Tracey Jones, MD

Bio

My specialty is physical medicine and rehabilitation, also known as physiatry. We specialize in neurologic and orthopedic disorders with an emphasis on improving our patients' function and mobility. I have a particular interest in sports medicine for both athletes and non-athletes.

My philosophy: I believe in the body's own innate ability to heal itself. But, the body needs attention and help to be as healthy and functional as possible. I went into medicine because I find the human body fascinating and because I find satisfaction in helping others. I went into physiatry because I can apply my medical knowledge in a holistic way, concentrating on what I think is essential to maintaining health-balance; balance between exercise and relaxation and between a healthy diet and being able to enjoy good food.

I also firmly believe in practicing what you preach. To find my own balance, I commute to work by bicycle and I participate in a martial art from Brazil called "capoeira."

I was born and raised in Boston, MA. I received my BA at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. I then worked as a research assistant for the department of psychiatry at UCSF for 6 years. In 2001, I graduated from medical school at Albany Medical College in New York. In 2005, I completed my residency training at University of California Davis Medical Center.

I joined Kaiser Permanente in September, 2005 and work for the department of physical medicine and occupational medicine. I enjoy working at Kaiser Permanente because here people care about what they do, and the philosophy matches my own. Finding balance is all about thriving.

My Medical Specialty

More details about my specialty:

I chose Physiatry (also known as physical medicine and rehabilitation, or PM&R) because everybody knows what we do. Actually, I'm kidding. Very few people outside of medicine (and even some within medicine) don't know about this wonderful specialty. We are experts in body mechanics, muscles and nerves, and in specific diseases such as spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, strokes and amputations. If you have any of these diagnoses, we can help you. I love this specialty because I get to talk about what I love: muscles, nerves, and body mechanics.

My specialty interests and affiliations within my field:

I am a member of the American Academy of PM&R and have presented material at conferences on spinal cord injured patients.

Great health resources that I refer to:

Classes that help strengthen the body's core muscles are great for overall health and well-being: Pilates, yoga, swimming.

Interests

Currently reading:
New Yorker

My favorite book or author:
Arrowsmith by Lewis Sinclair

Great movie:
Million Dollar Baby

Hobby Photos & Links:

capoeira throws

My capoeira group's home page

Family & Friends

People in my life:

My husband is a computer programmer. He and I enjoy many activities together including running, hiking, biking, reading and having heated discussions about anything from politics to what makes a good movie.

An interesting story about my family or friends:

We did a two-day bicycle trip from Berkeley to Sacramento. Going through the delta was my favorite part.

Photos of my Family & Friends:

Larry and I on a recent trip to Seattle

On our second day

I have a very large cat named Petie. He weighs 26 lbs. He is a Maine Coon cat. I got him along with his sister when they were kittens from an animal rescue group in Davis, CA 13 years ago.

Travel

An adventure I've had:

I have had the travel bug ever since I was a child. My first international travel experience was the summer after high school when I went to Brazil for two months. There I learned a great deal about Brazilian culture, but also about how the United States was perceived from the outside. Since that time I have traveled through Europe and Latin America, being very creative about how to see lots of places on a very tight budget.

Favorite place in the world:

One of my favorite places was Manchu Pichu in Peru. The setting of these fantastic ruins is on top of a mountain, surrounded by clouds. One gets the feeling of being in the heavens. The sense of what this culture was like pervades all the stone structures and walkways.