for a variety of reasons, I decided to return to my roots in family medicine with Kaiser Permanente. Now that my wife and I are entering the "empty nest" phase of our lives, I was ready to leave the night shifts behind, and finally share the same schedule as my wife. I also felt that it was time to take up the unfinished business of being a family physician, while still young enough to develop a long-term practice.

Kaiser Permanente presented an opportunity to take care of patients the way I would want my own family taken care of, without having to worry about the financial viability of my practice, and without having to spend my time grappling with insurance companies.

So I took the jump in June, 2006, and I'm glad I did. I look forward to meeting you.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

I originally chose family medicine as I went through my clinical electives in my 4th year of medical school. During that year, we would rotate through a different specialty every month. At the end of each month I would say, "This is great, this will be my specialty". Then the next month, it would be "no, actually, THIS is great, I should specialize in THIS." And so on. After I year of this, I realized that I wouldn't feel like a "real doctor" unless I became a generalist, and I decided on family practice.

I love being a doctor! I love having the opportunity, each and every day, to have a positive impact on another person's life. It may be the right words, the needed touch, or the right diagnosis or treatment plan that makes a difference. Often the seemingly simple acts of listening, caring, using humor, and reassurance, are as healing as are any medicines.

Great health resources that I refer to:

I find "Up to Date" , "E-medicine" , and "Prescriber's Letter", as well as the Kaiser Permanente Clinical Library to be excellent resources for me.

An interesting story from my training:

In my third year of family practice residency I spent a month with my wife and infant child living in the rural town of Mariposa, California, and working in a small group practice. One of my duties was to be on-call for the emergency department of the local hospital.

One day I had a most unique patient to take care of. "Blackie", a local canine citizen, had gotten himself bitten by a rattlesnake. He arrived at the E.D. in the back of his frantic owner's pick-up truck.

Before I could apologize that I didn't know how to treat a dog, the seasoned nurse took me aside and informed me that they did, indeed, have a file card from an old veterinarian explaining how to treat the dogs for their rattlesnake bites. I read it; it recommended shots of penicillin and cortisone, a bowl of water, and a shady spot to rest.

Well, I wasn't about to prescribe treatment without examining the patient, so I visited Blackie in the parking lot, took a look at his bite, and nodded to the nurse to go ahead. As far as I know, Blackie lived to tangle with more rattlesnakes, and I learned that you can't always go "by the book".

Photos from My Training Years or of Practicing Medicine in My Field:

During my residency, with my son, Brent

Interests

Currently reading:
The Time Traveler's Wife

My favorite book or author:
Ken Follet, John Irving

Great movie:
Little Miss Sunshine

Hobby Photos & Links:

Playing basketball with my nephew and father, 2005

Hamming it up at Karaoke night

Family & Friends

People in my life:

Ann, my wife of 29 years, is my best friend. We met as volunteers at the California School for the Blind while students at Berkeley. She works as a special education aide at an elementary school, is a delightful storyteller, and is currently immersed in scrap booking as a hobby.

She also enjoys reading and knitting. We enjoy walking, talking, skiing, and hiking together, and we keep each other laughing regularly. She is a cancer survivor, and we truly appreciate every day we have with each other.

My children and people I care about:

Ann and I have four wonderful grown children, two sons and two daughters ranging from 19-25 years. Fortunately for us they live in California, and we like to visit and vacation together whenever we can.

Photos of my Family & Friends:

My wife, Ann, and me

Ann and I with our daughters, Sydney and Amy, and our sons, Brent and Jonathan

We have 4 cats. Shadow and Mojo are the veterans, and we recently took in Bagheera and Layla when our daughter couldn't take them to her new apartment. Most of our free time is spent opening and closing doors.

Pet Photos:

A daring cat inspects a visitor

Travel

An adventure I've had:

I guess the most exciting thing I did was my one and only attempt at sky-diving. This occurred during my last year of college at Berkeley. After a day of practicing how to step out on a wheel holding a wing strut, how to jump while properly spread-eagled, how to steer the chute, how to land and roll, and what to do if the chute didn't open, I was ready.

The next day my friend Sam and I, accompanied by Ann, who was then my girlfriend, went out to the jump site in Antioch. After a full day of waiting for the wind to die down, we finally went up for our jump in a borderline wind, at sundown. I managed to climb out and jump on command; the static line pulled the chute open (one of the happiest moments of my life), and after spinning back and forth until my line untwisted, I regained my bearings and started steering toward my target. However, it soon became apparent that I was a few degrees off the mark, and I was drifting with the wind rapidly toward a barbed wire fence. Too late to evade it, I landed a step in front of it, and before I got to do my well-practiced roll, I was dangling like a scarecrow with the wind-filled chute keeping me there.

I was extricated from this predicament in a few minutes by the ground crew, and was fortunate to have the most minor of injuries. Although it remains a most memorable experience, I have had no temptation to repeat it. I realized that it was selfish of me to put the woman I love through that kind of worry, on a whim.

I find there are many fine ways to find joy on terra firma, with less risk of catastrophe, and I have been happily engaging in them since.

Favorite place in the world:

I have been to interesting and exotic places over the years, but the unassuming town of Twain Harte, in the Sierra foothills, has been the special place for my family and me. For the last 20 years we have made that our summer vacation spot, together with friends and family who congregate there.

We enjoy lazing by the lake under the pines, playing beach volleyball, mini golf and "big golf,", and watching the kids grow up. Closing down the lake at sundown, followed by late cocktails, big family dinners, group games, and then sleeping in are all part of getting into "Twain Harte Mode."

The annual multi-generational talent show has always been a big hit. We've enjoyed hiking and boating at Pinecrest Lake, and taking outings to Columbia to pan for gold, ride the stagecoach, or see summer stock theater. Occasional trips to nearby caverns and Yosemite Valley have been special treats.

The place has changed only a little since my wife Ann went there with her family as a child. It's a well-kept secret, so don't spread it around!

One of my recent trips:

My family, (along with my parents, and my brother and sister and their families) have been fortunate to be able to vacation together in tropical locations on 4 occasions over the last decade. Twice in Mexico, then Maui, and most recently last winter in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

This has been a great opportunity for the far-flung families to keep in touch. Volleyball, ultimate frisbee on the beach, karaoke, swimming, and snorkling were among the highlights of the most recent trip.

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

Boating on Pinecrest Lake, 1993

Beach Volleyball, 2000

"Talent Show", 2000 edition

"Talent Show", 2002, myself as one of "The Supremes"

Water fun at the lake, 1987

Naval battle, boys vs. girls, 1993

The construction crew with their masterpiece, 1995

The "Talent Show", 1994

Twain Harte Lake

Trip Photos:

Another family reunion in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 2005

My children with my nephews at the Mayan ruins near Tulum, Mexico, 2000