Robert Hickman, MD

	Joined Nov, 1997 Department: Family Medicine Services [Map] Title: Physician Degree: MD Interests: Biking, Fishing, Camping, Gardening in God's natural playgrounds Languages: Spanish Physician Homepage
Bio I was born and raised in Southern California and traveled around the Pacific Rim as a Navy brat. I consider San Diego my hometown. It may sound quaint, but I went into medicine to help people. I had excellent training as an engineer and had many job opportunities upon graduation. But I found medicine more stimulating and rewarding in that I could help individuals live better and healthier lives. Moreover, it gave me an avenue to help the poorest of the poor in the poorest countries of the world. That is why I continue to serve with short-term medical relief organizations. Before moving up to Santa Rosa, I practiced in San Diego and served as clinical faculty at the UCSD School of Medicine teaching medical students and Family Medicine residents. I joined the Family Medicine Department of Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa, in November 1997. I enjoy working with this great group of colleagues who constantly work to improve our members' health. We really have a great group of physicians and staff.
My Medical Specialty
More details about my specialty: I love Family Practice as it allows me to be a part of your family through the continuum of life. I can be there caring for your newborn, helping the kids grow, mending sports injuries, working to maintain good health, controlling chronic medical conditions, treating life-threatening illnesses and helping you enjoy the later years.
Interests
Since catching that first rainbow trout as a young boy, I have found that fishing is a wonderful stress reliever. Deep-sea fishing had been my passion for many years, having caught fish in every ocean except the Artic. Most recently, I have taken up fly fishing. I believe that this is the most effective stress reliever on earth. Besides avoiding the stress of sea sickness, it has a rhythm that is better that any mantra that I have heard. When I cannot get out to the fish, I practice Tai Chi. This is a wonderful way of balancing the physical and emotional worlds. Our group, Li's Tai Chi and Kung Fu, gave a demonstration at the Olympic Countdown event in August 2007 and plan to participate in Beijing next year. My favorite book or author: C. S. Lewis Great movie: Amazing Grace	Hobby Photos & Links: Fly fishing the Firehole River, Yellowstone, WY (June 2007) Tai Chi at the Beijing Olympics count down celebration (August 2007) Northern California Fly Fishing Board - a good place to get the latest inside information. A good site on fishing in Baja California.
Family & Friends
People in my life: I am married to a wonderful wife and we have two beautiful children.

Travel
An adventure I've had: In 1994, I was able to volunteer for 3 months at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, Africa. I treated patients with malaria, parasites, tuberculosis, HIV, arrow wounds and buffalo gorings. In the operating room, I performed Cesarean Sections and assisted with surgery. I still keep in touch with people at Tenwek Hospital. After my time at Tenwek Hospital, I traveled throughout Kenya for 2 weeks by backpack, Matatu, Land Rovers, buses, and small planes. I was able to visit the home (mud hut) of Daniel, a hospital worker on vacation, and eat the simple meals of his family. It was exciting to meet new friends from all around the globe. An Italian couple traveled with me to Lamu as I spoke Spanish, close enough to Italian to be understood, while they spoke broken English. I went deep-sea fishing in the Indian Ocean with chaps from Australia. I went on a tent safari with a Belgian couple, sleeping on the ground with animals all around. It is amazing to see a pride of lions come to a watering hole, stake it out during the day, take their positions and then pounce on the prey at night. The wildlife and scenery was breathtaking. It was truly a wild adventure. Favorite place in the world: Yosemite: nothing compares to the artistic hand of God. Standing at the base or at the top of Half Dome is so inspiring. One of my recent trips: I enjoy participating in volunteer medical work around the world with previous experiences in Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Kenya. In 1994, I volunteered for three months in Kenya with Tenwek Hospital. In 2001, I worked with Project Compassion in emergency relief aid for the people of El Salvador after two massive earthquakes. My latest expedition in January 2005 was to provide emergency medical relief for the victims of the December 2004 tsunami in India. We were able to see and treat 2000 people in 3 days. An article that I authored about the trip is found in Sonoma Medicine, the journal of the Sonoma County Medical Association (http://www.scma.org/prior/magazine/scp/sm05/hickman.html). There is still much work to be done and much help needed due to the economic devastation. You can find more information at Project Compassion (www.ProjectCompassion.org). I am very grateful for those of you who took time and resources to share in the relief effort. A few photos of that trip are at the bottom of this page. One of my patients wrote me in August 2005 about his recent move to Africa: "The life in Africa is very difficult. These people are very pour [sic]. They do not even have the basic necessity of life. I can not believe that the international community allowed these people live like this. The water is bad, the utilities are bad. People get malaria left and right. Some people die by getting Malaria. We are taking once a week medicine. That should protect us from the more serious types of malaria. " This is why I continue to volunteer and support groups that deliver health care to the developing world. You can find more information at www.ProjectCompassion.org.	A Photo of One of My Favorite Places: Half Dome from Glacier Point Yosemite Valley Half Dome, Yosemite Trip Photos: Sunset in El Salvador - 2001 Treating children in El Salvador 2001 El Salvador after 2 massive earthquakes - 2001 Earthquake in El Salvador - Jan Shipley FNP - 2001 The Project Compassion Tsunami Relief Team, January 2005 Successful Resuscitation of a Woman in Ullapalem, India - 2005 Serving in Ullapalem, India - 2005 Children in the Village of Pakala, India - 2005