hereditary cancer syndrome testing

Our Team

Meet our Adventist Health Early All-Around Detection (AHEAD) Team

Our Adventist Health Early All-Around Detection (AHEAD) team is united by a passion to inspire health, wholeness and hope. Each are specially trained and are committed to providing high quality, patient centered care in which every patient is treated with great compassion, respect and dignity.

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Candace Westgate, DO

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Medical Director Adventist Health Early All-Around Detection

Dr. Westgate is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, along with additional certification in Women’s Genomics Counseling from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She earned her medical degree from A. T. Still University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, and continued on to Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, where she completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, serving as Chief Resident in her final year. Dr. Westgate is the Medical Director of Women and Infant Services and Adventist Health St. Helena, and the founder of AHEAD. Her scope of practice includes obstetrical care, gynecology care and surgical intervention, including major and minor gynecological procedures, with an emphasis on all procedures using minimally invasive techniques. “Preventive care is important to me. I believe in partnering with and empowering patients on their journey to find health, treating the whole patient and not focusing only on disease.”

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Paolo Andreassi, MD

Urology

Dr. Andreassi earned his medical degree from University of L’Aquila School of Medicine in L’Aquila, Italy in 1988, followed by a urology residency at the University of Perugia School of Medicine in Perugia, Italy. He went on to be an attending urologist in the Department of Nephrology and Kidney Transplants at San Salvatore Hospital in L’Aquila, Italy before he and his family immigrated to Santa Rosa, CA in 2004. He then accepted a staff physician position in the department of urology at University of California, Davis.

Dr. Andreassi believes in whole-person care and strives to make a positive impact in the life of his patients. He specializes in minimally invasive prostatic surgery and incontinence procedures for women.

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Tegpal Atwal, MD

Gastroenterology

Dr. Atwal is an experienced board-certified gastroenterologist who has been in practice for more than 16 years. He brings exceptional training and experience in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He completed a fellowship in Gastroenterology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and a fellowship in Advanced Gastroenterology - Pancreatology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He has participated in extensive research including colorectal cancer screening, pancreatic diseases and post liver transplant studies, to name a few. He receives exceptionally high praise from his colleagues and patients.

Dr. Atwal has also enjoyed teaching as Clinical Assistant Professor at St. Louis University School of Medicine and at Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, WSU Health Sciences in Spokane, Washington and as a member of the core faculty for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Trios Hospital in Kennewick, Washington.

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Razi Arifuddin, MD

Gastroenterology, Colon, Pancreas and Stomach

Dr. Arifuddin is a board-certified in gastroenterology and hepatology. He has specialized training in advanced procedures such as ERCP and EUS, both of which are used in complex disorders and cancers of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and bile ducts. He works closely with local oncologists and surgeons to help diagnose and manage cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, colon and rectum.

In addition to his focus on GI oncology, Dr. Arifuddin also helps patients with common conditions such as acid reflux, obesity, fatty liver and other liver diseases, IBS, and gallbladder pain. He believes that a good healthy diet and an active lifestyle are important factors in digestive and overall health.

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Karynne Duncan, MD

Dermatology

Dr. Duncan is an accomplished medical professional with a private dermatology practice in St. Helena. Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Dr. Duncan moved to the Napa Valley from Colorado, where she was on faculty at the University of Colorado School Of Medicine in the departments of Internal Medicine and Dermatology. In addition to running her own private practice, she is a clinical instructor at Yale School of Medicine’s department of Dermatology and is a member of the test writing committee for the American Board of Dermatology. Dr. Duncan has published numerous papers and book chapters and in 2014 co-authored a dermatology textbook entitled Dermatology Essentials. Dr. Duncan is passionate about the role of genetic factors in the development of cancer, as she has personal experience in this area. In 2016, she underwent an allogeneic stem cell transplant at UCSF Medical Center for myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare disease in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough healthy blood cells. Dr. Duncan is determined to channel her health issues into hope for others by participating in the Adventist Health Early All-Around Detection program.

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Tyler Kang, MD

Medical Oncology & Hematology

Dr. Kang is known for providing high quality, compassionate medical care and collaborating with his patients to ensure their care is in harmony with their goals. He is board-certified in medical oncology and hematology.

Dr. Kang is a graduate of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine internship and residency at the University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles. He later completed an oncology and hematology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He began his cancer care practice in 2008 with East Bay Medical Oncology-Hematology Associates and has been named a Top Doctor in the Bay Area by San Francisco Magazine for multiple years. He has a special interest in brain cancer, lung cancer, genitourinary cancer and head and neck cancer.

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Anne Peled, MD

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery | Breast Surgical Oncology

Dr. Peled is a plastic surgeon practicing aesthetic, reconstructive and breast oncological surgery. Her specialty in breast cancer began at Harvard Medical School, during which time she received the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship to pursue research in breast reconstruction and breast cancer-related lymphedema. After earning her medical degree at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Peled completed her residency in general surgery and plastic surgery at University of California, San Francisco. During her residency she completed a two-year post-doctoral research fellowship focused on breast reconstruction outcomes and novel surgical techniques for managing breast cancer. Following her residency and fellowship, Dr. Peled continued her training at UCSF with a fellowship in breast oncologic surgery and reconstructive microsurgery. This additional training provided her with the unique skills to be able to perform oncological and reconstructive procedures that often make up the surgical treatment for breast cancer. Dr. Peled continues to be actively involved in clinical research.

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Ethan D. Schram, MD

Oncology, Hematology, Internal Medicine

Dr. Schram joined the Martin O'Neil Cancer Center in 2011. He was drawn to the area and this cancer center because of its warm, friendly atmosphere and close-knit community as well as the opportunity to deliver world-class care in a more rural setting.

Dr. Schram grew up in San Francisco and earned his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan and Columbia Universities. He received his medical degree from the University of California, Davis and completed his internship and residency training at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Schram then went on to complete a three-year fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Scripps in San Diego where he was appointed Chief Fellow.

He is proud to have been distinguished as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Schram is triple-boarded in hematology, medical oncology, and internal medicine. Some of his other recognitions include Scripps Health Nell and Tom Waltz Award for Leadership in Medicine and the Northwestern University Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Achievement Award. He is also the co-author of several publications. More recently, he has served as both Chair of the Medicine Department and Chief of Staff at Adventist Health St. Helena Hospital.

His practice style is built on a collaborative, shared decision-making approach to care. He believes patients and physicians make better choices when they communicate well and his kind, evidence-based and thoughtful approach to care has made him a much sought-after oncologist in Napa Valley.

In his free time, he enjoys backpacking and skiing in the Sierras with his two sons. He also enjoys cooking with friends and is a NYT crossword devotee.

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Ari Umutyan, MD

Medical Oncology

Bringing more than a decade of cancer-fighting expertise to his practice, Dr. Umutyan provides comprehensive and compassionate cancer care and serves as the medical director of the Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center. He is dedicated to educating patients about their condition in order to inspire a greater understanding and involvement in their care.

Dr. Umutyan received his medical degree from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles. He completed his internal medicine internship and residency at University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where he also served as an internal medicine chief resident for one year while exploring his passion for teaching. He completed his fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at the University of California Davis Medical Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in medical oncology.

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Michael Novak, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Michael Novak received his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed his residency at University of California at Irvine. He is board-certified and is recognized as a Diplomate by the American Board of Family Medicine.

With more than 20 years of experience practicing in the Napa Valley, Dr. Novak is a skilled and compassionate physician focusing on personalized care for patients of all ages and stages of life. He is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of his patients and their satisfaction in his care. To this day, he continues to be driven by the never-ending challenge of diagnosis and providing thoughtful, high-quality care.

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Hillary Hoppe, FNP

Family Medicine

Hillary Hoppe is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with a doctorate in nursing practice. She is experienced in the diagnosis, treatment and management of acute illnesses and chronic diseases. With a strong background in nursing, Hillary brings significant experience in both primary care and urgent care for patients of all ages.

She was inspired to practice medicine because it combines her love of science with an ability to work with people to make an impact on their lives.

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Martin Paukert, MD

Plastic Surgery

Dr. Martin Paukert graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School. He then completed a residency and internship in plastic surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He brings extensive skills in all aspects of reconstructive plastic surgery: hand and craniofacial surgery for trauma, reconstruction for breast cancer including implants, free flaps and secondary procedures, reconstruction for head and neck cancer, and treatment of facial skin cancer. He also performs breast reductions, peripheral nerve surgery, and general reconstruction of deformities anywhere on the body including problematic wounds and pressure. He is happy to be part of the Adventist Health Early All-Around Detection (AHEAD) Program.

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Kimberley A. Schorr, DNP, MS, MPH

Breast AHEAD Manager

Kimberley A. Schorr, DNP, MS, MPH joined the Adventist Health AHEAD program in 2022 to support increased access to hereditary cancer risk assessment and personalized risk reduction counseling. Based on her personal and family experiences with breast cancer diagnoses in 2020 – she approaches hereditary cancer risk assessment with “extra” compassion and understanding.

With her professional colleagues, Kimberley provides genetic cancer risk assessment through telehealth visits, cancer risk identification and risk reduction, health promotion, education, and support. Her clinical, personal, and teaching experiences inform her approaches to personalized patient centered counseling and care.

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Colleen Winters, LCSW, OSW-C

Oncology

Colleen Winters is the clinical navigator at the Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center. Colleen sees all newly diagnosed patients, providing psychosocial assessment and short-term psychodynamic therapy for anxiety, depression, stress, body image or other psychological support as needed. Colleen also manages Integrative Cancer Support Services, which includes facilitation of educational support groups, community outreach and contracting with acupuncturists, music and movement therapists and other appropriate integrative cancer specialists as needed.