Kaiser Permanente Napa Solano has named Christopher Walker its new physician-in-chief. He will help guide and oversee the physicians, clinical operations and staff serving patients and members in the area, Kaiser officials announced Friday.
Walker, a family medicine physician, will oversee the more than 650 doctors, as well as clinical staff caring for members and patients in the region. He is replacing Steven Stricker, a cardiologist who served as physician-in-chief for more than 20 years, they said.
Walker is said to be “passionate about providing patients with health care services of the highest quality, encouraging healthy lifestyles and preventive care practices in patients, and contributing to the communities that Kaiser Permanente serves,” according to the announcement. “He values physician, staff, patient and community collaboration.”
A Southern California native and current Vacaville resident, Walker graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara before joining the United States Air Force to pursue his medical degree, the announcement notes.
He completed medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Science in Bethesda, Maryland and completed his residency in Family Medicine at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base.
Following his residency, he was stationed with the Air Force in Okinawa, Japan where he practiced family medicine and supervised a small clinic on a base.
“Upon his discharge from the Air Force in 2008, and having established roots in Solano County, Dr. Walker joined Kaiser Permanente as an Adult and Family Medicine physician at the Vacaville Medical Center campus,” officials said. “He was named Chief of Adult and Family Medicine in 2011.
In addition to his role as Chief of Adult and Family Medicine in Vacaville, he has served as the Chair of the Chiefs of Adult and Family Medicine for Kaiser Permanente in the Northern California region for the past three years.”
