Women Physicians Support and Encourage

in a small city like Stockton, needed love, understanding and support from each other as they raised their children while balancing professional, religious, community and family responsibilities.

There are too many other members of the early group to mention, but they included Dr. Ingeburg Kultzen, Lodi’s first pediatrician, who moved here from Germany in 1956 and practiced for 42 years. Dr. Graciela Barzaga, who practiced physical medicine and rehabilitation for over 55 years, was also an early member. The group continued to grow, and by early 2000, the group of lady doctors included Dr. Norma Espiritu, Dr. Margarita Nosce, Dr. Helen Reyes, Dr. Harjit Sud, Dr. Patricia Hatton, Dr. Linh Nguyen and Dr. Carol Cahill. Currently there are more than 40 members.

“From these ‘lady doctors,’ I learned grace and dignity under pressure, and I marvel every time we meet at the shared bonds of understanding among diverse medical specialties, different religions, cultures and personalities,” said Linda Kawaguchi, who in 2005 took over the duty of organizing these gatherings. “We have grown from a small group of women singing holiday carols at each other’s homes into a larger, sometimes boisterous, always warm and welcoming group of women who laugh and cry and tell stories together.”

These amazing women physicians come from near and far, some from Tracy, Manteca, Lodi, the East Bay and Elk Grove, some who have lived and practiced here for many decades. Some are relatively new to the area, while others are just starting their medical residency training here in Stockton.

Dr. Manreet Basra summed up the importance of this camaraderie. “This group makes one feel very accomplished in our lives, while keeping us grounded at the same time, as we all understand how tough it is to balance our professional and personal lives, especially while raising our kids to become well learned and responsible individuals.”

With no agenda, political or professional, the Women’s Physicians Group exists to “just be there for each other.” Other social opportunities do exist for networking, referrals, continuing medical education and volunteer work, but no other group is quite like this one.