Serving Children and Families Throughout Silicon Valley
Caring for Children, Understanding Families
Pediatric care shaped by listening, understanding, and lasting relationships.
Welcome.
Whether you're meeting me for the first time or returning from my years in Los Gatos, thank you for taking the time to visit.
After many years in private practice, I am grateful to continue caring for children and families as part of Almaden Pediatrics.
Meet Dr. Lum
I chose pediatrics because I enjoy working with children and teaching, and I have always been fascinated by how the human body works; pediatrics allows me to combine all of these interests every day.
When I began my career, I focused on giving families the best medical advice I could, but over time I came to appreciate that understanding each child and family is just as important as understanding the medical literature.
Every child is unique, every family is different, and the best care comes from applying medical knowledge in a way that fits each child and family.
What I’ve Learned
One of the joys of pediatrics is seeing the world through a child’s eyes. Children often place great importance on things that adults might overlook, such as the flavor of a medicine, the sticker they receive, or staying up past the usual bedtime. Those details may seem small, but they matter to children, and they remind me that caring for a child means understanding the child’s perspective, not just the illness.
Parents have taught me that being a good parent is very hard work. There is no owner’s manual for raising a child, and every family has its own circumstances, priorities, and challenges. I’ve learned to listen carefully, respect what parents know about their children, and help them make informed decisions that fit their lives.
Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned came from outside the traditional medical setting. In 2002, I traveled on a medical mission to one of the poorest neighborhoods in Nairobi, Kenya. I arrived with the training and tools of a modern physician, but I quickly realized how limited those tools could be when the fundamental needs of a child were clean water, adequate food, and clean air.
That experience stayed with me. It reminded me that health is shaped by so much more than what happens in a doctor’s office. Medicine can treat illness, but sometimes the most important things we can do for a child are to listen, understand their circumstances, and recognize what they truly need.
I learned a similar lesson in a particularly personal way when one of my own children struggled with feeding. The best available guidance didn’t work well for our situation. Experiencing that as a parent gave me an even greater appreciation for how difficult it can be when something that is supposed to help simply doesn’t work for your child.
Most of all, I’ve learned that children are people first and patients second. I hope every child who visits my office feels listened to, understood, and treated as an individual — and that every parent feels that we are working together to help their child thrive.
Professional Background
I received my undergraduate education at the University of California, Berkeley, followed by medical school at the University of California, San Diego.
After completing my pediatric residency and serving as Chief Resident at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, I established my private pediatric practice in Los Gatos, where I cared for children and families for nearly three decades.
I have served as Department Chair at Los Gatos Community Hospital (now El Camino Hospital, Los Gatos) and as a Member at Large of the Medical Executive Committee. I also served as a member of the Pediatric Peer Review Committee and as a Medical Consultant for the Medical Board of California.
In 2025, I joined Almaden Pediatrics, where I continue to care for children and families while working alongside physicians who share my commitment to relationship-centered pediatric care.
Looking Back
Looking back, I remain grateful for the opportunity to practice pediatrics.
I hope families remember that I always worked to the best of my ability on behalf of their child, and that there are people who will go out of their way to help others.
Caring for children and their families has been one of the great privileges of my life, and I continue to learn something new from them every day.
Contact
New Families
If you are meeting me for the first time, I hope this website gives you a sense of how I approach caring for children and working with families.
If you are looking for information about appointments, insurance, office policies, or other aspects of care, the Almaden Pediatrics website is the best place to start.
Almaden Pediatrics
6489 Camden Avenue, Suite 102
San Jose, CA 95120
Phone:
408-268-1122
Email:
almadenpediatrics@gmail.com
For appointments, office questions, and other practice information, please visit Almaden Pediatrics.