Bio

Dr. Tabaka is a board-certified family medicine physician with a special focus in LGBTQ+ and underserved medicine. She is also a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Primary Care and Population Health of Stanford Department of Medicine. In this role, she splits her time between the Stanford Los Altos LGBTQ+ Primary Care Clinic and the MayView Community Clinic, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Mountain View, CA.

Dr. Tabaka provides expert, compassionate care personalized to each patient she serves. She is dedicated to meeting the health care needs of all of her patients including all members of the LGBTQ+ community and she welcomes patients of all ages and backgrounds to her practice.

Prior to her medical training, Dr. Tabaka completed her Masters in Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She went to complete medical school at Stanford University and completed residency at the Stanford O’Connor Family Medicine Residency Program in San Jose, CA.

Clinical Focus

  • Family Medicine

Academic Appointments

Professional Education

  • Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine, Family Medicine (2020)
  • MPH, University of Minnesota School of Public Health (2011)
  • Residency: Stanford O'Connor Family Medicine Residency (2020) CA
  • Medical Education: Stanford University School of Medicine (2017) CA

Contact

  • Academic
    University - Staff Department: Med/Primary Care and Population Health Position: Clinical Assistant Professor
  • Clinical (Primary)  Stanford Health Center at Los Altos 960 N San Antonio Rd Ste 100 Los Altos, CA 94022 (650) 736-6353 (fax)

Additional Clinical Info

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 5411

2023-24 Courses

All Publications

  • Predictors of infection from dog bite wounds: which patients may benefit from prophylactic antibiotics? Emergency medicine journal Tabaka, M. E., Quinn, J. V., Kohn, M. A., Polevoi, S. K. 2015; 32 (11): 860-863

    Abstract

    To determine a current infection rate of dog bite wounds and predictors of wounds at risk for infection that may benefit from prophylactic antibiotics.A prospective multicentre observational study was conducted over 4.5 years. At the time of treatment Emergency Physicians completed a structured data form evaluating patient, wound and treatment characteristics of patients with dog bite wounds. Patients were followed up at 30 days to assess for infection. Predictor variables were analysed with univariate analysis, using either χ(2), parametric or nonparametric methods where appropriate. Significant variables and those with important interactions on univariate analysis were considered in a logistic regression (LR) analysis.495 patients with dog bites were enrolled and 345 had complete follow-up. Eighteen patients (5.2%, 95% CI 3.1% to 8.1%) had bites that became infected. On univariate analysis, only puncture wounds were found to be significantly associated with infection RR 2.8 (95% CI 1.2 to 6.9). However, location and wound closure met criteria for entry into the model having important interactions; facial wounds had a higher risk of infection than anticipated but were also more likely to be closed (p < 0.0001). A LR model considering puncture wounds, wound closure and wound location found that puncture wounds (OR 4.1 [95% CI 1.4 to 11.7]) and wound closure (OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.03 to 9.0]) were independent predictors of infection. The incidence of infection in wounds that were not punctured or closed during treatment was only 2.6% (95% CI 0.7% to 6.5%).Puncture wounds or wounds closed during treatment are dog bite wounds at a high risk of infection and should be considered for treatment with prophylactic antibiotics.

    View details for DOI 10.1136/emermed-2014-204378

    View details for PubMedID 25634096

  • The evolutionarily conserved RNA binding protein SMOOTH is essential for maintaining normal muscle function FLY Draper, I., Tabaka, M. E., Jackson, F., Salomon, R. N., Kopin, A. S. 2009; 3 (4): 235–46

    Abstract

    The Drosophila smooth gene encodes an RNA binding protein that has been well conserved through evolution. To investigate the pleiotropic functions mediated by the smooth gene, we have selected and characterized two sm mutants, which are viable as adults yet display robust phenotypes (including a significant decrease in lifespan). Utilizing these mutants, we have made the novel observation that disruption of the smooth/CG9218 locus leads to age-dependent muscle degeneration, and motor dysfunction. Histological characterization of adult sm mutants revealed marked abnormalities in the major thoracic tubular muscle: the tergal depressor of the trochanter (TDT). Corresponding defects include extensive loss/disruption of striations and nuclei. These pathological changes are recapitulated in flies that express a smooth RNA interference construct (sm RNAi) in the mesoderm. In contrast, targeting sm RNAi constructs to motor neurons does not alter muscle morphology. In addition to examining the TDT phenotype, we explored whether other muscular abnormalities were evident. Utilizing physiological assays developed in the laboratory, we have found that the thoracic muscle defect is preceded by dysmotility of the gastrointestinal tract. SMOOTH thus joins a growing list of hnRNPs that have previously been linked to muscle physiology/pathophysiology. Our findings in Drosophila set the stage for investigating the role of the corresponding mammalian homolog, hnRNP L, in muscle function.

    View details for DOI 10.4161/fly.9517

    View details for Web of Science ID 000274650600002

    View details for PubMedID 19755840

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2796714