A community hospital is a reflection of the people it serves and the people who provide the care and few embody that connection more fully than Dr. Seric Cusick, whose life and career are deeply rooted in Sonoma Valley.
Dr. Cusick grew up in Sonoma, attending El Verano Elementary, Altimira Middle School, and Sonoma Valley High School. A multi-sport athlete, he spent his teenage years playing basketball, football, and baseball on our local fields, while also being drawn to academics. When asked when he knew he wanted to become a doctor, Seric’s answer is simple: he always knew. “There were no doctors in my family, but I was raised to value education and curiosity, and medicine always felt like a natural path for me.”
After high school, Seric set out with plans to pursue orthopedic surgery. During medical school at UC San Francisco School of Medicine, however, he realized he enjoyed every specialty. To gain clarity, he took a year away from the traditional path to do research and reflect. That time helped him focus. Having already worked as an EMT in Sonoma County, he saw that emergency medicine brought together what he valued most: teamwork, problem-solving, and being present for people during critical moments.
Dr. Cusick went on to train in emergency medicine at Harvard University, then returned to the West Coast to build his career and family. Over the years, he practiced and taught at major trauma centers, including UC Davis, gaining experience that shaped both his clinical skills and his approach to care.
Still, Sonoma was calling him home.
About a decade ago, Seric and his wife, who also grew up in Sonoma, made the decision to return to Sonoma Valley to be closer to their parents and raise their children in the community they both call home. They left behind a dream job and a home on the coast to put down roots near grandparents and extended family. Their three children attended and graduated from Sonoma High where Dr. Cusick and his wife first met as teenagers.
Professionally, Dr. Cusick practices with Napa Valley Emergency Medical Group, where he works alongside a team of emergency physicians, many of whom also call Sonoma Valley home. When the opportunity arose for the NVEMG team to staff the Emergency Department at Sonoma Valley Hospital, they saw a chance to do something for their community hospital. Instead of relying on rotating agency ER physicians, they proposed a community-based model: a dedicated team of board-certified emergency medicine physicians, trained at major trauma centers and rooted in the local community.
Today, Dr. Cusick and his team staff the Sonoma Valley Hospital Emergency Department, bringing the same level of training and expertise found at larger institutions to our community hospital. Patients receive high-quality emergency care close to home, delivered by physicians who know this community because they are part of it.
For Dr. Cusick, working here feels personal and that familiarity matters. In emergency situations, seeing a familiar face can help ease anxiety and build trust.
That connection also brings a strong sense of responsibility. Caring for friends, parents, and neighbors raises the stakes, but it also reinforces why this work matters. Four generations of Dr. Cusick’s family have received care at Sonoma Valley Hospital. His grandparents and parents have been patients here. His daughter was born here. He has been cared for here, too.
When asked what makes Sonoma Valley Hospital special, he doesn’t hesitate.
“What makes this hospital special is the people. You can’t walk down the hallway without seeing someone you know. It’s a reminder of why caring for your own community is such a responsibility and a privilege” –Dr. Cusick
We are grateful for physicians like Dr. Seric Cusick and for the dedicated, community-based team that serves our Emergency Department. Their commitment is a reminder that at its core, healthcare is about people caring for people, right here at home.