Contributors to This Issue

J. Bianca Roberts, MD
2022 was a year of grieving for Dr. Roberts’ family and also for physicians facing COVID and practice challenges. That grief, she says in her first message as SSVMS president, leads to a sense of purpose.
Caroline Giroux, MD
Finding your Divine means setting aside your ego, challenging your beliefs and experiencing joy without restraint. Dr. Giroux says that can even put you on the path to a fully ecstatic sexual self.
Cameron Lee Clerkley, MS III
A Black doctor offering help on an in-flight health emergency wasn’t taken seriously. Cameron, a medical student at UC Davis, says understanding how that can happen is essential to the success of Black students.
To email an author with comments, click on their picture.
Polet Sofia Loynaz, MS II
Polet, who last wrote about having been diagnosed with — and successfully recovering from — a brain tumor while in medical school, turns that perspective into a moving poem about dancing with death.
Eric Williams, MD
Dr. Williams updates us on what the past year has been like dealing with his 95-year-old mother’s dementia. There have been intense family discussions, hard choices and many lessons learned.
Brandon J. Craig
Brandon, communication and partnerships coordinator at SSVMS, also updates us about his mother’s early-onset dementia, how it weighs on his family and makes him think about his own future.
Elizabeth Morrison, Ph.D., LCSW
Elizabeth relays the findings of a Sacramento Opioid Coalition survey in which providers offer their thoughts on how medication-assisted treatment can be more available and effective.
James Schlund, MD
Dr. Schlund, a board member at the Butte-Glenn Medical Society, chairs the District XI delegation (which includes SSVMS) to the CMA House of Delegates. He reports on the events at this year’s meeting.
Editorial Committee
Megan Babb, DO
Sean Deane, MD
Caroline Giroux, MD
Aidan Healy, MD
Nikos Karakashian, MD
Manoj Kesarwani, MD
Robert LaPerriere, MD
Karen Poirier-Brode, MD
Gerald Rogan, MD
Leslie Tamura, DO
Glennah Trochet, MD
Lee Welter, MD
Eric Williams, MD
Medical Student Representatives
Aileen Wetzel, Executive Director
Ken Smith, Managing Editor
Cover Photo: Adam Dougherty, MD reads the last printed regular issue of SSV Medicine as we move to a digital version.
Photo by Kelsey McQuaid-Craig
Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine, the official journal of the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society, is a forum for discussion and debate of news, official policy and diverse opinions about professional practice issues and ideas, as well as information about members’ personal interests.
Advertising rates and information sent upon request. Acceptance of advertising in Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine in no way constitutes approval or endorsement by the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society of products or services advertised. Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine and the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society reserve the right to reject any advertising.
Opinions expressed by authors are their own, and not necessarily those of Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine or the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society. Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length, as well as to reject any material submitted. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. ©2023 Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society
Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine (ISSN 0886 2826) is published bimonthly by the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society, 5380 Elvas Ave., Sacramento, CA 95819. Subscriptions are $26.00 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA and additional mailing offices. Correspondence should be addressed to Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine, 5380 Elvas Ave., Sacramento, CA 95819-2396. Telephone (916) 452-2671.
2023 Officers & Board of Directors
J. Bianca Robertss, MD, President
Vanessa Walker, DO, President-Elect
Paul Reynolds, MD, Immediate Past President
District 1
Lisa Guirguis, MD
District 2
Janine Bera, MD
Adam Dougherty, MD
Raminder Gill, MD
Susan Murin, MD
District 3
Ravinder Khaira, MD
District 4
Shideh Chinichian, MD
District 5
Christina Bilyeu, MD
John Coburn, MD
Farzam Gorouhi, MD
Roderick Vitangcol, MD
District 6
Karen Hopp, MD