"I strive to learn from my patients' experiences, so I can share my knowledge and expertise in a way that is most helpful to them."
Board certified Psychiatry
Board certified Psychiatry (Addiction)
No Limitations
I chose to work here because our mission is to enrich people's lives by improving health. We do this not by trying to maximize our profits at the expense of patients and their families, but by providing the best evidence-based treatments to patients to improve their health and well-being. It is truly an honor to work with patients and their families as they face some of life's greatest challenges. The practice of medicine requires humility and openness. I strive to learn from my patients’ experiences so I can share my knowledge and expertise in a way that can be most helpful to them. We collaborate to develop shared goals and a plan to improve their health. My specialties are substance use, other addictions, and chronic pain.
I was born in the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. My father was in the Air Force so we lived all over the country, but I was raised mostly in California. I am happily married and we have a small menagerie of pets. In college, I volunteered with people who had severe mental health problems and addictions. My experiences getting to know these people and trying to help them on their road to recovery made me decide to become a physician, and ultimately, an addiction psychiatrist. I have served on the work group for the American Society of Addiction Medicine that helped write the Standards of Care for Addiction Specialist Physicians. I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Washington Society of Addiction Medicine.
Kaiser Permanente Northgate Medical Center
