Family Medicine Residency Faculty
You’ll experience diverse expertise from health care reform to clinical education to specialized areas within primary care. Residents learn in an apprentice-like model, with a focus on direct one-to-one learning.
Each faculty member, including physicians and behavioral scientists, has an appointment with the clinical faculty at the University of Washington School of Medicine and is board-certified in family medicine. Each resident is assigned an advisor from among the faculty physicians for the three years of their residency.
Our faculty physicians concurrently maintain clinical practices, most at half-time or greater. This commitment to teaching while practicing creates faculty who are acutely aware of current issues in clinical medicine and practice management. It supports our program's precedent to produce strong clinicians who are tuned in to the real world of practicing medicine.
I was born in Mexico and I spent my childhood in Georgia. As the oldest of 5 siblings, I am the first in my family to become a doctor. I completed my medical training at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. I was drawn to family medicine because it emphasizes the importance of human relationships -- especially with those at the margins. I want to be an advocate for families from all walks of life, and to provide them with compassionate care. I aim to practice with humility, while honoring the valuable lessons I've learned from my amazing parents and patients. I was drawn to Kaiser Permanente Washington by the amazing people and the incredible training in our Family Medicine Residency that has prepared me to provide the best care for my patients in the future.
About My Practice: I enjoy talking with patients and getting to know the whole person. I'm also excited about caring for multiple generations. I focus on family planning, advocacy, and health equity. I've always been happiest and fulfilled when I'm working at the intersections of health, behavioral science, health equity, and justice.
How I Thrive: I love taking road trips, sharing food, exploring the outdoors, and enjoying live music with family and friends. My favorite vacation destination is Santorini, Greece. I love crafting anything from quilting and quilling to carpentry and origami. I also enjoy a mostly plant-based diet and I walk at least 10,000 steps daily.
Associate program director and site director for Burien residency clinic
I grew up in California and Arizona and after a brief stint on the East Coast, I returned to the West Coast for medical training. After living in cities throughout the country, I'm excited to call Seattle home. I am an advocate for social justice, equity and caring for all people. My partner and I both work in medicine and live with our white poodle mix. I was inspired by mentors throughout my career to pursue medicine, from my high school biology teacher, who got me fascinated in science, to my first boss out of college, who helped me discover my love for patient stories and the healing power of primary care.
About my practice: I am a careful listener who strives to understand each patient's story to understand their values and goals before making medical recommendations. I believe that education and shared decision-making helps to empower patients to take an active role in their health. Health and wellness happen in the home and in the community, not just in the doctor's office. I earned my medical degree from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and completed a residency in family medicine from Swedish First Hill in Seattle.
How I thrive: To stay active, I get my cardio up by playing basketball and boxing. I cook nutritious meals at home to stay healthy. My perfect day off involves spending time with family and friends cooking and spending time outdoors. I stay motivated by trying new activities and recipes and by exploring.
Program Director
I have a deep commitment to comprehensive family medicine, as both an educator and leader. I joined Kaiser Permanente in 2023 to lead the Family Medicine Residency and care for patients in the Capitol Hill Family Health Center.
My educational background includes an MD from Washington University in St. Louis, an MPH from UC Berkeley, family medicine residency at Swedish Cherry Hill, and a geriatrics fellowship at Swedish First Hill. I built my clinical care experience practicing as a family physician with OB and inpatient medicine for 16 years and a geriatrician for 19 years, including three years at Carolyn Downs, 12 years at Swedish First Hill, and, most recently, four years at Iora Primary Care (Now One Medical Seniors/Amazon). My clinical leadership experience includes serving as clinical site director at Carolyn Downs, associate director of Clinical Operations at Swedish First Hill, and medical director at Iora Primary Care.
I served as community residency faculty for Swedish Cherry Hill and then as faculty at Swedish First Hill for both the residency and the geriatrics fellowship. I progressed to associate program director of Clinical Operations for 7 years and then served as the First Hill residency’s program director for 4 years. My family medicine operations leadership includes roles as assistant chief and chief of the department of Family Medicine for Swedish Medical Center – First Hill. I am a King County Academy of Family Physicians board member and president of the Washington Academy of Family Physicians. I enjoy presenting at regional and national forums on geriatrics and palliative care.
Mental Health
I am a Seattle native, third-generation Chinese American, with family roots in health care. As a mental health scientist with the Family Medicine Residency faculty since 1987, my interests include teaching primary care counseling, mental health care, and doctor-patient communications. My professional experiences include cancer care, chronic illness, stress management, and behavioral medicine. Raising three children, I also have the privilege of being sensitive to parenting issues and the family life cycle.
Philosophy of care: Good care means really listening and seeing people beyond their symptoms, establishing a human connection, and collaborating with patients and their families on agreed upon health goals.
Education: Bachelor's degree in human biology with emphasis in psychology, Stanford University, 1975; Master of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 1976; Master of Social Work, University of Washington, 1979
Certifications: Licensed clinical social worker
Medical interests: Physician-patient communication, primary care counseling, motivational interviewing, parenting, stress management.
Personal interests: My family life, reading good fiction, indulging in a little reality TV, gardening, enjoying great meals, volunteering, piano and musicals.
I grew up in California but moved around a lot as a child. I am married with two adult children and a large extended family. I have always wanted to be a physician, and I love the interpersonal connections this career affords me, along with the scientific rigor the medical field demands. I joined the Family Medicine Residency faculty in 1994. I am a graduate of our program and completed a fellowship in faculty development. I am board-certified in adolescent medicine and am a certified Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) instructor.
About My Practice: I am a faculty member at Kaiser Permanente's Family Medicine Residency, which has allowed me to participate in the Teen Pregnancy Clinic and the Procedures Clinic, a part of the General Surgery Clinic. I enjoy being in a large multi-specialty group which focuses on prevention and evidence-based medicine. It is a great honor to be a part of my patients’ lives. I strive to be an active listener and understand the point of view of my patients, while providing them with necessary information to make informed decisions. I practice broad-based family medicine in the Rainier Valley, focusing on women's health, maternity care, teen health and musculoskeletal medicine. I am privileged to work at Kaiser Permanente with a great group of people in many different areas, including my own clinic, the residency clinic, the hospital, and many specialty clinics.
How I Thrive: I love to cook and entertain on a regular basis. I bake sourdough rustic bread, which we have for breakfast every morning. I try to eat well and make a nice dinner almost every day of the week. I like to start my day with an intense workout before going to work. I do yoga on the weekends. Most of our trips away include visiting the ocean and my children who live near there. Currently, I am learning to speak Spanish, which is a painfully slow process, as you might imagine.
I grew up in Wenatchee, Washington. I have two teenage daughters, two dogs, a cat, and a cockatiel. I have always loved science, teaching, and the healing arts, so the best career fit for me was to be a primary care provider. I love what I do for work: It is highly gratifying to help train the next generation of family physicians.
About my practice: By being part of Kaiser Permanente, I can practice in a system that values total care of my patients. I also have access to an amazing team of specialty and primary care colleagues who share these values. My philosophy of care is to empower patients to make evidence-based decisions within the context of their own lives to optimize their health and well-being. My areas of specialty are sports medicine, geriatrics, women's health, LGBTQ care, and family medicine. I appreciate and value the healing relationship I have with my patients and their families. Caring for my patients over time and helping them toward health and wellness is deeply rewarding.
How I thrive: My hobbies include distance running, bicycle commuting, Nordic skiing, sea kayaking, and DIY home improvements. I love all the things we can do outdoors in the Pacific Northwest and get outside as much as work allows. I maintain my own wellness through regular exercise, mindful appreciation of each day, a healthy diet, and embracing the wild ride of raising a family.
I joined the Family Medicine Residency Faculty in 2024. My education includes medical school at Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, followed by residency at the Swedish Family Medicine Residency in Seattle and fellowship training at University of New Mexico Medical Center.
I am married to my amazing partner, Al, and we have 2 dogs.
About My Practice: I love providing full spectrum primary care and employing a comprehensive approach to medicine. I strive to see people in the context of their identity, experience and community and keep this context at the center of my counseling and care. I practice at the Kaiser Permanente Burien Medical Center.
How I Thrive: I enjoy hiking, taking long bike rides, and spending time with my partner and dogs. I also love journaling, reading fiction, and listening to podcasts.
Associate program director and site director for Capitol Hill residency clinic
I am a Seattle-area native. I grew up in Burien, WA and I attended high school right here in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle where I currently practice medicine. I was inspired to go into medicine when my father was involved in a car accident resulting in significant medical needs. I attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD for my undergraduate degrees. After college, I volunteered in the Peace Corps teaching English in Mozambique. When I returned to the states, I attended the University of Washington for medical school and completed my residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson. I love Family Medicine because of the broad scope of practice and the relationships that I develop with my patients. I love working with resident physicians because it requires me to stay up to date on current medical guidelines and reinforces/expands my own medical knowledge. I enjoy working at Kaiser Permanente because of our medical home model where I truly feel like I can practice a wide breath of family medicine with the support of our specialty colleagues.
About My Practice: My areas of expertise include LGBTQ care, HIV management, and chronic disease management. I love the wide scope of my practice -- every day is different and exciting. I believe in treating the whole person and I truly enjoy the relationships I develop with my patients. My role is to provide the education my patients need to make informed decisions. I believe in a collaborative partnership with my patients for their health and well-being. I love the positive impact that I can have on people's lives.
How I Thrive: I stay physically healthy by running, strength training, hiking, and doing yoga. I aim for 7-plus hours of sleep each night and I eat a balanced diet. Traveling to new places and enjoying food from various cultures keeps me motivated and inspired. Above all, I love to spend time with my loved ones.
I grew up in a small town outside of Seattle. I worked in public health and clinical research before realizing that I really wanted to work directly with patients. I like exploring the intersection between the science of medicine and individual patient relationships.
About my practice: I believe in partnering with my patients to help them achieve their health goals and pursue what is most important to them. I want to create strong relationships with my patients so that we can make informed decisions together that are aligned with their individual values. I am open to integrating complementary and alternative medicine with traditional medicine. I also try to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes related to diet and exercise into treatment plans as much as possible. I'm pleased to be part of Kaiser Permanente's integrated medical system where primary care providers and specialty colleagues work together to deliver excellent care. My main interests are in women's health, LGBT care, HIV care, adolescents, and pediatrics. I like the variability in my day of seeing patients of all ages, performing procedures, and teaching resident doctors. I enjoy seeing patients and families over time and developing strong relationships that lead to better health.
How I thrive: Whether I take a morning run or fit in a workout at the gym after clinic, I try to build exercise into my daily schedule. This helps me stay focused during my workday and to be more efficient. I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and bicycling in the summer and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. My husband and I like to go camping, backpacking, and explore the National Parks.
Associate Program Director for Curriculum
I was born in Los Angeles, and grew up in Lynnwood, Washington. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Washington and returned to Los Angeles for medical school at the University of Southern California. Although I enjoyed spending more time with my extended family in California, I decided to return home to Seattle to build my practice.
About my practice: I became a physician because I love working with people. I believe every person has a story to tell, and I truly enjoy getting to know my patients and building relationships with them. I strive to work in partnership with my patients, creating plans together so that we're working toward common goals. I love watching my patients grow and change over time. It's a privilege for me to be there to support them, as they go through all the different stages of their lives. I chose to practice at Kaiser Permanente because it's among the few medical systems that put patients at the center of care, and I believe it is a forward-thinking organization that is helping to shape the future of health care. I also serve on the faculty for the family practice residency, training newly graduated doctors to help them understand the importance of teaching patients about their health.
How I thrive: In my spare time, I enjoy skiing, sailing, scuba diving, and traveling. I also love making crafts of all kinds—including knitting, hand-lettering, scrapbooking, and sewing. I try to stay balanced by making sure that I dedicate time each week to my family, my friends, and my own passions and pursuits. I love trying new things, going new places, and developing new skills.
Mental Health
I was born and raised in Japan and worked in multiple odd jobs and locations prior to college. I was with my wife through her medical schooling and family medicine residency, and I love seeing the rewards and challenges in her work. We have two grown children. See www.tomlinde.com for more about my philosophy and methods. I joined Kaiser Permanente in 1990 and I manage the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group Well-being Program, providing counseling to our medical staff.
Philosophy of care: The "mind-body connection" is something of a misnomer - not only are they both aspects of one system, so too is our behavior and social environment. Care is best, and easier, when we adopt this view. Also, what is good for the patient - true, authentic, empathic acknowledgement and meaningful connection - is also good for the physician: Your work is more effective, gratifying and sustainable. Finally, your work is hard. As they say, when in medicine, you could miss half the fun in life. But if not in medicine, you miss the other half.
Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology, Antioch College, Ohio, 1983; Master of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, 1987
Advanced training: Special training in family therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy
Certifications: Credentialed with The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
Personal interests: I enjoy travel, soccer, biking, white-water kayaking, great food and strong coffee.
I grew up in Auburn, Washington. I earned my undergraduate degree at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. I love going to Husky football games. After college, I became an AmeriCorps member at the Western Washington Area Health Education Center, in Seattle where I worked with underserved high school students. I attended medical school at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima, WA. There, I became more aware of health care disparities among various populations and started the Student National Medical Association on campus. I completed my residency training for Family Medicine at UW Family Medicine Residency Program.
About my practice: I developed a passion for practicing medicine during childhood as I listened to my parents tell stories about health care in their native countries of Nigeria and Uganda. I joined Kaiser Permanente to practice preventive, patient-centered medicine with colleagues who value mentorship and believe in a positive and healthy work environment. It's an honor to be a part of my patients' lives. I strive to treat every patient as I want family members to be treated. I love what I do, and I take time to actively engage with my patients. I especially love family medicine as it incorporates public health. Medical interests include: comprehensive health care for adults of all ages, primary care, women's health, obstetrics, and pediatrics.
How I thrive: I enjoy spending time with my family and reading. I keep myself healthy, motivated, and inspired by surrounding myself with loved ones, traveling, staying physically active, and giving back to my community. During my time in the UW Family Medicine Residency Program, I served as the president of the UW Network of Underrepresented Residents and Fellows and helped increase and promote cultural diversity in medicine.
As a faculty member, I am excited to be teaching at Kaiser Permanente, where the model of care prioritizes the patient, which is reflected in best practices, such as evidence-based medicine. I oversee the care delivered at our residency’s community health practice—a clinic for homeless youth housed in YouthCare’s Orion Center in downtown Seattle.
As a family physician, I view my relationships with patients as partnerships. It is my job to listen and provide information with respect and compassion and to help my patients make the best decisions for their health. At the same time, I try to be mindful how those decisions will fit into their lives. As a doctor, I have an opportunity to serve the community and advocate for change with the hope of improving health care outcomes. I am interested in serving teens and older adults. My interests also include maternal and infant health, chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, prevention and health maintenance, and health equity.
I enjoy spending time with my family. They help keep me grounded and inspired. We love exploring the outdoors, traveling, and having fun.
I was born in Acámbaro, Guanajuato, Mexico. When I was 6, my parents, 2 brothers, and I immigrated to the U.S. We lived in New Braunfels, Texas, where I spent most of my life. I grew up in a low socioeconomic community with limited access to health care. Some of my family suffered from chronic illnesses, mostly because of the lack of primary and preventive care. I wanted to become the kind of primary care doctor I had wished my family had. I'm the first in my family to go to college and medical school. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin and my medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. I moved to Seattle for residency and fell in love with the area. I was an obstetrics chief resident, and I completed an additional year of training in surgical obstetrics. I chose to join Kaiser Permanente because of the excellent clinicians and staff who provide invaluable care to the community.
About My Practice: I love family medicine for its tremendous scope of practice. I recognize that my patients are unique individuals, balancing social, emotional, professional, and physical lives. I strive to treat my patients holistically and to address all health factors that affect their well-being. I focus on preventive and evidence-based care. I enjoy empowering my patients with knowledge about their health conditions. Together, we can make shared decisions that can improve their health. My areas of expertise include prenatal care, including cesarean and vaginal deliveries; LGBTQ care; and newborn, infant, children, and teen care. I also have a special interest in caring for underserved communities, including Spanish-speaking patients. It's a privilege to care for entire families throughout their lives.
How I Thrive: I try to stay active every day, either through weightlifting, running, hiking, or taking a long walk. I love sharing new foods or drinks with my partner, family, and friends as often as possible. I enjoy eating my way through new cities. I taught myself how to play piano, and I enjoy playing music and adding my own spin on it.
I grew up in a small town in New Hampshire and went to Boston for my college and medical school training at Tufts and Harvard universities. I moved to Seattle for residency training, and I love the medical culture and lifestyle of the Pacific Northwest. I have a wonderful husband, Andrew, and we have one very energetic and feisty baby boy named Remy, and a loveable rescue mutt named Brady.
About my practice: I enjoy being part of a team that works together helping patients achieve their health goals. I feel Kaiser Permanente provides an environment that understands the many complex elements that contribute to our patients' health, including family, societal, emotional, and physical factors. I strive to help patients understand their own health and I also want my patients to feel cared for and listened to. I love caring for patients and their families and forming lasting relationships with them throughout their lives.
How I thrive: I'll do anything that gets me outside. This used to be backpacking trips and triathlons, but more recently it's chasing my son around--trust me, it's just as exhausting! I try to exercise every day and I take time every night to reflect on things that I'm grateful for. I love being with family and watching my little boy discover new things every day.