Connection to Purpose: New Physician Joins Adventist Health Ukiah Valley

We are excited to welcome another new physician to care for our community. Eric Bauer, MD joins Dr. Jeremy Clay and our Family Medicine and LiveWell team at 1050 North State Street in Ukiah.

Dr. Bauer grew up in Wrightstown Wisconsin, a rural farming community with a population of around 3,000. That’s why when he was finished with his residency and it was time to choose a community to practice, he knew exactly where he wanted to be. Ukiah checks all the boxes of what he was looking for --closer to family, community-oriented, offers many outdoor activities, a small-town feel, and similar to what he’s used to. “I grew up in a farming community, so this feels more like home, but with much better weather,” he smiles.

But the most important consideration was about mission and focus on community health. “Adventist Health Ukiah Valley’s focus on whole-person health and truly addressing the root causes of chronic disease, spoke to me. So, when I heard from Dr. Clay about this place, I was sold. I’ve seen how so many people are burdened by chronic diseases that are preventable and it is tragic to see them suffer. When someone has diabetes or heart disease, it impacts not just the patients but also their families. I wanted to help people in communities live healthier by making lifestyle changes, that have long-term impacts, and get to the source of the disease,” he explains.

He was always inspired to pursue a career caring for others for as long as he can remember. He watched his mother, throughout his growing years, caring for others as a family physician. “She was basically the town physician. Everyone knew her, everyone came to her for care. It was very inspiring and to see the value and satisfaction she got from helping people. I knew I wanted to follow her example.”

Before coming to Mendocino County, Dr. Bauer completed a combined residency program in the fields of Family Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine and a master’s in public health from Loma Linda University. He chose this unique program because of a desire to improve the health of his patients and to elevate the health of the community he lives in.

As a family medicine physician, Dr. Bauer brings expertise in treating chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety, and medication management. As part of our Live Well program, Dr. Bauer also joins a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, nutritionists and physical therapists who will work with patients to help them make lifestyle changes with lasting impacts. The Live Well program is a 16-week course, created in alignment with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) designed to empower patients to truly change their health. Lifestyle medicine-certified clinicians are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle change to treat and, when used intensively, often reverse such conditions.

Dr. Bauer’s philosophy of care is centered around partnering with his patients. “I want to work with them and give them all the information they need so we can make shared decisions about their health based on their own goals. So instead of the traditional view of doing things 'to them', we’re going to empower patients to take ownership of their health and what they want to achieve. I tell my patients that they don’t have to suffer from the same diseases their parents or community suffer from, and that they are capable of achieving a high level of health and our team here will help them achieve that. Using motivational interviewing to empower patients can be very powerful and it provides a greater sense of meaning for me as their clinician.”

When he is not caring for patients, Dr. Bauer loves spending time outdoors and being active, with his wife and two dogs, Luna, a Mountain Cur hound mix and Obi, a boxer pit-bull mix. They are excited for this adventure and exploring everything that the community has to offer.

Dr. Bauer is now welcoming patients at our Family Medicine clinic located at 1050 North State Street in Ukiah. To make an appointment, call (707) 467-4327. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Bauer to our wonderful community!