LLU&MC Scope Autumn 2000

Alumni notes

In a letter commenting about the article, "A solid faith—The Youngbergs live a life of healing and teaching" in the summer, 2000, issue of SCOPE, Inelda Ritchie Christianson writes that her father, Iner Sheld Ritchie (SM'15) was the founder of Liga, a humanitarian organization that continues to provide health care, primarily in remote areas of Mexico. Iner Ritchie (SM'41), is Dr. Iner Ritchie's son and Ms. Ritchie Christianson's brother. She writes: "Iner Sheld Ritchie, MD,œdied the same day the Youngbergs were crossing the border into Mexico with their medical van in October, 1949. Iner William was especially active in Liga in the '80s… Thank you for updating us on the Youngbergs, true champions of service."

Charles G. Foster (SM'43) œcelebrated 60th anniversary with wife Marion

Charles G. Foster (SM'43) and Marion Foster recently celebrated their 60th anniversary and attended a family reunion. The Fosters were married in Glendale in 1940. The reunion was held at the home of their oldest daughter, Linda Foster Gaede, in Lodi on June 18. After completing his internship in San Bernardino in 1943, Dr. Foster began a surgery residency in Riverside County Hospital in 1944. He was drafted before completing the residency, and served as a battalion surgeon for two-and-a-half years in World War II. He was a member of the Army's 3rd Division and served in active combat. Audi Murphy was an acquaintance and was one of his patients. After the war the Fosters settled in Oakdale, where Dr. Foster practiced family medicine for 48 years. They have four children: Linda Foster Gaede; Dr. Larry Foster of Ukiah; Terry Foster (SM'77) of Paradise; and Claudia Foster Olson (SM'79) of Seattle.

Frieda Von Giese Brookshire (SD'51), a graduate of the International Dentistry Program, was mentioned in Irvine World News (Irvine), in an article titled "Dr. Frieda Brookshire, A new dental practice in town." After leaving the School of Dentistry, Dr. Brookshire received her master of science degree in prosthodontics at Marquette University Graduate School, Milwaukee. She is now practicing dentistry in Tustin. Dr. Brookshire has been involved in extensive university research projects related to dental implants, and has given major national lectures on dentures and implants. She is a member of the American College of Prosthodontists, American Prosthodontic Society, Academy of General Dentistry, and Orange County Women's Dental Society. When not practicing dentistry, Dr. Brookshire and her husband, Raiford, enjoy trail hiking and biking. She also spends time taking her two Harlequin Great Danes on walks along the beach.

Harvey Elder (SM'57) was planning to fly to Santo Domingo for an invitation-only conference on Christian teaching where he would lecture about biblical principles that inform the teaching of medicine. Then, he would travel to Africa where he would help train educators and health-care personnel in Nigeria and Ghana. However, these plans were not to be realized. Dr. Elder instead underwent emergency coronary bypass surgery. He shares how this affected his faith and outlook on life on a web page that can be accessed on the Internet at <http://gomets.org/faculty/lovegod.html>.

Robert Johnson (SM'61) was profiled in the Riverside Press-Enterprise. The newspaper describes Dr. Johnson's nonprofit organization, Global Health Outreach, which provides opportunities for physicians and other medical professionals to treat patients in free medical clinics in Third World countries. The organization arranges the trip, pays airfare and living expenses, and works with government officials in foreign countries to ensure the physicians' safety. "I wanted to make sure they [volunteers] didn't have a reason not to go," Dr. Johnson told the paper. His first experience providing medical aid was in Trinidad with the Rockefeller Virus Institute. While there he visited mission hospitals, and the experience inspired him to dedicate his life's work to humanitarian efforts. Before joining a Corona practice in 1969, he spent two years in Benghazi, Libya, during his residency at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, Los Angeles. He was drafted during his residency and served two years in Vietnam as captain in a U.S. Air Force medical unit. He met his wife, Odetta Semaan Johnson (SPH'97) at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. They have four children: Cameron (SM'89); Sana (SM'98); Vance (SM'95); and Jesse, all of whom travel on medical aid missions at least once a year. Dr. (Robert) Johnson opened a free clinic in the Salvation Army Circle of Hope shelter for the homeless in Corona several years ago which operates from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. once a week, serving approximately 30 homeless patients, including children who are staying at the shelter.

Elber S. Camacho (SM'72) has been appointed as medical director, Comprehensive Cancer Centers of the Desert at Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, it was reported in the Palm Springs Desert Sun. Dr. Camacho, a medical oncologist and hematologist with more than 20 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience, served as associate medical director since joining the organization in 1995. He is responsible for the overall supervision of the cancer center physicians and clinical direction of its various programs. He also continues to serve as medical director of hospice at Desert Regional Medical Center. Dr. Camacho completed his residency at LLUMC, and was a fellow in hematology-oncology and immunology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York. After graduating with a BS in physical therapy, Byron Reynolds (SAHP'74; SPH '87) earned an MPH in health promotion and education from the School of Public Health, it was reported in the fall/winter, 2000, issue of Allied Health Connection. Mr. Reynolds recently returned to the United States from Thailand where he served for 12 years as a missionary. He has relocated to Centerville, Tennessee.

Lenora Williams Shaw (SN'76) œwith new husband Donald Jordan Jr.

Lenora Williams Shaw (SN'76) writes that she is serving in the U.S. Army at Moncrief Army Community Hospital, Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, as an Ob/Gyn physician and chief, department of surgery and gynecological services. She was recently promoted to the rank of colonel. She recently married Donald Jordan Jr., and has a 9-year-old son, Daniel.

Ingrid Blomquist (SM'81) was named by readers of Inland Empire Magazine as one of the area's top physicians."I'm purely a consultant," she told the publication, "which means I see other doctors' patients for them when they have special questions related to the diagnosis and treatment, or when the patient has complicated or mysterious symptoms." Dr. Blomquist is an internal medicine/infectious disease specialist at LLUMC. She has been practicing since 1992. She completed a residency at LLUMC and a fellowship in infections disease at UCLA-Harbor Medical Center, Torrance. According to Dr. Blomquist, advancements in infectious disease are always evolving—everything she knows about HIV she learned after medical school. She believes antibiotics should be used judiciously, and that the patient's problems should be diagnosed correctly as some diagnoses don't require antibiotics, including sore throat, common cold, or bronchitis in a healthy person. "Bacterial viruses are smart," she told the publication. "They have spontaneous mutations that allow them to become resistant to antibodies. As soon as there's a new antibiotic there's development of resistance to it. It will take awhile, but it happens."

When asked to name their favorite physicians, one reader of Inland Empire Magazine, September, 2000, issue, named Cynthia E. Ruiz (SM'81). "I was in the Redlands Hospital for pleurisy," he says, "and was about to be released when Dr. Ruiz came into my room and asked if she could examine me… She told me I needed an operation immediately. She saved my life… This occurred in 1992 and she has been my doctor ever since."

Vernon Yamashiro (SM'84) is now practicing obstetrics and gynecology at Summit Medical Center, according to a report in the Park Record (Park City, Utah) newspaper. Dr. Yamashiro completed his residency at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles. A board-certified obstetrics and gynecology physician, Dr. Yamashiro has 16 years of clinical experience and serves as University of Utah Health Network obstetrics and gynecology department chair.

M. Leon Seard II (SM'85) œPhysician of the Year

M. Leon Seard II (SM'85) was profiled recently in CoastLines, the physician newsletter for Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center. During this year's annual medical staff dinner, Dr. Seard was recognized as the hospital's Physician of the Year, and was also chosen chief of staff elect. Employees of OCMMC have an annual tradition of voting to honor an outstanding member of the medical staff. He or she is selected as representative of the hospital's commitment to the community and to the delivery of quality health care. The physician also excels at employee relations, physician education, and patient satisfaction. One nomination reads, "We are impressed by his bedside manner…he is very courteous to everyone and his gentle demeanor is comforting to patients." Dr. Seard will serve as chief of medical staff elect for two years before becoming chief of staff in 2002. Dr. Seard is a board-certified surgeon specializing in urology, and has been a part of OCMMC since 1993. He previously served as chair of the department of surgery and chief of the department of urology. He is a graduate of Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama. After completing general surgery training in Dayton, Ohio, at Wright State University, he completed pre-urology training at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles. His residency in urology was completed at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center, where he trained with Donald Skinner, MD, an internationally renowned urologist. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Seard stated, "I am deeply honored. It is very humbling. The good favor and respect I have been afforded are truly a blessing."

Mary Norburg (SM'87) writes that she moved to Portland, Oregon, and joined a small group practice in 1992. She became board certified in obstetrics and gynecology in 1994, and was appointed chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at Meridian Park Hospital in 1995. She was a Young Physician Trustee of the Oregon Medical Association (OMA) from 1996 to 1999, and has been a member of the OMA ethics committee since 1999. She married Sean Huntsman in 1996, and their son, Cameron Huntsman, was born in 1998. They have a second child due in January, 2001. The family moved to Bend, Oregon, in July.

Donna Green-Goodman (SPH'88), who received a master of public health degree from LLU, was profiled in the Atlanta Inquirer (Atlanta, Georgia). The newspaper highlights Ms. Green-Goodman's experience as a breast cancer survivor after being told that she had two to five years to live. By giving up a "treacherous cycle of overworking, poor diet, little or no exercise, little or no rest," and putting her complete trust in divine help, she has survived four years and doctors can find no signs of cancer. Her story was also told in the August, 1999, issue of Essence Magazine. She now teaches vegan vegetarian cooking classes through Lifestyle Principles, Inc., and is completing a book, Somethin' to Shout About!

"Sharing knowledge and utilizing state-of-the-art technology" were mentioned by Joan Rubino (SD'82) as cornerstones of her dental practice in a profile printed in the Gunnison Country Times (Gunnison, Colorado). Dr. Rubino served as an Army dentist for eight years before beginning her practice in Gunnison. A family practitioner, she also has training and experience in cosmetic dentistry and prosthodontics. "Our goal," she told the reporter, "is to exceed our patients' expectations, providing the best dental care available."

Kathleen Clem (SM'89; SN'77) has accepted a position as division chief of emergency medicine at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Karen L. Gaio (SM'91) an OB/Gyn specialist, was nominated in a survey by Inland Empire Magazine as a favorite physician. "[Dr. Gaio] goes out of her way for a human life," writes a reader of the publication.

Anthony A. Koehler Jr. (SM'94) moved to Durham, North Carolina, to complete an obstetrics and gynecology residency at Duke University Medical Center. In 1998, he and his wife, Brenda Worley (SN'92), moved to Radford, Virginia, to join a private practice. Dr. Koehler continues to work at the same location for obstetrics and gynecology in Radford.

2000s

Harvey Wallman (SAHP'00) is an assistant professor and chair of the department of physical therapy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, according to the fall/winter, Allied Health Connection. Dr. Wallman received a BA degree in movement and sports science from Purdue University in 1985, an MS degree from Purdue University in exercise physiology in 1986, an MS degree in physical therapy from University of Indianapolis in 1989, and a doctor of physical therapy science degree from LLU in 2000. His primary work experience is in orthopaedics and sports physical therapy. In addition to being a certified athletic trainer (ATC) and a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), he is also a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy (SCS). His areas of interest include foot and ankle, foot orthotic fabrication, gait training, and balance assessment.

Largest group of School of Dentistry faculty and alumni inducted into the American College of Dentists

Loma Linda University alumni inducted into the American College of Dentists during the 79th annual meeting and convocation of the American College of Dentists held in Honolulu, Hawaii, on October 8 include: James Marc Haney (SD'87); John Kempton (SD'76); John W. Leyman (SD'80), professor and director of advanced education program in dental anesthesia; John R. Liu (SD'86); John E. Peterson (SD'70; GS'80), professor and director, advanced education program in pediatric dentistry; and Raymond D. Rawson (SD'68). In addition to these alumni, Carlos A. MuÒoz-Viveros, DDS, MSD, professor of restorative dentistry and director of biomaterials research and the Center for Dental Research, and Robert D. Kiger, DDS, professor and chair of periodontics, were also inducted. It is believed to be the largest group of School of Dentistry faculty and alumni inducted at one time into the college.

[Scope, Autumn 2000]