Mark Sloan, MD

Bio

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Midwesterner, born in Iowa and raised in Indiana and Illinois. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame with Honors in 1975 and earned my MD degree with Honors from the University of Illinois, Chicago, in 1979. I completed my pediatric internship and residency at Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan in 1982. I joined Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento/Roseville that same year and moved to Santa Rosa in 1990, where, in addition to my clinic and hospital duties, I served as Chief of Pediatrics from 1997-2002. I am Board Certified in Pediatrics.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

I'm a big guy. I was a football player and a discus thrower in my long-ago school days. When I was younger (and buffer), people often asked me why I chose pediatrics instead of a specialty like orthopedics, where muscle can come in handy. The shortest answer is the truest: I love working with kids. I have cared for thousands of children over the years, many of them from early childhood through their high school graduations.

I've been in practice long enough to reach "pediatric grandfatherhood"; many of my now-grownup patients bring their own children to me. It's that sense of continuity, of watching children grow and thrive over many years and knowing that I have played a significant part in their lives that makes Pediatrics so rewarding.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

Another question I'm often asked: why did I choose Kaiser Permanente? When I left Michigan after residency, few of my "back East" colleagues had heard of Kaiser Permanente. Frankly, I joined Kaiser Permanente with the idea of eventually going into private practice on my own. But from day one, I liked what I saw. My colleagues were highly skilled and enthusiastic, I had my own panel of patients, and I could practice medicine the way I wanted to, without getting wrapped up in insurance company red tape. So I stayed with Kaiser Permanente and, 25 years later, I think it's the smartest decision I ever made. (Next to choosing my spouse, that is. More details on that in the Family & Friends section ).

An interesting story from my training:

I've included a number of life lessons learned from my medical training in my book, "Birth Day: A Pediatrician Explores the Science, the History, and the Wonder of Childbirth." Read the first chapter at marksloanmd.com and you'll see what I mean...

Interests

My favorite book or author:
My favorite author is Ian Frazier, who wrote "Great Plains," and is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker magazine. Very funny, and a great story teller.

Hobby Photos & Links:

My book launch at Copperfield's in April...

A couple of my fused glass bowls.

My book cover

...it was great to see so many friends (and even some of my grown-up former patients) at Copperfield's.

Bullseye Glass in Portland is the glass artist's paradise. More glass and glassmaking gadgets than I could use in a lifetime.

Family & Friends

People in my life:

I have been happily married to Elisabeth Chicoine since 1985. (She's the reason I moved to California in the first place.) We share a sense of ethics and a sense of humor, both of which go a long way in keeping a marriage alive.

My children and people I care about:

Elisabeth and I live in a sturdy old house in downtown Santa Rosa. We have two children. Claire, 19, is a sophomore at UC Davis, and John Patrick is an 18 year-old senior at Santa Rosa High School. They are wonderful human beings and, here's a career bonus, they have provided me with an abundance of "real world" pediatric lessons, from teething to navigating adolescence. More to come, I'm certain. (Then, eventually, grandkids...)

Photos of my Family & Friends:

My family at Thanksgiving.

Rosie is our third child, a poofy white bichon frise. I never really wanted a dog, but Elisabeth grew up with a poodle for a pillow and vowed that her children would have the same opportunity. I said "no" to the poodle thing, so she and the kids picked a bichon, which is pretty close. Rosie is 14 years old now, and her vision and hearing are getting a little iffy, but I have to admit she's won me over. My life would be much poorer without her.

Pet Photos:

Rosie the Dog

Travel

Favorite place in the world:

Coming from a part of the world that is notable for its flatness and cornfields (I never saw an ocean until I was 21 years old), I never take northern California for granted. Sonoma County is my favorite place in the world. From my office window I see hillside vineyards, a school playground full of children, and a wide variety of birds coming and going. My kids love to go to Bodega Bay to dig up sand crabs and walk the long ribbon of beach there, just as they've done all their lives. I love to travel, but whenever I leave Sonoma County with my family, no matter how great the trip was, I'm always glad to be back.

One of my recent trips:

Elisabeth's parents, Gus and Margo Chicoine, were born and raised in Montreal. We traveled to Quebec in 2005 for their 50th wedding anniversary. The trip was an eye-opener for my children, who met many aunts, uncles and cousins for the first time, most of whom were native French-speakers. Communication was a challenge, but we all muddled through. A highlight of the trip was our visit to Saint-Pie (St. Pius in English), the small village near Montreal where Gus lived as a child. We stopped at many of the sites he's made famous to us in his stories over the years. I'm looking forward to visiting again; Quebec is a beautiful, fascinating place.

Trip Photos:

Cousins in Canada

Elisabeth and her father, Gus Chicoine, in Saint-Pie