Jonathan M. Flanzbaum, M.D.

After almost 30 years in practice, my "philosophy" remains somewhat fluid in keeping with new learning and with the changing world. However, some things remain constant. With infants, I do believe that vaccines are both necessary to protect each child as well as being a social obligation. Toddlers should be able to play and learn to interact with other children. They do not need to be "taught" at this age. I think that early childhood is short, and that it is more important for a child to learn social skills and the value of play than to learn how to read and write before kindergarten. School age children should be allowed to grow in their own way, and each child should be able to explore the interests that he or she is drawn to. I believe that arts, music and sports are as vital to a child's growth and development as academics. I do not think a teenager should ever feel the pressure to give up a sport or music for the sake of one more AP class. While I do understand the importance of a strong academic record, I find that it is equally important for children to be well rounded, with varied interests and experiences. The amount of stress our children are under today is immense and it is my job as a pediatrician and your job as a parent to recognize this and help our children find pathways to a more settled presence. I value exercise. One cannot have a healthy mind without a healthy body. Nor can one have a healthy body without a healthy mind. Balance is key and this starts at an early age. I believe my job as a pediatrician is not raise or parent your children, but to guide you with my experience and knowledge on the various ways you may choose to rear your children.

My wife and I have been Pleasanton residents since 1990 and I have been an active member of my community. I have worked closely with the local high schools participating in the sports medicine program, being a sideline physician and consulting with the local trainers. I have also been active in the Beth Emek synagogue, being on the board of directors three times. In addition, I danced with the School of the Valley Dance Theater in Livermore with my daughter for six years, even playing the part of Drosselmeyer on stage in the Nutcracker. I sat on the original board for the Valley Children's Museum when this was just a project in it's infancy. While my children were in middle and high school, I chaperoned many of the band trips, volunteering my pediatric skills for any student who needed them. My children are now grown, and are successful adults in the fields in which they were educated. While many of my community interests started with them, I have maintained my activities and my involvement in many of them. I care about this community and have devoted a great deal of my energy to it and want to be a part of it for my entire life. My wife works as a speech language pathologist in the Dublin Unified School District and she also coaches the Cottonwood Creek Cross Country team.

I am an avid reader, and also enjoy skiing during the winter, running (before my knee replacement), and have now taken on open water swimming as a way to relax. I have done two half iron man triathlons since my knee replacement, and had run 6 marathons, multiple half marathons and many shorter races before this. I exercise daily, and enjoy road biking, swimming, hiking and fishing. In addition, I am quite the foodie, both in being a home chef as well as a discriminating diner. I am also a Jazz aficionado as well as enjoying marching band!!