I look forward to our first visit together soon! I'd like to share with you some of my background, interests and philosophy about the practice of medicine.

I was born and raised in a small town near Boston, Massachusetts. I received my Bachelor of Arts in French and Psychology at Tufts University - a refreshing diversion from all the premedical courses I was taking. I then received my medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, formerly known as the Women's Medical College - the first medical school of its kind.

Growing tired of the Northeastern climate, my husband and I escaped to California in 1991. And now, like most Californians, we complain about the summers without rain, the winters with too much rain, the "un-real" estate, suburban sprawl, and managed care, but..., of course, like everybody else here, we love our new home on the West Coast and would never leave. I completed residency training and one year as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara and became board-certified in Internal Medicine in 1995. For the following five years, I practiced primary and urgent care with a small private medical group in Daly City. Due to my husband's job relocation, we decided to make one more (and clearly our last) move - to the East Bay.

Painful as it was to leave a flourishing practice, I am excited about building new relationships here. My goal is to strengthen the unique vision of Avenues for Health, which is to provide comprehensive and nurturing care to women, with an emphasis on prevention through positive lifestyle changes. In addition, I hope to gradually incorporate more alternative therapies (i.e. natural remedies, Western and Eastern herbs) to my practice of traditional internal medicine. I have recently begun performing acupuncture and hope to successfully treat a wide variety of problems for which I previously had no answers. I believe that learning new skills is not only stimulating, but also necessary so that patients may choose from a variety of treatment options.

It is my hope that, ultimately, we are able to form a partnership. I believe that patients who are fully informed and intimately involved in their health care are better empowered to make proper decisions for their health and well-being. Clearly, the most effective and meaningful care comes from honest and open communication between a physician and his/her patient.

Lastly, my professional pursuits are supported by my husband and two children who provide the balance in my life. They are constant reminders for me of what is truly important - family, good health and laughter. I look forward to meeting you soon!

Dr. Karin DeNevi - Dr. Sarah Ferguson