North Bay Woman

36 NORTH BAY WOMAN | F A L L 2 0 1 5 You could describe Dr. Leah Kelley by her credentials: Yale gradu- ate; board certified in obstetrics and gynecology; medical director of the Breast Oncology Program at Marin General Hospital (MGH). Or, you could describe Dr. Leah Kelley by her personal attributes: six-feet tall and athletic. Or you could describe her by her accomplishments: fluent in three languages; chief resident in obstetrics and gynecology during her time at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF); complet- ed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of Southern California (USC); honored as 2015 Healing Professional by Zero Breast Cancer at its annual Honor Thy Healer awards. You could describe her in those ways, yes. But Kelley's patients describe her simply as healer — not doctor or surgeon or physician, but healer. "Doctors treat disease," said Jeffery DalPoggetto, board member of Zero Breast Cancer (ZBC). "But Dr. Kelley takes care of healing the per- son." DalPoggetto, who was prompted to serve on the board of ZBC by his mother's death from breast cancer, had met Kelley a few times at social events. But then a close friend, a 96-year-old woman who was like a second mother to him, was referred by her primary physician, Dr. Elizabeth Seaman, to specialist Kelley. The diagnosis was breast cancer. DalPoggetto accompanied his friend to appointments and was at her side when Dr. Kelley had to break the news that given her age and risk factors, surgery wasn't an option. Over the next few months, he watched how Kelley interacted with his friend. "I saw compassion," he said "I saw exper- tise. I saw humor." He speaks with deep respect of Kelley, who he says makes a powerful impression and might appear to someone as intimidating because of her height. "But when you speak to her, she's this down-to-earth person." His was just one of many nominations supporting Kelley as the recipient of ZBC's 2015 Healing Professional award. When she was chosen, DalPogetto was moved and asked to have the privilege of By Jane Lott Honoring Healer the Above: Dr. Leah Kelley looking at a radiation treatment simulator at Marin General Hospital. Below: Dr. Kelley and Dr. Robert Wirth in the mammography read- ing room. Photo on next page: Dr. Leah Kelley after jogging in Larkspur. – Photos by Stuart Lirette.

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