Steven Lazaro, M.D.
Dr. Steven Lazaro was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the metropolitan New York area. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in the humanities from Cornell University. He then attended the Medical School at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he received his Medical Doctor degree. He began his specialty training as an intern in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Emory University as well, before transferring the following year to the University of California, Davis to complete his residency there. He then established a private practice here in Chico in 1980 and has been providing specialty care for his patients since then.

With his background in humanities, Dr. Lazaro has always prided himself on his communication skills and sees himself in the role of an educator. It is important to him that his patients are well informed. What attracted him to this specialty is the variety of challenges he encounters regularly in both obstetrics and gynecology and the variety of choices, both medical and surgical, to meet those challenges. Although Dr. Lazaro is well versed and well experienced in all areas of women's health care, he is particularly interested in special challenges encountered with endocrinology and infertility. He enjoys the rewards associated with helping patients achieve success. As many of his long term patients are now reaching menopause, guiding them through this transition is becoming an additional focus of his practice. Above all, helping bring new life into the world has always been and continues to be a special source of joy for him.

Lindsey M. Cafferata., M.D.
Dr. Lindsey Cafferata was born at Enloe Hospital. Her education began at Hooker Oak Elementary School, continued at Chico Junior High and Chico High Schools. She earned her bachelor's degree at (you guessed it) California State University, Chico. At this point she decided to venture out into the world and headed for the east coast (almost). She attended medical school near Chicago at Rosalind Franklin University. As she puts it, "Four years of freezing winters made me more than ready to join the team at Kaiser Oakland. In addition to giving me the opportunity to return to California's more temperate weather and my family, Kaiser Oakland offered a great program with a wonderfully diverse patient population. I enjoy caring for women of all ages, and am especially interested in family planning and obstetrics."

"I knew from my very first kindergarten project, ' What I want to be when I grow up' that I wanted to be a doctor." When interviewing with Ob/Gyn Associates, Dr. Cafferata also disclosed she has always wanted to have a medical office on The Esplanade. It appears that her homecoming is working out in more ways than one.

Swimming has been a lifelong passion of Dr. Cafferata, including open water events such as the "Escape from Alcatraz" race. She has enjoyed biking and jogging on the many trails in the Oakland/Berkeley region and looks forward to returning to her hometown and being closer to her family and friends.

Walter Mazen Jr., M.D.
I am a native Chicoan. I was born in Chico at Enloe hospital. It is quite amusing and enjoyable to practice delivering babies where I was born. I really love this town. I see people going through the same schools that I attended, that my own children went through, and like myself graduate from California State University, Chico or "Chico State". I graduated from Chico State in 1974 with a Bachelors degree in biological Science. Then my love of biology led to a Masters degree in zoology at the University of California, Davis. I like the idea of applying the science of biology with the interactions with people. Medicine seemed like a perfect way to do this. For a change of scenery I went to Hahnemann Medical University in Philadelphia. The East coast was a real experience. It was a great place for a medical education. Since I am a Californian I wanted to get back home. I chose the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento for specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. UC Davis has a great program where the residents rotate the University hospital, a Kaiser facility, and a private hospital; Sutter Memorial. I feel I earned a well rounded education. I heard of the graduating class before me at UCD where Dr. Steven Lazaro also trained. Since he had moved to Chico he heard about me. He needed a new partner in 1984. I then joined Ob/Gyn Associates of Chico. We have been a successful three physician medical practice ever since. In my private life I have been very happy. I am married and have two grown children, a son and a daughter, both now in college.

I enjoy my medical practice. I feel that pregnancy is a healthy and normal time. It is a special time where a physician can evaluate and monitor a normal process and not just deal with diseases. Physicians can often make a big difference in the outcome of a pregnancy. It is a real joy to watch a couple grow into a family. In others areas of gynecology there is often more than one way to treat a problem. It is a fun challenge to tailor the treatment to the special situation at hand. Fortunately I have many tools at hand e.g. hormonal, medical, and surgical. I enjoy surgery. I feel especially well trained for the rigors of this surgical field. Overall I am an optimist and look on the positive side of life.

Karen Aronson, N.P.
I grew up in Walnut Creek, California and moved to chico to attend California State University Chico where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1976. I fell in love with Chico and have lived here ever since. I've worked as a registered nurse in many fields including neonatal intensive care, obstetrics, medical surgical, and intensive care before I returned to school to further my education. I received my certificates as a Nurse Practitioner in Women's Health and as a Certified Nurse Midwife from San Jose State University in 1997 and 1998. I then went into private practice and helped to form "Chico Nurse Midwives" where I worked as a certified nurse midwife for over seven years doing women's health and delivering babies at Enloe Hospital.

I am now practicing as a Nurse Practitioner in Women's Health OB/GYN. I love the work I do and have always enjoyed my profession. What I bring to this profession is a willingness to listen and problem solve, kindness and empathy, enthusiasm about health and well being, and genuine caring for those I see in my practice.

I enjoy spending time with our grown children and a large extended family who bring a lot of joy to my life. I also love gardening, quilting, hiking, and going to a "getaway" cottage in Dunsmuir, California. In the future, I hope to work for the humanitarian effort in Africa in a medical capacity.

Camille Panighetti, N.P.
Camille Panighetti received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from San Jose State University in 1972. She worked as a registered nurse in ICU/CCU at Santa Clara Valley Medical for 2 years before moving with her husband to Chico in 1974. For the next 6 years she worked at Enloe Hospital in ICU/CCU and the emergency department and then for 9 years in labor and delivery. In 1989 she received her Certification as a Nurse-Midwife and Nurse Practitioner from San Jose State University. Since that time she has had an active practice including well women gynecological and obstetrical care and has attended over 1600 births at Enloe Hospital. At this time in her life she has decided to stop attending births but will continue to provide well women gynecological care and office obstetrical care. Camille and her husband Gary, also and RN, have been married 33 years and they have 4 grown children - Matthew, Anna, Gina, and Laura. She enjoys reading, traveling, canning from the garden, and all outdoor activities, especially swimming.

Susan Kehm , M.D. (Retired)
Dr. Kehm began her premedical education at Rice University, graduating with a BA in 1969. She then attended Baylor Medical School, graduating with her MD in 1974. Post graduate work included internship at LA County USC Medical School and residency at Baylor College of medicine specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology, finishing in 1978.She was certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1982 She worked as an Associate at MacGregor Clinic Multispeciality Group in Houston Texas before joining Ob/Gyn associates in Chico in 1981.

Dr. Kehm is married and has raised two daughters, both now attending post graduate educations. She loves to cook and explore gourmet recipes that she shares with friends and coworkers. She and her husband are looking forward to lots of travel during retirement.