
Residency Programs Rx to Doctor Shortage
The doctor is in. Or is she? A physician shortage has been well documented and appeared to only grow more serious as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on. It can feel like daunting circumstances, as healthcare access is limited and even more so for those in underserved...

Best Friends Share Everything –Even Breast Cancer
Orinda residents Michelle Meyers and Maureen Matthews have shared a lot over the past four decades: studying late into the night as roommates at UC Davis, joining a sorority, marriages, children and challenging careers. One thing the best friends didn’t plan to share...

Patient’s Quick Recovery Shows Power of Rapid Stroke Response
By Lena Kauffman, Vitals contributor When Martin Hyland awoke from his procedure in the neuro intensive care unit at Sutter Health’s California Pacific Medical Center's Davies campus, he was amazed to find his body and mind functioning as if the massive stroke he’d...
Editor’s Picks
Healthgrades Honors Sutter for Excellence in Safety, Patient Experience
Mills-Peninsula Is Only 'Triple Crown' Winner in California Sutter Mills-Peninsula Medical Center was recognized this week as the only "triple crown" award recipient in California and one of five hospitals in the nation to receive Healthgrades’ honors in...
The Undeniable Importance of Primary Care
Primary care is important at any age, but it is perhaps most critical for older adults. Afterall, routine visits are opportunities for doctors to monitor chronic diseases, make medication adjustments and screen for cancer, among other recommended care. "A yearly...
Heart Care Heavyweights: 6 Ways Doctors Flex Their Muscles to Treat Yours
By Karin Fleming and Emma Dugas, Vitals contributors Overall, deaths from cardiovascular disease are on the decline. Much of this is due to the tireless work of cardiologists, who dedicate their talents to research or routine care. While cardiovascular disease is...
Hospital Expansion Work Ahead of Schedule
When construction projects finish on time, it can bring a sense of relief. But when they finish early? It can be a delight and benefit to many. Or at least that’s been the experience at Sutter Davis Hospital, which is in the midst of a largescale construction...
Dive Deeper
Lung Transplant Candidate Works Out While on the Waitlist
Jose Ayala embodies the term “neighborly.” He has cared for many from the home he and his wife, Teresa, have made for themselves in Merced County, Calif. He’s offered counsel and comfort to those going through hard times and even given food to those who are hungry....
Care Team Surprises Heart Transplant Patient, Wife with Date Night
It’s almost as if you can feel the warmth emitted from the flameless candles. The gentle glow of these battery-powered devices is just one of the many touches the team at California Pacific Medical Center's Kanbar Cardiac Center used to create a special evening for...
Double Amputee Dances with Joy
With a soundtrack in her soul, Leticia Boykin-Owens keeps dancing, even after having both of her legs amputated below the knee. Ticia, as she is known to many, was determined to walk, then dance and even roller skate; in the process she became an inspiration to...
Micro-Unit Housing for Homeless Can Have Major Impact on Health
Touring any new home can spark excitement. Turn by turn, one can see a floor plan come to life. Each room, each amenity, each detail comes together to transform a space into someone’s safe haven. But there is a new housing structure that appears like potentially no...