Health Care: Camino Division

Treating our community as an extended family

CMG -- Mary & Mark Belinsky

Over the last two decades, the Belinsky family has found the care they needed in multiple medical departments of Camino Medical Group (CMG). This story of one family's myriad encounters with CMG physicians exemplifies how CMG fulfills its mission as a family-focused provider of community care.

In 1982, after moving to Cupertino from Boston, where he and Mary met, Mark Belinsky relied on the Sunnyvale Medical Clinic -- later renamed the Camino Medical Group -- for all his health care needs. Seven years later, a week before he and Mary were to travel back to Boston to be married, Mary came down with the flu. Thus, her first contact with CMG. "When I met Dr. Elizabeth Vilardo, I knew right away I was in the right place," Mary recalled. "She reassured me that the flu would pass -- which it did -- and I was fine by my wedding day."

Over the first few years of their marriage, the Belinskys extended their ties to CMG when obstetrician Catherine Hill delivered both their daughters. Mary remembered the birth of her first child: "I went into labor on Friday morning of Labor Day weekend. On Saturday Dr. Hill was still there, and she was there for the delivery -- on a holiday weekend! I was very impressed."

Dr. Hill referred the Belinskys to Dr. Criss Morikawa, then a new pediatrician on staff and now chairman of the CMG board. "I will never forget the day I met him," recalled Mary. "My tiny daughter was just 2 weeks old, and Dr. Morikawa held her in the palm of his hand, stroking her back as we talked."

The Belinskys place great value on continuity of care. "I'm a very family-oriented person, and I want someone who knows my children from birth," Mary said. Dr. Morikawa concurred. "As families come to know us, the communication we share creates trust, which is vital to the doctor-patient relationship."

CMG physicians have provided care for both Belinsky girls since birth. When Ellen suffered an eye injury in the midst of her gymnastics competition season, CMG ophthalmologist Yichieh Shiuey cared for her. When daughter Kirsten had a blocked tear duct, she was treated by CMG's Dr. Carol Winton. It is a continuing story that grows as they do.

Dr. Morikawa pointed out that CMG needs community support to continue providing its increasingly rare level of personalized care. "As physicians leave the area and older doctors retire, patients have fewer options," he said. "CMG is growing to fill the gaps in services, but we must have better facilities and equipment. Philanthropy is key to this."

In 2001, inspired by the care provided to their family, Mary and Mark Belinsky made a Tribute Gift in Dr. Morikawa's name to the Camino Division of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. "Camino Medical Group has always been there for our family, and it was a great opportunity to give something back," said Mark. Mary agreed. "Camino has managed to recruit and retain excellent doctors in an era when it is very difficult to do so," she said. "We need to keep these doctors in our community, but we just won't get the level of services we need without private funds."
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