Mark A. LaGrave, MD

Bio

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

I think my interest in Emergency Medicine really started from my childhood when I wanted to be a paramedic. My favorite show was Emergency. I was captivated by the adventures of paramedics Johnny and Roy. This captivation led me to the paramedic education program at Stanford where I really came into my own academically. My success in that training program gave me the confidence to pursue the pre-med course work needed to get into medical school. I really enjoyed my carreer as a medic, but felt that as an emergency physician I would be able to influence the care of an even greater number of patients. I see it as a special privelege to be a physician. The trust that people place in me in the emergency department, is something that I take very seriously. Being part of an organization that values patient care as much as I do is very rewarding.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

I learned EMS from some of the best paramedics in the state right here in Sonoma County. Having just relocated here after med school and residency training, I'm looking forward to seeing how my interests in patient advocacy, EMS and education will manifest as a Kaiser physician

Current projects or research:

Kaiser Disaster Preparedness Committee

Great health resources that I refer to:

I Google everything for information about health related materials. Once I obtain materials about a topic I'm interested in, I look for articles from eMedicine. I find them concise, accurate and well grounded in scientific literature.

An interesting story from my training:

One of my favorite stories from residency at UC Davis Medical Center comes from Area 3. Area 3 is a moderate acuity area of the emergency department. One night in the middle of my shift I looked around and realized that out of the 12 beds in that part of the ED, each person spoke a different language. 12 beds, 12 different languages! It was awesome. What a great place to practice medicine. Diversity is really one of my favorite things about California.

Interests

Family & Friends

People in my life:

Kathleen, how did I get so lucky? Kathleen and I have been together since before paramedic school. When I got accepted into med school Kathleen was pregnant. She left her family, friends, career and the temperate climate of Millbrae California to move to Wisconsin. We didn't know a single person there. Joshua was born on November 28th and it started to snow and it didn't stop until it had snow six feet. My little California girl really had some adjusting to do. We settled in, and out of the snow blossomed a warm incredible community that we were lucky to eventually become part of.

My children and people I care about:

I feel blessed to have a son. Joshua is six years old and everything that a boy should be. He is very smart, athletic and funny. He really enjoys Karate and playing with his friends.

Photos of my Family & Friends:

Kathleen, Joshua, Sulley and I

Joshua in the Sierra Nevada

We have a blue Beta fish named Koozy and two Oriental Fire Belly Toads named Froggy Joshua Sherbert and Katalina.

Travel

An adventure I've had:

Just before I started paramedic school, I spent a summer in Costa Rica working as volunteer health service worker. I lived with a big family in a small town in rural Costa Rica. I taught English and helped construct a house for the local teacher. It was an awesome experience that helped shape my perspective on the world and myself.