Seniors make up about 15 percent of Alameda’s population, yet many are forced to leave the Island for healthcare due to both a shortage of physicians and practices capping the number of Medicare patients they’ll accept. 

Calyx Health is a new doctor’s office exclusively for Medicare seniors. Its team of physicians, technologists and Medicare experts are on a mission to build the healthcare system that seniors deserve and the country urgently needs — starting right here in Alameda.

Dr. Anita Gaind, a Bay Area resident for more than 20 years and practicing physician at Calyx Health is a board-certified internal medicine doctor. She completed her training at Highland Hospital in Oakland with a focus on preventive health and management of chronic diseases for seniors. She answered the following questions.

What first drew you to practice medicine? At a young age, I watched my father experience a major cardiac event and felt fearful and overwhelmed. From then on, I knew I wanted to combine my passion for science and serving others to help shape a healthcare system that was equitable and available to anyone who needed it. 

What do you value most in your patient relationships? I take great joy in getting to know patients on a personal level, not just a constellation of their diagnoses. Instead of a narrow, symptom-based approach to care, I work with patients and their families to understand their holistic needs. That way we can present a full range of medical options — always with the patient’s goals at the forefront. I am grateful to be in a role where patients can share the most intimate aspects of their lives and entrust me to guide them through challenging decisions. Partnering with patients to help them achieve their health goals makes my job even more fulfilling. 

What has been your experience with the healthcare system? The current healthcare system is plagued with inefficiencies. Hospitals and physicians have to balance business goals with caring for patients all while using outdated technology. This, in addition to treating a diverse patient population, makes it challenging to provide quality care, especially to seniors.

I would like to see more focus on preventive care to reduce healthcare costs and improve health outcomes, leverage technology to reduce administrative burden and allow physicians to spend more time with patients. Doctors should be empower patients to be active in advancing their health and wellness. Calyx Health is a prime example of this model, and I’m excited to be part of this change.

Why did you join Calyx Health? I wanted to be a part of rebuilding primary care from the ground up, revolutionizing healthcare for seniors in America. The use of technology enables me to build better care plans and deliver the best experience possible for patients. The team at Calyx Health is passionate about building something extraordinary.