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Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital
"I had to convince them this is our last move and the right one for us," he said. "But being so close to the ski slopes made it an easy sell. It's a good thing, because I want to retire here. We're tired of moving due to the military and my education, and Auburn appears to be the ideal town."
Dr. Dunn, 38, is the newest OB/GYN in Auburn and is accepting new patients at a quick pace. Two OB/GYNs in Auburn - Drs. Eb Lane and Nancy West - are leaving Auburn after many years of service to the community, and their current patients are pleased to have in place an experienced physician who delivers babies and provides women's gynecological services. He joins another OB/GYN, Claire Leve, M.D., who has practiced in Auburn for three years.
Dr. Dunn's practice officially starts Wednesday, but he has been scheduling patients for a couple of weeks. His office is located at 11795 Education Drive, Suite 222, situated near the hospital, and the phone is (530) 886-6660.
When Drs. Lane and West announced their June 30 departure earlier this year, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital CAO Mitch Hanna told the community that Sutter Health was committed to keeping the hospital’s well-regarded Family Birth Center open by recruiting at least two new OB/GYNs to the area, with one arriving in July. So far, he has kept that promise, and the hospital is in negotiations currently with other qualified candidates.
"Dr. Dunn is an experienced physician who wants to be not just a member of the community, but wants to be involved in the community," Hanna said. "And, being an OB/GYN, he will play a very important role in the lives of many families in Auburn, Grass Valley, Colfax and our many other neighboring towns."
Dr. Dunn says Auburn is perfect for his new practice. "I love to work at a smaller hospital, where the care is more personal than at a larger medical center," he said. "I was on-call for a weekend in June at Sutter Auburn Faith and delivered a few babies, and the support staff and nurses are all excellent."
Dr. Dunn began his OB/GYN career in the Air Force, having interned at the Keesler Air Force Base Medical Center in Biloxi, Miss., and serving as a staff OB/GYN at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, and at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif. He opened a private practice in Porterville, near Fresno, two years ago.
Dr. Dunn received his bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and his medical doctorate from Louisiana State University Medical School. He furthered his specialty training in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery through a fellowship at Greater Baltimore Medical Center from 2000-2003.
His wife, Katrina, is a registered nurse and is planning to be the manager of the Auburn office and also provide patient triage.
"In Porterville, she was more behind the scenes, but she wants to really get to know our Auburn neighbors and assist in a clinical as well as administrative fashion," he said. "Plus, she’s good at telling me what to do!"
They have two children - a son, Austin, 15; and a daughter, Madison 12 - who play on select soccer teams and will be attending Auburn schools. They also like to snowboard, while Mom and Dad prefer hitting the slopes on skis.
Will Dr. Dunn and his wife also put their children to work at the office, such as in janitorial positions?
"I don’t think it would work out. They don't even clean their own rooms," Dr. Dunn quipped.
Sutter Auburn Faith's CAO Hannah admitted that the departure of two OB/GYNs in Drs. Lane and West was a blow to the community, but he's grateful to have found an experienced OB/GYN to step up so quickly. He’s now searching for one and maybe two more OB/GYNs to ensure the Family Birth Center continues to be strong and will thrive.
Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital is a 97-bed general acute care hospital serving Auburn and its surrounding communities for 30 years. Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital is affiliated with Sutter Health, a not-for-profit, community-based health system located throughout Northern California. For more information on Sutter Auburn Faith and its award-winning Family Birth Center, visit the Web site at sutterauburnfaith.org.