Adventist Health Ukiah Valley welcomes new General Surgeon and Trauma Medical Director
Adventist Health Ukiah Valley welcomes another physician joining its care team, bringing more expertise and access to care to our community. Dr. Joanne Leibe, general surgeon, is joining their team of surgeons in the General Surgery clinic located at 246 Hospital Drive in Ukiah.
Dr. Leibe comes from Indiana but has roots in Northern California. She grew up in Oakland, earning her medical degree and master's in public health from Touro University. She went on to complete her general surgery residency at St. Anthony Hospital in Denver, Colorado and has spent the last three years caring for patients and providing elective, acute and trauma surgery in Memorial Hospital and Health Center in Jasper, IN.
While she loved her time away from home, when it was time to plant roots, she chose Mendocino County for its beauty and the small-town family- oriented feel. “My husband asked me, if the sky was the limit, where I would pick to settle down and retire. And one place came to mind — Mendocino County. I had fond memories of driving through Ukiah, seeing all the redwoods, taking day trips and spending time on the on the coast. This was my happy place.”
A few weeks later, a physician who received training from another local surgeon, Dr. Hanna as a medical student, told them about an opportunity in Ukiah. “It felt like serendipity. Like everything was falling into place, and
it was meant to be.”
More than the beautiful landscape, and the opportunity to be closer to family, Dr. Leibe is most excited about the people and the feeling of community. “I love the small-town feel, of everyone knowing everybody. I'm looking forward to seeing my patients in the clinic and then seeing them at the grocery store. It's that kind of connection that I like, of truly getting to know the patients that you're caring for and knowing that you've made an impact for them.”
She's also looking forward to joining a team of surgeons who care deeply about the community and the focus on teamwork and mentorship. “It's not very often that you join a practice where there's a sense of collaboration. Surgery is a team sport. We can provide better care and better experience when we work together. I like being able to hear other perspectives because we all bring different experiences and expertise. I'm looking forward to working with Drs. Ziad Hanna, Gerson Araujo,
Kathleen Persky, and Randall Schafer in bringing the best possible care for our patients.”
Dr. Leibe will be seeing patients in the general surgery medical office and performing procedures at the hospital. She will also serve as the hospital's Trauma Medical Director, helping lead the effort towards the hospital's Level III accreditation for the Emergency Department.
As a general surgeon, Dr. Leibe provides trauma and acute care surgery and sees patients for conditions such as hernias, colonoscopies, upper endoscopies, colon surgery, breast surgery, melanoma, and benign and malignant diseases of the small and large bowel. She speaks English and Spanish, allowing her to serve our diverse population.
Dr. Leibe was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare, having grown up with parents who were both nurses. She remembers specifically the moment when she knew she will become a physician. “My father, who was a nurse in the ICU brought me to me hospital, during `Bring your child to work day' and I saw nurses helping a trauma patient. I knew I wanted to be part of that someday.”
Today, she loves the curative intent of surgery. She is also passionate about providing access to care to rural communities and has a special interest in robotic surgery and trauma. “General surgery is very rewarding in the sense that a procedure is often curative of the patient's suffering. The ability to improve their quality of life is what drives me.”
“Dr. Leibe is a great addition to our exceptional team of providers. Her expertise and passion for providing access to care to our rural community are much needed. We could not have found a better physician to join our team and this community. I'm also excited to see her lead our efforts towards Level III designation, which will allow us to care for more trauma patients locally,” shares Dave Leighton, administrator for Ukiah Valley.
In her free time, Dr. Leibe loves sculpting, painting, and hiking; she is excited to explore and get to know her community. “I look forward to building relationships and helping our patients so they can have fuller and healthier lives,” she adds.
Dr. Leibe is now welcoming new patients at 246 Hospital Drive in Ukiah. Patients can call 707- 4638011 to learn more about getting a referral and making an appointment. To learn more about Dr. Leibe, visit AdventistHealth.org/ jleibe