Dr. Laura Wise, MD

Dr. Wise, whom we call "Dr. Laura," is a seasoned and thoughtful physician who actually works with her patient in making choices for treatments. She not only listens to me with care and patience but also converses with me about the limits of and potential for my general physical health. She knows, for example, what types of exercises I regularly do and to what extent and some problems of environment in my daily life. As she recommends specialists to me and sends referrals to them, she keeps track of their diagnosis as well as the results of various lab tests. In short, she operates as leader and coordinator of all treatments and advice I receive from specialists. She is not afraid to prescribe drug that I am not used to. Occasionally, when I react to the new medication (because of my skin sensitivity), she is quick about switching to another, safer medication. I am lucky, indeed, to have her as my primary care physician.

Dr Wise is about caring and compassion. You're not just a 25-minute stop during her day, but a real person trying to get through life with medical conditions. She listens and hears not just the medical issues, but how the patient is slogging through the day to day. I actually look forward to my visits, and motivate myself with the reminders "Dr. Wise said I should..." Even the staff at Hayward Wellness speaks of how beloved she is as an exceptional physician who actually cares.