Laura Balestreri, MD T, W, Th, F Castro Valley Office
Dr. Laura Balestreri received her Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. She moved to the Bay Area to work in the biotech industry, but, unsatisfied with laboratory science, decided to go to medical school and moved back to the Midwest. She graduated from Saint Louis University Medical School with honors. Having greatly missed California, she returned and completed her pediatric residency at Children's Hospital Oakland in 2005. Shortly thereafter, she joined Primary Pediatric Medical Group. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is moderately fluent in medical Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, quilting, traveling, spending time with her husband and chasing after her young daughter and toddler son.
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Patricia Chiang, MD M, T/am, Th, F - Oakland Office
Dr. Patricia Chiang received her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and her medical degree from Temple University, graduating with honors. She has been supervising and teaching resident physicians at Children's Hospital, Oakland, and has consulted with Thunder Road, an adolescent drug rehabilitation clinic in Oakland. Dr. Chiang has been with Primary Pediatric Medical Group since 1996. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, and speaks some Mandarin. When she is not seeing patients, she enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her husband and their 3 young children, including a set of twins!
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Kenneth Ducker, MD M, T/pm, Th, F - Castro Valley Office
Dr. Kenneth Ducker received his undergraduate degree from Oberlin College in Ohio and then went on to attend medical school at New York University. He completed his medical degree, after which he moved to California to complete his residency at Children's Hospital, Oakland. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and he has been supervising and teaching resident physicians in both inpatient and outpatient settings at Children's Hospital since 1978. He is currently Chief of the Department of General Pediatrics at Children's Hospital, Oakland. In 1995, he was awarded the Children's Hospital Community Physician of the Year for his commitment to primary care and community service. Dr. Ducker joined Primary Pediatric Medical Group in 1998, after having practiced in the Castro Valley community for many years. In his free time, he enjoys running, music, hiking, movies and spending time with his wife and grown children.
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Erin Gutierrez, M.D. M Castro Valley Office, W-Th-F Alameda Office
Dr. Erin Gutierrez was raised in Southern California and received her Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA. After spending a year in Paris, she returned to the US to work for a biotech company and applied to medical school, graduating from USC. Always wanting to live in Northern California, Dr. Gutierrez was happy to accept a position at Children's Hospital Oakland for her residency which she completed in June 2011. Dr Gutierrez is thrilled to join PPMG! She is moderately fluent in medical Spanish and has many hobbies including swimming, camping, skiing, running and crafts.
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Bruce Horwitz, MD M, T, W Oakland Office
Dr. Bruce Horwitz received his undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley, and completed medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has been practicing in his hometown of Oakland for more than 40 years. Dr. Horwitz is one of Primary Pediatric Medical Group's founding physicians, helping to form the group in 1996 after many years in solo practice. He was formerly the doctor for the Childrens Home Society, the Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball, Oakland Marathon and the Alcatraz Triathalon. When not seeing patients, Dr. Horwitz enjoys his grandkids, biking and running marathons. In fact, he has run a marathon on all 7 continents!
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Lloyd Takao, MD M, T, W, F Alameda Office
Dr. Lloyd Takao joined us July 1, 2010. After studying architecture at the University of Cincinnati, Dr Takao completed his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and earned his medical degree at Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. Upon finishing his residency at Children's Hospital, Oakland, Dr. Takao established himself in private practice in Oakland and Orinda. He was President of the Medical Staff of Children's Hospital in 2008 and currently is working with the medical staff on the hospital's key initiatives of quality care and patient safety. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has extensive experience with pediatric asthma. When not seeing patients, Dr. Takao enjoys skiing, rock climbing and cycling.
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Michael Usem, MD T/pm-W-Th-F Oakland Office
Dr. Michael Usem came to Stanford University from Minnesota for his undergraduate work and then traveled back to the University of Minnesota for medical school to complete his M.D. He finished his residency at Children's Hospital, Oakland, and has been supervising and teaching resident physicians and students at both Children's Hospital, Oakland and UC San Francisco medical school. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a founding partner of Primary Pediatric Medical Group. Dr.Usem is currently Vice President of the Medical Staff at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. In his spare time he enjoys music, walking, tennis, hiking, skiing, and traveling with his wife and two boys.
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Georganne Walker, PNP Th/am Alameda Office, Th/pm Oakland
Georganne Walker, P.N.P., IBCLC, completed her B.S. in Nursing at University of San Francisco in, and received her Masters in Nursing from UCSF. She became a certified pediatric nurse practitioner in 1994 and an internationally board certified lactation consultant in 2002. Georganne was on staff with Children's Hospital, Oakland from1985 until 2002 where she worked in the neonatal intensive care unit, the emergency department and was a staff nurse for the Pediatric Urgent Referral Line. From 1994-2004 she was with Rainbow Pediatrics as a Nurse Practitioner and Lactation Consultant, and is currently on staff at Alta Bates hospital as a Lactation Consultant. Georganne joined Primary Pediatric Medical Group in December 2004 as a Nurse Practitioner and Lactation Consultant. When not busy at PPMG, Georganne spends time with her husband and two boys, and enjoys sewing and cooking.
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Jennifer Wineman, FNP M, T/am - Alameda Office
Jennifer Wineman, FNP, CPNP completed her undergraduate degree in nursing from California State University, Chico. She worked for 10 years as a critical care nurse. Jennifer began her Masters Degree Program at Sonoma State University and joined PPMG in 1996 as a student Nurse Practitioner while fulfilling her pediatric internship. After becoming a certified family nurse practioner and pediatric nurse practitioner, Jennifer joined PPMG. In 2008 Jen left the pratice to spend more time with her young son, and returned in 2010. When not busy at PPMG, Jen loves spending time with her husband and son, cycling, swimming and gardening.
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