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Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD

Accepting New Patients
(Dr. Christine Thorburn, MD)
Specializes in: Adult Rheumatology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Professional interests include: Sjogren's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, heartburn, and more.
795 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD is a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA specializing in adult rheumatology. She graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD is affiliated with Sutter Health.

View Doctor's Full Profile (650) 853-2275

Office Locations

Sutter Health

301 Industrial Road
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 596-4060
open_in_new

Sutter Health

795 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 853-2275
open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD can help you with:

Autoimmune Diseases

An autoimmune disorder happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks the tissues of its own body, causing symptoms of illness. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders. While some are very rare, others are fairly common. Combined, autoimmune disorders are one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, affecting approximately 24 million people.

A properly working immune system identifies foreign substances in the body that might cause illness, such as bacteria and viruses. The immune system then creates antibodies which attack the foreign substances, neutralizing them and keeping the body safe. In people with autoimmune disorders, something goes wrong with this process. For reasons that are not fully understand, the immune system creates antibodies to attack the patient's own tissues.

Symptoms of an autoimmune disorder depend on which tissue is being attacked by the immune system, but common symptoms of autoimmune disease include fever, fatigue, and a general feeling of just not being well. Autoimmune disorders are more common in women than in men, and they may run in families. Autoimmune disorders can affect various parts of the body such as blood vessels, connective tissue, endocrine glands, joints, muscles, red blood cells, skin, and many others.

It is common to have more than one autoimmune disorder at a time. Most are chronic, or life-long illnesses, although they may come and go in flares. Treatment for autoimmune disorders depends on which part of the body is being attacked. For example:

  • A type 1 diabetic whose pancreas has been damaged will need insulin.
  • A person with Hashimoto's whose thyroid has been damaged will need replacement thyroid hormones.
  • Someone with Sjogren's syndrome will need eye drops and mouth rinses to replace tears and saliva.

Many autoimmune disorders of all kinds are treated with immune-suppressing medications, such as corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone) to reduce the effect of the immune system.

Skin Issues

The skin is the largest organ in the body, protecting and covering the more sensitive inner organs. Considering its size and that it is constantly exposed to the elements, the skin is usually relatively problem-free. However that doesn't mean that issues don't come up from time to time that might need the help of a professional. The most common skin issues that people seek medical help with are cosmetic issues, acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and skin growths.

Professional cosmetic skin treatments exist to treat wrinkles, scars, dark spots, remove excess hair, tone and tighten skin, and otherwise improve the appearance of the skin. They may use lasers, light therapy, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or many other forms of skin treatment.

Acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, most commonly on the face or back. The clogged follicles can then become infected and inflamed. Treatments include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and retinoid creams.

Eczema is dry, sensitive skin that causes an itchy red rash, often in response to specific triggers. It is common in childhood but can sometimes last into adulthood. The main treatment involves keeping skin well moisturized.

Dermatitis is the medical name for any kind of skin inflammation or rash. Rashes can happen because of an allergy or contact with an irritating substance. They may be red, itchy, or even painful. They are often treated with antihistamines or moisturizing creams containing cortisone.

Psoriasis is patches of thick, red skin that is covered in silvery scales. It is often itchy and sore. Psoriasis is thought to be caused by an immune disorder, and it runs in families. Psoriasis is not contagious. There is no cure, but there are medicated creams available to treat the symptoms.

Skin growths, including warts and moles, are usually not serious. However, some skin growths should be examined by a doctor to make sure they don't cause problems in the future. Warts are harmless, rough, bumpy growths caused by a viral infection. They occur most often on the hands and feet. Because they are caused by a virus, they are contagious. Moles are brown or black spots that are sometimes raised slightly from the surface of the skin. They happen when clumps of pigment cells form in a cluster instead of spread out. Moles are harmless except that they are more vulnerable to cancer than other parts of the skin. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and its risk increases with sun exposure and fair skin tone.

Skin issues can be embarrassing or irritating, but most are minor and can be treated without serious problems. Some, however, can be a sign of a more significant issue, so it is important to see a doctor for anything out of the ordinary.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"She prepares for the big days like no other," said Palo Alto physician Christine Thorburn, a two-time Olympic teammate of Armstrong's.”—"Olympics: U.S. cyclist overcomes controversial Russian with dramatic victory", Red Bluff Daily News, August 2016
“Men's winner David Rodriguez, left, of Fremont and women's winner Christine Thorburn of Menlo Park were all smiles after making their way up steep Sierra Road in San Jose during the 26-mile King of...”—"Two-time Olympian to promote Tour de Menlo with training ride", Mercury News, June 2016
“Christine Thorburn competed for the U.S. in the 2004 and '08 Olympics, so understands the world of elite-level cycling.”—"Commentary: Ex-Olympian says Armstrong not 'remorseful at all'", USA Today, January 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2012 were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 96
doctor visit 546
injections 114
preventive care 24
vaccines 24

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2013 were aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 109
doctor visit 633
injections 109

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 100
Female 244
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 281
Black 12
Hispanic 0
Asian 31
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 170
From 75 to 84 103
85 and over 50
Less than 65 21

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2013

Hypertension 49
High Cholesterol 44
Stroke 5
Ischemic Heart Disease 19
Depression 21
Chronic Kidney Disease 18
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 16
Dementia 5
Cancer 9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2014 were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 148
doctor visit 750
injections 168
preventive care 50
vaccines 50

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 114
Female 275
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 311
Black 0
Hispanic 16
Asian 41
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 194
From 75 to 84 115
85 and over 56
Less than 65 24

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2014

Hypertension 51
High Cholesterol 47
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 19
Depression 19
Chronic Kidney Disease 19
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 13
Atrial Fibrilation 9
Heart Failure 9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 15
Dementia 4
Cancer 9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2015 were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 84
doctor visit 659
injections 111
preventive care 30
vaccines 30

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 214
Female 566
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 604
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 82
Other 40
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 398
From 75 to 84 246
85 and over 88
Less than 65 48

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2015

Hypertension 47
High Cholesterol 46
Stroke 4
Ischemic Heart Disease 21
Depression 18
Chronic Kidney Disease 23
Asthma 7
Osteoperosis 15
Atrial Fibrilation 12
Heart Failure 11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 6
Diabetes 15
Dementia 4
Cancer 8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2016 were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 70
doctor visit 608
injections 84
preventive care 31
vaccines 31

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 86
Female 273
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 285
Black 0
Hispanic 18
Asian 31
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 185
From 75 to 84 116
85 and over 41
Less than 65 17

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2016

Hypertension 50
High Cholesterol 43
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 21
Depression 16
Chronic Kidney Disease 19
Asthma 11
Osteoperosis 16
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 7
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 13
Dementia 4
Cancer 9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2017 were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 64
doctor visit 617
injections 88
preventive care 23
vaccines 23

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 112
Female 280
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 306
Black 14
Hispanic 13
Asian 35
Other 24
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 207
From 75 to 84 132
85 and over 36
Less than 65 17

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2017

Hypertension 44
High Cholesterol 38
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 20
Depression 20
Chronic Kidney Disease 19
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 13
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 16
Dementia 4
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2018 were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 80
doctor visit 597
injections 101
preventive care 18
vaccines 18

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 118
Female 262
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 301
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 37
Other 23
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 192
From 75 to 84 131
85 and over 43
Less than 65 14

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2018

Hypertension 50
High Cholesterol 47
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 26
Depression 18
Chronic Kidney Disease 19
Asthma 8
Osteoperosis 14
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 4
Diabetes 11
Dementia 4
Cancer 8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2019 were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 50
doctor visit 546
injections 69
preventive care 24
vaccines 24

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 95
Female 257
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 270
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 47
Other 16
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 173
From 75 to 84 129
85 and over 35
Less than 65 15

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2019

Hypertension 48
High Cholesterol 49
Stroke 4
Ischemic Heart Disease 22
Depression 20
Chronic Kidney Disease 17
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 16
Atrial Fibrilation 9
Heart Failure 8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 7
Diabetes 10
Dementia 5
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2020 were aspiration, preventive care, vaccines and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 12
doctor visit 160
injections 12
preventive care 12
vaccines 12

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 31
Female 105
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 110
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 55
From 75 to 84 59
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2020

Hypertension 45
High Cholesterol 39
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 23
Depression 17
Chronic Kidney Disease 21
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 18
Atrial Fibrilation 8
Heart Failure 8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 12
Dementia 0
Cancer 10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2021 were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 22
doctor visit 381
injections 45
preventive care 16
vaccines 16

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 51
Female 220
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 211
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 32
Other 17
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 132
From 75 to 84 102
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2021

Hypertension 48
High Cholesterol 51
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 20
Depression 15
Chronic Kidney Disease 19
Asthma 6
Osteoperosis 18
Atrial Fibrilation 9
Heart Failure 10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 5
Diabetes 12
Dementia 0
Cancer 7

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA during 2022 were aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration 15
doctor visit 320
injections 15

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 55
Female 158
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 161
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 25
Other 16
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 100
From 75 to 84 83
85 and over 18
Less than 65 12

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD in 2022

Hypertension 60
High Cholesterol 65
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 17
Depression 15
Chronic Kidney Disease 16
Asthma 7
Osteoperosis 25
Atrial Fibrilation 15
Heart Failure 11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 8
Diabetes 13
Dementia 0
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated as a rheumatologist in San Carlos, CA were injections, aspiration, preventive care and vaccines.

aspiration 68
doctor visit 528
injections 83
preventive care 25
vaccines 25

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD.

Gender
Male 88
Female 240
Ethnicity
Black / African American 2
Asian / Pacific Islander 32
Non-Hispanic White 258
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 4
Other 12
Age
75 to 84 110
85 and over 33
Less than 65 15
65 to 74 164

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 44
High Cholesterol 42
Stroke 1
Ischemic Heart Disease 18
Depression 16
Chronic Kidney Disease 17
Asthma 5
Osteoporosis 14
Heart Failure 8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 4
Diabetes 12
Atrial Fibrillation 9
Dementia 2
Cancer 8

Education & Training

Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine. She completed residency at Stanford University Medical Center. She is certified by the Board Certification: Rheumatology and has a state license in California.

Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine

Residency: Stanford University Medical Center

Board Certification: Board Certification: Rheumatology

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Sutter Health

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Blue Shield of California, Medicare Advantage, HealthSmart, MultiPlan, United Healthcare, TRICARE, Cigna, Alliance PPO, Anthem Blue Cross of California, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), Accepted Valley Health Plan Plans: Classic Commercial HMO Plan only, Accepted Central California Alliance for Health Plans: TotalCare (HMO D-SNP), Accepted SCAN Plans: SCAN Compass (HMO), Accepted Santa Clara Family Health Plan Plans: DualConnect (HMO D-SNP), Accepted Provider Networks of America Plans: PPO, Accepted Sutter Health Plan Plans: Individual and Family Plan HMO: Large and Small Group HMO, Accepted Chinese Community Health Plan Plans: Active Choice- PPO Silver: Amber 50 HMO Silver: American Indian/Alaskan Native (Covered CA for Individual & Families): Bronze 60 HDHP HMO (including... and Accepted Aetna Plans: Aetna Choice POS II: Aetna Select EPO: Aetna Select Open Access: Aetna Signature Administrators (ASA): Aetna Student Health Program: Health Fund HMO (aka HMO/HRA): Health Fund....

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Blue Shield of California
Medicare Advantage
HealthSmart
MultiPlan
United Healthcare
TRICARE
Cigna
Alliance PPO
Anthem Blue Cross of California
Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
Accepted Valley Health Plan Plans: Classic Commercial HMO Plan only
Accepted Central California Alliance for Health Plans: TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
Accepted SCAN Plans: SCAN Compass (HMO)
Accepted Santa Clara Family Health Plan Plans: DualConnect (HMO D-SNP)
Accepted Provider Networks of America Plans: PPO
Accepted Sutter Health Plan Plans: Individual and Family Plan HMO: Large and Small Group HMO
Accepted Chinese Community Health Plan Plans: Active Choice- PPO Silver: Amber 50 HMO Silver: American Indian/Alaskan Native (Covered CA for Individual & Families): Bronze 60 HDHP HMO (including...
Accepted Aetna Plans: Aetna Choice POS II: Aetna Select EPO: Aetna Select Open Access: Aetna Signature Administrators (ASA): Aetna Student Health Program: Health Fund HMO (aka HMO/HRA): Health Fund...

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.74 out of 5 stars based on 54 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in San Carlos, CA. 

4.74
Overall Rating
Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Christine M. Thorburn, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
Pfizer Inc. $30 XELJANZ
$30
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC. $19 BENLYSTA
$19
Types of Payments
Education $30
Food and Beverage $19

Biography

Dr. Christine Thorburn is a specialist in adult rheumatology. Her clinical interests include psoriatic arthritis, lupus, and polymyositis. Dr. Thorburn is affiliated with Sutter Health. She obtained her medical school training at Stanford University School of Medicine and performed her residency at Stanford University Medical Center. Her patients gave her an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5). Dr. Thorburn appears to be in-network for Anthem, Blue California, and HealthSmart, in addition to other insurance carriers. She welcomes new patients at her office inPalo Alto, CA as reported by Sutter Health.

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