Charles Meltzer, MD

Bio

I received a B.A. from Columbia University in Comparative Literature while doing my pre-medical studies. I love being a doctor and taking care of people. I was attracted to Kaiser Permanente because of the complete healthcare package the organization offers our patients. I joined Kaiser Permanente San Francisco in 1990 and spent 14 years there specializing in the treatment of sinus disease and head and neck cancer. During my tenure in San Francisco, I became Chief of the department and involved in other administrative duties. I believe that even in a large organization like Kaiser Permanente, one person can make a difference if they truly care about what they are doing. I transferred to Santa Rosa in 2004 to enjoy country living. I am passionate about good food and my favorite way to relax is cooking for friends. I also work out regularly, love to garden and relish quiet time in the hammock with a book.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

In medical school, I was excited to learn everything there was to know about the human body; the complexity and sophistication of what make us tick is truly amazing. As a guy who likes to fix things, I fell into surgery as my calling. Head and Neck Surgery includes a wide variety of surgical and medical conditions and we treat all ages from babies to the elderly. I like helping people and making a difference in their lives whether it be from curing an earache or removing a tumor. I am a meticulous person by nature, so my attention to detail helps me do these surgeries where there are many nerves and other structures whose integrity we want to maintain.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

I have two areas of interest that keep me busy. I particularly enjoy the challenge of treating sinus disease. Lots of people complain about sinusitis. Most cases can be medically managed, but then there are those that require surgical treatment. My other focus of energy is doing surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. The outcome of these surgeries for most people with diseases of the thyroid or parathyroid is usually very good, even if they have a cancer; it is very satisfying to be part of their care with my endocrine colleagues.

Current projects or research:

I am currently researching some new approaches to the medical management of sinus disease.

Great health resources that I refer to:

http://www.nci.nih.gov/ This is the website for the National Cancer Institute; it is the only one I recommend to my patients to look at when diagnosed with a new cancer.

http://www.entlink.org/ There is an extensive list of common ear, nose and throat problems discussed on the Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery website.

An interesting story from my training:

I considered cardiothoracic surgery and was doing a fourth year medical student rotation at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. I recall the first morning showing up at the ICU as I scanned the nursing station and looked at the monitors for this large 18 bed unit. I then turned to one of the nurses and asked her for some Mylanta as I was already having a sense of what the upcoming month was going to be all about. Behind me was an attending surgeon who asked me if I was new here, which I acknowledged. He then said to me that he thought my request was the most appropriate comment from a new medical student on the unit. He turned out to be the chief of the department.

Photos from My Training Years or of Practicing Medicine in My Field:

Young Dr. Meltzer as a resident surgeon

Interests

Currently reading:
Economist, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, Wine Spectator, Vanity Fair, Metropolitan Home, New Yorker, Sunset, Fine Gardening

My favorite book or author:
An Equal Music by Vikram Seth

Great movie:
12 Angry Men

Hobby Photos & Links:

A vegetable "gondola" in Venice, Italy

good source of recipes

Family & Friends

People in my life:

I have a partner whom I have been together with for almost 17 years. We met at the Armani store in San Francisco when being well dressed was more important to me than shopping at Home Depot. We are partners in the true definition of what a relationship should be all about. Decisions are decided together and we are constantly learning from each other in a loving and supportive way.

My children and people I care about:

My best friend aside from my partner is another Kaiser surgeon. Everyone needs to have someone who can give it to them straight, even when you do not want to hear it. We have "no holds, no barriers" relationship that helps each of us through whatever stresses we have at work or at home.

An interesting story about my family or friends:

My introduction to Sonoma County living started several years ago when we would come up to my best friend's weekend place in Sebastopol. We came up so often we got our own bedroom and were fortunate enough to be able to have this amazing relationship over the years. We have traveled together to places like Paris for the millennium and the Trinity Alps for fall colors. I feel very lucky to have such great friends who make up my immediate family. The quality time we had up here solidified our appreciation for living in Sonoma County.

I have an old cocker spaniel named Bentley. We used to have a pug named Jimmy, but he went to pug heaven. Bentley is the king of the house. He has it pretty good, sleeps most of the time, but when he is up, he still has a lot of puppy spirit. He is all about love and wagging his little tail.

Pet Photos:

Bentley and Jimmy exercising

Travel

An adventure I've had:

I lived and studied in Israel for a couple of years after college. Some friends and I decided to drive down through the Sinai peninsula to Sharm el Sheikh to camp out on the beach and snorkel for a couple of weeks. Sharm el Sheikh was still part of Israel at that time and basically a one camel town. We were not sure which road to take when we got to Eilat on the northern end of the desert, so we chose the road that was a diagonal through the it, rather than the road that went down along the Red Sea. It turned out to be the old road through the desert and took many more hours. We hit a hail storm and felt like Moses and the gang crossing the desert. Fortunately, we did not run out of gas. Now, I only drive cars with GPS navigation systems.

Favorite place in the world:

Italy- - - the food, the people, the art and architecture, the beauty of the countryside.

One of my recent trips:

This year all my vacation time is being spent right here in Sonoma at my new home. I decided there was no place better to spend my time off than getting familiar with the county and my garden. I have discovered that working in Santa Rosa and living up here is a wonderful way to live and work. Taking time to enjoy everything we have here, rather than running off to some other corner of the world, has been a very relaxing way to vacation.

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

Rafael-One of the great artists of the Renaissance

Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, Italy