East Bay Pediatrics History

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written by Dr. William Rhea

Our practice has roots going back to Dr. Hubert Long, the first pediatrician to open a pediatric office in Berkeley. From the 1940’s to the 1970’s, he was active in leadership roles at both Children’s Hospital Oakland and Alta Bates Hospital, and was revered by colleagues and patients. In 1958, Dr. Long brought in Dr. Thomas Cock, who had completed his pediatric training at Children’s Hospital. After six years, Dr. Cock opened up an office of his own, and invited Dr. William Rhea, then a graduating chief resident at Children’s Hospital, to join him. Their practice was located at 3000 Colby Street, across from Alta Bates Hospital. In 1968, Dr. Cock relocated to Seattle, Washington, leaving the practice to Dr. Rhea.

The practice as it is today began in 1972, when Dr. Samuel Lewis, a Berkeley native, joined Dr. Rhea after completing his pediatric training in Texas. He remained with our office until 2001. In 1975, Dr. Richard Oken combined his busy Montclair practice with Dr. Rhea and Dr. Lewis’s practice, forming East Bay Pediatrics. In 1978, Dr. Myles Abbott came to the group after training at U.C. San Francisco. The practice has grown large enough at this point that more space was needed, and so the office relocated to the current Berkeley location at 2999 Regent Street, in 1976.

The 1980’s was a time of expansion, both in terms of the number of physicians and the office space. The Orinda office was opened in 1982, to accommodate the growing population east of the Caldecott Tunnel. Dr. Mary Jones joined in 1982, after relocating with her family from Galveston, Texas, to Berkeley. Dr. Marcia Charles-Mo was well known to the practice from her residency training at Children’s Hospital Oakland and was welcomed into the group in 1984. Dr. Dorit Bar-Din also came to us from Children’s Hospital and was a part-time associate from 1987 to 2006. Dr. Elizabeth Moffitt worked as a part-time associate as well, from 1992 until 2001.

Entering the 21st century, East Bay Pediatrics has turned a corner, adding five younger pediatricians who reflect the commitment to community, excellent medical care and the well-being of children established by the more senior members of the practice. Dr. Sarah Cahn Handelsman, an East Bay native, joined the practice in 2000, after completing her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital in Seattle. Dr. Tracy Evans-Ramsey was also raised in the East Bay and did her pediatric training at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland. She joined the group in 2001. Dr. Julie Damon completed pediatric training at the University of Massachusetts. She became a member of East Bay Pediatrics in 2003. Dr. Christina Vo joined our practice in 2005 after completing her residency at Oakland Children’s Hospital. Dr. Jennifer Miller came into the practice in 2006, also from Oakland Children’s, where she did her residency and worked in the Adolescent Medicine Division.

Dr. Rhea officially retired in 2004 from East Bay Pediatrics, but he generally spends a day or two a month in our office seeing patients. He also remains active in the teaching of residents at Oakland Children's Hospital.

East Bay Pediatrics looks forward to many great years ahead serving our patients and their families.