Kendal Hamann, MD

	Joined Oct, 2007 Department: Endocrinology [Map] Title: Physician Degree: MD Interests: Fly fishing, gardening, photography, skiing, and spending time with my family. Languages: English, some Spanish Physician Homepage
Bio I started practicing endocrinology at Kaiser Santa Rosa in 2007. After training in San Diego and Sacramento for many years, I am excited to be home again. I grew up in Novato, California and feel fortunate to now return to this beautiful area to practice medicine, enjoy life, and raise a family. I first trained in general internal medicine, followed by specialty training in endocrinology. Many people ask me what an endocrinologist does. It's a pretty diverse field. As an endocrinologist my area of expertise includes thyroid disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, pituitary disease, and many other disorders of endocrine glands. These are all diseases related to hormones (chemicals) made by the body. Endocrinology is fascinating to me because of its diversity and complexity. Hormones travel throughout the bloodstream and have an important effect on every single organ in your body. Maintaining balanced levels of these hormones is essential for optimal health and well-being. I believe that Kaiser Permanente is an outstanding model of how to effectively provide comprehensive and individualized medical care to its members. I am pleased to join Kaiser and its commitment to outstanding service to its members. I am proud to belong to a team of hundreds of physicians at Kaiser Santa Rosa. As a specialist, communicating effectively with patients and their primary care physicians is one of my most important jobs. One of my goals as a physician is to provide patients with the information they need to make informed decisions about their own bodies and health. These decisions range from lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise, to decisions about medications, surgery, and other treatment options. I do this by reviewing the most recent advances and research studies and by offering suggestions on the best course of action based on the complexities of each individual. I am here to be your advocate and advisor.
My Medical Specialty
More details about my specialty: I chose the field of endocrinology because I am fascinated by the effect that hormones have on the entire body and one's overall health. It is a diverse field, closely linked to primary care medicine, yet still specialized. I enjoy caring for people with very common diseases like diabetes, while also having the opportunity to occasionally take care of people with some rare and very interesting hormone disorders. My specialty interests and affiliations within my field: While at UC Davis, I conducted research in diabetes care as well as bone disease in the setting of HIV infection. In addition to my role as a health care provider, I am interested in medical education and clinical research. Current projects or research: I will be working with the Department of Endocrinology and Chronic Care Management team to improve care for patients with diabetes while they are in the hospital. This is a continuous project, and I am happy to be joining the team in this endeavor. Great health resources that I refer to: www.hormone.org Provides excellent informative material on multiple endocrine disorders. www.diabetes.org The American Diabetes Association website. www.thyroid.org/patients/patients.html The American Thyroid Association website. www.nof.org The National Osteoporosis Foundation website. www.calorieking.com An excellent web based resource for carbohydrate counting, which includes numerous restaurant menus. The Calorie King Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter, 2007 Edition A pocket sized book version of the website for carbohydrate counting (sells for about $8). An interesting story from my training: Between general internal medicine and endocrinology subspecialty training I spent a year as Chief Resident at UC Davis in the Department of Internal Medicine. This highly valuable year provided me the opportunity to support and teach residents during their training years, lead physician teams in caring for underserved patients, and enhance my communication and leadership skills.	Photos from My Training Years or of Practicing Medicine in My Field: Skiing with the UC Davis Internal Medicine residents.
Interests
As a kid, I grew up fishing a lot with my dad. We would sometimes fish for trout at Lake Berryessa or salmon in the San Francisco Bay. My husband and I developed an interest in fly fishing together during medical school. Time away from the books to enjoy some fresh air and the sound of a river passing by was very precious. One summer we packed up the truck and moved to Jackson Wyoming, where we worked at a white water rafting company and explored the rivers and streams of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming during our free time. Some of my favorite memories and most successful days fly fishing are from that summer. Now, my husband and I travel to the Northwest every now and then. Fortunately, the Truckee, Yuba, upper Sacramento, and McCloud Rivers are within closer reach. Currently reading: The American Academy of Pediatrics Caring for your Baby and Young Child Birth to Age 5	Hobby Photos & Links: The McCloud River in May.
Family & Friends
People in my life: My husband, Kevin, is a pediatrician here at Santa Rosa Kaiser. We met when we were 17 years old at the UC San Diego college orientation, just 2 weeks after high school graduation. He has been my best friend and biggest source of support ever since. We were married during medical school, and in 2005 we had a daughter, Jillian. We are expecting our second child in early 2008. As a mom, I am lucky to have a pediatrician around the house. He is a wonderful father, and we are both excited to be raising a family in Sonoma County. My children and people I care about: I have two children: my daughter Jillian, and my son who is expected to arrive in 2008. My daughter Jillian likes music and dance, and she loves to talk about what she can teach her baby brother when he arrives. My husband and I call her "Jilly" or "Jilly Bean." We have fun going to the library, the park, and music class on the days I am not working. An interesting story about my family or friends: My husband and I spend much of our free time with our extended family. I am fortunate that my mom lives with us, and my dad, brother, and two sisters all live nearby. We enjoy trying out new recipes, tasting wine, and watching our kids play together.	Photos of my Family & Friends: Kevin and I at my internal medicine residency graduation. Jillian getting ready for Halloween. Enjoying some time with family and a picnic.
My pets: Our cat Hector has lived with my husband and I since we were medical students. We have countless nicknames for him, and although he can be a bit rough around the edges, we love him anyway.	Pet Photos: Hector thinks he rules our neighborhood.
Travel
An adventure I've had: I spent a summer in college working abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I made so many good friends and became enamored by a warm and vibrant culture there. Years later I took my husband first to Buenos Aires to visit old friends, then to the Patagonias of Argentina for some fly fishing. Argentina reminds me of California in that its people, climate, and geography are extremely diverse. One of my recent trips: Our most recent trip as a family was to Disneyland. At two years old, Jillian's favorite rides were the carousel, It's a Small World, and the teacups. Of course, any chance to see a princess, Micky Mouse, or Goofy was just as exciting.	Travel Photos: San Martin de los Andes, Argentina. Trip Photos: The teacups at Disneyland.