Male MDs, RN's in high heels: Kaiser Permanente walks against domestic violence

When he was done walking for charity in three -inch high-heels -- lemon-yellow -and-pink --- Dr. Efren Rosas, a surgeon and physician leader at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, had an unexpected insight.
“I don’t think I’d be able to perform a long surgery in these shoes,” he said.
Dr. Rosas, who wore multi-colored socks that clashed with his high heels, was among two dozen Kaiser Permanente men wobbling through San Jose’s Santana Row shopping center recently, all wearing cast-off high-heeled shoes to raise money for the local YWCA and to raise awareness about domestic violence in a campaign called “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes.”
“All of the walkers raised more than $45,000 for the Silicon Valley YWCA,” said Irene Chavez, Senior Vice President/Area Manager of the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center.
Susan Franzella, a YWCA board member and the Human Resources Leader for KP San Jose was delighted with the robust participation by Kaiser Permanente San Jose and Santa Clara men. A group of KP women were at the event for “support”.
“We didn’t wear heels, but we did wave a pom-pom to cheer on the men,” said Chavez.
Altogether, there were about a hundred men who walked about a mile around Santana Row, the upscale shopping complex in in San Jose. Some held signs saying they were walking for a friend, or a daughter to protect them from domestic violence. San Jose’s Mayor Sam Liccardo, the Chief of Police Larry Esquivel and other community leaders joined the walk.
The “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” campaign is a light-hearted way to bring focus on a serious issue, said Chavez.
Kaiser Permanente’s integrated and coordinated medical system aids in improving domestic violence screening, identification and intervention in the healthcare setting. Many KP staff also participate in events that raise awareness of domestic violence.
Dr. Raj Bhandari, Physician-In-C-hief at the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, walked the entire course in low-heeled slippers decorated with hearts. “I wanted to model comfortable footwear for women as high heels are not necessarily the best kind of shoes”.
Dr. Bhandari said “the YWCA ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ event is a great cause and women should feel safe in every environment.
Chris Boyd, who is the Senior Vice President and Area Manager of the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center nearby is a veteran of “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” events. Afterwards, he was pictured relaxing on a sofa wearing furry red mules, but still smiling.
Psychiatrist Dr. David Hensley of Kaiser Permanente San Jose also participated in the walk, wearing open-toed, strapped wedge sandals.
“Every day we treat victims of intimate partner violence in our clinic. The YWCA offers amazing programs to help victims reclaim their lives, I am proud to be a part of this,” Hensley said.