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Expert Pediatric Pulmonology Care—Close To Home
For parents in Contra Costa County and surrounding communities, having a child with a complex medical condition used to mean spending lots of time traveling all over the Bay Area for visits with children’s specialists.
Through our collaboration with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, we diagnose and treat the full range of respiratory problems in children of all ages—right here, close to home.
In addition to your pediatric pulmonologist, your child’s care team may also include nurses and other healthcare providers—all who have advanced training in specifically treating children and teens.
Meet Your Doctors
Karen Hardy, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology
I get to see my patients from the time they are very young all the way into adulthood, experiencing each stage of childhood development alongside the family. My ultimate goal is to teach each child about their illness and how to deal with the medical system so that as they grow, they learn to be responsible for their own care.
It is a privilege to meet a new family, learn about their concerns and figure out how I can help make things better. I want every family to know Im going to work with them. I strive to make personal connections with each and every child I see. Whether they are 3 or 13 or 19, I want each child to know I am their doctor.
Manisha Newaskar, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology
Breathing plays such an important role in overall health. When a child has trouble breathing it impacts other aspects of their life. If I'm able to help a child with their breathing, the rest of the body benefits.
I know that families often wait a long time to see a specialist. I make sure they have enough time to share their concerns and then we form a plan together.
I want parents to know that I treat each child as if they were my own. I have my own children, so I understand what parents go through. I want families to know they can call me anytime for any reason. They are a part of my family.
Rachna Wadia, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology
One of the most common reasons for children being admitted to the hospital is for a respiratory illness. I help take care of children with chronic respiratory disorders, including asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cystic fibrosis. I have asthma myself, which helps me better understand what my patients are going through.
I believe that a family-centered approach is the best way to help children with chronic disorders. The most important part of any care plan is that we work together as a team. Being a new mom myself, I appreciate this approach even more now.
Eric Zee, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology
Kids see doctors differently than adults. As a doctor I tend to be informal. I don't wear a tie or a white coat — that's by design. I want children and families to feel comfortable when they see me. I try to talk to the kids as much as possible and not talk through them to parents. I feel this leads to more personalized care.
Communication is key in medicine and the foundation of personalized care. Pediatrics presents a unique opportunity for that communication, because I'm speaking with both parents and children. I listen to my patients' and their parents' questions fully and then make sure they both understand my thoughts and recommendations. More than anything, that two-way communication is key.
What Our Partnership With Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Means For Your Family
Your pediatrician referred you to us, and we want you to know that you’re in good hands. Our collaboration marries the best of two worlds for our patients and their families by bringing Stanford Medicine Children's Health expertise and innovation into a community-based setting that keeps families close to home. Together, our partnership provides:
- Expert Care from Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Doctors: From office visits to hospital procedures and stays at our Walnut Creek Medical Center, you can rest easy knowing that your child will be cared for by some of the nation’s top pediatric specialists—without having to travel to outside of the East Bay.
- Comprehensive Care, Conveniently Close: Any hospital-based services your child may need—ranging from simple blood work and imaging to infusion therapies—can all be conveniently done at our Walnut Creek Medical Center by staff who are highly trained in treating children of all ages, using specialized equipment designed just for children.
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU): If your child requires complex care, you’ll have the added peace of mind that our PICU—staffed 24/7 by Stanford Medicine Children’s Health doctors and John Muir Health nurses and other care providers—is right here at our Walnut Creek Medical Center. Learn more about our PICU.
Learn more about Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and our partnership.