A purpose-built, one-of-a-kind, hi-tech fertility center, Collab Fertility, opens this month at 2700 Ygnacio Valley Road, enlarging Shadelands’ medical footprint. The 8,000-square-foot facility, with a fertility clinic and an in vitro fertilization (IVF) lab, will provide patients access to premier, client-centered care that focuses on compassion, transparency, and the IVF patient experience.

“There’s a large and growing demand for access to quality fertility services in the East Bay and Northern California regions,” says Collab Fertility founder Thalia Segal, MD, a fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, who has been working in reproductive health for the past twelve years.

“In the Bay Area, with few options, some people are driving four and five hours for services, which is disruptive to personal lives and work schedules. And if patients already have children at home, the ability to access care is near impossible to maintain.”

Collab Fertility is Dr. Segal’s solution—a custom-designed, state-of-the-art fertility center in Walnut Creek that brings together a team of experienced specialists in the fertility field from SF Bay Area academic and private practices to provide regional access to IVF care.

Far exceeding her dreams, Collab Fertility will see patients on January 15, and will host a ribbon cutting to celebrate its full opening in March.

The procedure area of the clinic features three large viewing windows into the embryology lab, one of the largest labs in the Bay Area, where embryologists will employ the latest advancements in fertility research and science to ensure the highest chances for success. The distinctive design will allow patients to see what’s happening, “where the magic takes place,” says Dr. Segal.

Two embryo transfer rooms are outfitted with direct live feeds from microscopes so patients and their partners can see embryos in real time being loaded into catheters and transferred to the patient under ultrasound guidance.

An operating room and clinical exam rooms, recovery bays, consult rooms, conference rooms, and plenty of space for physicians, specialists, and support staff round out the space.

Collab Fertility

2700 Ygnacio Valley Road

Suite 170

Walnut Creek

925.270.2992

"We believe that everyone has a right to evidence-based fertility care," says Thalia Segal, MD, founder of Collab Fertility.

Dr. Segal showcases the large, state-of-the-art embryology lab, under construction.

Dr. Segal points out the viewing windows that will allow patients to see inside the embryology lab, under construction.

Collab Fertility opens to patients mid-January. Visit Collab Fertility.

Look for a "ribbon cutting" profile of Collab Fertility in the April issue of the Shadelands newsletter.

Food Truck Thursdays, located in the parking lot of Kaiser Permanente Park Shadelands Medical Offices at 370 Lennon Lane, continues into the new year.

Open to the public Thursdays, 11:30am–2pm, Food Truck Thursdays is presented by Taste of the World Market, whose motto is Taste International. Support Local.

In January, look for:

• January 4, Wing Man

• January 11, Ceviche & Co.

• January 18, Ayubowan

• January 25, Rosie's Food Truck

Bring your appetite, family & friends!

Food truck line-up and food truck appearance are subject to change.

Food Truck Thursdays

11:30am–2pm

Kaiser Permanente

Park Shadelands Medical Offices

370 Lennon Lane

Walnut Creek

Ayubowan Sri Lankan cuisine, January 18, 2024

“Although chronologically, January 1 is just another day, there is long-held symbolism in the changing of the calendar as we celebrate the new year,” says Chris Acab, MD, an internist and primary care physician at Kaiser Permanente Park Shadelands Medical Offices.

“For many, the new year means fresh beginnings, a chance for positive change, and opportunities to embark on self-improvement activities.”

Dr. Acab’s advice to those who make resolutions is to set SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound.

“Creating a smart goal is the starting point of making change that is reasonable and measurable," says Dr. Acab, who has specialized training in lifestyle medicine. "It's important, too, to recognize that change can be difficult and requires mental effort in the beginning, but if made consistently, can become habitual,"

For instance, rather than setting a goal to lose 10 pounds, Dr. Acab suggests setting a measurable, time bound goal of adding three fruits and vegetables to the daily diet or adding a 30-minute walk to the daily routine.

Or to reconnect with family and friends, set a goal of one letter a day, or to learn a second language, set a goal of 45 minutes of study a day. Specific, measurable, time bound.

"It's important to note that failure does happen, it’s a part of life, but these are only lapses towards our overall goal and should not be a reason for us to return to our old previous behavior," says Dr. Acab. "Recognize failures, but use them as motivation to come back the next day and succeed."

And, consider the buddy system.

“With a buddy, while we hold ourselves accountable, we are also accountable to someone else who cares about us and who might be going through the same journey toward the same goal."

The new year offers a blank slate and an opportunity to make positive change.

Kaiser Permanente

Park Shadelands Medical Offices

350 Lennon Lane

Walnut Creek

925.906.2040

Set SMART goals and celebrate each accomplishment as a step toward self-improvement.

Working toward a goal with a friend is a great way to stay motivated and enjoy the journey.

The annual food drive at Kaiperm Credit Union benefiting Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, a nonprofit that's been feeding the hungry since 1983, continues through January 19.

Kaiperm Food Drive

Now–January 19, 2024

Donations benefiting

Loaves and Fishes

of Contra Costa

Consider picking up a few extra non-perishables the next time you make a grocery run, and then visit Kaiperm on your lunch hour to help keep the pantry shelves stocked and our hungry neighbors fed.

Receive a free Kaiperm reusable tote bag for your donation!

Non-perishable Wish List:

Bottled water, peanut butter, oatmeal, pasta & pasta sauce, snack cups, snack bars, tuna, rice, beans, soups, canned proteins & fruits & veggies

Please, no glass or expired food.

Kaiperm Credit Union

325 N. Wiget Lane, Ste. 130

Walnut Creek

925.939.5626

Donating food is an easy way to make a profound difference in the lives of others.

Opening Spring 2024, Primrose School of Walnut Creek is taking shape on the final vacant parcel of land in The Orchards, adjacent to Mike Hess Brewing.

A national family of accredited early education and care schools, Primrose serves infants through Pre-K.

The 12,836-square-foot Walnut Creek school will be one of seven in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Find more information about the Primrose School of Walnut Creek project on the City's Development Projects page.

Artist's rendering of the front entrance of Primrose School, coming to The Orchards.

Construction continues on Primrose School, next to Mike Hess Brewing.

Opening Spring 2024

Primrose School of

Walnut Creek

The Orchards at Walnut Creek

2291 Oak Grove Road

Walnut Creek

925.600.7746

Devil & Angel Desserts, which specializes in innovative dessert combinations, is coming to The Orchards, opening a store next to Blades Co Barber Shop.

With several locations throughout California, Devil & Angel offers, among other delights, handcrafted soft serve in cones and waffles, milk tea, bubble smoothies, boba ice cream, and a variety of distinctive doughnuts and croffles you have to see to believe.

What's a croffle? Check out the menu to find out.

Devil & Angel Desserts will open next to Blades Co Barber Shop in The Orchards.

Register today for an informative and timely webinar to learn about important 2024 labor law changes and updates presented by two employment law experts.

Hosts Angela De La Housaye Ashley, of D/L/H/A Law Group, and Audrey Gee, of Brown, Gee & Wenger, will explain critical labor law changes and answer attendee questions.

This is a free, virtual event.

Changes in Labor Laws 2024

Wednesday, January 31

Noon–1pm

Zoom link will be sent

the day before the event

Angela De La Housaye Ashley, D/L/H/A Law Group

Audrey Gee, Brown, Gee & Wenger LLP

What are experts saying about the San Francisco Bay Area's economic outlook post-pandemic?

Join the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce at its February Civic Affairs Forum, Bay Area Economic Update, presented by Wells Fargo and featuring Matt Regan, Senior Vice President, Public Policy for Bay Area Council. 

Bay Area Economic Update

Tuesday, February 13

9–10am | Virtual only

Matt will offer an economic update, discussing where we are today compared to pre-pandemic levels, how the Bay Area compares to California and the U.S., key employment sectors, and what has changed in the past three years.

Matt Regan is Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Bay Area Council, whose responsibilities include promoting the organization's legislative and political agendas at the local, state, and federal levels.

19th Annual

East Bay Women's Conference

HerStory in the Making

Presented by the

Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau in

Association with

Kaiser Permanente

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

8am–5pm

Lesher Center for the Arts

1601 Civic Drive

Walnut Creek

The popular East Bay Women’s Conference is a premier, regional one-day conference designed to inspire and empower women from all walks of life.

Keynote speakers. Book signings. Networking. Exhibitors. Lunch. Reception. And more.

Save your seat today.

The 2024 East Bay Women's Conference will be held at the Lesher Center for the Arts, March 5.

East Bay

Women's Conference

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

The 2024 EBWC keynote speaker line-up