Roseanne Beers, MD

Bio

I was born in Wichita, Kansas, the youngest of four children. At the age of four, my father accepted a job as purchasing agent for the University of Alaska. In our '56 Ford station wagon, our whole family including our cat, Figgie, and our dog, Tippy, drove from my birth town to my new home town of Fairbanks, Alaska. I vividly remember the snowy, icy roads winding through the mountains. Imprinted on my mind was looking down the sheer cliffs to the valleys. I have to admit at that age, I was scared; but, I felt safe with my dad at the wheel, and Tippy at my side.

As a child I developed a sense of travel and adventure. Alaska is geographically isolated from the "lower forty-eight" (Alaska lingo for the continental United States). My father would save up his vacations over a few years, in order for us to afford to drive down to Kansas to visit our grandparents and cousins. On the way we would camp, visit National Parks, and drive to a different destination every day.

In this far north wilderness, I developed a love of land, sky, and wildlife. Fairbanks is the best theater in the world for the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. Most winters the cow moose with their calves would come into our small town and right into our back yard in search of willows for browsing. As a teenager, I made many camping trips to Denali National Park, then called Mt. McKinley National Park.

Before embarking into my studies, I had the opportunity to work on the Alaska Pipeline, through the International Laborer's Union. For 13 months I worked at Galbraith Lake Camp, as a general camp maintenance laborer, progressing to incinerator operator. Galbraith Lake is too far north for trees, at the foot of the Brooks Mountain Range, north of the Artic Circle. We worked seven days a week, ten hours a day. I was physically strong. One evening after work, my coworkers and I climbed a neighboring mountain, ascending and descending back to camp in three hours. The pipeline was being completed, and I was one of the last to leave. The last year I spent at Prudoe Bay, a coastal camp on the Artic Ocean, working on the finishing touches on one of the main Pump Stations.

Some more adventures during my pipeline and college days included celebrating the July 4th bicentennial with my coworkers by charting an overnight jet flight from Prudoe Bay to Nome; a cross country motorcycle trip from the East Coast to Alaska on my 500cc Honda; and traveling through Europe for six weeks.

It was during my studies I met my first husband, Art. He was a fellow student, majoring in Fisheries Biology. He went on to dental school. After finishing our studies we both were planning to return to Alaska to start our family. However, fate had other plans. While on a camping trip, Art and a friend drowned in a canoe accident. It was very sad to lose Art, but it helped knowing he had always lived his life to the fullest.

I completed my undergraduate studies with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences, and an A.A.S. in Chemical Science at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. I left Alaska to attend medical school in Seattle, Washington, continuing the journey south to San Bernardino, California for my family practice residency.

Living in San Bernardino in Southern California allowed me to ski in the mountains in the morning, and go walking on the beach that same afternoon. I became a California convert!

I first encountered Kaiser Permanente during my residency. I thoroughly enjoyed working with a system that was so well-integrated. All the specialists were a walk down the hall or an instant phone call away. Keeping abreast of the latest medical education was as easy as attending a noon conference right there at the facility. I was sold on Kaiser Permanente, and it cemented my decision to stay in California.

I had the opportunity to move from the Southern California Kaiser Permanente to the Northern California Kaiser Permanente. As I missed the green forests I enjoyed as a child and a young adult, I decided to head back north and accept a position in the Family Medicine Services here in Santa Rosa.

It was here in Santa Rosa that I met my husband, George. I am fortunate that he has three wonderful sons to share family life. George and I spend our leisure time enjoying nature and the wilderness through skiing, hiking, fishing and backpacking. We also enjoy traveling together and taking walks on the beach. We are happy to live in such a beautiful area.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

I chose family practice as it was the one specialty that treated all ages, encompassing a variety of conditions and diseases, allowing me to care for families throughout their lifetimes. Over the years that I have been here at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa, we have worked hard and developed into the premier health care provider in the nation.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

I have worked with chemical dependency as a director of a residential facility in Southern California, as well as working at our Santa Rosa facility with our chemical dependency detoxication program.

Current projects or research:

Here at Santa Rosa, I have been involved in our continuing medical education. I was pivotal in accrediting our conferences for the American Academy of Family Practice. I have been involved with women's health, serving on the breastfeeding committee as well as being the cervical cancer screening champion. I have served on the transfusion committee and have been involved with the Green Team (recycling).

An interesting story from my training:

I have had an interest throughout my medical career in working with the underserved. In medical school I volunteered at the local free clinic. In Southern California I worked at the free clinic across the border in Mexico. Here in Northern California, I've worked at the local free clinic.

In Mexico, it was particularly challenging because I started volunteering before the clinic was completely built and equipped, as the need was so strong. We had no running water or exam tables, and brought our own equipment. The lines were long outside our door and the work was hard; but this work was the most rewarding, as the people were in such dire need and were most appreciative. I still have the picture in my mind of one child that had been crying with an ear infection that had gone untreated. The mother became so, so happy with the biggest smile on her face when she realized she was finally going to be able to stop her baby's crying and help her baby heal.

Interests

Currently reading:
Achilles in Vietnam

My favorite book or author:
Scott Peck

Great movie:
March of the Penguins

Hobby Photos & Links:

George and I in Piraeus, Greece

George and I in Florence, Italy

By night- George at our Ostrander Lake campsite

Here I am fishing at Lake Ostrander

By Day- myself near Ostrander Lake

Yosemite National Park

Our Destination- Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

My sister, Suzanne, and I cross-country skiing in Alaska

Family & Friends

People in my life:

My husband's name is George. He is a native-born Irelander from Dublin and has retained his charming Irish humor and his brogue. His family is divided between Ireland and the Bay Area so we visit both places frequently.

He is an experienced master auto mechanic. We think alike in our work since we both use the history of symptoms and diagnostic tools to solve problems; he with the machines and myself with my patients.

We both love the outdoors. Our home has a bit of wilderness in it as we have a small apple orchard, filled with birds, deer, and an occasional raccoon.

My children and people I care about:

I have been blessed with three fine stepsons. Kevin and Colin are much like their father and work with both their minds and their hands. They are electricians and own their own homes.

The oldest is Eric and he is a thinker; currently he is in Colorado working on finishing his degree in English and Irish literature. He has a steady girlfriend, Whitney, who is working on her degree in psychology.

We have no grandchildren, but have four "granddogs," as all three lads love animals.

An interesting story about my family or friends:

My home town of Fairbanks, Alaska, is the site of the Annual World Ice Sculpturing Championships.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, the people of Fairbanks and of the surrounding areas would harvest ice to sculpture art. Harvesting ice was itself an art, bringing the ice to the ice boxes and making the ice clear and brilliant for the sculpturing. The art contest would occur in the spring, when it was still very much below freezing and it was a wonderful way to pass the still, cold months.

With the advent of the refrigerator, ice for ice boxes was no longer needed; so, ice harvesting and therefore, ice sculpturing were abandoned.

It was not until recent years that ice sculpturing has been revived since the people of Fairbanks wanted to return to their past heritage. Over the years, the art of ice harvesting needed to be relearned. Fairbanks has perfected the art and now has the clearest ice in the world.

Ice sculpturists from around the world compete for five days to complete a sculpture made from a solid piece of ice. The artists have developed such skill that contestants are now limited in number to only the best.

Since two of my siblings and I now live in California, we never had experienced the Ice Art. A close family friend was pivotal in bringing the contest back. Then, my father and my other sister, who both live in Fairbanks , "bragged about the beauty of it all."

Well, we sibs felt it was high time for a family reunion. What better time to get together but for this now "world renowned" ice art sculpturing contest which is the heritage of our home town and of our community of family and friends.

Well, we did it, and it was a beautiful experience; however, there were record low temperatures that year. We Californian sibs were clearly reminded of why we now live in the Golden State.

Photos of my Family & Friends:

Woodpecker in our back yard

George and I in San Francisco

George at the Gualala coast

Kevin, Colin, and George in our front driveway

Berk, Suzanne, Whitney, Eric, George, and myself in South Africa

Inside the Liberty Bell

Archer

Flame of Peace

Art progressing, Hercules emerging

Myself entering an ice cabin

Sibs and spouses at the gate to the Ice Art Park

Sculpturing for the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska

We have four "granddogs":

Cece- Kevin's pit bull mix

Benson and Winston- Colin's mastiffs

Javier- Eric's border collie

Pet Photos:

Cece in our driveway

Travel

An adventure I've had:

I love movement, as it is exhilarating and thrilling. I have skied, dived, motorcycled, sailed, parasailed, flown, and ... skydived.

Skydiving from 15,000 feet takes your sight and breath away. During the first few minutes of the free fall my eyes were watering so much that I lost one contact (and never did find it). However, once the parachute opened, and I caught my breath, what a ride! The graceful, beautiful sensation of slowly drifting peacefully over the land and water was overwhelming. I almost felt like a butterfly.

Favorite place in the world:

One of my most favorite places in the world is Greece. As a young adult I traveled throughout Europe for six weeks. Greece became a resting place, a water and sky haven, during these travels. I spent time on the island of Santorini among the white buildings and blue domes, silhouetted by the sun and set against the expansive blue of the ocean and sky. The ancient ruins of the mainland go back thousands and thousands of years; the Parthenon and the Acropolis were impressive.

Most Europeans, but especially the Greeks, enjoy a continuous “month long holiday" during the summer months. My brother, Everitt, married his Greek wife, Haritini, on the island of Crete. In Pireaus, her cousins were out of town on holiday and let us stay in their condo. Haritini's family lived two stories downstairs from “our condo." The generosity and the easy, fun-loving spirit of the Greeks were reflected in Haritini's family. We enjoyed the Greek way, eating homemade Greek salad and spinacopita.

Both the American and Greek families traveled by ferry to the island of Crete for the traditional Greek wedding. Being thoroughly immersed in the culture made me appreciate the perspective that each civilization develops.

While on the island of Crete, history came alive at the ancients ruins of Knossos. Knossos was the hub of the Bronze Age Empire controlling the Aegean, more than 4,000 years ago. The beaches varied, from the lagoon of Balos to the caves of Matala, but they were all unique and beautiful.

The history and beauty of the islands, the Mediterranean Sea, and the warm-hearted people make Greece one of my favorite places in the world.

One of my recent trips:

An African Safari

Traveling with my husband George, my sister Suzanne, and her husband Berk, we joined a small group for an African Safari. We started from Johannesburg, South Africa, traveled through Zimbabwe, and ended at Victoria Falls on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The African wildlife is in stark contrast to the wildlife of our continent.

From the safety of our vehicle, we observed the majestic lions and lionesses lounging in the tall grass during the afternoon. The elephants were impressive in their natural habitat. However, they do not appreciate observers. We were charged by an elephant when our safari truck approached too close.

With a guide, we stalked "Rhinos." We were careful to be upwind. Although they have poor eyesight, their sense of smell is very keen. Being on foot we were able to observe them so closely that we could hear them breathing during their grazing.

Staying some time at an animal reserve, we were able to ride horseback and to observe impalas, zebras, and giraffes in their natural habitat. The reserve is actively involved in breeding lions. The number of lions is decreasing as their wild African habitat is shrinking. We enjoyed playing with the baby cubs and joined the older adolescents on their daily walk. It was amazing to see how closely their behavior was to the domestic cat.

This African safari was everything we had hoped for and more than we could have imagined. The observing and interacting with the wildlife on foot, on horseback, and from the safety of a vehicle made this trip a memorable and intimate experience.

Travel Photos:

At 15,000 ft. above Lake Taupo, New Zealand

A Photo of One of My Favorite Places:

Sunset over the Aegean

I'm bidding Greece goodbye

Small village

Countryside

Rural Crete

Athens today

Greece- the old and the new

Knossos, fresco

Knossos, ruins

The island of Gramvousa near the lagoon of Balos

The caves of Matala

Preveli Beach, Crete

Parthenon

Acropolis and the Greek sky

Acropolis

Trip Photos:

Lion in the tall grass

Taking pictures from the safety of the safari vehicle

Countryside

South Africa, the wild coast

Charging elephant

Wild boars

"Rhinos"

This baby cub is not too happy with me

An adolescent feeding

The adolescents on their walk

The adolescents resting after their walk

Zebras

Impalas

Our driver and our guide

Monkey at camp

Sugar cane fields

Children of South Africa

Zimbabweans

Ruins of Great Zimbabwe

Sunset over the African countryside

Other Links & Photos