Contributors to This Issue

J. Bianca Roberts, MD
It's time to think differently about how opioids are prescribed and the growing problem of opioid dependency among patients, Dr. Roberts says. Alternatives are available, but patients also need services that aren't always covered by insurance.
Aileen Wetzel
SSVMS is addiing two new awards to recognize physicians who lead the way at SSVMS and in our community. SSVMS is actively seeking your nominations for physicians who go above and beyond — and now that process is easier than ever.
Caroline Giroux, MD
Tens of millions of children in this country are alienated from competent, caring parents as a result of bitter divorces and manipulative ex-spouses. Dr. Giroux says it's a rarely discussed epidemic that can lead to trauma suffered far into adulthood.
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Karen Poirier-Brode, MD
Many people in their 60s, 70s or beyond have been widowed or divorced, but age isn't a reason to give up looking for love. It also isn't a reason to shy away from dating apps, Dr. Poirier-Brode says.
George Meyer, MD
The illicit use of fentanyl is a scourge on the community that has led to heartbreak for families. Dr. Meyer reports on the recent Sacramento County Fentanyl Awareness Summit held at Sac State.
Eric Williams, MD
Dr. Williams offers four poems from his new book, Perspectives Matter: Life in Poetry, Prose and Photography, including “The Ages of Man” and “Ghost on the Sideline — #34.”

All articles are copyrighted for publication in this magazine and on the Society’s website. Contact the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society for permission to reprint.
Editorial Committee
Megan Babb, DO
Sean Deane, MD
Caroline Giroux, 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: A lone oak tree on Michigan Bar Road as sunset arrives and its avian residents depart. Photo by David Evans, MD.
Click on the photo to enlarge it. To see more of Dr. Evans' photographs, visit his Flickr page.
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.
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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 Roberts, 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
Volume 74/Number 5
Official publication of the
Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society
5380 Elvas Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95819
916.452.2671
916.452.2690 fax
info@ssvms.org
2023 SSVMS/CMA Delegation
District 1
Reinhardt Hilzinger, MD
District 1 Alternate
Vacant
District 2
Lydia Wytrzes, MD
District 2 Alternate
Vacant
District 3
Katherine Gillogley, MD
District 3 Alternate
Toussaint Mears-Clark, MD
District 4
Anand Mehta, MD
District 4 Alternate
Shideh Chinichian, MD
District 5
Sean Deane, MD
District 5 Alternate
Vacant
District 6
Karen Hopp, MD
District 6 Alternate
Vacant
At-Large Delegates
Sharmila Amolik, MD
Barbara Arnold, MD
Megan Babb, DO
Janine Bera, MD
Christine Braid, DO
Carol Burch, MD
Amber Chatwin, MD
Angelina Crans Yoon, MD
Mark Drabkin, MD
Gordon Garcia, MD
Ann Gerhardt, MD
Douglas Gibson, MD
Farzam Gorouhi,MD
Richard Jones, MD
Steven Kmucha, MD
Hao (Harry) Li, MD
Vong Lee, MD
Charles McDonnell, MD
Leena Mehta, MD
Sandra Mendez, MD
Taylor Nichols, MD
Sen. Richard Pan, MD
Siddharth Raghavan, MD
Paul Reynolds, MD
Ernesto Rivera, MD
J. Bianca Roberts, MD
Ellen Shank, MD
Ajay Singh, MD
Lee Snook, MD
Tom Valdez, MD
Vanessa Walker, DO
John Wiesenfarth, MD
At-Large Alternate-Delegates
Alyssa Ashbaugh, MD
Christina Bilyeu, MD
Ashley Feldkamp, MD
Helena Hart-Rathbun, MD
Brent Jackson, MD
Arthur Jey, MD
Gregory Kann, MD
Syed Latif, MD
Leonel Mendoza, MD
Vimal Mishra, MD
Steve Monda, MD
Eric Tepper, MD
David Terca, MD
Asmaneh Yamagata, MD
CMA Trustees, District XI
Adam Dougherty, MD
Robert Oldham, MD
Margaret Parsons, MD
AMA Delegation
Barbara Arnold, MD
Debra Lupeika, MD