Robert A. Mickel, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S. graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine in 1977. Two years later, he received a Doctor of Philosophy from and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Mickel completed his surgical internship at the University of California, San Diego in 1980 and four years later completed his residency training in Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1984, Dr. Mickel joined the full-time academic faculty of the Division of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor. He later advanced to an Associated Professor. While in Los Angeles, he was an attending physician at the UCLA Medical Center and the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was co-Chief and later Chief of the Head and Neck Surgery Section at the VA Medical Center. Dr. Mickel moved to San Francisco in 1993 to establish a private practice. He is currently on active staff at the California Pacific Medical Center and the Presidio Surgery Center. His clinical interests include general adult and pediatric otolaryngology, sinus disease, sleep disorders, and head and neck oncologic and endocrine surgery. Dr. Mickel has special interest in research and teaching. His efforts have led to awards from the UCLA Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and the American Society for Head and Neck Surgery. He is an author on over 50 scientific abstracts and articles.
Dr. Brian Chin practices advanced laparoscopic, bariatric, and general surgery at BASS Medical Group’s Walnut Creek and Brentwood offices. Dr. Chin is an expert in advanced minimally invasive surgery, including robot-assisted surgery. Dr. Chin has special expertise in the treatment of Morbid obesity (laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable band placement, and revisional bariatric surgery), Abdominal wall hernias (laparoscopic inguinal, incisional, and ventral hernia repair), Hiatal hernias and paraesophageal hernias, Benign and malignant conditions of the upper gastrointestinal tract, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication), achalasia (laparoscopic Heller myotomy), and benign and malignant stomach tumors, Gallbladder disease (laparoscopic cholecystectomy)
Benign and malignant solid organ disease (laparoscopic splenectomy, adrenalectomy, and pancreatectomy), Benign and malignant conditions of the colon and rectum, such as diverticulitis, colon cancer, and rectal cancer (laparoscopic colectomy), Venous disease (varicose veins, venous insufficiency, and venous stasis wounds).
Dr. Brian Chin was born and raised in the Bay Area. After graduating from Acalanes High School in Lafayette he ventured cross-country to coastal Maine, where he graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College with a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics. From there, he went on to earn a master’s degree in applied physics from Columbia University. He earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School, then returned to California for his surgery residency at the University of California at San Diego, where he won the Department of Medicine’s Halasz Award for surgical consultation and the Department of Surgery’s Chairman’s Prize for teaching and service excellence. Additionally, he served as administrative chief resident. Following residency, Dr. Chin completed a fellowship in bariatric and advanced laparoscopic surgery at the University of California at San Francisco, working alongside world-renowned leaders at the forefront of laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Brian Chin is board certified in surgery by the American Board of Surgery and in advanced trauma life support by the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Chin also serves as a trauma surgeon at the John Muir Medical Center, which is certified as a level II trauma center by the American College of Surgeons and is Contra Costa County’s only trauma center. He sees patients in Walnut Creek and Brentwood.
Brian D. Hopkins M.D. is a private practice, board-certified urologist who has been practicing in the East Bay since 2000. In addition to being a diplomate of the American Board of Urology, he maintains a board certification in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.
Dr. Hopkins has particular expertise and interest in the surgical treatment of genitourinary cancer (including prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers), advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery, female pelvic prolapse and incontinence, and complex genitourinary reconstructive surgery. He has been performing robotic surgery with the da Vinci robot since 2002, shortly after it received FDA approval. He was one of the first users of the technology.
Dr. Hopkins’ mission is to offer the best urologic care to his patients, with an emphasis on ensuring that they receive first-rate surgical care, with the latest and most innovative surgical techniques available.
Dr. Hopkins was born and raised in San Diego, California. He received his undergraduate education at UCLA, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology-physiology. He attended USC for medical school, graduating in 1994. He then completed an additional 6 years of training at USC, including one year of surgical internship, one year of general surgery residency, three years of urological residency, and a final year as chief resident of urology. He received extensive experience in urologic oncology and urinary tract reconstruction using intestinal segments in patients undergoing bladder removal due to bladder cancer.
In addition to his busy clinical schedule, Dr. Hopkins has been active with many leadership positions at the John Muir Medical Centers, including serving as chief of urology, chairman of surgery, and serving on the robotics steering committee as both a member and an advisor. He is also a member of the John Muir Cancer Committee and served as co-chairman of the Program in Urology from 2010 – 2016. Dr. Hopkins is a member of the American Urological Association, the American Urogynecologic Society, the American Association of Clinical Urologists, the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, Society of Robotic Urologic Surgery, the California Medical Association and the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association.
Dr. Hopkins enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, playing golf, skiing, and spending time at the beach in San Diego.
Meet Dr. Hopkins and learn more about his approach to patient care:
Dr. Hopkins was featured on NBC Bay Area for treating patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) with a procedure called Urolift.
Dr. Audrey "Lisa" Arzamendi is double board-certified in internal medicine and endocrinology. Since 2012, she has specialized in diabetes, obesity and metabolism, thyroid disease (including Hashimoto's and Graves'), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and sex hormone disorders, adrenal and pituitary dysfunction, osteoporosis, parathyroid/calcium disorders, and thyroid and parathyroid nodules and cancers. She is highly trained in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the thyroid (99% diagnostic rate).
Dr. Arzamendi is committed to safe and established medical treatments, and prides herself on staying informed about emerging therapies and research-supported non-prescription options. She is experienced working with all forms of brand-name and generic thyroid medications, and as a type 1 diabetic herself, has first-hand knowledge of nearly all available prescription and technological diabetic treatments, to best support patients in selecting their optimal diabetes treatment regimens.
Dr. Arzamendi graduated with honors from Stanford University, with a BA in Human Biology and a concentration in Health & Human Performance. She attended UC San Diego School of Medicine (receiving a federal NIH National Cancer Institute fellowship), and completed her internal medicine residency at Kaiser Pemanente’s Santa Clara Medical Center. Her endocrinology training was completed at UC Davis Medical Center. She previously practiced in California's South Bay before relocating to open her practice in Walnut Creek in 2020. Dr. Arzamendi was a Stanford varsity athlete and still enjoys running, hiking, tennis, rowing, and other outdoor activities. She loves spending time with her husband and many pets, and looks forward to being your doctor!
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Internship: University of California, San Diego, Department of Surgery
Residency: Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of California Los Angeles
Fellowship: University of Pennsylvania, Department of Pharmacology
