Our practice midwife Jeanne-Marie Crowe, CNM, MS, returned to the Bay Area in 2003 after working overseas for 5 years as a midwife, technical advisor, and consultant for maternal and newborn health care programs. Jeanne-Marie provides supportive, holistic care to all of our obstetrical patients. She meets with mothers before, and as needed, after delivery to provide education, encouragement and guidance. For women who desire midwife delivery care during labor and delivery, Jeanne-Marie is available on call at CPMC with backup by one of the physicians in our group. Our practice doctors and CPMC hospital are completely supportive of a woman's desire to have midwife care. Jeanne-Marie is also available for well-woman healthcare, and family planning.
Our practice is active in obstetrics, fertility, menopause, and gynecological surgery. In 2003, we worked with several hospitals to offer advanced laparoscopic surgeries, including myomectomies, hysterectomies, reconstruction of prolapse, and incontinence corrective surgeries performed completely with the laparoscope. State-of-the art hysteroscopic procedures including endometrial ablations, fertility procedures, and tubal occlusion for sterilization are available under local or general anesthesia. The latest uro-gynecologic transvaginal incontinence procedures are available through outpatient surgery. The rapid recovery, higher safety profile, and improved patient comfort has made our focus on minimally invasive surgery as satisfying as our focus on helping women overcome infertility and bringing babies into the world.
The office at 3838 California Street near California Pacific Medical Center is still full of activity with Kam running the front office for 11 years. Our Nob Hill location has Marie and Rosanna running the office at 1199 Bush Street near St. Francis Hospital. Our third office is on Irving Street at 25th Avenue in the Sunset with Irene (triage nurse for 11 years) and Holly in the front office. Our Practice Administrator, Elenor, provides invaluable personal service for all our patients scheduled for surgeries at various hospitals. Patients comment on how professional and pleasant she is to work with. The multiple locations of our practice and our long term, friendly, and kind staff are examples of our commitment to compassionate and quality care for our patients.
Dr. Rachel Shu practiced in Kansas City for 2 years before coming to San Francisco and has been in our practice for over 13 years making her mark in the excellence of the team. She is a gifted surgeon who is fluent in Mandarin and also speaks Cantonese. Her husband, who she met in college, is a healthcare architect. They have a son at the International High School and a daughter at Chinese American International School. Our practice knows Dr. Shu as a passionate workaholic with great enthusiasm for downhill skiing, biking, scuba diving and most recently a fan of Disney Magic.
Dr. Stephanie Chun joined our group 5 years ago after practicing in Michigan for 7 years. Dr. Chun's calmness and approachability puts all patients at ease when they interact with her. Dr. Chun speaks Cantonese and offers Saturday appointments at our Sutter Street office to help accommodate our patients' busy schedules. Our practice is forever grateful to her husband for his influence on her decision to move to the Bay Area. If they are not hiking through the hills of Marin, you will find them enjoying the Bay on their boat. Their passions include fine dining, wine tasting, and traveling.
Dr. Karen Chu was recruited from New York in 2003 with outstanding academic recommendations. Dr. Chu is fluent in Cantonese and has participated in community lectures in Women's Health. Patients have repeatedly commented on her gentle, caring manner and superb skill in gynecological surgery. Dr. Chu's favorite hobby is swing dancing, carries a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and enjoys baking and knitting.
Jeanne-Marie Crowe, CNM, MS, our beloved practice midwife, returned to the Bay Area in 2003 after living and working in Asia for 5 years. She then lived in Indonesia where she served as a Midwifery Advisor for a maternal and newborn health program. Her consultations have included work in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Uganda. Jeanne-Marie is dedicated to providing nurturing, supportive care to women and their growing families. She is on call for women who desire midwifery care during labor and delivery and is available for well-women healthcare and family planning visits. Her passions include reading, travel to exotic and far-off places, hiking with her husband and being a mother to her adorable, outgoing one year old, Esther.
Since obtaining her Masters degree in 2001 from University of California, San Francisco, Mary Newberry has been working as a nurse-midwife in private practice. She loves to work with women during their journey into motherhood. Even after delivering over 800 babies, Mary holds the belief that every birth is a unique and life transforming experience for each woman and her family. She draws upon her years of experience as a yoga teacher when assisting women during labor, recognizing the power of the mind-body connection.
In addition to delivering babies, Mary provides well-women gynecological care to women of all ages. In this role she focuses on health prevention, sharing her knowledge of nutrition and self-help practices to empower women with knowledge so they can make educated decisions regarding their health. Marys patients deeply appreciate the thoroughness of the care she provides, and comment on the way she listens and addresses all their questions and concerns. Mary is committed to providing holistic care by understanding womens health needs within the context of the whole person.
Thank you for being a part of our practice and our lives and giving us the opportunity to care for and help so many of you over the years. We feel the most important philosophy of our practice is that each doctor and staff member is passionately committed to your well-being and dedicated to being your advocate. We hope we have enriched your lives just as you've enriched ours. From our hearts to yours, we wish you joy, peace, love, hope, and good health until our next encounter!
Sincerely yours,
Rachel H. Shu, M.D.
Stephanie N. Chun, M.D.
Karen Chu, M.D.
Jeanne-Marie Crowe, M.S., CNM
Mary Newberry, CNM
Elenor Shimosaka, Practice Administrator
