Providence

Dr. Mari Kai believes a physician should be a trusted partner in improving the quality of life for each patient. She enjoys the challenge of figuring out what diagnosis the patient has and finding the best possible treatment plan to fit that specific patients needs.

In her practice, she emphasizes individualized care. “I don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach,” she says.  “I think each person is unique and needs a personalized care plan.”

Dr. Kai received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She completed her internship at Oregon Health & Science University. In addition, she completed a fellowship in internal medicine at Portland VAMC.

Dr. Kai is married and has two children. Away from the office she enjoys cycling, hiking and skiing.

Personal Statement: The greatest part of being a faculty member at PPMC is being able to tackle new challenges each year and to contribute to some amazing innovations of the residency curriculum. It’s been enjoyable be the Medical Director of PMG-Northeast and to continue the tradition of providing quality care to patients and an outstanding education to residents.

Area of Academic Focus:

• Director of the PMG-Northeast ambulatory block rotation
• Director of the Women's Health rotation and curriculum
• Faculty for Women's Health Advanced Focus track
• Faculty for the Evidence-Based Medicine curriculum
• Geriatric rotation liaison

Recent Presentations:

• Medical Grand Rounds, PPMC June 10, 2009, "Prevention in the Elderly"
• Poster presentation with Dr. Jennifer Kearsley, "Is Sulfa the New Great Mimic? A case of Hypersensitivity Myocarditis". National Society of General Medicine meeting, Miami, Florida, May 2009.
• Medical Grand Rounds, Providence Portland Medical Center, Sept 27, 2006; "Updates in Women's Health"
• Clinical Vignette Poster Presentation with Dr. Christy Risinger, "Doc, I Have Pain All Over!  A Case of Vitamin D. Definciency" presented at 2005 National Society of General Internal Medicine Meeting in New Orleans, LA
• Medical Innovation Abstract Oral Presentation, "Improving the Residency Continuity Clinic with Teamwork" at the 2005 Northwest Regional SGIM Meeting in Vancouver, WA
• Workshop presentation at 2004 Northwest Regional Society of General Internal Medicine Meeting with Drs. Michelle Guitteau and Meera Jain:  "US Preventative Services Guidelines:  How to Apply Them to Teaching and Clinical Practice"
• Workshop presentation at the 2003 Northwest Regional society of General Internal Medicine Meeting with Dr. Rick Cohen, "Critical Incidents", Portland, OR
• Spring Symposium:  April 2003, "Cervical Cancer Screening"
• Medical Grand Rounds, Providence Portland Medical Center April 2, 2003:  "Cervical Cancer Screening:  Current Insights and Updates"
• Spring Symposium:  April 2001, "Evidence-BasedMedicine Workshop-How to Appraise an Article about Therapy" with Dr. Sylvia Gibson
• Medical Grand rounds, Providence Portland Medical Center March 15, 2000: 
  "Medical Genetics for the Primary Care Physician"

Internal Presentations (Resident Noon Conference Topics):

• Office-Based Opioid Addiction Therapy with Buprenorphine
• Delirium
• ABCDs of Medicare
• Evidence-Based Approach to Atrial Fibrillation
• Secondary Stroke Prevention
• How to Read an "Overview"
• How to Read an Article About "Harm"
• How to Read an Article About "Therapy"
• How to Read an Article About "Diagnosis"
• Cervical Cancer Screening
• All You Wanted to Know About BNP
• Evaluation of Falls
• A Bayesian Approach to a diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolus
• Rational Clinical Exam
  • Does This Patient Have Osteoporosis?
  • Is This Woman Perimenopausal?
  • Does This Dyspneic Patient in the Emergency Room Have Heart Failure?
• Overview of the PACE Clinic: Caring for the Underserved
• Drug-drug Interactions in Primary Care
• Pharmaceutical Companies and Physician Relationships
• Examination of the Shoulder
• Urinary Incontinence

Teaching Responsibilities:

• Precepting two half-days in the PMG-Northeast clinic
• Two months of inpatient attending for the teaching service
• Teach critical appraisal skills during the EBM rotation
• Meet with residents on Women's Health rotation to go over topics
• Ambulatory pre-clinic didactics with the PMG-Northeast Block residents twice a week
• Morning Report facilitator

National/Regional Responsibilities:

• Patient-Centered Medical Home Workgroup, Society of General Internal Medicine (current)
• Co-chair Society of General Internal Medicine Women’s Caucus 2005-2006.
• Regional office, SGIM NW Region – 2007 President/Meeting Chair, regional officer 2006-2008
• Journal of General Internal Medicine Reviewer

Personal Interests:
Hiking, cycling, reading, cooking, eating good food, travel, and spending time with my husband, son and daughter.