New Doctor Emphasizes Prevention as the ‘Cornerstone of Medical Care’

Washington Township Medical Foundation (WTMF) Welcomes New Physician

Jaya Kediyal, DO, says she always wanted to be a health care professional. “I was born and raised in Delhi, India, into a family of physicians that had been there for three generations,” Dr. Kediyal explains. “I still have a lot of extended family in Delhi, but I came to the United States at age 24 after earning my degree in India as a physical therapist. I wanted to help people who were in pain.”

After several months as a staff physical therapist at a skilled nursing facility in Boca Raton, Florida, Dr. Kediyal moved to North Carolina, where she worked in outpatient physical therapy in Raleigh, before moving up to become a staff physical therapist in inpatient rehabilitation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for five years. She then decided to return to Raleigh to pursue post-graduate education in pre-medicine at North Carolina State University.

“I enjoyed my work in physical therapy, but I wanted to learn more and find new challenges,” she recalls. “After completing my pre-med studies, I was accepted into the Doctor of Osteopathy program at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. I chose the field of osteopathy because it takes a ‘whole person’ approach to medicine that involves the patient’s mind, body and spirit, rather than just treating specific symptoms. Doctors of osteopathy take a broader perspective and consider how each of the body's systems affect the others.”

Following receipt of her DO degree, Dr. Kediyal completed a traditional one-year rotating internship at College Medical Center in Long Beach, California, followed by a two-year residency in family medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. She then joined Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Fremont Center as a family medicine physician, serving there for five years before joining Washington Township Medical Center earlier this month.

“I believe that caring for patients requires a partnership between the patient and the physician, and that prevention is the cornerstone of care,” Dr. Kediyal states. “I stress the importance of regular exams and screenings, and I note that many of the health conditions we are seeing these days are related to stress and how it contributes to chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

“I try to teach my patients how to deal with mental stress to improve their overall health,” she adds. “For example, adults who engage in sports and outdoor activities are better able to improve their mental and physical well-being. Being outdoors in nature improves resilience. We need to teach the younger generation how to deal with stress.”

Dr. Kediyal follows her own advice about the importance of physical activity in maintaining good health. A state-level championship swimmer while growing up in India, she continues to swim frequently and also enjoys hiking, gardening and meditation. Her 10-year-old son is also a competitive swimmer, and they often swim together.

She also continues her involvement in medical education, currently serving as a volunteer assistant professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo. She is fluent in both Hindi and English, and continues to improve her language abilities in Spanish.

“In my medical practice, I want to help patients reach their health goals and to understand the connections between mental and physical health,” Dr. Kediyal says. “In addition to general family medicine services, I also enjoy providing women’s health care such as well-woman exams, contraception and breast health guidance, as well as services for older women’s health concerns, including osteoporosis and menopause. The field of osteopathy also involves sports medicine and manipulation treatments for musculoskeletal injuries.”

As a resident of Fremont for several years, Dr. Kediyal says she was eager to join WTMF. “I love the Fremont area and the people here,” she explains. “I think Washington Hospital and the Washington Township Medical Foundation are very well integrated with the community. It’s a great privilege for me to care for people in my own community.”

To learn more about Dr. Kediyal, visit https://www.mywtmf.com/find-a-doctor/jaya-kediyal-do/