Cord Blood Donation Leads to Life-saving Stem Cell Transplant

The San Leandro Medical Center is one of the only Kaiser Permanente hospitals on the West Coast to offer this donation program, partnering with the Cleveland Cord Blood Center. The center collects, stores, and distributes cord blood to patients across the country with life-threatening illnesses.

“Patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds often have a more challenging time finding a suitable matched donor,” said Michelle Gebhardt, MD, a specialist in obstetrics-gynecology at the Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center and assistant chief for Outpatient Maternity. “Adding donated cord blood from diverse communities like ours to the registry increases the likelihood that every patient will find a life-saving match.”

What is aging well? That question can be answered in a multitude of ways, but it is generally accepted as being healthy enough to keep doing what you enjoy, no matter your age!

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As you get older, your health, both physically and mentally, depends on many things. These could include your family health history, past and current lifestyle choices, and the ability to access health care.

At Kaiser Permanente, we’re dedicated to making sure that you thrive … at every age. Whether you’re one of our members or not, we want to help you navigate a path for yourself so you can do just that.

KP LAUNCH, Kaiser Permanente’s Internship Program, wrapped up last month with a celebration of interns who spent the summer exploring health care careers and building confidence as emerging leaders.

GSAA Senior Vice President and Area Manager Debra Flores reminded them they are “uniquely designed for greatness.” Their journey reflects the promise of future leaders who will shape a more equitable and compassionate health care system.

Dr. Akhil Wadhera, a dermatologist at the Kaiser Permanente Fremont Medical Center, was a guest on the KTVU Morning Show to debunk these sunscreen myths, and offered valuable information about skin protection and how to reduce the risk of skin cancer. Dr. Wadhera explained that 1 in 5 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70, and sunscreen offers some of the best protection.

Dr. Wadhera said people should apply a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. He said those with a skin routine who use a moisturizer should still apply sunscreen if the SPF is lower than 30, and encouraged people to discard sunscreen if it is expired.

Supporting Organizations Across Southern Alameda County

Kaiser Permanente GSAA is proud to have recently supported and engaged with local organizations including:

Kaiser Permanente is proud to support and work with our community in diverse ways to promote health and well-being. Learn more about our Community Relations program by visiting:

kpgsaacommunityrelations.org