Martin Ananias, MD

Bio

First, let me say that I consider myself lucky, because I have had many beginnings, from a beautiful, faraway land, Chile, to this friendly soil, the USA. My world became bigger, not smaller. I have known many styles, and heard many wise voices. I look at the past with gratitude, and the future without concern. There is no easy way to do life, but the best part is to do it together.

Like you, I was a child once, and I grew up trying to learn the lessons I could. I wanted the wise words to be mine, as probably you did. We asked ourselves the same questions: Do I have what it takes? What is next? Are things going right? Can they go wrong?

I grew up -- without breaking away from the past. I consider myself blessed in so many ways, even though I am far from the front pages, and cannot do what a guitar player does with the guitar, nor what a writer does with words.

Now I am old because I still use the words "album" and "records," and I still remember when aspirin, saline solution and hand washing saved many lives. Well, surprise -- they still do, they sure do.

Since the very beginning, I have loved Medicine. I was born and raised in Santiago, Chile. I went to medical school at the University of Chile, graduating in 1978. I thought that Medicine was just the pages of the book waiting to be read. It is so much more than that. It is what defines me. It makes me happy. It is beautiful because of the answers I know and the answers I do not know.

I completed my residency training in Psychiatry, in Chile. After a few years, I moved to the USA, completing a residency program in Internal Medicine at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. I received many awards and recognitions, and I dedicated the Top of the Class award to my son. So, I am grateful to Las Vegas where most of the people go to lose. I joined Kaiser Permanente in 1999 and like working with my colleagues. They all have what it takes to be good doctors. I like my job at Kaiser Permanente. Together we all create a synergy, in which the whole is greater than the parts. We are becoming more of a team every day, to help you, our patients. We have a purpose in front of us. The job is not finished. It happens one day at a time.
As a Kaiser physician I have access to excellent specialists, and frequently contact them with suggestions regarding complex diseases. I want the best for my patients.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

We follow evidence-based medicine. In simple terms, this means that we can predict some outcomes based on trial results, and we can test our predictions again and again.

On the other hand, there is something magical about medicine. Sometimes you may see excellent results before you understand the process.

I love my career and I put everything I have into that role.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

I like being a Hospitalist. I think that medicine lives in the hospital wards.

Current projects or research:

I am excited to be part of the hospital team in times of transition and expansion, to carry on the tradition of medicine.

Great health resources that I refer to:

Our library at Kaiser Santa Rosa has excellent books, materials, and resources, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and Internal Medicine Journals.

Interests

Currently reading:
House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende.

My favorite book or author:
Garcia Marquez

Great movie:
The Kid by Charles Chaplin

Hobby Photos & Links:

My family in Chile

Family & Friends

People in my life:

My mom is an extremely important figure in my life. She was the presence. My father was the provider. He is also extraordinary. In the photo, I am the little boy at the right side of my mom, enjoying a nice day with my brothers at the beach.

When I visit Chile, I look for comfort from my mom's food.

My children and people I care about:

My son, Martin, is 23 years old, but he will always be, regardless of age, irresistibly dear to me. I have tried to be present in his life as much as I could. I would love to go fishing with him soon. I feel that there is a very healthy proximity between us, and I adore him. In the photo, he was a little boy with our kitten.

Photos of my Family & Friends:

Mom, my brothers, and me

My son, Martin

I have a cat. His name is Sidney.

Travel

One of my recent trips:

Last year in May I visited a friend of mine in Costa Rica. We were classmates in medical school, and best friends since then. In those days, students from Central and South America went to Chile for medical training. My friend, William, works literally in the jungle, in a big plantation area, next to the border with Panama. He is a great surgeon who pours his heart into his rural community. His wife and children are the sweetest people you could ever meet. Behind his plantation's house, there is a very peculiar creek with crocodiles. Yes, crocodiles, the real ones. I loved to feed them in the mornings. At night, I was too scared to even think about getting close to the creek.

In those areas in Costa Rica you are back to the essentials. Everything is wrapped around a nice garden called nature. You are far away from the marketing machines and do not have to read the fine print. You will not miss duty-free shopping and don't need to charge your credit card limit. Yes, even including the crocodiles and the snakes, it was a captivating place to visit my friends.