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Office
Golden State MD Digital Services
767 Gonzalez Drive, San Francisco, Ca
San Francisco, CA 94132Phone+1 415-859-5471Fax+1 415-988-7595
Summary
- Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai is founder of Golden State MD and PI & Director of the Hunters Point Biomonitoring Foundation, Inc. Sumchai received an MD degree from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine in 1981, trained in the Departments of Surgery and Neurosurgery and completed a 2 year Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Stanford University School Of Medicine Department of Surgery 1986 - 1988. As a Flight Physician for Stanford Life Flight, Sumchai conducted research on cervical spine stabilization and helicopter transport. Dr. Sumchai is a prolific author and public speaker.
Dr. Sumchai was appointed to the UCSF Alumni Association Board in 2019 and awarded Alumna of the Year in 2021. Dr. Sumchai is a leader in advanced telehealth services and a HealthTap.com expert physician.
Dr. Sumchai received a Packard Foundation Grant in 2019 to establish the nations first biomonitoring program offering urinary toxicology screenings to residents and workers at a federal Superfund site. The Hunters Point Biomonitoring Foundation is located at 5021 3rd Street. Dr. Sumchai was awarded the KPIX/CBS Jefferson Award in July of 2020. HP Biomonitoring was awarded a grant from Justice 40 Accelerator in 2021and a CalEPA grant in 2022.
For over 20 years, Dr. Sumchai has maintained certification as a clinical nutritionist and National Strength & Conditioning Association Strength & Conditioning professional specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Women's upper body strength. A former competitive gymnast and semi professional dancer, Dr. Sumchai created a gymnastics inspired training program in 2000 offered in San Francisco's award winning private studio Laurel Heights
Dr. Sumchai has authored an archive of PubMed research and journal articles in Medium.com, SF Bayview, Verdict, Westside Observer UCSF Synapse and three books- The 21st Century Upright Woman, Phoenix Free and The Meaning of the Word Ahimsa.
Clinical Expertise
- Neuro-rehabilitation, Nutrition, Sports medicine, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Women's health, Obesity and weight management, Emergency medicine, Cervical spine disorders, Clinical research, Emergency medical services, Telemedicine, Shoulder and elbow sports medicine, Hip and knee sports medicine, Spine traumatology, Shoulder stabilization, Back injuries, Lumbar disk herniation, Physical medicine, Environmental health, Medical photography, Emergency preparedness, Metaboilc syndrome, Complimentary Therapies, Medical Administration
Education & Training
- Stanford Health Care-Sponsored Stanford UniversityFellowship, Surgical Critical Care, 1986 - 1988
- University of California (San Francisco)Residency, Neurological Surgery, 1983 - 1984
- University of California (San Francisco)Residency, Surgery, 1981 - 1983
- University of California (San Francisco)Internship, Surgery, 1981 - 1982
- University of California San Francisco School of MedicineClass of 1981
- San Francisco State UniversityBA, Biology & Pre-Med Studies with concentration in Physiology, Cum Laude, 1972 - 1976
Certifications & Licensure
- CA State Medical License 1982 - 2024
- National Strength and Conditioning AssociationStrength & Conditioning Professional
Awards, Honors, & Recognition
- Top Emergency Physician - California 2023 Best in California Magazine, 2023
- UCSF Medical Alumni of the Year Award 2021 UCSF Medical Alumni Association, 2021
- Jefferson Awards Multiplying Good KPIX 5 CBS SF BayArea, 2020
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Publications & Presentations
PubMed
- 10 citationsFrederic Wood-Jones: The ideal lesion produced by hangingGeorge L. Sternbach, Ahimsa Porter Sumchai
The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 1989-09-01 - 13 citationsHangman's fracture in a 7-week-old infant.Ahimsa Porter Sumchai, George L. Sternbach
Annals of Emergency Medicine. 1991-01-01 - 4 citationsMissed cervical spine fractures.Ahimsa Porter Sumchai
Annals of Emergency Medicine. 1987-06-01
Journal Articles
- The Human Spine is like a Precious Strand of PearlsAhimsa Porter Sumchai, Journal of Womens Health Care, 8/25/2015
- Perfect Storm: First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic crashes in Southeast San FranciscoAhimsa Porter Sumchai MD, PD, San Francisco Bayview Newspaper, 4/27/2020
- The Landfill in our BodiesAhimsa Porter Sumchai, MD PD, San Francisco Bayview Newspaper, 4/3/2020
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Books/Book Chapters
Lectures
- Establishing Medical Necessity for Implementation of a Human Biomonitoring Program at the Hunters Point Shipyard - A Federal Superfund SiteState of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment - 3/29/2019
Other
- An Advanced Aeromedical TransportSabelman, Eric & Sumchai, Ahimsa, Medium.com
https://AhimsaPorterSumchaiMD.medium.Com/an-advanced-aeromedical-transport-d183dd0f72a4
Stanford, CA - 4/18/2023
Authored Content
- The Breast Cancer NecklaceSeptember 2023
- Hunters Point Continues to Poison San Francisco ResidentsJune 2023
- The Greatest Story Never Told!May 2023
- Steatopygia and the Modern VenusMarch 2023
- Meet the Women Making Environmental Justice HistoryMarch 2023
- Healing Starts in Hunters PointNovember 2022
- Advancing Environmental Public Health Through Community Exposure Research and the New Science of Human BiomonitoringJanuary 2019
- Navigating the Toxic Triangle in BVHP 2023January 2023
- Mayor Breed's Underwhelming Response to the New Years StormJanuary 2023
- Gavin Newsom's AlbatrossJanuary 2023
- Biomonitoring Detects Pollution In People!May 2022
- HP Biomonitoring Radiogenic Cancer Cluster Update 05/10/22May 2022
- The Breast Cancer NecklaceApril 2022
- HP Biomonitoring - Promising Hope for Hunters PointMarch 2022
- Advocating for Clean-Up of Toxic & Radioactive Waste in BVHPFebruary 2022
- Cancer Alley at the Hunters Point Shipyard - Black History Month SpecialFebruary 2022
- Against All Odds...Mamma Mesha Irizarry Lives to Fight Another Year!January 2022
- Quest to detect PlutoniumDecember 2021
- Quest To Detect PlutoniumNovember 2021
- Unraveling the Breast Cancer Conundrum in San FranciscoOctober 2021
- The Navy Uncovered Strontium - 90 and they want you to think it's OK. It's Not!November 2021
- Biomonitoring Saves A Life! Prepared for the Scientific Guidance Panel - Biomonitoring CaliforniaOctober 2021
- Westside/Eastside StoryJuly 2021
- The Lost Shores of Yosemite SloughJuly 2021
- Why Critical Race Theory Should Be Taught - in Biology!June 2021
- Mighty Acorns Grow! BVHP Environmental Justice Leaders Meet with High Ranking EPA OfficialsJune 2021
- Hey...Let's Talk About Race! Critical Race Theory and the Human GenomeJune 2021
- Why I am Calling for a Local Health Emergency in San FranciscoMay 2021
- Human Biomonitoring (HBM) and Geospatial Mapping Applied to Determining Imminent and Proximate Threat to Human Safety at a federal Superfund SystemApril 2021
- Toxic Genocide in Bayview Hunters PointApril 2021
- Brain Cancer Biomonitoring in Bayview Hunters PointApril 2021
- Brain Cancer Biomonitoring in Bayview Hunters PointMarch 2021
- Eastside/Westside Story - Westside ObserverJanuary 2021
- Wait for it! The Amazing Parallels Between Flint, Michigan and Bayview Hunters PointJanuary 2021
- Renewed Call for Shipyard Excavation Moratorium - The Legal Legacy of Harm to the Hunters Point CommunityJanuary 2021
- Beyond Medical RacismDecember 2020
- Moratorium. Legal Legacy of Harm to the Hunters Point CommunityDecember 2020
- The Understanding of ConsequencesNovember 2020
- Apology Owed to Bayview Hunters Point ResidentsNovember 2020
- The Iron HummingbirdSeptember 2020
- The Hunters Point Community Biomonitoring Program is Establishing Cause and Effect RelationshipsMay 2020
- Establishing Medical Necessity for Implementation of a Human Biomonitoring Program at the Hunters Point Shipyard - a Federal Superfund SiteMarch 2019
- Why I’m Declaring a Public Health Crisis at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San FranciscoJune 2018
- The Chicken...or the Egg?April 2009
- Black Flight - Presentation of UCSF Medical Students February 15, 2008February 2008
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Press Mentions
- City Planners Targeted a Black Community for Heavy Pollution. Can the Damage be Undone?May 7th, 2023
- Recology's unpermitted Pier 94 facility ordered shut by Air DistrictMarch 29th, 2023
- Is Hunters Point Sick? Meet the Doctor Screening Residents for Toxics in S.F.’s Biggest Development BattleJanuary 5th, 2022
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Grant Support
- Environmental Justice Data FundWindward Fund2022–2024
- CalEPA EJ Small GrantsCalifornia Environmental Protection Agency2022–2023
- General UnrestrictedBlack Citizen.org2022
- Justice40 AcceleratorJustice40 Accelerator Core Partners - Elevate, Groundswell, Hummingbird Firm2021
- Presidents Fund Challenge in GrantmakingDavid & Lucile Packard Foundation2019–2020
Committees
- National Strength and Conditioning Association, Ad Hoc Committee Clinical Specialist Examination & Certification 2011 - Present
- Member - Steering Committee, Marie Harrison Bayview Community Air Monitoring Project 2019 - 2021
- Founding Chair Radiological Subcommittee, Hunters Point Shipyard Restoration Advisory Board 2000 - 2005
Research History
- Principal InvestigatorHunters Point Community Biomonitoring Program2019 - 2025
- Founding Chair Radiological Subcommittee Hunter's Point Shipyard Restoration Advisory BoardContributed to Draft Final Historical Radiological Assessment March 29, 2002- Hunter's Point Shipyard Use of General Radioactive Materials 1939-20022001 - 2005
- Attending PhysicianPersian Gulf, Agent Orange, Ionizing Radiation Registry Palo Alto Veterans Administration Environmental Health Registry for Veterans1997 - 2000
- Research Consultant-Palo Alto Veterans Administration RR&DResearch Consultant on projects investigating Falls In Elderly, Cervical Spine Traction and Immobilization during Helicopter Transport. Advanced Aeromedical Transport - Eric Sabelman, PhD & Ahimsa Porter Sumchai MD1988 - 1999
- Postdoctoral Fellow - Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine Stanford University Medical CenterPostdoctoral Clinical and Research Fellow and Flight Physician Stanford Life Flight - Cervical Spine Trauma, Traction and Immobilization during Helicopter Transport. Worked with NASA-Ames Researhc Center and Stanford School of Biomechanical Engineering.1986 - 1988
Professional Memberships
- Member
- American Academy of NutritionMember
- University of California San Francisco Medical Alumni Association Board of DirectorsMember
Other Languages
- Spanish
Industry Relationships
- Consulting Physician - Independent Contractor, MedCare Staffing, Inc.Provider provides telemedicine consultation for pharmacogenomics and hereditary cancer screenings.Disclosure: None2019 - Present
- Telemedicine Physician, Doctors 365 Global Telehealth PlatformInternational team of medical doctors based in Switzerland. The "Doctors 365" telemedicine platform offers 24 hour, high quality, global access to treatment world wide.2019 - Present
- Physician Expert, HealthTap.comOffering expert telemedicine consults and on demand urgent care advice on the advanced global telemedicine platform HealthTap.com2016 - Present
- Member, National Strength & Conditioning AssociationNSCA Certified Trainer2002 - Present
External Links
- LinkedInhttp://www.LinkedIn.com/AhimsaPorterSumchaiMD
- Healthtap.comhttps://www.healthtap.com/experts/36786400-dr-ahimsa-porter-sumchai-md/
- US News & World Reporthttps://health.usnews.com/doctors/ahimsa-sumchai-662395
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