Cover Story > The Family Buesiness
Henry Zeiter, MD John Zeiter, MD Joseph T. Zeiter, MD Joseph E. Zeiter, MD Fram Buhari, MD Shiraz Buhari, MD Cyrus Buhari, DO Renee Marasigan, MD Raissa Hill, DO Richelle Marasigan, DO Marvin Primack, MD Daren Primack, MD Todd Primack, MD
Drs. Shiraz, Fram, and Cyrus Buhari surgeries…” he joked. “I told him, ‘If you can find a profession that serves humanity better, than go for it,” Henry adds. “I think he made the right choice.” Others, however, admit that seeing firsthand the demands the medical profession placed on their own parents caused them to think long and hard about entering the medical profession. “Growing up, I thought it wasn’t very attractive because of the long hours required,” said George Westin Jr., MD, a Stockton-based orthopedist who’s father practiced in the same specialty. “Later, though I realized the value to myself and my patients by the commitment I eventually made.” It’s worth noting that Westin’s two sons, Greg and Jeffrey, also went on to become physicians. While gentle prodding and suggestions may have been present in their experience, both John and Henry admit that, in order to be truly successful in this business, the choice to pursue a career in medicine has to be one you make on your own. “Sure, I might have felt a little bit of pressure, but you need to do it for you,” John said. “I always had my own confidence in what I was doing.” Years after having made his own decision to pursue a career in medicine,
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SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN
John recalls giving his son, John Henry, as much freedom as possible when it came to deciding his own path in life. When the decision was finally made, however, he was overcome with emotion. “I was so proud,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling, having them succeed.” John recalls that his cousin Joseph Zeiter had a similar experience when Joseph Jr. was accepted to medical school. “When Joe Jr. got accepted to medical school, he (Joe) came into my office and was in tears,” he said. “He couldn’t have been prouder.” From a business standpoint, with this sense of pride also comes a great sense of relief. “The young people don’t realize the relief of a father who owns a business when there’s a child waiting to take over,” said Henry, who recently retired after 45 years of practice. When he finally did end his career in medicine, the transition was made easier by the fact that his son and nephew were waiting to take the reins. “I just jumped right in where he left off,” John said. The seamlessness of this switch was no accident, however, with both John and Henry noting that, when John first entered the practice – long before retirement was in Henry’s sights, he was quick to pass on
Vitune Vongtama, MD Yaadbhiroon Vongtama, MD Roy Vongtama, MD Dan Vongtama, MD George Bensch, MD Greg Bensch, MD Helmuth Hoff, MD Mark Hoff, MD James Hoff, MD Laszlo Bela Fodor, MD Alexander Fodor, MD Fred Krueger, MD Kyle Krueger, DO Sherman Saffier, MD James Saffier, MD Sandon Saffier, MD Graciela Barzaga, MD Pearl Barzaga Scott, MD Dora Lee, MD Robing Wong, MD
Peter Salamon, MD Michael Salamon, MD Sarah Salamon, MD Jack Funamura, MD Janwyn Funamura, MD Jamie Funamura, MD Edward Cahill, MD Carol Cahill, MD Kimberly Cahill Peterson, MD Kevin Cahill, MD Christopher Cahill, MD George Chen, MD Andrew Chen, MD George Veldstra, MD Brad Veldstra, MD David Yarbrough, MD John Yarbrough, MD John F. Blinn, Sr. , MD John F. Blinn, Jr. , MD John F. Blinn, III , MD Jonathan Rigdon, MD Michael Rigdon, MD Morris Balfour, MD Stephen Balfour, MD Robert G. Howen, MD Walter E. Howen, MD Javad Jamshidi, MD Neema Jamshidi, M.D. Ramin Jamshidi, M.D. Gordon Roget, Sr., MD Gordon Roget, Jr., MD Vance Roget, MD Donald Nakashima, MD Carol Nakashima, MD
winter 2014