Q. Can you share a bit about your journey to the Lab?
I’ve been working in both occupational medicine and emergency medicine for over 25 years. When the occupational medicine clinic at my hospital didn’t fully reopen after closing during the COVID pandemic, I sought additional work because I prefer working in a couple of areas as opposed to the intensity of full-time emergency medicine. I joined the Lab when I heard they were looking for someone to work one day a week while also expanding their urgent care services, which is another area of interest of mine.
I had been at the Lab for a little over a year when Dr. Timur Durrani, then Berkeley Lab Medical Director, decided to leave for a position at UCSF. During the search for his successor, I was asked to help out with administrative responsibilities, which involved shifting my focus from urgent care to more occupational medicine and medical surveillance. I found this interesting, as I got to delve into the areas that make the department and the Lab unique. Although the underlying principles were the same as in general occupational medicine, the specific work was more interesting than anything I had done before. Several months into this temporary assignment, I realized I genuinely enjoyed the work, and I applied for the permanent position. I interviewed and secured the full-time role, and officially started in November 2024.
I just passed my first anniversary a few months ago, and it’s been a great experience overall. While I enjoy seeing patients, the role also involves preventing illness and being proactive. This includes navigating the intersection of medicine with legal and regulatory issues, and applying these learnings to the Lab population to provide the best care we can.
Q. What do you enjoy the most about working here?
The principles of occupational medicine are the same no matter where you are, but the specifics change with the environment. My previous experience was in occupational medicine and employee health in a hospital, where we focused on the hazards people were exposed to and ensured their health and safety in that setting. We also had external clients in construction, manufacturing, technology, retail, and restaurants, where we applied the same proactive health and safety principles to these different environments.
What makes the Lab unique is the complexity that comes with its research. While it shares typical workplace elements such as construction and office work, the sheer variety of chemicals, biological materials, and radiation work creates a particularly rich and challenging environment. That’s also what I like about it. It requires constant learning and pushes me to think critically and go beyond my comfort zone, even as someone who’s done this for a long time.
Q. As we observe Heart Health Month in February, what are some key cardiovascular health risks that Lab employees should be aware of, and how can they take proactive steps to manage them?
The primary vascular risk factors related to heart attack and stroke are high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol. These are disease-oriented risk factors and should be controlled through both medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments. Early diagnosis is crucial, as you may feel fine even in the early or middle stages of any of these “risk factor” diseases. That’s why getting tested is important, to get diagnosed early and start treatment.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is key to treating and managing these conditions. Recommended practices include eating a balanced diet that’s low in fat and sugar, but rich in protein, healthy fats, and whole foods, along with regular physical activity, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Ensuring a good night’s sleep and maintaining a healthy body weight are also important. Being consistent with these practices helps reduce the impact of the associated risk factors, even for those who don’t lose weight while doing so. That can be a more complex issue.
Even then, some people may still require medication to manage these health concerns. Family history is another significant risk factor. If you have a history of cardiovascular disease in your family, particularly early-onset, you can’t change that, but it’s an indication that you should be more rigorous in controlling those other risk factors over which you do have some control.
Q. Can you tell us about the new Beyond the Numbers wellness program offered by Health Services?
The program’s name refers to two main components. The “numbers” component refers to the numbers that relate to your blood pressure, cholesterol level, and the hemoglobin A1C test for blood sugar, which are used to diagnose the underlying risk factors. The “beyond” component involves comprehensive health coaching beyond the initial diagnosis. This coaching focuses on diet and exercise, such as offering specific guidance on what to buy and avoid at the grocery store, along with recipes and meal plans tailored for individuals with high blood sugar, pre-diabetes, diabetes, or high blood pressure. We have devices that can measure cholesterol, A1C, and blood sugar from just a few drops of blood, enabling us to make the initial diagnosis and follow people over time.
Following the health coaching, people can make lifestyle changes and return in three, four, or six months to check their values (blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol) and track improvements as a result of the program. They can also come in as frequently as they would like to receive health coaching to discuss any challenges they face with diet and exercise.
As part of this program, we will also offer a tobacco treatment service. Quitting smoking involves more than just overcoming nicotine addiction; it’s often about breaking habits and rituals, such as having something in your hands or smoking after meals or during breaks. A common experience for those who quit, even after the nicotine is gone, is a sense of emptiness during those times they would typically be smoking. We will provide coaching and lifestyle strategies to help anyone who wants to quit and prescribe or recommend medication for short-term use, such as over-the-counter aids like nicotine gum or patches, and prescription medications known to decrease the craving for smoking. We plan to integrate these options into the treatment plan.
We won’t be prescribing long-term medications like blood pressure and cholesterol medicine, though. For those concerns, individuals should consult their primary care physician. The services we provide through this program will focus instead on providing measurements, coaching, and extended time with patients. While primary care appointments are often limited to 10 or 15 minutes, we can offer half-hour sessions multiple times for in-depth discussion and coaching.
Q. How does the program help employees better understand and manage key health risks, such as diabetes, hypertension, and high blood cholesterol?
Since last fall, we have been able to conduct on-site blood testing and measurements, allowing us to get results immediately. This means we can measure, diagnose, and begin coaching right away, instead of requiring a blood draw to be sent out and a follow-up conversation later.
The program is open to all Lab employees, whether you are seeking to find out if you have issues like high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure, or if you already have a diagnosis for any of these conditions and just want more assistance understanding your situation and getting some tools and guidance to help.
Q. How can people sign up?
To schedule an appointment, call Health Services at 510-486-6266. For more information about the program, visit the Beyond the Numbers website.
