Dr. George Minowada, MD

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, home of the Bills, the only NFL team to go to the Super Bowl four consecutive years (they lost every time)! Buffalo is perhaps best known for its snowy winters; its other major sports team is the Sabers ice hockey team. Youth ice hockey was and continues to be a major activity in Western New York. What started out as a winter sport for me soon evolved into a year-round endeavor that kept me busy all the way through college.

However, within a few years of starting my hockey career, I was diagnosed with asthma. The cold, dry air of the hockey rink often made my asthma worse. Dealing with my own asthma influenced my decision to specialize in pulmonary medicine.

My decision to pursue medicine as a career was complex, in part centered on the many physicians in my extended family. Ultimately, I came to understand that being a physician is an incredibly privileged profession. When diagnosing and treating illness, I ask questions about many issues that …people do not often discuss with anyone other than a spouse, significant other, or spiritual advisor.

While one cannot understate the importance of diagnosing and treating illness correctly, I also believe that it is important to communicate this information in a way that is meaningful to the patient and the family. Coming to terms with the implications of the illness and treatment can be just as important as the diagnosis itself. Having a larger picture of my patients allows me to work in partnership with them to identify problems and figure out the best solutions for them.

Kaiser Permanente provides the environment and the resources for me to provide the best possible care to my patients. In addition, my wife (who also works at Kaiser Permanente) and I are able to balance our professional lives with life at home with our three young children. I no longer play ice hockey, but I try to maintain a daily outing with my local running club.