BEST OF THE BAY AREA: THE 2004 FEEL-GREAT GUIDE, CONT'D

42 MORE PICKS FOR A HEALTHY NEW YEAR

VARIOUS MEDICAL SPECIALISTS

WE ASKED: UCSF DEAN DAVID KESSLER

If Kessler's new job as dean of UCSF School of Medicine doesn't work out, he could always start a medical referral service. "Who's the best?" is a question Kessler--former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (where he scared the bejesus out of Big Tobacco) and ex-dean of Yale University School of Medicine--has been asked literally hundreds of times. "I get the calls when all else has failed--when someone has already been to multiple places for advice," he says. In the past, he's recommended doctors and hospitals around the country; these days, he tends to point toward his UCSF colleagues--and not just out of loyalty, he insists: "These people are the best." A few recent referrals:

For a spine case: Dr. David S. Bradford (415/353-2216), chairman and professor of orthopedic surgery at UCSF, who specializes in spinal disorders and spine reconstruction (his research interests include biomaterials, tissue engineering, and tissue regeneration).

For hearing loss: Dr. Robert W. Sweetow (415/353-2101), director of audiology for UCSF Medical Center, who specializes in tinnitus as well as hearing aids and the development of aural rehabilitation procedures for hearing-aid users.

For a new-onset case of scleroderma: Dr. Kari Connolly (415/476-9350), a board-certified dermatologist and rheumatologist who heads UCSF's Scleroderma Research Center, one of only a handful of centers of its kind in the United States.

For colon cancer: Dr. Alan P. Venook (415/353-9888), chief of gastrointestinal oncology at UCSF's Cancer Care Center and a researcher specializing in gene therapies to treat colon and liver cancers.

For a brain tumor: Dr. Mitchel Berger, chair of the department of neurological surgery and director of UCSF's Brain Tumor Research Center (415/502-7673), has a secondary specialty in pediatrics.

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

WE ASKED: World Cup soccer hero BRANDI CHASTAIN

Her pick: Dr. Michael Dillingham in Redwood City (650/851-4900)

"I've been going to see Dr. Dillingham since 1987," Chastain says. "He's reconstructed both of my knees. I like him because he understands sports--he works with a lot of pro athletes and is the team doctor for the 49ers--and the demands that athletes face. He has an aggressive personality, but he's reasonable. He tells it like it is and then gives you options."

EAR SPECIALIST

WE ASKED: Lavay Smith, jazz singer

HER PICK: Dr. Ivor A. Emanuel, a San Francisco ear, nose, and throat specialist (415/392-3833)

As a musician, Smith says, "you need to have the best hearing you can have." In her case, this means having a specialist remove the gunk from her ears every year. "The first time I went, I was practically deaf. After the cleaning, noises were so loud that I would get scared just from hearing a truck while walking down the street." She's had the procedure done by a number of docs, including those at the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic when she didn't have insurance, but figures she'll stick with Emanuel, a clinical assistant professor at UCSF in practice for 26 years. Smith admits her choice was hardly scientific: "I liked his ad in the phone book, and I liked that he was downtown. I liked that I could go to the doctor's and then make myself feel better by stopping at Macy's afterward. And, I thought he did a good job."

CHIROPRACTOR

WE ASKED: CBS 5 Eyewitness News anchor Dana King

HER PICK: Michael Scales in San Rafael (415/491-0959)

King, a dedicated solo sculler as well as a twice-a-weeknight anchor, "will do whatever it takes to stay healthy," she says. She first saw a chiropractor a few years ago on the recommendation of her rowing coach, after she was hit in her boat during practice. "I have a big dent in my right cheek," she admits, and she doesn't mean the cheek you can see on the 11 o'clock news. With a standing appointment every two weeks, her relationship with Scales, a board-certified chiropractor who has been practicing in Marin since 1985, is all business. "I don't even know his first name," she says. Since rowers pull harder on one side than the other in turns, King gets regular adjustments to make sure she's in alignment. While she's at the clinic, King gets a rubdown, too, with one of the five staff massage therapists. "I always tell friends who tease me that I believe in massage as a passive type of exercise," she says. "You're at rest but you're also nourishing the body." (FYI: Scales is also a favorite of the folks at Alternative Medicine magazine.)

PEDIATRIC DENTIST

WE ASKED: MICHELE MASON , a lactation specialist, mother of three, and founder of the Child-Friendly Initiative, a Bernal Heights nonprofit that provides support to mothers and caregivers of young kids

HER PICK: Dr. David Rothman in San Francisco

Rothman, who has offices on ritzy Union Street (415/440-6455) and more downscale Ocean Avenue (415/333-6811), is Mason's pick as much for his chairside manner as for his skill with a drill. "He has an incredible sense of humor," she says. "Kids think he's a riot. All they do is laugh." Pretty amazing, considering that most dentists make kids scream--and not with delight, either.

YOGA RESOURCES

ADULT YOGA: Famed heart doctor and researcher Dean Ornish studied meditation for 30 years with the late Sri Swami, founder of the San Francisco IntegralYoga Institute in the Mission. Now he recommends an institute alum, nurse practitioner Lila Crutchfield , who teaches yoga and meditation at Ornish's own clinic, the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito (415/332-2525).

KID YOGA: Binay Curtis (415/596-6678), who has taught at public and private schools including Cobb Elementary and the Hamlin School, gets high marks from the parenting website goCityKids.com. She offers YogaKids classes (an integrative approach that includes reading, storytelling, music, and other creative arts) at A Body of Work in the Presidio (415/561-3991). Also worth checking out: Stretch the Imagination on San Francisco's Union Street (415/922-0104), a kids-only yoga studio run by Michelle LaMotte , an artist and yoga instructor who used to teach preschool.

HOW TO DEAL WITH INSURANCE PROBLEMS

WE ASKED: San Francisco insurance attorney Arnold Levinson

HIS PICK: United Policyholders (www.unitedpolicyholders.org)

If you're fighting your insurance company over coverage issues a good place to start is United Policyholders , formed around the time of the Oakland hills firestorm to assist home owners with their claims. Since then the nonprofit consumer education group has broadened to the health insurance arena. The director, attorney Amy Bach , also represents individuals and businesses in insurance disputes.

MORE STAFF FAVORITES FROM ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE MAGAZINE:

Primary care doc: Elson Haas is an integrative doctor who runs the Preventive Medical Center of Marin in San Rafael (415/472-2343).

Dentist: Dr. Stanley Dintcho on San Francisco's Union Street (415/922-3886) doesn't use mercury fillings, is unusually sensitive to phobias about drills and pain, and is so exacting about dental basics that he cleans your teeth himself. Even his office decor is soothing.

Infertility specialist: acupuncturist and herbalist Miki Shima of Corte Madera (415/924-2910) specializes in Japanese acupuncture and treats a variety of conditions in men and women.

HIV treatment : Immune Enhancement Project (415/252-8711) is a nonprofit clinic in the Castro that uses Chinese traditional medicine, massage, hypnotherapy, and other complementary approaches to help people manage HIV and a growing list of other acute and chronic conditions, including hepatitis and arthritis.

Cancer support: The Commonweal Cancer Help Program in Bolinas (707/868-0970) is a respected integrative program that provides week-long retreats for people with cancer (it was featured on the award-winning PBS series Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers). The medical director is Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, author of Kitchen Table Wisdom and a professor at UCSF's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.

An osteopath's osteopath : Eliott S. Blackman on Union Street in San Francisco (415/921-1446).

Massage guaranteed to bring you back to life: Bill Murphy, in the Castro (415/626-4019, www.billmurphymassage.com) "is not for wimps, but he offers 90 minutes of bliss for anyone who likes a real working-over."

Good at getting at the source of mysterious aches and pains: Marc Weill, an advanced Rolfer and nutritionist, practices at the Core Care Center on Union Street in San Francisco (415/928-5423).

Healthy pet stores: Noe Valley Pet Company (415/282-7385) and Happy Pet (415/566-2952), in the Taraval district of the city, offer organic pet foods, natural supplements, and loads of friendly advice.

Healthy home products: Interior Concerns (www.interiorconcerns.com) can help you find low-toxic painting services, green building materials, and environmentally friendly carpeting and flooring.

Online parenting resources: http://www.gocitykids.com/(a national site with a section for San Francisco parents), Berkeley Parents Network (http://parents.berkeley.edu ) for families throughout much of the East Bay.

MORE PICKS FOR UNCONVENTIONAL FAMILIES FROM HIP MAMA'S ARIEL GORE :

Teen therapist: Child psychologist Susan Bergmann , Ph.D., in Oakland (510/482-0830) is "a great family counselor and veteran mama," Gore says.

Massage therapist: Leslie Gore (510/748-1250) is a Zen body therapy practitioner who is particularly adept at the deep tissue work needed by moms lugging around heavy toddlers. "It's not just relaxing--she fixes you," says Ariel Gore (yes, they're sisters).

Kaiser Permanente internist: Dr. Jennifer Slovis , assistant chief of internal medicine at the HMO's Oakland Medical Center and an assistant clinical professor of family medicine at UCSF, "really listens to you," Gore says. Affiliated with the medical center's young adult clinic (510/752-1130), "she doesn't take a medical history by simply checking off a list of boxes," Gore says. "She doesn't ask lesbians what birth control they're using."

RESOURCES FOR NEW MOMS

WE ASKED: Alison Horton Eastwood , a nutritionist who works with breast cancer patients at the UCSF Breast Care Center and is director of nutrition services at the San Francisco Bay Club

HER PICKS:

Pediatrician: Dr. Jessica Kaplan of the Noe Valley Pediatric Group (415/641-1019) is adept at caring for premature infants (she does rounds at California Pacific Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit). "We love her!" says Eastwood.

Acupuncturist: "I send all of my clients and patients who are interested in complementary therapy to Beverly Burns , an acupuncturist and herbalist affiliated with UCSF's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. She's worked with UCSF's Dr. Laura Esserman"--considered one of the best breast surgeons in the country--"and she is a wonderful person." Burns also has an office on Valencia Street at the Lotus Center (415/821-3634).

Stress management: For help controlling stress and pain, Eastwood praises the Osher Center's eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (415/353-7700),   modeled after a meditation program developed by mindfulness guru Jon Kabat-Zinn . She also highly recommends Kabat-Zinn's book Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Mind and Body to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness (Delacorte Press, 1990).

Personal trainer for new and expecting moms: Susan Wooley , a trainer at the San Francisco Bay Club (415/433-2200) who does private training as well. "She's an expert on pre- and postnatal exercise."

General fitness: OutFit Fitness ( http://www.outfitfitness.com/), a San Francisco-based company that offers classes around the Bay Area. "What makes OutFit great is that it offers structured outdoor fitness--running, strength training, and so on for those who want a fun way to get in shape but hate the gym. The programs really work. The instructors are great, and there are classes for moms and babies that include a babysitter."

MORE FEMALE-FRIENDLY SPORTS PICKS FROM MISSY PARKS, founder of Title 9 Sports clothing catalog for women:

Best place to learn a new sport: "The Marin Rowing Association (415/461-1431) in Greenbrae has a terrific program. It can take women from novice to national level in a few short seasons."

Best place for active moms and their active youngsters: "The Jungle in Concord (925/687-4386) and San Jose (408/866-4386). This huge indoor jungle gym is a maze of tunnels, ropes, balls and activities and a perfect rainy-day adventure. First-timers tip: bring knee pads if you have 'em."

Best trail race: The Hark the Herald Angels Run (12K or 25K) on Angel Island, every December (www.envirosports.com). "The style is so low-key that it feels more like going for a run with friends. You'll meet at the Tiburon docks and take the 10 a.m. ferry to Angel Island with your fellow runners. This early, the runners have the island to themselves. Before the run starts, you'll all join in for a round of 'Jingle Bells.' Then you are off on a hilly loop trail that rewards you with 360-degree views of the whole bay."

Most scenic driving range : Tilden Tiers Driving Range (510/848-7373). "If you don't have time for a full round and aren't of a mind to drive golf balls in the midst of freeway noise, hop over to Berkeley's Tilden Park Golf Course. There you can drive to your heart's content amidst the eucalyptus and redwoods."

Best energy food: Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker . "You may not see this as a healthy choice, but at Title 9, we think that when we indulge, it should be an indulgence that satisfies our craving. With Scharffen Berger Chocolate, a little goes a long way. The factory, which has a small shop and free tours, is on Heinz Avenue in Berkeley (510/981-4050), just blocks from our headquarters. Grabbing one of their chocolate bars is a great way to get our preworkout energy boost."

Best healthy eating: Tachibana Sushi Bar & Grill (510/654-3668), on College Avenue in Oakland. "If you like sushi, don't miss this under-the-radar spot. It has the freshest fish, the nicest staff, and you don't have to wait two hours for a table."

MORE PICKS FROM TENNIS ACE BRAD GILBERT :

Personal trainer for serious athletes : Mark Grabow , Pro Fit Training Systems (925/736-9250). San Ramon-based Grabow specializes in training elite and pro athletes by designing individual fitness programs that include strength training and conditioning, speed and movement development, and injury rehabilitation. Besides Gilbert, his tennis clients include Chris Mullen and Andy Roddick; he's also in his 15-th season as director of athletic development with the Golden State Warriors. "Athletes approach me to take them to another level of fitness," Grabow says. "The key is creating drills specific to each client and the consistency, progression, and intensity of the work." Translation: Slackers need not apply.

Personal trainer for regular folks : For less hard-core fitness freaks, Gilbert recommends Shawn Register , who operates Grease Monkey Fitness (415/ 453-6659) with his brother Scott , in downtown San Rafael.

Orthopedic surgeon: Gilbert recommends Dr. Kevin Stone in San Francisco (415/563-3110, www.stoneclinic.com), whose roster of clients includes both top athletes and some of the most famous movie stars who live (or used to live) in the Bay Area.