Patrons

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TORRANCE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

CHUCK AND LISA NOSKI Sharing their knowledge and resources to give back

TORRANCE MEMORIAL RANKED FIRST AMONG SOUTH BAY HOSPITALS BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, NEWSWEEK AND SOUTH BAY’S BEST 2022 AWARDS. AWARDS . When it comes to local expert care, it is important to know the facts. Torrance Memorial is leading the way in the South Bay for expert care, ranking among the best hospitals in California and the nation. TMGetTheFacts.org

#1 Ranked Hospital in the South Bay

Trust Your Health to World-Class Results -

Ranked in the Top 5 in L.A./ O.C. Region - U.S. News & World Report

Ranked #10 in California

- Newsweek

Top 3% Hospital in California

- U.S. News & World Report

Best Hospital in the South Bay

- South Bay’s Best 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

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A COMMUNITY NEEDS STRONG INSTITUTIONS WRITTEN BY DAVID MCKINNIE

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David and Kak McKinnie stand in front of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque in June.

“IN 2023 WE WILL FOCUS OUR EFFORTS TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. FREQUENTLY THE ED IS THE STARTING POINT FOR MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.”

e are very lucky. Torrance Memorial Medical Center is a significant resource to the community, providing exceptional medical care and wellness to residents of the South Bay and beyond.

My support of Torrance Memorial has been easy. The hospital is a natural “sell” because of its excellence. This excellence positions the hospital to meet the needs of community. From the start of my involvement, I recognized the status Torrance Memorial holds as a significant community asset.

A community needs strong institutions—including schools, houses of worship and health care resources—to fulfill and enrich our lives. These establishments need our support for the betterment of society and the communities they serve.

My wife, Kak, and I have lived in Palos Verdes for 40 years raising our four children. We have been lucky to benefit from the use of Torrance Memorial throughout the years when needed. While I have supported several other community interests, I believe health care is an area that serves a continuing and essential need.

Joining the Foundation board in 1990, I saw the power of Torrance Memorial and appreciate the opportunities to grow our services and technology in primary health care resources, obstetrics, cardiology, orthopedics, neurology and more. At every turn, management’s process to set the vision, define plans and implement expansion has always been thoughtful and practical–well planned but not overreaching—and helps us continue to excel.

Witnessing two generations of hospital leadership navigate the growth from a community hospital into the regional medical center affiliated with Cedars-Sinai it is today has been inspiring. This is a testament to the national rankings we have received at the top of annual surveys like U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek. Together with knowledgeable leadership and outstanding staff, the Foundation’s fundraising efforts have been a significant and successful source for the hospital, increasing annual goals over time to $15 million and climbing.

In 2023 we will focus our efforts to fund the expansion of the emergency department. Frequently the ED is the starting point for medical services to the community. With the expansion, we will increase the capacity to deliver critical care services to more patients a year! (Please see our ED expansion plans on page 20 in this issue.)

It is an honor and privilege to serve on the Torrance Memorial Foundation board, and I look forward to many more years of involvement. •

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TORRANCE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MARK LURIE, MD, PRESIDENT

GINA KIRKPATRICK

Medical Director, Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute

Community Volunteer

PHIL PAVESI, VICE PRESIDENT

Community Volunteer

Retired Aerospace Executive, TRW

CONNIE LAI, ESQ.

GREG GEIGER, TREASURER

Principal, Westport Capital Partners, LLC

Board Chair, JI REN Primary School Former Litigator, Musick Peeler

HEIDI HOFFMAN, MD, SECRETARY

RICHARD E. LUCY

Radiology, Torrance Memorial Medical Center

Investor

JOSEPH HOHM, CPA/JD, OFFICER

Retired Investment Banker

Medical Accounting Service, Inc.

W. DAVID MCKINNIE, III

PATRICK THEODORA, OFFICER

Consultant, McKinnie Consulting

Cofounder and Chairman, DocMagic

ERIC C. NAKKIM, MD

MICHAEL ZISLIS, OFFICER

Emergency Medicine, Torrance Memorial Medical Center

Owner, The Zislis Group

SONG CHO KLEIN

LAURIE MCCARTHY

TOM O’HERN

BOARD MEMBERS

CEO and Director, The Macerich Company RICHARD K. ROUNSAVELLE, DDS

CHRISTY ABRAHAM

General Dentistry

Community Volunteer

MICHAEL ROUSE

NADINE BOBIT

Community Volunteer

Retired VP of Philanthropy and Community Affairs, Toyota Motor Sales

JOHN G. BAKER

SAM SHETH

Founding Partner, The Brickstone Companies

Cofounder and Senior Managing Director, VerityPoint

HARV DANIELS

STEVEN SPIERER

Retired Airline Executive PAUL G. GIULIANO

Partner, Spierer, Woodward, Corbalis & Goldberg

President, Integrated Food Service

JANICE TECIMER

ALAN GOLDSTEIN

Community Volunteer

First Vice President, PVG Group at RBC Wealth Management

RUSSELL VARON

Retired Technology Management Professional Torrance Memorial Medical Center treats all people equally without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability. The section 504 coordinator can be reached at 310-784-4894. If you do not wish to receive this publication, please contact marketing communications at 310-517-4706.

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EDITOR Julie Taylor DIRECTOR, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS Erin Fiorito PUBLISHER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Vincent Rios DESIGN ASSISTANT Alexandria Smith COPY EDITOR Laura Watts

CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Bezner Lisa Buffington Melani Morose Edelstein John Ferrari

Diane Krieger Nancy Sokoler Steiner Laura Roe Stevens

PHOTOGRAPHERS Siri Berting Deidre Davidson Vincent Rios

Owner, Morgan’s Jewelers

RICK HIGGINS

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A Publication of the Torrance Memorial Foundation

Published by

Vincent Rios Creative, Inc. VincentRiosCreative.com ©2022 Torrance Memorial Medical Center.

All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

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MEET OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS Torrance Memorial Medical Center appointed two new distinguished members to the Foundation board: Janice Tecimer and Gina Kirkpatrick. Together, these amazing women have prioritized their families and managed careers, all while devoting years of service to the community through their extraordinary volunteer efforts. They are dedicated to serving on the board and supporting health care services provided by Torrance Memorial for the South Bay community.

JANICE TECIMER

Janice Simon Tecimer was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and pursued a career in financial securities sales and trading. After moving to the West Coast, Janice met her husband, Timur, on the beach in Santa Monica. They have been married for nearly 32 years and split their time between Palos Verdes and Park City. They have two children: Chase, 27, has a tech start-up in London, and Natalie, 29, is an attorney in Washington, D.C. Janice has been an active community volunteer in Palos Verdes Estates and Greater Los Angeles. She served for nine years on the board of the Peninsula Education Foundation and worked on several campaigns for city bond measures supporting PVPUSD and the PVE police and fire departments. Janice served six years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), providing multiple services to teenage children in the L.A. County foster care system. She has also been active in the Palos Verdes Golf Club house and membership committees.

Janice and Timur frequently travel, love skiing and golf, and proudly serve at the pleasure of their two Standard poodles, Rupert and Daisy, and grandpoodle, Charlotte.

GINA KIRKPATRICK

Gina Kirkpatrick was born and raised in Southern California and has lived in the South Bay for more than 30 years. Gina graduated with a degree in business administration from Pepperdine University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Southern California. She and her husband, Gregg, live in Rolling Hills, where they raised their three children: Nicola, 26, Alise, 24, and Kyle, 21.

Gina has always been an active volunteer in her community. Although she is a member of the Palos Verdes Junior Women’s Club and has been involved in several other local organizations, her main focus has been on local schools and education. She has served as PTA president and as the chairwoman of numerous committees over the past 25 years. She served on the Cal Berkeley Parents Board for four years and has been a member of the University’s Parent/Community Basic Needs Committee, which advocates for and provides services for students in need.

Gina pursues the study of history and languages. She and her family enjoy hiking, a wide variety of outdoor activities and water sports, and they all share the love of travel. •

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Tab le o f Co nte nts

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ON THE COVER

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Patrons Lisa and Chuck Noski enjoy cycling the hills of Palos Verdes PHOTOGRAPHED BY VINCENT RIOS

Tab le o f Co nte nts

PROGRESS NOTES 12 The Foundation’s fundraising purpose, programs and team go way beyond the Snack Cart 16 Why Torrance Memorial physicians chose to work in medicine 18 Legacy of CEO George W. Graham 20 Emergency Department expansion for the future

CLINICAL SPOTLIGHT

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22 High-tech imaging helps IR find and fix life-threatening conditions 26 Success story of orthopedic spine patient and Torrance Memorial employee Mina Diaz

EVERY DONATION COUNTS 28 Tennis, cookies, lemonade stand, car donation and the Lawndale Rotary Club all give back

PATRON PROFILE 30 CPAs Lisa and Chuck Noski believe in sharing their resources and knowledge for good deeds

AMBASSADORS CORNER 34 Pat Carlson shares her love of animals and the important healing aspects of pets

FUTURE FOCUS 36 Del McCulloch’s life of laughter and compassion 37 The Proposition 19 surprise

YPPA PLAY-BY-PLAY 38 Brian Miura, MD, strikes a balance between a hectic ED schedule, time off and travel

IN YOUR COMMUNITY

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40 42 44 48 49 50 53 54

El Segundo medical complex opening events Ambassadors Healthy Heart for Women Luncheon 36th Annual Golf Tournament Heritage Society Luncheon Ambassadors Pickleball Party Patrons Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Event Wine Procurement Party YPPA Casino Night

SUPPORTERS

FOLLOW US!

TorranceMemorial

tmmcmedia

@TMHealthSystem

torrancememorial

56 Torrance Memorial gives special thanks to our many supporters

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TORRANCE MEMORIAL’S 39TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY FESTIVAL IS UNDER THE BIG WHITE TENT AGAIN THIS YEAR Offering themed holiday trees and the South Bay’s largest holiday boutique and live entertainment.

PUBLIC EXHIBIT AND BOUTIQUE SHOPPING HOURS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29

1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Open to the general public Senior Day #1 – Free admission for seniors and the physically challenged 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1

WHEN: November 29 – December 4, 2022 WHERE: Torrance Memorial Medical Center RECORDED INFORMATION: 310-517-4606

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Open to the general public Senior Day #2 – Free admission for seniors and the physically challenged 10 a.m. to 2 p.m FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

Closed to the public

SPECIAL EVENTS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

Festival Fashion Show

Festival Gala

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. $250 per person

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 6 to 10:30 p.m. $500 per person

10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission free with a new, unwrapped toy SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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HOLIDAY FESTIVAL COLLECTS TOYS FOR TOTS Torrance Memorial’s Holiday Festival will once again support the annual Holiday Toy Drive of the Torrance Police Department and Torrance Fire Department.

On Saturday, December 3, collection bins will be placed inside the Holiday Festival tent. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy, which will help children in need have a joyous holiday season.

Those who bring an unwrapped toy (one toy per person) will receive free admission to the Holiday Festival.

After the festival, the departments will deliver the toys to families in the South Bay.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITY DRAWING

Call 310-517-4703 to purchase tickets for your chance to win a 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier. Donated by Joe Giacomin’s Martin Chevrolet. (MSRP estimated value $41,270) Winner to be announced on Sunday, December 4 at 1 p.m.

HEROES TREE

Honor a hero in your life—physician, nurse, or staff, department, patient or community member—with recognition at the 12-foot decorated tree in the Grand Lobby of the Lundquist Tower.

Donation levels: $10,000 $1,500 $5,000 $500 $2,500 $150

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL EVENTS All activities are located at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, 3330 Lomita Blvd., Torrance.

$5 general admission Children 5 and younger are free.

For general recorded information call 310-517-4606.

To purchase special events tickets call 310-517-4703.

Visit TorranceMemorial.org/holidayfestival to purchase tickets or view the entertainment schedule.

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Awar ds

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been recognized as a Best Hospital for 2022–2023 for the 11th year by U.S. News & World Report. This places the hospital in the top 3% in the state, the 11th-highest ranking hospital for overall hospital quality in California and fifth in the Los Angeles and Orange County regions.

This year, we are nationally ranked in Diabetes and Endocrinology and high-performing in six specialties and 17 of 20 procedures and conditions areas. Ranking in the top 3% shows we are delivering on our vision to provide patient-centered care with the highest level of quality and service to the community. It means we are honoring our promise to deliver our core values of Service, Excellence, Knowledge, Stability and Community.

HIGH PERFORMING SPECIALTIES

HIGH PERFORMING PROCEDURES

• • • • • •

• • • •

Cardiology & Heart Surgery Gastroenterology & GI Surgery Geriatrics Neurology & Neurosurgery Orthopedics Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

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• • • •

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Aortic Valve Surgery Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Colon Cancer Surgery Diabetes Heart Attack Heart Bypass Surgery

• • • • • • • • •

NATIONALLY RANKED SPECIALTIES Diabetes and Endocrinology

Heart Failure Hip Fracture Hip Replacement Kidney Failure Knee Replacement Lung Cancer Surgery Pneumonia Prostate Cancer Surgery Stroke

Awar ds

COC COMMISSION ON CANCER ACCREDITED PROGRAM Torrance Memorial has received full accreditation as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program from the American College of Surgeons. The recognition speaks to the high quality of care the Hunt Cancer Institute provides. The Commission on Cancer accreditation denotes quality—potentially attracting more patients and providing opportunities for patient engagement.

SOUTH BAY’S BEST We are honored our community has once again voted Torrance Memorial Medical Center as the BEST hospital in the South Bay. VOTED BEST

• • • •

Hospital Cancer Treatment Center (Hunt Cancer Center) Workplace Hospital Group (Torrance Memorial Physician Network Primary Care/IPA) • Medical Group (Torrance Memorial Physician Network/IPA) • Urgent Care Facility (Torrance Memorial Urgent Care)

LEADING LABORATORIES RECOGNITION FROM ASCP AND THE JOINT COMMISSION Torrance Memorial Medical Center is the first in the nation to receive Leading Laboratories recognition from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and The Joint Commission. This two-year designation demonstrates Torrance Memorial’s commitment to laboratory excellence and to helping improve patient outcomes.

To receive the recognition, the hospital had to demonstrate excellence in four areas: elevating quality outcomes, supporting professional development, cultivating trusted leadership and promoting laboratory visibility. The Joint Commission said key initiatives that led to the hospital receiving the designation include implementing lab automation to reduce the outsourcing of certain tests and turnaround time.

VOTED FAVORITE

• • • • •

Knee Center Medical Supply Store – Healthlinks Nutritionists Physical Therapy Center Pharmacy/Local (Torrance Memorial Outpatient Pharmacy) • Novelty Store: Gift/Boutique Shop (Torrance Memorial Gift Shop)

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Seated: Laura Schenasi, Judith Gassner Back Row: Margaret Johnson Doran, Sophia Neveu, Karen Randazzo, Sandy VandenBerge, Jill Golden, Lisa Takata

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BEYOND THE SNACK CART WRITTEN BY MELANI MOROSE EDELSTEIN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY SIRI BERTING

H

ealth care organizations faced unprecedented challenges as the COVID-19 global pandemic ravaged society. Doctors, nurses and staff were overwhelmed. Amidst neverbefore-seen conditions, health care professionals embraced the moment, pivoted, set their personal needs aside, and provided around-the-clock care to sick and dying patients.

Thanks to Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s Foundation and its many generous donors, their sacrifices did not go unnoticed. As the pandemic persisted and widespread enthusiastic support for health care workers endured, the now infamous and always bountiful Foundation Snack Cart made its hospital debut. With hundreds of behind-thescenes volunteers who steadfastly served welcomed snacks to weary health care workers, the snack cart

thrived—bringing sweet treats and moments of joy to exhausted employees.

During COVID-19, all fundraising events were reimagined for two years, and the Foundation team—led by dynamic executive vice president Laura Schenasi— regrouped and leaned into the moment. “We immediately stepped up to support the hospital and staff in other ways,” she explains. “The Foundation team organized and disbursed meal donations, PPE for staff, cards and posters, and of course we created the memorable and beloved snack cart.”

Now, as society and the hospital embrace a new normal living with the COVID-19 pandemic, the beloved Foundation Snack Cart will move into semiretirement.

“During the pandemic, the Foundation team became our caregivers’ caregivers,” says Mark Lurie, MD,

Loaded with snacks aplenty, Laura Schenasi makes her way to deliver treats.

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Emergency department team members get excited when the snack cart rolls around.

medical director of the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute and president of the Torrance Memorial Foundation Board.

“During those memorable times of high stress and anxiety, the Foundation’s work reflects incredible moments of generosity, humility and grace.”

The Foundation was established in 1980 with the sole purpose of supporting Torrance Memorial Medical Center, with every single dollar raised going back to the hospital. And that is precisely what it has done. Schenasi took over the leadership of the Foundation in 2001. During her 21 years at the helm, Schenasi and her hardworking team increased fundraising from $750,000 annually to an average of more than $17 million in cash and pledges.

As a South Bay resident, Schenasi knows her community well. She attributes the Foundation’s vibrancy and success to her exceptional team, including Judith Gassner, senior director of development and principal gifts; Sandy VandenBerge, director of planned giving; Sophia Neveu, development officer; Lisa Takata, special

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events and Patrons program manager; and development liaisons, Karen Randazzo, Margaret Johnson Doran and Jill Golden.

Schenasi practices a model of shared decision-making and believes in the expertise and brilliance of her staff and colleagues.

“If the hospital wasn’t well run and people didn’t receive the high-quality care they expect, the Foundation wouldn’t have the success it has realized,” Dr. Lurie points out. “Our employees and medical staff bend over backward to provide exceptional patient care, and people appreciate that. It’s the excellent patient experience that coexists with the unforgettable ways the hospital impacts their lives. People are generous in those circumstances.”

As a beloved cardiologist and hospital administrator, it is Dr. Lurie’s unique position to make the special relationship between the overall wellness of the hospital and the Foundation exceptionally positive and steeped in gratitude, cooperation and collaboration.

For the past five years, the Foundation

has transferred $15 million annually to the hospital, including during the two years when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Now more than ever, it’s time to focus on the future.

At a recent retreat, the Foundation board of directors voted to transfer $50 million to the hospital over the next three years, and the giving does not stop there.

“In 2023, we will begin expansion and renovation of the emergency department, and in 2025 the hospital celebrates its 100th anniversary. So a lot is going on,” Schenasi shares.

Schenasi says the Foundation is looking ahead and focusing on what they do best: design, create, build relationships and host community events to raise funds for Torrance Memorial. “I am a cheerleader for the hospital,” Schenasi says.

The Foundation’s programs make up the team Schenasi encourages.

The Ambassadors are committed to supporting Torrance Memorial’s mission, vision and values. Contributions provided

by Ambassadors fund cardiovascular,

Prog r e s s N ote s cancer, neuroscience and orthopedic programs and services.

The Employee Ambassador program allows employees to sign up for automatic payroll deductions so a donation to the hospital is directly withdrawn from their paychecks.

Planned Giving programs make a lasting difference through estate planning. For anyone looking to supplement income during retirement, reduce taxes, eliminate capital gains tax or pass assets to family members at a reduced cost, planned giving provides many benefits. Future gifts help people receive expert care and treatment for years to come.

YPPA, or Young Physicians and Professionals Alliance, brings professionals and physicians together to have fun and support the hospital.

The Foundation’s famous Holiday Festival—featuring the big white tent with all the gorgeous trees, the fashion show and gala, along with the annual golf tournament—continue to be the cornerstone events for the Foundation.

Still, it is private giving that makes the most significant impact. From the

generosity of major donors whose names grace our buildings, institutes and conference rooms to the young philanthropist who donated her earnings from making slime in the colors of the rainbow … every donation counts!

“Fundraising is systemic,” Schenasi points out. “You need people to attend the events, lectures and amazing offerings we do for stewardship and fundraising. Still, we find sitting down with donors and connecting in one-on-one meetings and sharing how their donations will affect the hospital is where relationships are built. Those are the best.”

The Foundation team members are experts at cultivating relationships resulting in the strongest long-term arrangements for the hospital, and they foster alliances with generous donors who are happy to give because they care deeply about Torrance Memorial.

When looking at the incredible progress the hospital has made over the last two decades, it is clear the Foundation is helping this world-class institution’s growth and development toward its centennial celebration. •

Say cheese! Thankful radiology staff members appreciate a little love.

FOUNDATION BOARD TRANSFERS $15M TO MEDICAL CENTER On May 6 at the annual meeting, the Foundation board at Torrance Memorial allocated more than $15 million to the medical center. The funds support the many programs and innovative treatments that offer exceptional care to the South Bay community. Thank you to the many donors who made this possible by generously giving throughout the year.

Top of staircase to bottom, L to R: Sam Sheth, Song Klein, Ann Zimmerman, Nadine Bobit, Jack Baker, Mark Lurie, MD, Laurie McCarthy, Alan Goldstein, David McKinnie, Joseph Holm, Eric Nakkim, MD, Phil Pavesi, Christy Abraham, Heidi Hoffman, MD, Connie Lai, Greg Geiger, Harv Daniels, Steven Spierer, Richard Lucy, Richard Rounsavelle, DDS, Paul Giuliano, Rick Higgins

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WHY I BECAME A DOCTOR

MARK LURIE, MD

Cardiologist, Medical Director, Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute “My brother-in-law was an influence, but really it was watching Ben Casey—a dramatic doctor TV show. He was young, intense and an idealistic neurosurgeon. I was interested in science, and the whole idea just grew on me.”

WRITTEN BY JULIE TAYLOR

D

espite the challenges one may encounter on the path to becoming a physician, there are distinct and profound reasons for pursuing a career in medicine.

It could be a childhood illness, a sick relative or parent, legacy physicians as role models, a love for science or even a dream.

It’s a demanding career requiring years of schooling, constant training and a chaotic schedule, but the challenges and rewards are abundant and often the driving force behind choosing to become a doctor. For many, medicine is a calling.

Torrance Memorial physicians enthusiastically embraced the idea of sharing their inspiring stories—which run the gamut from funny and charming to serious and heartbreaking. But they all offer compelling insights into what inspires a person to choose such a demanding path.

These doctors are living out their dreams and making a difference. They empower patients to take control of their health. They save lives in unexpected emergencies. And they play a critical role in the ever-growing field of medicine.

DONNY BAEK, MD

Interventional Radiologist

PAULA EBOLI, MD

“Growing up, my parents stressed the importance of excelling in mathematics and science and instilled in me the values of hard work and accountability. At the same time, my family and my church laid a foundation of strong morals, treating everyone with kindness and respect and always trying to do what is right above what is wrong. I can think of few careers in which all these principles and ethical values are more in synchrony than in the practice of medicine. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a physician, as I try my best to follow these convictions while working alongside some of the most remarkable professionals I have ever met.”

Neurosurgeon & Medical Director, Neuroendovascular Surgery, Lundquist Neurosciences Institute

RICHARD KRAUTHAMER, MD

“During my last years in high school, I wanted to study business, work in a consulting firm and travel around the world. One day I had a dream, which I don’t remember, but I remember waking up knowing I had to be a doctor. Initially, I didn’t think much about it, but the idea of becoming a doctor kept growing until I was fully committed to it. I knew if I studied medicine, it would require my full dedication. So when I decided, I was completely convinced I didn’t want to do anything else. Looking back, that was the best decision because I’m very happy with what I do, and I love being a doctor. I guess you could say I followed my dream!”

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Interventional Radiologist “I lived in an apartment in Brooklyn with my family and grandmother. She helped raise me, and when I was a teenager, she was admitted to a small local hospital for massive vomiting of blood. The doctors could not figure out the cause and told us to say our goodbyes to her. I thought it was not right that they could not save her. I vowed I would learn medicine and try to help keep people like her from dying or at least be able to tell families why their loved ones died.”

Prog r e s s N ote s RICHARD BRUCKER, MD

BRENTON BAUER, MD

Pediatrician

Cardiologist “After seeing a presentation in seventh grade about how to care for rare animals and getting to hold some of the reptiles the specialists worked with, I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian. Later, when I was a camp counselor in high school, I learned how much I loved working with children and decided to make the switch from animals to humans.”

BRIAN SHERMAN, MD

Internal Medicine and Critical Care “In my 20s, I was enjoying a successful career in real estate and marketing consulting while living in Florida. I had all the trappings of success: a nice house, a boat, a Harley and vacations around the world—but it wasn’t enough. I had a life-threatening medical scare, and it really woke me up because although the care I received was good, I felt like it lacked a holistic, humanistic approach that makes you feel you are part of the process. I felt totally out of control, and I wanted a more meaningful, deeper connection physically and mentally. So I studied under a Lakota Sioux medicine man and spent time studying multiple religions and cultures, hiking in deep Alaskan bush, going offshore sailing and finally making the commitment to pursue medicine.

If I could save one life, my own would be complete.”

RUMI CADER, MD

Internal Medicine and Primary Care “My parents were my inspiration to be a health care provider. My dad was an anesthesiologist, and my mom was a nurse-midwife. Throughout our lives, my brother and I were instilled with the concept of helping those in need and practicing the art of healing. Both of us became doctors, which has given us the wonderful opportunity to give back to our communities. I have been able to do humanitarian work in Sri Lanka and here in our underserved communities of the City of Angels.

Teaching future generations about the art of medicine and the importance of giving back to the community is something I enjoy doing to this day.”

“Growing up, I was always interested in the sciences, including the possibility of going into medicine. I did always have a love for helping people. However, the fuel that provided the initial spark was when I fell ill with severe Crohn’s disease at 13 years old and was hospitalized. Witnessing firsthand the daily heroics around me—from the smallest to the most life-changing and across the spectrum from nurses to physicians to laboratory staff to radiology technicians and many more—was powerful. Ultimately, pursuing medicine was the right path for me, and I’ve never looked back.”

TRACY BERCU, MD

Chief of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Lead Hospitalist “I was influenced by my father, who is a physician. When I was young, he would take me with him to the hospital when he saw his patients on the weekends. He always used medical terms around the house, and by the time I was 6 years old, he was having me give him his required monthly vitamin B12 shot. I always thought I would become a doctor; however, sometimes things change in life, and I became an engineer instead. Although I built a successful engineering career, I continually regretted not following what I felt was my true calling: becoming a doctor. Then I was diagnosed with breast cancer at a relatively young age, and I realized how short life can be. Because of this, I left engineering, went to medical school and became a physician and have never looked back. Being able to help others while using my firsthand knowledge of what it is like to be a patient is something I consider a gift and would not trade for anything in the world.”

GINA SULMEYER, MD

Exceutive Director of Medical Informatics “I was rescuing injured animals during my childhood and felt such joy when I could return them to their lives. Being a teacher and a healer has always been very fulfilling to me, and medicine gave me a path to accomplish both. Whether with my patients, peers, friends or family, I was inspired from a young age to help.” •

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GEORGE W. GRAHAM IN MEMORIAM

G

eorge W. Graham, Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s former chief executive officer (CEO), passed away on July 8. He served Torrance Memorial for three decades as administrator, president and CEO, and president emeritus. His visionary leadership brought advanced care to the South Bay, and his legacy leaves a lasting imprint on the hospital he rebuilt from the brink of insolvency in 1975.

Over the course of his career, George nurtured the advancement of the medical center by recruiting skilled medical staff and health care professionals and acquiring the latest medical technologies to ensure Torrance Memorial remained at the forefront of medical care. He sought to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and changing community and set the trajectory of excellence, which has allowed Torrance Memorial to be the regional medical center it is today.

George will be greatly missed, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.

In 2005, George W. Graham stepped down as president and CEO—handing over this role to longtime CFO and COO Craig Leach. Here, the two stand on the future site of the seven-story Lundquist Tower, completed in 2014.

2000 Digging in for the 2003 West Tower groundbreaking are William Averill, MD, chief of medical staff; Thomas Simko, MD, president of the Health Care Foundation board of directors; George W. Graham; Craig Leach; and William Collier, Jr., chairman of the board of trustees.

1970s & 1980s The late 1970s and 1980s ushered in many building projects and saw decisions that would forever change the face of the medical center. Significant projects completed during this time included the dedication of the new three-story East Wing, opened in 1978.

Just five years later, the five-story, 78-bed North Wing opened in 1983, increasing capacity to 325 beds.

1990s Torrance Memorial continued to meet the community’s need for services by opening the Outpatient Center in 1991 to accommodate the burgeoning number of outpatient surgeries and offer advanced treatment for cancer care and heart disease. Diagnostic imaging continued to grow with the expansion and dedication of the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Breast Diagnostic Center, named for several large donations by Vasek Polak in honor of his late wife.

1990

Patricia Sacks, MD, Robert Huber, MD, Sally Eberhard, senior vice president of planning and development, and George W. Graham bulldoze the way for the Polak Breast Diagnostic Center.

1983 The five-story, 78-bed North Wing opened in 1983, increasing capacity to 325 beds.

2000s George and his team planned for the growth of the medical center over the course of his three-decade career, and many of these ideas materialized in the years leading up to his retirement in 2005. With an eye on ensuring that excellent care and advanced technology would be available to the community in state-of-theart facilities, campus-wide expansion planning began. In 2000, an ambitious Growing for Our Community campus master plan was unveiled, and work began to make the West Tower and the Lundquist Tower a reality. •

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1980

An early 1977 Torrance Memorial Medical Center, prior to the campus’ explosive growth.

1975

Prog r e s s N ote s

FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES REMEMBER GEORGE

“I don’t know the people who ran the hospital during its first 50 years, but I would venture to say George Graham has had more impact on Torrance Memorial Medical Center than anyone in the history of the hospital. He laid a fantastic foundation for the future. He was a great leader, a great man. We will all miss him.”

CRAIG LEACH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, TORRANCE MEMORIAL

“My late husband, Dick Hoffman, MD, considered George the ‘savior’ of Torrance Memorial. Dick was in that small group that brought in George as a ‘consultant’ and then hired him permanently as the essential leader needed to bring the hospital out of disorder and financial disaster.

George was far from an ordinary leader.

He was gutsy, courageous, assertive, bold and he listened. He was a visionary way ahead of his time, making sound judgments and decisions quickly and taking calculated risks. He believed a first-rate radiology department was essential for the growth and reputation of the hospital and invested in advanced technology to attract the besttrained partners. The strength and respect the radiology department enjoys today is the flagship of the hospital and a reflection of the great pride and excellence George cultivated.”

CAROLE HOFFMAN

“George Graham was a man with a mission and a vision. His mission was to stabilize a financially shaky community hospital. His vision was to set Torrance Memorial on a path to becoming an excellent medical center. This would not have been possible without his intelligence, tenacity and grace, and the support of our community and current leadership. He was an amazing leader. Thank you, George.”

THOMAS SIMKO, MD

“When George came to Torrance Memorial, many hospitals had adversarial relationships between the hospital administration and the medical staff.

George respected the doctors and established a trusting relationship that allowed a team approach to move the hospital forward. We were good friends with George and Marion and shared many adventures. We miss them very much!”

ED BOLD, MD, AND PAULA BOLD

“I wasn’t here to see George’s righting of the then-listing Torrance Memorial ship. But I was around to see him bring it through the obstacle course of developing a first-rate medical center during his three decades at the helm. One word is often used to describe George: vision. He had the vision to build a solid system. He had the vision to expand the success he generated through the birth of managed care. And he had the vision to ensure his team would continue on the path to excellence. I’m grateful for the legacy he left us, and I’m proud to have personally worked with him.”

MARK LURIE, MD

“George invited me to join the board of trustees and later asked me to serve as chair of the board.

Thanks to his wisdom and the collective sound judgment of the magnificent leadership team he assembled, my association with Torrance Memorial Medical Center has never been cause for a single sleepless night. On the contrary, my association with George (both personal and professional) and the hospital has been a source of significant pride. Watching the growth and many accomplishments over the years, I only wish George were here today to see what his wisdom and vision shaped.”

BILL COLLIER

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Pro g r e s s N ote s

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXPANSION WILL ENHANCE ACCESS TO CARE A new two-story facility will incorporate advanced technology and double the number of beds while increasing safety and efficiency.

WRITTEN BY LISA BUFFINGTON

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or nearly 100 years, Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s Melanie and Richard Lundquist Emergency Department has provided award-winning, 24/7 care to South Bay residents—delivering critical health care services to more than 88,000 patients each year. In late 2023, Torrance Memorial will begin construction on a $40 million emergency department (ED) expansion project that will increase capacity, efficiency and access to emergency care.

Prog r e s s N ote s “Our ED has set the standard for exceptional and compassionate care in our community, and as a result we’ve seen consistent growth in the number of patients we serve each year,” says Gretchen Lent, MD, director of the Torrance Memorial ED. “Our team has done a remarkable job of making the most of our current space. An expanded, state-of-the-art ED will allow our team to more efficiently and effectively provide lifesaving care.”

The expanded emergency care facility, which is expected to open in 2026, will feature: • More than 80 treatment spaces including dedicated behavioral health rooms—double the department’s current capacity • A modular, open-concept design, including spaces that can be used for multiple purposes or modified depending on staff and patient needs • Rooms with glass partitions for enhanced viewing, safety, security and privacy • A pandemic-ready waiting room with two separate patient areas • Enhanced technology to improve efficiency and safety COLLABORATIVE PLANNING AND DESIGN WITH LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

New designs are underway to increase capacity, efficiency and access to emergency care.

Torrance Memorial took a collaborative approach to designing the new ED. In addition to hiring Huddy HealthCare Solutions—a firm that has designed more than 300 emergency departments worldwide—the Torrance Memorial planning team included physicians, nurses and support staff in the design process.

“We invited our ED team members to give us input and feedback from the very beginning, which was even better than putting ourselves in their shoes,” says Gina Sulmeyer, MD, executive director of clinical informatics at Torrance Memorial.

“Working with Huddy HealthCare Solutions and our team members will ensure we get the most innovative, efficient space with maximized capacity,” says Dr. Lent. “Together we will not only build the department of our dreams but a space designed with future needs in mind.”

Torrance Memorial’s remodeled ED will feature a unique, two-story design—making it one of only a few double-decker EDs in the country. The Torrance Memorial team is visiting other double-decker EDs to learn best practices for managing various processes in a two-story environment.

The new ED will also be equipped with state-ofthe-art technology designed to enhance efficiency and safety. “Our patient spaces will have wireless systems that can record conversations between doctors and patients, extract the relevant information, and then automatically enter a note in the patient’s electronic medical record so physicians can talk with patients more freely,” says Dr. Sulmeyer.

“Team member badges and patient identification bracelets will also be equipped with RFID trackers so we know where they are in our facility, when they enter and leave specific areas, and how to call for help if needed.”

A STATE-OF-THE-ART, HEALING SPACE

The Torrance Memorial ED team is thrilled to have the opportunity to work in a thoughtfully designed, healing space that pairs beautifully with the existing Lundquist Tower. But most of all, the team is looking forward to providing members of the community with enhanced access to emergency care for conditions including strokes, heart attacks, sepsis, accidents and more.

“Our new ED will be a reflection of our mission statement, which is to provide high-quality, timely and comprehensive emergency care, one patient at a time,” says Dr. Sulmeyer.

“Overall, it has been incredibly exciting, humbling and rewarding to be involved in creating the distinguished ED our team and community deserve,” says Dr. Lent. •

MELANIE AND RICHARD LUNDQUIST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT RECOGNITIONS

• Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center • Designated as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics • ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Receiving Center • Paramedic base station for Los Angeles County • One of only three certified Burn Treatment Centers in Los Angeles County • Recipient of the Lantern Award for extraordinary nursing care

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Advanced imaging changes the world of medicine by creating a road map for treating the precise location of the disease.

X-RAY SPECS High-tech imaging helps interventional radiologists find and fix life-threatening conditions.

WRITTEN BY JOHN FERRARI

F

rom head to toe. From arteries to brain

then treat the issue immediately if needed. “This

and spine. From slow-growing cancers to

reduces costs and recovery time, and pain and risk to

emergency blood clots. Torrance Memorial’s

patients who would otherwise need traditional open

interventional radiology (IR) specialists focus on everything— literally.

“We do minimally invasive procedures to diag-

Torrance Memorial’s IR suite allows physicians to use multiple imaging techniques—from fluo-

nose, treat and cure many types of illness,” explains

roscopy with low-dose X-rays to ultrasound and

diagnostic and interventional radiologist Richard

CT-equivalent scans—and to generate 3D images. This

Krauthamer, MD.

biplane capability, called that because images are

The hospital’s IR room combines diagnostic

generated in two planes at once, cuts in half the time

imaging capabilities and an operating room in a single

it takes to create a complete, digital representation of

location, giving interventional radiologists the ability

a patient’s limb, torso or head.

to look inside a patient’s body, make a diagnosis and

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surgery,” Dr. Krauthamer says.

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Cli n i cal S potli g ht

“For example, if someone is having a major stroke, we can inject a contrast dye fluid to pinpoint where the blockage is in the brain, image it, and get simultaneous head-on and profile views,” explains Dr. Krauthamer. “This cuts our diagnosis time in half because we don’t have to move the X-ray tube. There aren’t many hospitals outside a university setting with that kind of high-end capability.”

As a medical specialty, IR is used to diagnose and treat illnesses ranging from stroke to cancer. The common factor is conditions that need to be identified within the body. With such versatile capabilities, the IR suite is in use “from early in the morning until nighttime,” Dr. Krauthamer says. “We’ve outgrown the one room, and we’ve really needed to have a second room.”

Now, thanks to a generous gift from the Turpanjian family, Torrance Memorial is constructing a second IR suite. The IR technology, combined with construction and infrastructure costs needed to support it, isn’t cheap. The total cost will be near $5.1 million.

But, says Dr. Krauthamer, it’ll be worth it. “Physically, the rooms are side by side, so we can share our nursing staff and technologists. And we’re using similar equipment in both rooms. The control rooms are right next to each other. It makes for a lot of efficiencies.”

The IR room is expected to be complete and ready to use in early 2023. “It’s a big endeavor we are embarking on,” says interventional radiologist George So, MD. “The new IR suite will be one of the most advanced interventional biplane suites in existence, allowing us to treat many conditions—including stroke, cancer and pain—with increased efficiency, improved patient outcomes and, ultimately, lives saved. It will incorporate new technology, and it will be ready for the future technology we know is coming.”

Dr. So adds: “That’s only possible through the support of donors and our local community. This would not happen if the hospital didn’t have funding. We are so fortunate to have donors like the Turpanjian family.”

Embolisms, or blood clots, are a prime example of the life-threatening conditions IR technology can diagnose and treat. “The IR suite allows us to perform minimally invasive angioplasties to unblock vessels,” Dr. Krauthamer says.

“We can also shut down vessels in people who have bleeding ulcers, for example.

We can use different devices to remove clots in the heart, lung or brain, or the upper thigh, pelvis or inferior vena cava vein, which runs to the heart. We can also direct medication to clots.”

IR also allows for more options in the treatment of various cancers, explains vascular and interventional radiologist Donny Baek, MD. “It adds to our repertoire and toolbox for treating cancers.”

Chemoembolization, for example, involves inserting a small catheter into an artery to deliver a cytotoxic agent directly to a malignant tumor, starving it of its blood supply. Another treatment option, tumor ablation, either heats or freezes the tumor.

IR imaging technology also gives physicians the precision to surgically block pain in cancer patients and other patients.

“We can put in nerve blocks and treat that chronic, severe pain,” Dr. Baek says. “The advanced imaging tools we have allow us to target nerve plexus areas deep within the body. For example, advanced pancreatic cancer can cause pain that requires round-the-clock narcotic medication. We can use a variety of techniques to help us localize the celiac plexus, which is usually invisible or shows as a very thin line on CT, and neutralize it.”

Combining an IR imaging suite and an operating room benefits interventional radiologists as they complete operations, as well as before and during procedures.

“After treating, right on the table we can now obtain a coned-beam CT, which provides us with CT-like images to allow us to evaluate the treatment and identify any remaining tumor,” Dr. Baek explains.

“This allows us to make a lot of decisions we weren’t able to make at the time of the procedure before. It’s more effective, and from a patient care standpoint there’s a huge benefit.”

He adds: “Our existing IR suite is highly utilized. We definitely need another room.

We’re really lucky to be getting it.” •

Torrance Memorial’s new $5.1 million Interventional Radiology (IR) suite, which will complement the hospital’s existing IR suite, is scheduled to be completed in early 2023.

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Britney Mula’s medical team (from left): Brian Sherman, MD, George So, MD, fiancé Timothy Webb, Britney, baby Savannah and Cheryl Sanders, MD.

SPECIAL DELIVERY A Torrance Memorial team performs minimally invasive surgery, saving the lives of a new mom and daughter.

WRITTEN BY JOHN FERRARI | PHOTOGRAPHED BY VINCENT RIOS

P

regnancy can be an emotional time, and that’s normal. Scary isn’t normal, but sometimes pregnancy can be scary. Scary is what happened to Britney Mula and her fiancé, Timothy Webb, as they awaited the arrival of their baby girl, Savannah. Thanks to quick thinking and a high-tech intervention, this scary situation has a happy ending.

As Britney recalls, the first 35 weeks of her pregnancy “were super easy—it was great.” But in early April, five weeks away from a full-term pregnancy, her left leg felt sore. She had exercised that day and

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chalked it up to a good workout.

Over the next three days, however, the pain became steadily worse, and Britney went to see her OB-GYN, Cheryl Sanders, MD, of Torrance Memorial Physician Network. In less than five minutes, an ultrasound revealed an extensive blood clot.

Dr. Sanders called in Torrance Memorial’s interventional radiology (IR) team, and Britney was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

That’s a serious condition for anyone, but especially for Britney, says interventional radiologist George So, MD.

Cli n i cal S potli g ht First, the blockage was large, extending from Britney’s calf to below her abdomen. Second, there’s always the potential for a blood clot to dislodge and travel to the lung’s pulmonary artery, becoming a pulmonary embolism. The pressures associated with childbirth increase the potential for this life-threatening condition. At the same time, placing Britney on anticoagulants to manage the blockage and pain medication to manage her symptoms was potentially dangerous for a pregnant woman.

Although a pregnancy of 39 to 40 weeks is ideal, Dr. Sanders says delivery at 37 weeks is considered early full-term. Could Britney’s delivery be delayed for at least two weeks, even with a serious embolism?

With Britney’s agreement, Dr. Sanders and Dr. So decided to admit her to the labor and delivery department for two weeks while administering medication for the DVT. At 37 weeks, they would induce labor and, immediately following delivery, operate to remove the clot. Correctly timing when to stop and restart the medications would be crucial.

At 37 weeks, after an induced labor was unsuccessful, Savannah was safely delivered via C-section.

Just hours later, Britney was wheeled into Torrance Memorial’s IR suite to remove the 30-inch blood clot using minimally invasive surgery made possible by the Inari ClotTriever—a specialized device designed specifically to remove DVT embolisms.

The device and the Inari FlowTriever, designed to remove pulmonary embolisms, are at the leading edge of treatment for blood clots, Dr. So says. “Most hospitals do not have an interventional radiologist, and only a small number of hospitals have these Inari devices. With them, thrombectomies can be performed as outpatient surgeries without the need for the patient to stay in the ICU. The procedure is very quick, and there’s much lower risk.”

In Britney’s case, “The plan worked out beautifully,” he says. Her pain disappeared as soon as the procedure was complete. “Honestly it was a really easy procedure,” Britney recalls.

The Inari ClotTriever and FlowTriever are game changers in the treatment of blood clots, says Brian Sherman, MD, a Torrance Memorial medical/surgical intensivist and chair of the critical care department.

Treated with these devices, patients “immediately feel better on the table, and you’ve instantaneously saved their lives,” he explains.

The devices are part of Torrance Memorial’s

Timothy, Britney and baby Savannah when she was 3 months old.

campaign to better serve the South Bay by being a regional center of excellence for cardiogenic shock and pulmonary embolism, a multidisciplinary program including IR, pulmonary and cardiac critical care, and the emergency room.

“The program allows us to diagnose patients with cardiac shock or large pulmonary embolisms causing shock and direct them to immediate lifesaving procedures,” Dr. Sherman says. “We have an array of tools here, from anticoagulant medicines to catheter-directed thrombolysis and the Inari device, assisted if needed by the Impella device and the ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) support system.

So for patients like Britney, we can remove clots without anticoagulation or the risk of bleeding from clot-busting drugs.”

Beyond the latest technology though, what Torrance Memorial patients see is the compassionate care they’re getting from dedicated physicians, nurses and specialty support teams. “The team is absolutely amazing,” Britney says. “I don’t think I could’ve gotten better care anywhere in the world.” •

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Lindsey Ross, MD, Mina Diaz and Paula Eboli, MD

TORRANCE MEMORIAL EMPLOYEE RECEIVES SECOND CHANCE TO WALK PAIN-FREE After complex spine surgery to treat a genetic condition, Mina Diaz, 44, is back at work and grateful to the team of clinicians who made her recovery possible.

WRITTEN BY LISA BUFFINGTON | PHOTOGRAPHED BY VINCENT RIOS

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I

n her 22 years working as a unit secretary in the Torrance Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department (ED), Mina Diaz has never called in sick.

But in March 2021, she began to experience nerve pain that radiated down the back of her leg, making it difficult for her to walk, work and perform her normal activities.

As a member of the ED’s Stroke Committee, Mina worked closely with Paula Eboli, MD, medical director of Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Neurosciences Institute Neuroendovascular Surgery Program. Dr. Eboli is a neurosurgeon who provides general spine care and specializes in treating neurovascular conditions such as aneurysms and stroke.

“I told Dr. Eboli, ‘I think I have to come and see you’,” says Mina, who had already tried anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy to manage her pain.

A SURGICAL SOLUTION FOR A GENETIC SPINAL CONDITION

Mina scheduled an office visit with Dr. Eboli, who ordered an MRI. The MRI revealed Mina had a genetic, degenerative spinal condition called pars defect/spondylosis, which causes the spine to become damaged and leads to stress fractures, muscular weakness, and problems with spinal discs and joints.

“Not everyone with this condition has pain, but Dr. Eboli told me if you’re going to have problems, they usually occur in your 40s,” said Mina, who is now 44. “I was miserable.”

“We decided to try a nerve block and steroid injections to see if that would help relieve Mina’s pain,” says Dr. Eboli, who referred Mina to Torrance Memorial interventional radiologists Donny Baek, MD, and George So, MD. Although Mina’s nerve block and injections helped for a few months, the relief didn’t last. By this time, she was unable to

bear weight on her left GRATITUDE FOR A SECOND leg, causing it to drag CHANCE when she walked.

Mina came through the Dr. Eboli referred seven-hour procedure her to Lindsey Ross, flawlessly and was able to MD, who specializes in walk a few steps the next complex spine surgery. day. She spent five days in Dr. Eboli and Dr. Ross the hospital before returning are Cedars-Sinai home, where she received neurosurgeons who several weeks of occupabring their expertise tional and physical therapy.

Never underestimate a woman to South Bay patients She wore a back brace and with a bionic spine. through the affiliation used a walker for a month, of Cedars-Sinai and followed by a cane for Torrance Memorial. another month.

“I needed to have surgery, and when Throughout her recovery, Mina says Dr. Eboli referred me to Dr. Ross, I knew the encouragement she received from her she would take the best care of me,” says Torrance Memorial coworkers and prayers Mina. “I was also relieved to be able to from family and friends kept her going. have my surgery at Torrance Memorial— She says there wasn’t a day that went by close to home and among familiar people when she didn’t receive a text from someand surroundings.” one asking how she was doing. Although “When I met Mina, I could see the it was tough to be away from work and problem in her spine right away, and I her normal activities, Mina’s experience knew the surgical solution I was offering gave her a new appreciation for things she was going to help,” says Dr. Ross. previously took for granted.

“By month three, I was walking a mile COMPLEX SURGERY YIELDS a day,” she says. “By month five, I was OUTSTANDING RESULTS able to come back to work, and today, Three days before her birthday, Mina at month six, I am back to my everyday underwent a two-stage, minimally activities and exercise routine with only a invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion few restrictions.” procedure. By her side, were Dr. Eboli, Dr. “Mina was an excellent patient, and Ross, vascular surgeon Amir Kaviani, MD, she did really well. Her story illustrates and anesthesiologist Ronald Rothstein, MD. how the Torrance Memorial team takes “Mina’s surgery was complex because we care of every patient in our community had to access the spine in two stages—from who needs our help,” says Dr. Ross, who both the front and the back of her body—to points out Mina’s complete recovery make the repair,” says Dr. Ross. “Having Dr. will take a year or 18 months. She will Kaviani on our team was critical because continue to follow up with Mina until the we needed him to move Mina’s major two-year mark. blood vessels out of the way so we could “I would choose the Torrance Memorial access her spine through her abdomen.” team all over again,” says Mina. “They And although Mina says she was gave me a second chance to walk without nervous before her procedure, she felt pain, and I will forever be thankful to all confident that her surgical team would the surgeons who made this possible. I am take excellent care of her. so blessed.” •

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E ve ry d o nati o n Co u nts

LAURIE ANDERSON CAR DONATION Knowing her late husband, Keith, would be supportive of her decision, Volunteer Auxiliary member Laurie Anderson chose to donate his 2012 Mercedes Benz C250 Sedan to Torrance Memorial.

Using the services of CarDana (cardana.co), the car was picked up on a Thursday afternoon and sold the next day! Ten days later, Torrance Memorial Foundation received a check for $8,350. Laurie then made an additional donation to round up the gift to $10,000. “CarDana made it so easy,” Laurie says, “and a charity never receives less than 70% of the proceeds from the car donation.”

LAWNDALE ROTARY SUPPORTS PEDIATRIC UNIT With its strong commitment to supporting the community, Lawndale Rotary Club raises funds throughout the year so they can give back.

President Shirley Giltzow and member Sandra Horwitz delivered books and activity kits on two occasions for the pediatrics department at Torrance Memorial.

Child life specialist Gina Sievert, Sandra Horwitz, Shirley Giltzow, sitter tech Abby Gonzalez

JACK KRAMER CLUB – TENNIS TOURNAMENT The historic Jack Kramer Club in Rolling Hills Estates hosted the fourth of six events in the USTA/SCTA professional tennis championships June 27 through July 3. This SoCal Pro Circuit series helps prepare future stars for a career in professional tennis. A percentage of the sponsorship proceeds in the amount of $2,500 was donated to Torrance Memorial by the Jack Kramer Club.

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E ve ry d o nati o n Co u nts

MYCHAL’S LEARNING PLACE COOKIES Mychal’s Learning Place creates a safe environment to support its belief that children and young adults with developmental disabilities are valuable contributors to our community. Social enterprises of printing and embroidery, bakery and coffee, and The Café at Torrance Memorial’s Specialty Center provide opportunities for training and employment. Mychal’s regularly donated hundreds of chocolate chip cookies for staff to enjoy since the beginning of the pandemic.

INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEMONADE DAY

Greyson Winyarat and Blake Kawazoe present their donation to EVP of the Foundation, Laura Schenasi.

Kate McLaughlin, Caelyn Griffith, Max Curtin

Lemonade Day is a fun, experiential national program teaching youth how to start, own and operate their very own business: a lemonade stand. This year, fifth graders Greyson Winyarat (son of Susan Lieb) and Blake Kawazoe participated in the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship by setting up their business, learning essential skills like financial literacy, goal setting and teamwork. They donated 10% of their proceeds to the Torrance Memorial pediatrics department and purchased coloring books and crayons.

B&G Lemonade Day stand is open for business!

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Cover Story

Lisa and Chuck Noski enjoy taking bicycle trips with friends both locally and abroad.

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A LEDGER OF GOOD DEEDS Accounting pros Lisa and Chuck Noski share their resources and knowledge.

WRITTEN BY NANCY SOKOLER STEINER | PHOTOGRAPHED BY VINCENT RIOS

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harles (Chuck) Noski was only 11 years old when his father sat him down and said it was time for him to choose a career. “I think you should be a CPA,” said his father. To which Chuck promptly responded, “What’s that?”

The youngster went to the library to research what a certified public accountant does. Impressed when he learned a college graduate in the field could earn as much as $10,000 a year, Chuck concluded accounting might just be the right profession for him.

His father’s suggestion turned out to be sound advice. Chuck went on to earn his undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting and embarked on a career that would find him in top leadership positions at leading companies including AT&T, Bank of America, Hughes and Northrop Grumman.

Now retired, Chuck and his wife Lisa—a practicing CPA before stepping away to raise their two daughters—enjoy mentoring accounting majors through their involvement with California State University, Northridge and advancing health care as proud supporters of Torrance Memorial Medical Center.

GETTING THEIR START

After young Chuck received his dad’s advice and checked out the accounting profession, he says, “I agreed that was a good choice for me, and for the next 30 years, that’s what I pursued.” He took bookkeeping and business machines classes in high school, then enrolled at Cal State Northridge as an accounting major.

Upon graduation, he took a position with Haskins

& Sells (now Deloitte), one of the then Big Eight accounting firms. Ten years later, at the age of 30, Chuck made partner in the firm.

Lisa also had a clear idea of her career choice from an early age. She planned to become a dentist and enrolled in the predental program at UCLA. A family emergency prompted her to change course.

She wanted to find a major that would allow her to graduate ready for employment, rather than invest four additional years in dental school. So halfway through her junior year, she switched her major to economics, attending summer sessions to complete all the requirements in time for graduation.

She began working for Security Pacific National Bank, then moved to the corporate offices of A.J. Industries, a multi-industry manufacturing company headquartered in Brentwood that was later sold. It was there Chuck and Lisa met. Her company was one of Chuck’s clients.

After the pair started dating, Chuck offered Lisa the same advice his father had given him: he urged her to become a CPA. That didn’t scare Lisa away. She began studying for her license, which she earned after she and Chuck were wed at Wayfarers Chapel in 1982.

They moved from Northridge to the South Bay and have lived in Palos Verdes ever since. The pair maintain an active lifestyle that includes golf and biking, both locally and abroad. They enjoy taking adventure travel bicycle trips with friends that provide close-up views of some of the world’s most scenic areas as well as wine-tasting excursions in California and Europe.

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GROWING FAMILIES AND BUILDING CAREERS

After 17 years at Deloitte, Chuck’s largest client, Hughes, recruited him to join them. He accepted a corporate controller position and went on to become chief financial officer (CFO) and then president of the company. During his early years at Hughes, he earned his master’s degree in accountancy at Cal State Northridge by attending classes at night.

He later joined AT&T as CFO, commuting weekly from home to New Jersey for three years. He attempted to retire at the age of 50 but was soon recruited by Northrop Grumman as CFO. After another attempt at retirement, Chuck later became CFO of Bank of America, where he again commuted across the country, this time to Charlotte, North Carolina.

He retired “for real” at age 60 and continues to serve on corporate boards of major companies. Over the past 20-plus years Chuck has served on several boards, including AT&T, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Northrop Grumman and Wells Fargo.

Meanwhile, Lisa worked in the tax field for 10 years. When Chuck started traveling extensively, she decided to stay home with their then-2-year-old daughter, Michelle. Younger sister Jennifer arrived four years later.

Today Michelle works in public relations advising luxury resorts and hotels and serves as the family’s vacation planner extraordinaire. Jennifer hewed closer to her parents’ field, studying accounting at NYU and is a manager with Chuck’s former employer, Deloitte.

Both sisters and their husbands live in Dallas.

They have traveled with Lisa and Chuck on numerous occasions, including a 2018 trip to Paris before either daughter had married. “Not only did we have a lot of fun together, but we got to see how our daughters and their longtime boyfriends interacted.

It was a great way to get to know our future sons-inlaw,” says Chuck.

The three couples have a tradition of leaving on Christmas Eve for a weeklong trip. “We’re usually on an airplane having dinner together Christmas Eve, then we go to sleep and wake up in a new city,” says Lisa. Destinations have included Marrakesh, London and Napa.

A BELIEF IN GIVING BACK

Lisa and Chuck place a high value on philanthropy and have shared that priority with their daughters.

Both girls participated in the National Charity League

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(NCL), a program of service for grades 7–12. The organization provides opportunities for mothers and daughters to volunteer with local and national nonprofits and helps the adolescents develop leadership skills. Lisa worked in the NCL Thrift Shop for 12 years during her daughters’ successive terms.

The Noskis are longtime members of the Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, recently working the Portuguese Bend Horse Show in Rolling Hills Estates.

Cal State Northridge alumnus Chuck is a director emeritus of the board of the CSUN Foundation, and the couple helped fund a campus building, now christened the Charles H. Noski and Lisa J. Noski Auditorium. They also support other on-campus initiatives. About eight years ago, they decided to start a scholarship program for accounting students in financial need.

“I held three part-time jobs when I was in college,” says Chuck. “I was envious of the full-time students

Michelle, Jennifer, Lisa and Chuck Noski celebrating Jennifer’s wedding weekend.

Enjoying the sunset and wine on a recent trip to Italy.

who could be involved in campus organizations and have a richer experience. I wanted to make that possible for students in similar situations.”

The Noskis grant four full scholarships to four accounting students each year. The students must maintain a B average to receive funding each subsequent year. Their only other requirements, Chuck tells recipients, are to “work hard, graduate and, at some point, give back to students like yourself when you can.”

About 30 students have now received a Noski Family Scholarship. “It’s an amazing group of young people,” says Chuck, who notes most are the first in their families to attend college, and some are even the first to complete high school.

Noski Family Scholarship alumni stay in touch with the Noskis and form a de facto support group amongst themselves. “Chuck mentors them from day one,” says Lisa. Chuck adds, “This is the most satisfying thing I’ve done in my career.”

As for their connection to Torrance Memorial, “Our initial exposure was 12 years ago when I was thrown from my horse and broke my collarbone,” recounts Lisa. (She and daughter Jennifer ride Dutch Warmblood horses.) “At the emergency department, I was taken in immediately and treated for my pain and a very badly fractured clavicle. My orthopedist of choice, Dr. Stephen Nuccion, who had treated Chuck for two rotator cuff surgeries, happened to be at the hospital and treated me immediately. This was the beginning of our very positive impression of Torrance Memorial. We decided to get involved after that experience.”

The Noskis are Patrons of the Torrance Memorial Foundation as well as Ambassadors who donate annually to fund care in neuroscience, orthopedics, cancer and cardiovascular disease. “We are impressed by and grateful for the leadership, the organization and the caregivers of Torrance Memorial,” says Lisa about the couple’s decision to become Patrons.

She has high regard for the Polak Breast Diagnostic Center, which provides screening and diagnostic services to women in the South Bay through 60,000 annual exams provided in four community locations.

“I am very appreciative of their state-of-the-art equipment, and it gives me comfort and confidence I am getting the best care for good health,” she says.

“And it is so easy—a very small time commitment!”

Lisa recently attended an Ambassador-sponsored program featuring board-certified internist and cardiologist Nadia Curran, MD. “She educated a group of women about the importance of women’s cardiac care and how heart challenges are a bigger mortality risk for women than cancer,” says Lisa. “Dr. Curran did a fabulous job of making everyone feel comfortable and welcome to ask personal questions.”

The Noskis are also grateful for the care Lisa’s father received through Torrance Memorial’s hospice program in 2021. “I had no idea the breadth and support hospice could offer,” says Lisa. “Everybody was so caring and kind and professional. The nurses, the 24-hour phone support, the chaplain and the doctor gave me the confidence we were doing everything we could for my father. I never imagined I’d have that kind of support which helped make me feel I was never alone.”

In addition to appreciating the care provided at Torrance Memorial, the Noskis have high regard for president and CEO Craig Leach. “Craig and I both started our careers at Deloitte and have stayed in touch,” says Chuck. “He is an exceptional leader and an important force driving the hospital forward.

Health care in the U.S. is a changing landscape, and Craig has done a great job of keeping Torrance Memorial Medical Center foot-forward.”

It appears in the case of the Noskis, father really does know best. A piece of sage advice given to a young boy blossomed into two gratifying careers.

And thanks to the generosity of the couple who pursued those careers, many lives have been changed for the better. •

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PACK LEADER Pat Carlson has been Torrance Memorial’s resident dog whisperer for more than 20 years.

WRITTEN BY DIANE KRIEGER

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or someone who claims to never have been sick a day in her life, Pat Carlson spends an awful lot of time in the hospital. She measures her visits in miles, not days.

“I use my pedometer religiously,” says the longtime Torrance Memorial volunteer leader and Ambassador.

Pat averages around 2,800 steps per trip, usually with Quincy, a Tibetan terrier, or Kylie, a Briard herding dog, by her side.

For more than 20 years, Pat and her well-mannered, impeccably groomed dogs have fronted the hospital’s much-loved Pet Visitation Program. It began in 1999, building on a service for patients in the hospital’s former psychiatric unit. The first eight visitation dogs and their handlers were chosen from 40 candidate pairs. Pat and her Briard-Beardie mix, Chloe, were among them.

In 2005, Pat stepped up as program chair, and Chloe became her training partner. Together they helped prepare the next generation of volunteers.

“Chloe gave 13 years to this hospital,” says the Malaga Cove resident. Since Chloe passed away in 2013, Quincy and Kylie have taken up the baton.

They come at least twice a month, but usually sneak in extra visits under the 24-hour bath rule.

“With one bath, I can do back-to-back shifts,” Pat explains. “If I wash my dog Monday morning and he stays clean, we can come back on Tuesday.”

In addition to volunteer shifts with Quincy and Kylie, Pat screens all new candidates and their dogs.

She trains those that meet her rigorous standard, introduces them to the hospital and shadows each team through their first three months of visitation.

There are currently 15 dogs in the program, and some weeks Pat is at Torrance Memorial three or four

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times. After more than 22 years walking the units, she knows everyone.

A retired dental tech and former Gail Jewelers salesperson, Pat has no formal canine training experience, but she has spent her entire life around dogs—starting with the family dachshunds. The child of Swedish immigrants, Pat was born in Los Angeles during the post-war boom and grew up in Westchester.

Her father, Vic Melin, was an aerospace engineer who started his own business manufacturing airplane parts. Her mother, Kathleen, was a homemaker with an adventurous spirit. Before the war, she had seen exotic palm trees on a travel poster in a Stockholm travel agency and resolved to someday live “there.”

Pat Carlson is all smiles with her beloved Tibetan terrier, Quincy.

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All the Melins were builders. Pat’s brother, Carl, became an engineer like his dad. Pat had an artistic streak, so after graduating from St. Mary’s Academy High School, she enrolled in a USC-affiliated technical school where she learned the “hidden art” of making porcelain teeth.

She met her husband, Dick Carlson, through an aunt who waitressed at the San Pedro restaurant where he and his partner were lunch regulars. An engineer, Dick led Komax Systems, the manufacturing company he cofounded in the 1970s. They’ve been married for 42 years, and though Pat has no children of her own, she has three grandchildren and five great-grandkids thanks to stepson Donald Carlson and stepdaughter Barbara Clark.

In the early days, the couple lived in Redondo Beach and Pat worked as a dental ceramist in Beverly Hills. But after 15 years of that unpleasant commute, she made an abrupt career change. Stopping one day at Gail Jewelers to get a chain necklace repaired, she fell into conversation with the owner and ended up applying for a seasonal job as a gift wrapper. Soon she was learning the trade and moving into sales. She stayed until retiring in 2004.

The best part of working in jewelry, she found, was “everybody’s happy. Everyone has a smile on their face.”

Ironically, Pat seldom wears jewelry herself, but she enjoyed the customers’ energy. She likens it to the hospital nursery—another place where smiles are ubiquitous.

It was curiosity that first brought Pat to Torrance Memorial. Never having been sick in her life, she wanted to meet patients. “I’m also an ER junkie,” she admits. “I love to watch hospital TV shows.”

Starting as a general “blue jacket” volunteer, she later moved into the ER but found it wasn’t “active enough. I wanted to be really busy,” she says.

When she heard of the dog visitation program, Pat pounced. After Chloe sailed through the vet screening with flying colors, Pat brought in Tucker, her Maltese, to be evaluated. She learned an important lesson about hospital dog volunteering that day: It has to be a team effort. “Tucker was a great dog, but he just didn’t want to be there,” she recalls.

How could she tell? “It’s pretty obvious when you have a dog that’s going toward the door the minute he arrives,” she says.

Chloe, however, was a natural. She had a repertoire of 25 tricks, from jumping through hula hoops to playing a toy piano (Pat used to carry the props around with her.)

Chloe’s successor, Kylie, also performs tricks. Though she doesn’t tickle the ivories, she’ll gladly weave poles,

turn circles, back up, sit-up pretty, salute and take a bow— to the delight of patients, their families and the nurses, doctors and hospital staff who attend to their needs.

Dick is proud of the work his wife and their dogs do at Torrance Memorial, and he supports their desire to do even more. Seven years ago she suggested they become donors, and the Carlsons have been Ambassadors ever since.

Pat’s relationship with the Torrance Memorial Foundation goes back at least a dozen years. That’s when she started the tradition of Dogs on the Catwalk—a highlight of the annual Holiday Festival. During the popular fashion show luncheon, a half-dozen stylish visitation dogs accompany festival volunteers on the runway, decked out in matching scarves and costumes.

In the runup to the show, Pat carefully identifies dog-people among the volunteer models, pairs each with the appropriate visitation dog and drills the duo in a dress rehearsal. On the day of the luncheon, Pat crouches at one end of the runway, and Sandy VandenBerge from the Torrance Memorial Foundation office kneels at the other—ready to leap should a volunteer stumble or a dog slip its leash.

That, mercifully, hasn’t happened, but Pat recalls a scene that caught her off guard some years ago. A woman had approached her after the luncheon, checkbook in hand, and announced, “I want to adopt this dog,” pointing at Chloe. Pat stared in confusion, then burst into laughter.

The woman had mistaken Chloe for a silent auction item.

“I told her, ‘No, she’s not for sale.’ The poor woman was mortified,” Pat recalls, chuckling.

Pat runs the Pet Visitation Program without any assistance and with a minimal budget. “It’s just me,” she says, though she credits Volunteer Services leaders Mary Matson and Ruth Velasco (now retired) as dedicated partners.

The work brings her deep satisfaction. “It’s not about me,” she says. “It’s about the wonderful people who come and do this. I just want to make it as easy as possible and make sure their dogs are happy.” Aside from comforting patients and staff, Pat sees the pet visitation program as a gateway to personal growth.

Last year a new program volunteer had confided she was uncomfortable around sick people. That’s OK, Pat reassured her. Dogs are excellent icebreakers. “It took about six months,” Pat says, “and she’s now very comfortable. I love that part—having somebody gain confidence in themselves to meet all these new people at the hospital.

And then go on their own journey.” •

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F utu r e Fo cu s

DEL McCULLOCH

A LIFE OF LAUGHTER AND COMPASSION WRITTEN BY MELANI MOROSE EDELSTEIN

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Laughter is the secret to life for 93-year-old Del McCulloch.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY BENEFITS

With your charitable gift annuity donation to Torrance Memorial Foundation, you receive income for life starting immediately or at a future date you designate. The annuity rate paid is determined by your age and is higher in comparison to your savings account or certificate of deposit. You receive an immediate charitable tax deduction, and the income received is partially tax-free. For more information contact Sandy VandenBerge at 310-784-4843 or Sandy.VandenBerge@tmmc.com.

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assion is an energy source for living an inspired life. Unlocking passion can lead to happiness, providing life with meaning, energy and freedom.

As Del McCulloch, an astute altruistic Torrance Memorial Patron explains, passion isn’t about pursuing the one thing you love. Instead, it’s about finding love in what you do and laughing along the way.

“Laughter is the secret to life. I have even heard it relieves pain. If you’re fortunate enough not to have any pain, like me at the moment, and you can’t think of anything to laugh about, then laugh at yourself like I do,” explains the lively 93-year-old.

McCulloch, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley, recently moved from her home in Redondo Beach to Merrill Gardens in Palos Verdes. She makes the most of every moment and strongly believes in taking life one day at a time. She explains her philosophy: “Anything can happen, which is why I moved. I was living alone, so I figured I would make some decisions while I could still control things.”

Her dedication to philanthropy fulfills McCulloch on many levels. “The charitable gift annuities, which I have with several charities including Torrance Memorial, are a great way to earn income while still giving back, and they make me feel good,” she says, delighted.

McCulloch regularly engages with her friends and neighbors both in person and online and fills her calendar with travel and adventure. “There is always so much to learn. I like the internet, watching videos and learning a new word daily on my iPad,” she says.

After losing her beloved husband, Paul, 27 years ago, she was looking for a way to pass the time.

So she packed her bags and embarked on travel

F utu r e Focu s

adventures—building upon her world experience working for the State Department before she married.

“The pandemic slowed things a bit, but it has picked up. I went to Denali last year. This year I’ve been to South Africa and Namibia, and to Alaska on a Viking ship. I went to England, Scotland and Wales, and I’m a movie buff, so soon I’m taking a Turner Classic movie cruise. I love classic movies. Back in the day, we didn’t need all that violence and swearing to get our point across; that’s why the classic movies are so great,” she says as she makes further plans to spend Christmas and New Year’s with friends of 70 years in Mexico City.

When asked to be profiled for the planned giving program at Torrance Memorial, she was hesitant to agree, stating she doesn’t have much to share except her zest for life!

“In a nutshell, I am a conservationist and compassionate for my fellow man—hence my support of health care and the preservation of our planet.

That’s not very exciting,” says Del. Respectfully, many people disagree.

Del’s selfless ways of donating her time, money, experience, skills and talent to create a better world convey the impression of an extraordinarily accomplished life of gracious generosity. •

Financial Health Seminars* Seminars are scheduled to be held in person on Saturdays, 9 to 11 a.m.

Hoffman Health Conference Center 3315 Medical Center Drive, Torrance Information & RSVP: 310-517-4728 January 14 Individual Taxation: Wrapping Up 2022 and Planning for 2023 March 11 Professional Fiduciaries and Their Role May 13 Why Estate Planning is Still Important *Dates and topics are subject to change.

THE PROPOSITION 19 SURPRISE WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE F. BEZNER, ESQ.

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roposition 19 was adopted by voters in November 2020 and became law in February 2021. While this means more flexibility for homeowners over age 55 to maintain their property tax basis when moving, all Californians have far fewer options for transferring their properties to their children.

Before Proposition 19 was adopted, parents could transfer their primary residence and other properties to their children without property tax reassessment as long as the sum of the assessed value of other properties did not exceed $1 million (there was no cap on the primary residence). Now parents can no longer transfer other properties to their children without property tax reassessment and are limited in their ability to transfer their primary residence. The transfer of a primary residence from parents to children will only escape reassessment if the fair market value of the property on the date of transfer does not exceed the assessed value of the property plus $1 million and a child makes the residence their primary residence.

Gone are the days when children can keep their parents’ house as a rental property with low property taxes. The new law also means some children who live with their parents will be unable to continue living in their parents’ residence without a large property tax reassessment. Take, for example, parents who purchased their home in the South Bay 46 years ago for $75,000 and the property is now worth $2 million. The assessed value of the parents’ house for property tax purposes would now be approximately $183,000, based upon the 2% per year increase under Proposition 13.

If their child lived with them, they might gift the property to such child at the time of the death of the surviving spouse. Before Proposition 19, the child would have kept the same property tax basis.

Now, because the property is worth more than $1.183 million, the child would have a modified property tax basis of $1 million (the difference between current market value of $2 million and $1.183 million, which is $817,000 plus the original assessed value of $183,000). This would result in a more than five-time increase in property taxes!

Parents can undertake some planning during life to mitigate the impacts of Proposition 19, but when leaving real property to children, the landscape has changed dramatically.

Stephanie Bezner is an attorney and partner with DoanBezner in Rancho Palos Verdes and a member of Torrance Memorial’s Professional Advisory Council. Contact her at 310-541-4076 or stephanie@doan-bezner.com.

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YPPA YPPA PLAY-BY-PLAY:

JUGGLING PRESENT-MOMENT AWARENESS WITH FUTURE EMERGENCY NEEDS WRITTEN BY LAURA ROE STEVENS

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rian Miura, MD, knows a thing or two about present-moment awareness. In fact, as an emergency medicine physician for the past 25 years who also serves as one of the medical directors for the Torrance Memorial Emergency Department and urgent care centers, he says the heightened focus needed for emergency medicine is what he enjoys most about the field.

“Every patient is a new experience and opportunity to help someone in need. In a short period of time, we need to gain their trust, investigate their symptoms and develop a list of possible diagnoses.

It’s nice to be the investigator, or sleuth, who is trying to figure out the cause of their symptoms and then do the appropriate workup,” Dr. Miura explains. “And once we’ve made a diagnosis, we can initiate the appropriate treatment and decide whether they can go home or need to be admitted.”

While each patient’s case is unique, requiring full attention by physicians and staff, Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s Emergency Department (ED) and its three urgent care centers (in Manhattan Beach, Torrance and now El Segundo) are treating more patients this year. The recent uptick means expanded multitasking for staff.

Brian Miura, MD, hiking Sólheimajökull glacier in South Iceland

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YPPA

“To put it into perspective, currently we’re seeing 8,000 patients in the ED and 2,800 patients in the urgent care centers each month,” he reports. “That’s 130,000 patients annually who are seeking acute medical care.”

Dr. Miura estimates some of the rises in urgent care patients are due to COVID-19, back-to-school colds and other flu-like illnesses. Another reason for the surge in ED and urgent care patients is people recognize Torrance Memorial as the premiere hospital in the South Bay. Patients share stories of traveling farther and past other hospitals and urgent care centers to be treated by his staff.

STRIKING A BALANCE

Juggling multiple patients with various health issues in a busy emergency department is a skill well-honed by Torrance Memorial ED staff and physicians. “Going into the field of emergency medicine, we understood this dynamic. One of the nice things about our specialty is we work nine- or 10-hour shifts, but not 20 to 22 days a month, like most 9-to-5 workers,” explains Dr. Miura.

Emergency medicine physicians typically work about three shifts a week or 12 to 14 shifts a month. This allows sufficient time off to decompress, reduce stress and find more balance. “When we come to work in the ED, it’s usually extremely busy,” he says.

To let off steam on days away from the hospital, Dr. Miura likes to exercise—although his interests have changed since the judo days of his youth. “Now that I’m older, my body can’t handle being thrown around in judo,” he says with a laugh.

Instead, he prefers road cycling, snowboarding and golf (even though he claims not to be good at it).

Brandy Van Zitter and Brian Miura, MD, hiking the majestic Skógafoss waterfall in South Iceland

Dr. Miura also loves to travel. He and his partner, Brandy Van Zitter, a cardiovascular ICU nurse at Torrance Memorial, recently explored Iceland.

“We just got back from an amazing twoweek trip to Iceland. Unfortunately, we did not see the Northern Lights, but we drove around the entire country, hiked to dozens of waterfalls and on several glaciers, and kayaked around icebergs. It was spectacular scenery.”

YPPA & OUR FUTURE

In addition to fitness and travel, Dr. Miura likes to volunteer and has been an active member of the Torrance Memorial Young Physicians and Professionals Alliance (YPPA) program since its inception 10 years ago. Involvement with YPPA is the opportunity to bring physicians and business leaders together to have fun, network and discuss ways to better our communities.

In 2023, fundraising efforts will align with the Torrance Memorial Foundation to focus on the ED expansion project. This expansion is anticipated to open in 2026 and is considered critical by ED staff.

“The ED is undergoing plans to build a second story where the old intensive care unit used to be,” explains Dr. Miura.

“In those plans, there will likely be some remodeling of the first floor as well, to give us an additional 16,000 square feet of space. We need more space to handle the anticipated continued growth of our ED population.”

You could say this mindset of concentrating on the present moment—which is constantly changing—is a way of life for Dr. Miura. Whether working in the ED, meeting with local leaders, keeping up with fitness goals or prioritizing time for family and travel, he always takes a mindful approach. •

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I n Yo u r Co m m u n it y ALL PHOTOS BY DEIDRE DAVIDSON

EL SEGUNDO RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY It was another proud moment for Torrance Memorial and our joint effort with Cedars-Sinai as we celebrated the opening of our new multispecialty medical complex located at the new Nash Street Exchange at 2110 E. El Segundo Boulevard in El Segundo. Hospital representatives, donors and city officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 2. The complex offers urgent care, an Endoscopy Center, blood draw station, imaging, and various physician offices including primary care, pediatrics, OB-GYN, gastroenterology and other specialties.

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Mona Madani, MD, Matthew Mejia, MD, Richard Brucker, MD

2. El Segundo City Council members Carol Pirsztuk, Carl Jacobson (former), Scot Nicol, Chris Pimentel 3. Keith Hobbs, Tom Prisolec, Zachary Gray, MD, Craig Leach, Mayor Drew Boyles, Heidi Assigal 4. Kenneth Holt, MD, Tom Prisolec, Azam Riyaz, MD, David Chung, MD, Nikhil Selvakumar 5. Tom Prisolec, Craig Leach, Judy Leach, Chris Rogers, Bill Collier 6. Brian Miura, MD, Brian Lee

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EL SEGUNDO COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE The community was invited to tour the El Segundo Medical Office Building on Saturday June 4. More than 300 community members enjoyed physician-led tours and visited booths to learn more about the services offered at the complex. Some visitors also received a complimentary carotid artery ultrasound screening.

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Savannah Kimball, MD (center) and family

2. Eva Zamora, Rumi Cader, MD 3. Erin Fiorito chats with open house visitors 4. Dina Roberts, Heidi Assigal, Stephanie Roman 5. Christine Stenberg, David Rooney, Ronda Jerrell, Craig Leach, Sophia Neveu 6. Dr. Mona Madani leads visitors through the primary care office suite

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HEALTHY HEARTS FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON It was a beautiful day in early May when 110 women of the Ambassadors, a fundraising program of Torrance Memorial Foundation, gathered for a luncheon at Shade Redondo Hotel’s Horizon Ballroom. The women were there to hear about the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute’s new Women’s Heart Health Clinic from director, Nadia Curran, MD. She spoke about the inequities and gaps in cardiovascular care for women, emphasizing that they are often undertreated, and heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Dr. Curran stressed the importance of preventing heart disease by knowing risk factors and symptoms and having noninvasive testing to evaluate heart disease risks.

Dr. Nadia Curran is a cardiologist and director of the LLCVI Women’s Heart Health Clinic, 2841 Lomita Blvd., Suite 100, 310-257-0508.

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Elizabeth Paul, MD, Charlotte Lesser

12 6. Melody Lomboy Lowe, Linda Rillorta, Gracelyn Bateman

2. Francesca Deaver, Shannon Cochran

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3. Front: Tamiko Nakama, Jennifer Dorlet Merilee Hobbs

8. Front: Val Adlam, Tasneem Bholat, MD, Helaine Lopes, Laura Schenasi

Back: Melissa Long, Nadia Curran MD, Carla Duhovic 4. Front: Cindy Williams, MD, Christy Abraham, Nadine Bobit, Kak

Diana Brandt, Karen Odom, Cindy Hagelstein Back: Mary Richardson, Carolyn Snyder, Patti Hermann, Donna LaMont

9. Barbara Bentley, Judith Gassner, Song Klein, Kay Sheth

McKinnie | Back: Patricia Sacks, MD, Pat Lucy, Kathy Krauthamer,

10. Melanie O’Regan, Wendy Klarik

Angela Furkioti, Judith Gassner, Ann Zimmerman

11. Sandy VandenBerge, Nancy Weisel, Laurel Cameron

5. Janice Tecimer, Pat Lucy

12. Lisa Lahr, Antonia Lavender

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36TH TORRANCE MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Palos Verdes Golf Club was the setting on Monday, June 6, for the 36th annual Torrance Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by City National Bank. Before the shotgun start for the scramble-format tournament, all 135 golfers competed in a stampede miracle putt with two balls successfully falling into the cup! After playing 18 holes, golfers returned to the clubhouse for a silent auction, rose garden reception and awards ceremony.

In addition to the golfer awards given at the ceremony, special recognition and thanks was expressed to Don Douthwright who stepped down as committee chair after serving in that role for 34 years. The 2022 Golf Committee, now chaired by Rick Higgins, also deserves thanks for their diligence and participation in making the event successful. All proceeds support the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute.

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Jill Golden, Nadine Bobit, Karen Randazzo

2. Front: Mary Wright, Steve Wright, Dan Dritschel Back: Aman Wright, Brian Wright 3. Song Klein, Mark Lurie, MD, Barbara Demming-Lurie 4. Chris Rogers, Anthony Chen, MD 5. Lowell Hill, Chris Adlam, Zach Matos, Nick Burdiak 6. Neal Verga, Sam Morris,

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Chris Profeta, Jarratt Rouse, Scott Rouse, Connie Senner

8. Front: Bernie Reid, Matt Wildman Back: Anthony Chen, MD, Keith Hobbs, Chris Rogers, Blake Beltramea

9. Front: Mark Rouse, Scott Rouse Back: Chris Profeta, Jarratt Rouse 10. Rick Higgins, Mike Emenhiser, Craig Leach, Brandon Hovard 11. Sal Gonzalez, Mike Ninnis, Dave Klein, Steve Lopes

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15. Jon Lund, Louis Graziadio

20. Don Douthwright

16. Sophia Neveu, Sarah Wohn, PsyD

21. Daniel Leach, Craig Leach, Brian Williamson,

Brian Douglas 22. Twanna Rogers, Judith Gassner 23. Marc Schenasi, Laura Schenasi, Todd Schenasi 24. Doug Carlson, David Rand, MD, Nate Goldblum, Ken Kamba

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HERITAGE SOCIETY LUNCHEON Heritage Society members were appreciated and acknowledged at the annual luncheon at Palos Verdes Golf Club on June 23. They were joined by donors who have made a contribution annually for 10 or more consecutive years. Guests heard from Mark Lurie, MD, who shared his personal story, “My Journey to Cardiology.” Heritage Society members are those who have designated a gift to Torrance Memorial in their estate plan. For more information, please contact Sandy VandenBerge, director of planned giving, at 310-784-4843 or sandy.vandenberge@tmmc.com. You may also visit TorranceMemorialFoundation.org/planned-giving.

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2. James Andrews, Pedro Castro 3. Rick Rounsavelle, DDS, Kirsten Wagner, DDS 4. Maude Infantino, Del McCulloch, Sandy VandenBerge 5. Manjri Dhami, Rajendra Dhami, Frank Miles, Lyn Miles 6. Stuart Tsujimoto, Alex Shen, MD, Mark Lurie, MD 7.

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8. Charlotte Lesser, Russ Lesser

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AMBASSADORS PICKLEBALL Members of the Ambassadors program came together at the Palos Verdes Tennis Club on a sunny afternoon in late July.

Pickleball was on the menu, and many Ambassadors either played or observed America’s fastest growing sport. Torrance Memorial’s Matthew Mejia, MD, a family and sports medicine physician, discussed diagnosing and treating injuries, injury prevention, individual treatment plans and rehabilitation strategies. Ambassadors financially support the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute, Hunt Cancer Institute, Lundquist Orthopedic and the Lundquist Neurosciences Institute.

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2. Cindy Bandy, Matt Bandy

7.

3. Byron Gee, Elaine Gee, Donna Scoular, Robert Scoular

8. Marc Schenasi, Laura Schenasi, Helaine Lopes, Steve Lopes

Kurt Gunderlock, Timme Gunderlock, Tim Rogers

4. Amanda Vanni, Matthew Mejia, MD, Song Klein

9. MaryJo Unatin, Jerome Unatin MD

5. Matthew Mejia, MD, Judith Gassner

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49

I n Yo u r Co m m u n it y

PATRONS EVENING AT THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY In appreciation for their generous support, Torrance Memorial treated its Patrons to dinner under Air Force One at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on July 30. Donors toured the museum and the Secrets of WWII exhibit, posed for photos at the entrance to Air Force One, and enjoyed a cocktail reception before sitting down to an elegant dinner. President and CEO Craig Leach spoke to the group and expressed sincere gratitude for the generosity of these Patrons.

2

1

3

6

4

50

5

PATR ONS | FALL 2 02 2

7

I n Yo u r Co m m u n it y

8

10

9

11

12

1.

Craig Leach, Judy Leach

2. John Ngan, Serena Ngan, George So, MD, Hsin-Yi Lee, MD, Sandy Huang, Jason Huang 3. Keith Chumley, MD, Kristin

Bharti Sheth, Kay Sheth, Allen Alpay, Allen Lay 9. Milan Smith, Sandy VandenBerge, Kate Crane

Gutermuth, MD, Gina

10. Cathy Lin, Major Lin

Kirkpatrick, Gregg Kirkpatrick

11. Terry Hohm, Joe Hohm

4. David Bentley, Barbara Bentley 5. Phil Pavesi, Christina Pavesi

13

8. Michael Zislis, Sam Sheth,

12. Laura Schenasi, Ralph Allman, Marc Schenasi

6. Larry Pasquali, MD,

13. Front: Katie Chen, Michael

Nancy Pasquali

Levine, Isabella Levine

Teri Young, Rob Young, Barbara

Back: Reuben Chen, Joe

Schulz, MD

Spierer, Cyndy Spierer

7.

FAL L 2 02 2 | PATR ON S

51

I n Yo u r Co m m u n it y

14

15

16

17 14. Noelle Giuliano, Darrin DelConte, Michael Zislis, Mark Lurie, MD, Michelle DelConte, Paul Giuliano 15. Zac Gray, MD, Phil Pavesi, Eric Nakkim, MD 16. Ramona Villaluz, Marybeth Martinez, Roy Martinez, Ofelia David, Manny David, Serena Ngan, John Ngan 17. Paul Hennessey, Jennifer Hennessey 18. Russ Varon, Stacy Joyner 19. Patricia Padelford, Steve Nash

18

52

19

PATR ONS | FALL 2 02 2

I n Yo u r Co m m u n it y

WINE PROCUREMENT PARTY With the added excitement of meeting again in person after two years of “drive-by” donations, friends and supporters gathered at the home of Song and Dave Klein on August 28.

Attendees arrived with bottles of wine to donate for the Holiday Festival 2022 silent and live auctions, and then enjoyed cocktails, appetizers and fun socializing. Scott Grillo donated his time providing live music to set the mood. Silent auction co-chairs Song Cho Klein, Jennifer Chen, Gina Kirkpatrick and Helaine Lopes hosted the event.

1

2

4 3

5 1.

Paul Mance, Tami Mance

2. Scott Grillo

6 5. Gene Matsuda, Judy Matsuda 6. Bartenders Steve Lopes and

3. Clark Drake, Jennifer Brown, Lisa Cheatham, James Cheatham

7

Dave Klein 7.

Donated wine

4. Helaine Lopes, Song Cho Klein, Jennifer Chen, Gina Kirkpatrick

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53

I n Yo u r Co m m u n it y

YPPA CASINO NIGHT MAKES A VALIANT RETURN Young Physicians and Professionals Alliance hosted its 6th annual Casino Night fundraiser at Scholb Brewery on Friday, September 16. The event honored our health care heroes, and guests came dressed in theme. With craft beer on tap, guests enjoyed blackjack, craps, roulette, poker and live music.

Event proceeds support Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s emergency department expansion. For more information on membership and upcoming events, visit TorranceMemorial.org/YPPA.

2

3

7

8

10

54

4

5

6

9

11

PATR ON S | FALL 2 02 2

1

I n Yo u r Co m m u n it y

12

13

15

16

17 1.

Monica Lee, MD, Stephanie Tang, DO, Brian Truong, MD, Heidi Hoffman, MD, Richard Bracken, MD, Jenny Luo, MD, Amanda Clauson, MD, Omer Deen, MD

2. Mona Madani, MD, Aamir Abdullah, MD 3. Stephanie Bezner, Tanseem Bholat, MD, Jenny Ryan 4. Alex Shen, MD, Allyson Shen

14

18 Connie Lai, Sandy VandenBerge 9. Kevin Fujimoto, Kathy Levy, RN, Natalie Thorpe, RN 10. Ricc Brindicci, Dani Rodriguez-Brindicci 11. Brandon Lee, Shawn Metts, Averie Yale, Jeff Kern, Vicki Kern, Dan Nguyen, Emily Wong, Walter Nunez 12. Taylor Graham, Robbie Chambers, Lyndsay

5. Jamie McKinnell, MD, Heidi Hoffman, MD

McAngus, Joe Spierer, Melanie Archer, Ben

6. Keyur Patel, MD, Yogina Desai, MD

Archer, Cyndy Spierer

7.

Ben Archer, Melanie Archer

8. Sophia Neveu, Jennifer Irwin, Maria Sass,

14. Robbie Chambers, Tanica McZeek 15. Aziz Ghaly, MD, Basil Younes, MD, Kara Younes, Stanley Chang, MD 16. Alex Shen, MD, Allyson Shen, Rachel Nguyen, Jim Nguyen, Heidi Hoffman, MD 17. Sachin Maheshwari, Payal Maheshwari, Declan Rushe, Vimal Murthy, MD, Tricia Takasuki 18. Ernie Kwok, Monica Lee, MD, Erisa Pooee, Todd Schenasi

13. Keith McBride, Tanseem Bholat, MD, Sam Alherech, Basil Younes, MD, Kara Younes

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55

S u ppo rte r s

TORRANCE MEMORIAL GIVES SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MANY DONORS GIFTS FROM MARCH 1 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

$5,000,000+

$10,000+

Jennifer and Paul Hennessey

The Novas of Torrance Memorial

TF Educational Foundation

Sandy and Karl Jackson

Laurie Anderson

Patricia and Gerald Turpanjian

Kala and Surendra Jain, MD

Sandy Behrens

Loretta and Art Kaiser, DDS

Steve Booth

Torrance Radiology Medical Group

Caren and Jordan Libit

Diana Cutler

Vistas for Children, Inc.

Jeannine and Benedict

Eve and Rick Higgins

West Coast University Inc.

Terry and Joe Hohm, CPA

Kathleen Whiting

Thipnongnuch and Larry Miller

Richard McArdle

Terry and Jim Witte

Nancy and Larry Pasquali

Patricia and William Nault

Andrew and Cassandra Wolstan

$2,000,000+ Melanie and Richard Lundquist

Lochtenberg $1,000,000+ Priscilla Hunt

Torrance Pathology Group/ Torrance Memorial

Sophie and Arnaud Solandt $700,000+ Ruth Anne Pearce and Allen Alpay $550,000+

$5,000+ $30,000+

$2,500+

Audi Pacific

Valerie and Chris Adlam

Employee Ambassador Program

Nadine and Ty Bobit

Michaela and John Andrawis, MD

Gardener Grout Foundation

c/a Architects

Donald and Kathy Black

Ira D. and Ronnie Brown Estate

Clark Hsu and Sherry Chen Hsu

Chivaroli, James & Gable

Cerner Corporation

Kennedy Health Services

Greta and Mike Jarvis

Sally and Mike Eberhard

Louise and David Clinton

Colleen O’Neill

Laurie and Thomas McCarthy

Genesis of South Bay

Nancy Combs

Doris and Gregory Morton

George Graham†

Digestive Care Consultants

Lee-Li-De and Erh-Mei Su

Cindy and Bill Hagelstein

$250,000+ Linda and Zan Calhoun Michelle and Darrin Del Conte

$20,000+

Medical Group

Edward Hancock

Karla Burns and Brett Dillenberg

Keenan Healthcare

EMCOR Service/Mesa

Amy and Stephen Haw

Jackie and Greg Geiger

Pat and Richard Lucy

Susann Norton

Graziadio Family

Luminaries of Torrance Memorial

Ronnie and Alan Goldstein

Phyllis Pelezzare

Patricia and David Hempel

Martin Chevrolet, Joe Giacomin

Green Hills Memorial Park

Carleen and Paul Schwartz

Robert Koch

Mascari Warner Dinh Architects

Susan Greenberg Rudich and

Ellen and Pat Theodora

Lori and Tom O’Hern

Karen and Michael Melideo

Renee Warren

The Thermal Race Club –

Eric and Anna Mellor, MD

Rosalind Halikis

Rita and Joe Meistrell

Erin and Heidi Hoffman, MD

Sandra Sanders

Marilyn and Frank Miles

Jenn and Brandon Hohm

Torrance Memorial Medical Staff

Jacquelyne and Steven Miller

Internal Medicine & Nephrology

Tien and Cliff Warren Nancy Weisel

Twanna and Tim Rogers

$100,000+ Bob and Mimi Liu Carol and Karl McMillen Jr. & The McMillen Family Foundation $50,000+ Renate and Steve A’Hearn Coull Foundation

56

PATR ON S | FALL 2 02 2

Jeffrey and Tiffany Neu $15,000+

Energy Systems

Howard Rudich

Medical Group, Inc.

Porsche South Bay

Jackie and Vince Kelly

Sandy and Thomas Cobb

Laura and Marc Schenasi

Judy and Craig Leach

Cathy and Major Lin

Loraine Scriba

Chelsea and Christopher Linton

Payden & Rygel

Robin and RJ Smith

McCarthy Building Companies

Frances and Stanley Zee

South Bay Gastroenterology

Cessie and John Moody

Medical Group

MS Rouse Co, Inc.

S u ppo rte r s PNG

Adrienne Herman

Susan Walker

Gigi and David Kramer

Michelle and David Rand, MD

Heritage Rehabilitation Center

Cathi and R. Michael Wyman, MD

Yvonne Kreuter

Sam and Kay Sheth

Kalpana Hool, MD, and

Nancy and Roger Zapor

Andrea and Jamie Lewis, MD

Rose and Patrick Straub

Hugo Hool, MD

Kenneth Libkin $500+

Torrance Memorial Neonatology

Lindsay and Peter Imwalle

Joshua Snyder

Kim and Donald Inadomi, MD

Christy and Jay Abraham

Donna McNeely

Solid Rock Structural

Alma and Barry Johnsin, DDS

Charlotte Adlam and Zach Matos

Chaitali and Akshay Mehta, MD

Seema and Bill Kalra

AmazonSmile Foundation

Mercer Human

Robert Stephenson

Vicki and Jeff Kern

Melanie and Benjamin Archer

The Jack Kramer Club

Susan and Lawrence Kneisley, MD

Marcia and Lawrence August, MD

Marzi Mistry

Triton Pacific Construction Group

Patricia Kromka

Michele and Robert Bell

Mobile Heartbeat

Carolyn and Charles Turek, MD

Kris and Jimin Kumamoto

Beti and Christopher Bergman

Ming Tuan and Mathew Moore

Williamson Construction

Donna LaMont

Peggy and Cliff Berwald

Katy and Samuel Morris

Alissa and Robert Wilson

Monica Lee, MD, and Ernest Kwok

Stephanie and Brian Bezner

Ann and Daniel Mueller

Mary and Steve Wright

Charlotte and Russ Lesser

Veann and Tracy Bracken

Hasham and Shireen Mukadam

YPPA of Torrance Memorial

Lomita Post-Acute Care Center

Laurie and John Bucher

Nadav Nahumi, MD

Helaine and Steve Lopes

Buckingham Investments

Robyn and Albert Peacock III

Laurie and Steve Love

Edna Campbell

Premier Infusion Care

Kristy and Eric Maniaci

Joanne and Stanley Chang, MD

Prestige Care Physician

Solutions, Inc.

$1,000+ Anesthesia Medical Group of Torrance Memorial

Lisa and Christopher Martz

Resources Consulting

Sudy and Bud Mayo

Cody Charnell

Bernadette and Timothy Reid

Harry Archung

Catherine Melton

Alan Chung

Lori and Ray Richard

Peggy and Morton Bauchman

Patricia and Larry Murphy

Fern and Martin Cohen

Vincent Rios

Greg and Tiffany Becker, MD

Shalini Singh and

ConservaTrust Fiduciary,

Kathy and Romolo Santarosa

Susan and Derek Berz

Vimal Murthy, MD

Suzanne Grudnitski

Abraham Santiago

Caroline and Clarence Beshke

Karen and Gene Naftulin, MD

D & R Office Works

Joshi Satish

Elaine Booth-Carnegis

Warren Oda and Juliet Chang

Monique and Scott Davis

Donna and Harry Schauwecker

Diana and George Brandt

Karen and John Odom

Sara and Omer Deen, MD

Carmen and Gordon Schaye, MD

Anita and Bill Bronstein

Melanie R. O’Regan

Susan Dilamarter

Todd Schenasi

Trudy Brown

Delores Parcell

Diane Dunn

Robb and Donna Scoular

Catalina Channel Express, Inc.

Pryority Lending Group

Danielle and Brian English

James Scriba

Philip W. Chung, MD, and

Audrey Reynolds-Lowman

Regina and Dan Finnegan

Allyson and Alex Shen, MD

Janet Richardson

Deborah and Moe Gelbart, PhD

Pam and Brian Sherman, MD

Priscilla and Frank Clark

Tom Rosenthal

D’Ann Gesch

Brooke Sigler

Peggi Collins and Steven Cocks

Denise Scarpetti

Susan and Richard Gomez

Roya and Hicham Siouty, MD

Judy Dabinett

Marcia and Michael Schoettle

Nancy Griffith, MD and

Cyndy and Joe Spierer

EP Wealth Advisors, LLC

Mojgan Chegolunchei and

Lauren Choi, MD

Mary and Steven Fisher, MD

Jerry Schwartz, MD

Richard Schell, MD

Kellie and Todd Stender

Jennifer and Robert Guillen

Jeffrey Su Stephanie Tang, DO and

Jeannine and Dennis Frandsen

Angela and Hank Sheldon

Cathleen Guthrie

Judith Gassner

Mae and Deren Sinkowitz, MD

Susan and Charles Hargrave

Maria Sass Goldstein and

Erin and Andrew Sloves

Alexandra and Connor Hartwell

Lisa and Joshua Taub

Spierer, Woodward,

Nancy and Keith Hauge

Janice and Timur Tecimer

Chih-Ming and Shirley Ho

Tortuga Wealth Management

William Tarng, MD

Carole Hoffman

Carroll Waite Jr.

Jared Goldstein Karen Gottlieb Graystone Consulting, Morgan Stanley

Corbalis & Goldberg

Christopher Angemi, DO

Irene Terrell

Judge and Mrs. Francis Hourigan

Sarah Watson

Christine and Alek Haidos

Timme and Kurt Gunderlock

Chantelle and Rob Hunt

Patrick Wecker

Christine Hanson

Torrance Emergency Physicians

Maria and Robert Jaques

Mary and Scott Wheatley

Jennifer Irwin and

Mary Jo and Jerome Unatin, MD

Kay and William Kim, MD

Sarah Wohn, PsyD

Vereco Healthcare Solutions

Song and David Klein

Dwight and Kay Yamada

Patricia A. Vincent, MD

Harold Koletsky

Hilary and Clay Zachry

Charles Hargraves Donna Helstrom

FAL L 2 02 2 | PATR ON S

57

S u ppo rte r s

$250+

$100+

Richard Gluckman

Ellen Pomella

Nancy Agustin

Roger Acheapel

Phyllis and Richard Goetz

Karol and Bob Plocky

Tasneem Bholat, MD, and

Ellen Adams

Golding and Lamothe

Presbytery of San Diego

Martin Adler

Susan Greenberg

Talese and David Pulley

American Family Insurance

Lesley Aitchison

Cheryl and Hector

Linda and Allan Rahn

Sasha and Omokhoje Amu

Georgina Albi

Kathleen and Randy Avakian

John Alter

Rosalind Halikis

Jason Rath

Cindy and Matt Bandy

Sara and Frank Amason

Shanna and Jack Hall

Lorena Reynoso

Janet and Robert Bill

Elisa Anhalt, MD, and

Betty Hill

Mary and Timothy Richardson

Lucy and Frank Itami

Magdalena Rodriguez

Sam Alherech

Dolores and Alfred Cellier

Douglas Laurin

Gutierrez-Medina

Frank Ramogida

Kristen and Drew Damon

Margaret and Gregory Anunson

Alicia Jacobsen

Kelly and Chris Rogers

Jayantha and Parin De Mel

Nadia Antii

Lisa Jester

Arlene and Edward Roupinian

Nancy and David DiCarlo

Ralph Avakian

Tracy Jordan

Kent Schafer

Suzann and Don Douthwright

William Battles

Frank Kane

Marlene Schultz, DDS and

Marilyn K. Dubas

Blake Beltramea

Diane Kapantzos

Dunn & Associates

Nancy Bender

Kay and William Kim, MD

Cindy Shirai

Maria Eclevia

Carolyn Bohm

Carol and David Kleinman

Andrew Schumacher, MD

Grace Fuentes

Danielle Boujikian

Francis Knipe

Phyllis and René Scribe

Teresa Gordon

Joe Brauer

Sherry and Ian Kramer, MD

Pam and Brian Sherman, MD

Carra Graziadio and

Nancy Brennan

Debbie and Moe Kreag

Michael Shima

Jonathen Lund

Philip Walent

Lisa Briedis

Connie and Jeff Lai, MD

Edward Shimp

Green Hills Mortuary

Denise Busby

Bonny and Albert Lam, MD

Berthe Slattery

Keiko Griswold

Caldwell Family

Joseph Lanphen

Linda and David Smith

Home Medix, Inc.

Bryan Chang, MD

James Larson

Nadja Sokoloff

Alexis and Peter Jensen

Hilary and Amrane Cohen

Nancy and Allyn Lean

Natalia Spencer

Joyce Johnson

Kathy and Paul Cohen

Karen and Michael Learned

Janet and Michael Stoakley

Penn Jones

Niki and Michael Cook

Ken Lester

Lindsey Stone

Ruth Joseph-Pike

Leola Cork

Kathy Levy

Ruth Sve

Kathleen Jucar

Ruth and Harv Daniels

Marilou Lieman

Tricia Takasugi

Jack Kelly

Yvette Davis-Choyce

Mona Madani, MD

Deane Taricco

Annsley and Matthew Marshall

Priscilla Derieg

Marcil Family Foundation

William Tarng, MD

Meitetsu Travel U.S.A. Corp.

Charles Dodd

Joyce Mason

Julie and Bruce Taylor

Marissa Messer

Sheri and Casey Dodge

Bea Matthews

Trudi and Timothy Tessalone

William Oberholzer

Brian Douglas

Christine and Kevin McBride, MD

Barbara and Arthur Thorne

Maria and Dru Olton

Donna and Gary Duperon

Meg McCormick

Daune and David Thorington

Susan Osa

Michael Emenhiser

Gloria McInerney

Betty Torrance

Marcie and Scott Rees, DDS

Thyra Endicott, MD, and

Myron and Luise Miller

Michelle Nguyen and

Rev. Jonathan Chute

Diane and Davis Moore

Dani Rodriguez Brindicci and Ricc Brindicci

Nhat Tran, MD

Suzanne and Richard Farman

Diane Morris

Stuart and Frances Tsujimoto

Vicki Sbarounis

Aneela Farooqi

Patricia and Larry Murphy

Patricia Turner

Marion and Anthony Schiff

William and Dorothy Farris

Newport Printing – Neal Verga

Brandy Van Zitter, RN

Monnie and Martin Stanovich

Jeff Felton

Helen and Paul Nowatka

Jeanne Vetter

Brittany and Jason Stone

Harry and Frances Fleming

Anita O’Bryan

Susan Warner

Majd Tarakji

Kimberly Flores

James O’Donnell

Cindy Wermers

Natalie and Dave Thorpe

Addy and Jennifer Franklin

Sheryl O’Donnell

Robyn Westfall

Michael Gaines

Colleen and Roger Oglesby

Alison and Brian Wilcox

Danielle and Mike Gatto

Tomiaki and Nobuko Okada

John Genter

Linda Oliver

58

PATR ONS | FALL 2 02 2

S u ppo rte r s

PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Nadia Antii, CRPC

Maureen Dearden

Derrick Kawamoto, EA

Gregory Becker, Esq.

Vince Fierro

Ron Miller, CLPF

Grace Greer St. Clair,

Beti Tsai Bergman, Esq.

Nancy Gragg, CWS

Mathew Moore

Larry Takahashi, CFP (Co-Chair)

Stephanie Bezner, Esq.

Suzanne Grudnitski, CLPF

Karen Pryor

Sylvia Thompson

Gene Brown, CLPF

Eric J. Harris, Esq.

Cristin H. Rigg, CFP, CDFA

Mark Tsujimoto

Yvonne Chavez, CLPF

Connor Hartwell, CFP

Gregory Schill, CFP

Stuart Tsujimoto, CFP

Stephen F. Connors, CFP

Brandon Hohm, CPA

F. Thomas Schlappatha, CFP

Kazuaki Uemura, Esq.

Phillip Cook, CFP

Bryan P. Hori

Marianne C. Sfreddo, CPA

Abby Waddell

Christian Cordoba, CFP

Alexis M. Jensen, CPA

Esq. (Co-Chair)

AMBASSADORS VISIONARY

PLATINUM

GOLD

Donald and Kathy Black

Jean Breedlove

Patricia and Dick Carlson

Diane and Davis Moore

Louise and David Clinton

Frank Y. An, MD

Vinh Cam, MD, and Judy Nei

Twanna and Tim Rogers

Lynne and Horace Cochran

Janice and Mark Ancheta, MD

Philip W. Chung, MD, and

Elaine Scott

Nancy Combs

Elisa Anhalt, MD, and

Liz and Rich Umbrell

Alyson and Dean Decker

Colleen and Edward

Donna and R. Stephen Doan

Michele and William Averill, MD

Fred Clayton

Diane Liebenson and

Lori and David Baldwin

Kathy and Paul Cohen

Peggy and Morton Bauchman

Joy and Marc Colman, MD

Melanie Friedlander, MD

Peggy and Cliff Berwald

Kathleen D. Crane and The

Susan Greenberg Rudich and

John D. Blakey, MD

Whittemore, III

Thomas Duralde, MD PREMIER Valerie and Chris Adlam Jan and Cliff d’Autremont

Howard Rudich

Steve Fechner

Rosalind Halikis

Patricia and Paul Francis

Ann and George Hartmann Jr.

Ronnie and Alan Goldstein

Susan Heflinger

Cindy and Bill Hagelstein

Nazanin and Amir Kaviani, MD

Kay and William Kim, MD

Stan and Barbara Levine

Dianne and Ned Mansour

Sudy and Bud Mayo

Garrett Matsunaga, MD, and

Jonathan Po, MD and Harriet Po

Melanie Dee, MD

Robert Stephenson

Catherine Melton

Douglass Stewart

Izzat Alamdari, NP, and

Ellen and Pat Theodora Nancy Weisel

Jacquelyne and Steven Miller

Alissa and Robert Wilson

Christina and Phil Pavesi

Terry and Jim Witte

Phyllis Pelezzare

Dwight and Kay Yamada

Mary and Timothy Richardson

Andrea and Michael Zislis

Celia and Robert Rothman

Paul’s Photo, Inc.

Jeff Wilson, Chevron U.S.A.

Douglas Laurin

Jeanie and Don Blum

Ann and David Buxton Linda and Zan Calhoun

Lauren Choi, MD Priscilla and Frank Clark

Honorable Milan D. Smith, Jr. Pam Crane

Terri and Dennis Cammarano

Marilyn and Frank Miles

Robin and RJ Smith

Riad Adoumie, MD

Ellen and Clay Smith

Allison and Rick Mayer

Eric Milefchik, MD

Khrystyna Pavlova and

Trudy Brown

Sandy Behrens

Front- Mark Lurie, MD, Barbara Demming Lurie Back- Peggie Reich, Gerry Reich

FAL L 2 02 2 | PATR ON S

59

S u ppo rte r s Don Culler

George and Christina Legg

Karen Varon

Debra and Damien Goldberg, DDS

Judy Dabinett

Barb and Barry LeQuire

Kerry and David Wallis, MD

Susan and Richard Gomez

Cindy and Steven Dennis

Charlotte and Russ Lesser

Brigid and James Wethe, MD

Nancy Griffith, MD, and

Susan Dilamarter

Linda and David Lillington

Susan and Matthew Whelan

Juli and Michael DiLustro

Tracy and Andy Livian

Cynthia Williams, MD

Timme and Kurt Gunderlock

James Ding, MD, and

Laurie and Steve Love

Judith and Barry Wolstan, MD

Nancy and Keith Hauge

Karen and Nelman Low, MD

Peter and Monica Wong

Lynne and Jim Held

Beth A. Dorn, MD

Melody and Thomas Lowe, MD

Cathi and R. Michael Wyman, MD

Chih-Ming and Shirley Ho

Suzann and Don Douthwright

Vicky and Winston Mar

Nancy and Roger Zapor

Merilee and Keith Hobbs

Valerie Carrier and Eric Dupont

Kimcee McAnally, PhD

Sally and Mike Eberhard

Laura and Ronald McIntire

Beth and Berkley Eichel, MD

Sunny Melendez, MD, and

Marcia Ding, MD

Mary and Steven Fisher, MD Janet and John Fleming Jeannine and Dennis Frandsen

Ron Melendez, MD Sheri Messerlian, PhD, and Jack Messerlian

Richard Schell

Daniel Hovenstine, MD, and SILVER

Richard Bruno

Christy and Jay Abraham

Lindsay and Peter Imwalle

Michelle Ahnn

Maria and Robert Jaques

Michaela and John Andrawis, MD

Michelle and John Katnik

Robert F. Appell, PharmD

David S. Kim, MD

Angela and Dean Furkioti, DDS

Eduard E. Morf

Marcia and Lawrence August, MD

Wendy Klarik

Judith Gassner

Joanne and Marc Moser

Harriet Bailiss-Sustarsic

Song and David Klein

Jackie and Greg Geiger

Patricia and Larry Murphy

Josie and Stephen Balzano

Harold Koletsky

Karen Gottlieb

Karen and Gene Naftulin, MD

Cindy and Matt Bandy

Gigi and David Kramer

Marnie and Dan Gruen

Erin and Brian Neal

Michele and Robert Bell

Lisa and Carl Lahr

Christine and Alek Haidos

Warren Oda and Juliet Chang

Meenakshi Bhasin-Shah, MD, and

Tonny Meng-Che Lee, MD, and

Chansen and Miaoshia Han

Karen and John Odom

Christine Hanson

Judith K. Opdahl

Diana and George Brandt

Martha and David Leveille, MD

Donna Marie and

Melanie R. O’Regan

Elena and Larry Bruns

Andrea and Jamie Lewis, MD

Eugene Hardin, MD

Samir Shah

Jessica Lee

Delores Parcell

Edna Campbell

Kenneth Libkin

Teresa and Zaffar Hassanally

Linda Pullen-Buehl

Anita Canfield

Helaine and Steve Lopes

Donna Helstrom

Rose Anne and Jerry Redman

Lauren and Benjamin Carroll, MD

Crystal and Roderick Macdonell

Agi Hirshberg

Rhea and Patrick Rendon

Frederique Carver and

Ryan Mansour

Mike Ho, MD, and Joanna Ho

Carlene Ringer

Erin Hoffman and

Tamara Ritchey Powers

Heidi Hoffman, MD Kalpana Hool, MD, and Hugo Hool, MD

Tiffany Rogers, MD

Doug Popovich Stanley Chang, MD, and Joanne Chang

Lisa and Christopher Martz Lisa Humphreys, MD, and John McNamara, MD

Laura and Marc Schenasi

Jim and Julie Chen

Mary and Gus Meier Roxanne and Ramin

Marcia and Michael Schoettle

Lilian and Patrick Chik

Lesley and Colin Hull

Marlene Schultz and Philip Walent

Donna and Michael Ciminera

Kim and Donald Inadomi, MD

Jerry Schwartz, MD

Fern and Martin Cohen

Margaret and Chris Moggia

Sandy and Karl Jackson

JoAnn and Kemper Shaw

Patricia Croce

Ann and Daniel Mueller

Alma and Barry Johnsin, DDS

Allyson and Alex Shen, MD

Inge and Duane Davis

Shalini Singh and

John Johnson, MD

Robert Sickler

Vanessa Dickey, MD

Hakimeh Kadivar, MD

Mae and Deren Sinkowitz, MD

Karla Burns and Brett Dillenberg

Valerie and Edward Kelly

Fay and Mitchell Sklar, MD

Diane Dunn

Susan and Lawrence Kneisley, MD

Christine and Scott Smith

Lisa Fisher, MD, and

Rachel Knopoff, MD, and

George So, MD, and

Russell Dickerson, MD

Hsin-Yi Lee, MD

Brian Fitzgerald Farnaz and Lawrence

Mirhashemi, MD

Vimal Murthy, MD Cassandra Ndiforchu, MD, and Fombe Ndiforchu, MD Elizabeth Paul, MD Robyn and Albert Peacock III Cynthia and Laurence Percz

Paula and Arthur Kozinski

Karen and Richard Sonner, MD

Flechner, MD

Sherry and Ian Kramer, MD

Cherie and William Steckbauer

LeRoy Forehand

Candace and Larry Poindexter

Patricia Kromka

Betty Strauss

Karen and John Freeman

Gina Quatrine

John and Yukiko Kuno

Irene Terrell

Juan Frisancho, MD

Marcie and Scott Rees, DDS

Patricia and Thomas LaGrelius, MD

Carolyn and Charles Turek, MD

Elaine and Byron Gee

Lori and Ray Richard

Donna LaMont

Mary Jo and Jerome Unatin, MD

Deborah and Moe Gelbart, PhD

Perlita and Forrest Riopelle

60

PATR ON S | FALL 2 02 2

Linda Perry

S u ppo rte r s David and Yoshiko Rock

Janice and Timur Tecimer

Achara and Thomas Cowell, MD

Genevieve and Hugh Muller

Kathy and Romolo Santarosa

Robyn Westfall

Duane Denney

Robin and Norman Panitch, MD

Carmen and Gordon Schaye, MD

Mary and Scott Wheatley

Barbara Dorman

Ellen and Fraser Perkins, MD

Linda Schultz, PhD, and

Kathy and David Willock

Virginia and Dennis Fitzgerald

Franklin Pratt, MD

Curtice Wong, MD

Sherry and Thomas Gossett, MD

Peggie and Gerald Reich, MD

Barbara L. Schulz, MD

Arlene Yakush

Patti and Al Hermann

Carlene and Edward Reuscher

Robb and Donna Scoular

Ellen and George Zelinsky

Carole Hoffman

Patricia Sacks, MD

Jane Semel, MD

Ann and Gary Zimmerman

Terry and Joe Hohm, CPA

Beya and Robert Schaeffer Jr., MD

Kathleen and Richard

Loraine Scriba

Arthur Schultz, DDS

Stacey and Chris Shane LIFETIME

Dorothy Shen

Krauthamer, MD

Laura and Tom Simko, MD

Trudy Smith

Cathy Allen

Sylvia and Robert Laxineta, DDS

Kimberly and David Stone, MD

Carolyn Snyder

Gail and Doug Allen, CLU

Judy and Craig Leach

Tina and Peter Vasilion

Erin and Paul Stanley

Betty Belsky

Pat and Richard Lucy

Mary L. Williams

Bert Stewart

Mila and Patrick Chambers, MD

Carol Magee

Dovie and George Worcester

William Tarng, MD

Mary and John Clark

Cheryl Melville

Erin and Patrick Yeh, MD

The Daisy Award is sponsored

by YPPA and was created to say “thank you” and recognize the extraordinary compassionate work of nurses.

YOUNG PHYSICIANS & PROFESSIONALS ALLIANCE (YPPA) Michelle Abraham

Megan and Andrew Bark

Charlotte and Zach Adlam

Bret Barrett

Nicole Alexander-Spencer, MD

Stephanie Bezner, Esq., and

Janice and Mark Ancheta, MD Michaela and John Andrawis, MD Elisa Anhalt, MD, and Doug Laurin

Brian Bezner Tasneem Bholat, MD, and Sam Alherech

Dani Rodriguez-Brindicci and Ricc Brindicci Nik Bringleson

Teri Dart, RN Sara Deen, DDS, and Omer Deen, MD

Drisa Carrizo, CPA

Alice Diego-Malit, MD

Lauren and Benjamin Carroll, MD

Thess Duong

Cody Charnell

Danielle and Brian English

Nadia Antii

Kevin Bidenkap

Joanne and Stanley Chang, MD

Melanie Friedlander, MD

Melanie and Benjamin Archer

Angelie and John Blakey, MD

Christine Chui

Denise and Roy Fu, MD

Alejandra Arrendondo

Nadine and Ty Bobit

Shoshana and Phillip V. Cutler

Stephen Garcia

Anthony Arellano-Kruse, MD

Danielle Boujikian

Kristen Damon, Esq.

Judith Gassner

FAL L 2 02 2 | PATR ON S

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S u ppo rte r s Teresa Gordon

Kathy Levy, RN

Jennifer and Victor Pan

Brittany and Jason Stone

John Gragg, CFP

Beth Lowerison, RN

Hank Parker, CPA

Gina Sulmeyer, MD and

Khryste and Steven Griswold

Ryan Mansour

Angela Park-Sheldon, CFP, and

Kimberly and Justin Guichard

Annsley and Matthew Marshall

Jennifer and Robert Guillen

Colleen and Jamie McKinnell, MD

William Rehrig

Courtney Hambleton

Chaitali and Akshay Mehta, MD

Vincent Rios

Charlie Hargraves

Erik Milanez

Maggie Rodriguez, RN

Dave and Natalie Thorpe, RN

Erin and Heidi Hoffman, MD

Brian Miura, MD

Leah Romine, RN, and

Sean Tompkins

Jenn and Brandon Hohm

Tricia Mohammed-Stein

Allison and Justin Holcher, CFP

Austin Moller

NaiWei Hsu, RN

Roberta Berg Moller

Slavka Jasik-Whitaker and

Spencer Moller

Andrew Schumacher, MD

Meg and Anthony Walker

Katy and Sam Morris

Madeline and Alex Schumacher

Sarah Wohn, PsyD

Amanda Murphy, MD, and

Allyson and Alexander Shen, MD

Hilary and Clay Zachry

Pamela and Brian Sherman, MD

Andrea and Michael Zislis

Brad Whitaker Kathleen Jucar Dawn and Bo Kaplan

Keith W Murphy

Hank Sheldon

Matthew Willis Maria Sass-Goldstein and Jared Goldstein

Veronica and Jeff Kern

Shalini and Vimal Murthy, MD

Karen C. Shum, DPM

Lynn Kim

Nadav Nahumi, MD

Brooke Sigler, CPA

Song and Dave Klein

Sophia and Philippe Neveu

Julie Sim, MD

Connie and Jeffrey Lai, MD

Maria Olton, RN, and Dru Olton

Margaret and Edward Sipes

Cora H. Lee and Dan Chen

Sarina Pai, DO

Cyndy and Joseph Spierer

Michael Arriola William Tarng, MD Stephanie Tang, DO, and Christopher Angemi, DO

Shelly Trites, RN Elizabeth and Richard Umbrell Brandy Van Zitter, RN

EMPLOYEE AMBASSADORS PREMIER $1,000+

BENEFACTOR $500

Kimberly Flores

Wei Q. Mao

Heidi Assigal

Nancy Agustin

Tammy Ginder

Elaine McRae

Derek Berz

Rhoda Marie Alvarez

Herna Joy Gonzalez

Eva Mendenhall

Mary Bradfield-Smith

Melissa Andrus

Shanna Hall

Maria L. Mendoza

Robin Camrin

Cecilia Ani

Jeremiah Hargrave

Melany Merryman

Zenaida Carrillo-Ramo

Randy Avakian

Keith Hobbs

René Miller

Dolores Cellier

Kathie Avakian

Linda Howard

Anne Milliken

Mary Ford

Cecilia Banania

David Hozaki

Young Oh

Judith Gassner

Bret Barrett

Barbara Jane Ignacio

Mary Osborne

Debbie Griffin

Dan Bauman

Carolyn Ito

Ronald Padilla

Tim Hersey

Lance Bommelje

Mike and Janet Johnson

Lorena Maria G. Pascual

Christina Hicks

Joy Burkhardt

Rena Johnson

Ann Raljevich

Naiwai Hsu

Agnes Butardo

Anne Kienberger

Karen Randazzo

Debra Kelley

Alan Chung

Dennis Kikuno

Bernadette Reid

Wilfredo N. Lazarte

Phil Cutler

Daniel Klein

Addy Rodriguez

Mary Matson

Michelle Dahle

Min Min Kyaw

Susan Santos

Tami Nakama

Sandra E. Daos

Sandra Langhammer

Catherine Sarcona

Maureen Palladini

Josefina David-Engel

Steve Lantz

Connie Senner

Chris Rogers

Jann and Dan Dickson

Bill Larson

Heather Shay

Laura Schenasi

Patty Drew

Craig Leach

LaDonna and Joe Shea

Julie Taylor

Josephine Espejo

Patricia Leonard

Leilani Small

Mary Wright

Mary E. Espinoza

Fernando and Eva Sophia

Michael R. Steele

Don Florentino Estrada

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Magdaleno

Devi Sutrisna

Justin Ficke

Patricia Mann

Natalie Thorpe

Erin Fiorito

Cindy Manson

Veronica Urbano

S u ppo rte r s Sandy VandenBerge

Debbie Reyes

Elizabeth Austin Evans

Erisa Pooee

Patrick Wecker

Sam Rodriguez

Marissa Farol

Steve Porter

Betty Wilber

Arceli Salanguit

Helen Flores

Gigi C. Portugal

Sean Yokoe

Dan Schakel

Tom Fox

Paul Pourzia

Joanne Yoshida

Todd Schenasi

Carol E. Fukuchi

Karen Provin

Stephanie Schmid

Sidney Gamber

Dorine Queener

Susan Sions

Jill Golden

Sherry L. Rafters

Mary Ann J. Alvarez

Dianna Tyndall

Mary Accetta Goodloe

Christopher Rama

Gwendolyn Bailey

Aileen N. Ungab

Zorayda Gozun

Denzil Ramdhanie

Lisa Bargar

Maria Valdivia

Tracey Green

Richard Rivera

Irene L. Bayan

Larry Villalba, Jr.

Cathy Guthrie

Dottie Rudinica

Jennis Belen

Maria E. White

Jacqueline Hemmah

Ana Salinas

Susan Castillo

Dianne Wood

Mary Hersh

Isabelo Salva

Changrong Cheng

Lori Woodman

Bruce A. Hershberger

Angela Salva

Heidi Chong

Phil and Sylvia Yim

Vickie Hershberger

Alia Schiltgen

Danielle Cosgrove

Rosie Zamora

Nathan Higashigawa

Ernesto Segura

Suellen G. Hosino

Christine Serra-Harris

Lisa G. Hughes

John Singh

SPONSOR $250

Jeanette M. Cutuli DONOR $100

Tami DeVine Carla Duhovic

Susie Kim Adams

Valerie Ishihara

Lorraine Smith

Maria Eclevia

Tomoko Akazawa

Cynthia Keus

Madhu Subherwal

Cheryl Ely

Bibi Ali

Freda Khan

Lisa Takata

Carlos Fernandez

Oliva Arcala

Kimberley Koontz

Remer Tangoan

Alfrenda Gonzales

Maria Arteaga

Cassandra Krutsinger

Keith Tate, III

Kathy Hagemeier

Jose Albert Rey Asis

Chance Krutsinger

Terry D. Thomas

Natalie Hassoldt

Sheryl Y. Au

Gerald and Trisha Lanphen

Steven Thompson

Debbie Hoagland

Elizabeth Austin

Ashley Lavezzari

Beryl Tokunaga

Rosario Jarquin

Sara K. Avakian

Judy Grace Lebrillo

Wynne and Alan Torqueza

Changkyun Kim

Sara Cruz Baldos

Kristina Lenehan

Mei Tsai

Susan Koch

Mary Beehler

Chi Leung

Cesar Valle

Julie A. Krueger

Melissa Benoit

Mary Jane and Nolan Lew

Bao Vu

John Kumashiro

Maricela Bordenave

Christine Lopez

Lani Walker

Esther Lopez

Carly Brandt

Elizabeth Lowerison

Angie Watters

Richard and Martha Lopez

Liliana Brankovic

Elizabeth Marquez

Laura Wilhelm

Maricarmen Luhrsen

Heather Burt

Lauren Mitchell

Yasmin Yap-Mariano

Shirley Rose Maderazo

Dinah Cabalatungan

Rosalyn Modeliste

Tiffani Zanelli

Patrick Matteo

Evelyn Calip

Allisha Nazareth

Anne McCormick

Rosalinda Catamisan

Edward Nazareth

Mary Ann Merritt

Julie Che-Potter

Maricel Olvera

Mei Amano

Pamela Michael

Coral Cortez

Martha D. Ortiz

Kent Amano

Janice Miyashiro

Carolyn Cruz

Doris A. Paloma

Arlene Amigable

Glenda M. Moore

Mina Dastgheib

Michele Palombo

Ashley Archuleta

Nancy Mukai

Geraldine De La Cruz

Wendy Pangindian

Aley Arredondo

Sheila O’Neill-O’Connor

Heather Dixon

Winston Pascual

Jacqueline Ayres

Mary Ong

Linda Dobie

Donna Patch

Lauren Ayres

Jacqueline Parker-Johnson

Margaret Johnson Doran

Jennifer Patten

Marnie Bay

Paty Pearce

Cindy Durant

Jaquelina Patti

Marisa Bay

Vilma Plagata

Mary J. Eddy

Patricia Perez

Kyomi Bolender

Zenaida Poquiz

Juliana S. Enge

David Phung

Danielle Boujikian

Armando and Faye Ramos

Ana Maria Espejo

Kay Pitonzo

Josephine Boyon

FRIEND $50

FAL L 2 02 2 | PATR ON S

63

S u ppo rte r s Kathryn Braasch

Michael Hanson

Nooshin Naghsheh

Kathleen Sheridan Schumm

Caroline Cabilogan

Corrine Hidalgo

Sophia Neveu

Khalid Shariff

Felicidad Cabuena

Tokiko Imai

Sue-Ann Nouchi

Manette Sinkus

Cathrine Cainglet

Lynn Jagger

Eliza Oliveros

Richard Tejada

Thelma Carbonell

Lisa A. Kiyohara

Melissa O’Malley

Shelly Trites

Luzviminda B. Cartera

Blanca Lardizabal

Sophia Ramirez

Yan C. Chan

Vivian Lee

Maria D. Rangel

Arliene P. Chang

Devi Legaspi

Cora Roa

Betsy Biggins

Elizabeth Cinco

Susan Lieu

Dani Rodriguez

Kathryn Joiner

Ingrid Cobb

Elizabeth Lizaso

Laura Tweedt Roybal

Pat Quan

Lety De La Torre

Liza Lumanlan-Domingo

May Santos

Bert Stewart

Priscilla Ednilao

Matthew Morales

Rinnah T. Sapitanan

Cathy Emmerson

Sanjeshni Murphy

Vilma H. Sapitanan

Maria D. Gonzalez

Erica J. Musto

Jamie Schneider

RETIREE MEMBERSHIP

HERITAGE SOCIETY James Andrews

Myrna Frame

Pat and Richard Lucy

Lavonne and Jerry† Rodstein

Lenore Bemis

Henry Frankenberg

Melanie and Richard Lundquist

Kirsten Wagner, DDS, and

Peggy and Wayne Bemis, DDS

Judith and Robert Frinier

Barbara Demming Lurie and

Hilde Boldt

Sunila Fuster, MD

Elaine Booth-Carnegis

Sidney Gamber

Judith Maizlish

Diane and Eric Schott

Jan and Virgil Bourgon

Sue Glessner

Larry Maizlish

Barbara Schulz, MD

Robert† and Patricia Brewster

Irene Goldman and David Sato†

Franceen† and Michael McClung

Elaine and David Scott, MD

Mimi Brody

Rebecca Gonzales and James Ng

Del McCulloch

Loraine and Ralph† Scriba

Ronnie Brown†

Susan Goodlerner, MD, and

Carol McCully and Ed Barad

René and Phyllis Scribe

Maria Buechler

Laura and Marc Schenasi

Kak and David McKinnie

John R. Sealy, MD

James Philip Burt

George W. Graham†

Sandra and Kenneth McKivett

Judy and Sherrill† Sipes

Marie and James Campbell

Patricia and Gary† Hathaway, MD

Linda Severy McMahon and

Joan and Herbert Stark

Benjamin Cheng and

Adrianne and Alan† Hegge

Kim McCarthy

Ed Wolfman

Mark Lurie, MD

Richard Rounsavelle, DDS

Jerold McMahon

Thelma and Phil Steinberg

Patricia and David Hempel

Carol and Karl McMillen

Nancy and Douglas Teulie

Marilyn Chevalier†

Joan Henderson

Rita and Joseph C. Meistrell

Inge Thompson

Herbert Clarkson

Eve and Rick Higgins

Cheryl Melville

Frances and Stuart Tsujimoto

Francine and Phillip Cook

Aida Hillway†

Richard Meyer, DDS

Sandy VandenBerge

Melody and Gary Cooper

Keiko and Allen Hochstein

Myron and Luise Miller

Marcela and John Vanhara

Bette and Dick† Crowell

Carole A. Hoffman

Doris and Gregory Morton

William Victor

Joyce and Bob Daniels

Daniel Hovenstine, MD

Steve Nash and Dell Fortune†

Susan K. Warner

Ruth and Harv Daniels

Donald† and Priscilla Hunt

Victoria Nishioka†

Suzanne Webb

Rejandra and Manjri Dhami

Gary Hunter

Colleen O’Neill

Nancy Weisel

Ginny and John Dixon

Maude Infantino

Judith Opdahl

Carol A. Wharton

Sheri and Casey Dodge

June Kaneoka

Kenneth O’Rourke

Lois and Richard Winters

Arlene and Dale Dorman

Ronna and Robert† Katz

Lore and Marv Patrick

Teri and Rob Young

Thyra Endicott, MD, and

Stanley and Frances Zee

Sylvia Kennedy

Christina and Phil Pavesi

Jonathan Chute

Stuart C. Kern

Nancy Peterson and Dick Chun

Judy English and

Robert P. Koch

Fran and Rob Peveler

Millie Kruger

Judy and Dan Platus

Sam and Rose Feng

Micki and Norman Lasky, MD

Donna and John† Prysi

Harry and Frances Fleming

Irving Levine

Betty Jane and Ernest Rivera

William Crudup, MD†

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PATR ON S | FALL 2 02 2

†Deceased

S u ppo rte r s

IN-KIND DONATIONS $10,000+

Girl Scout Troop #9515

Kristen and David Kudrave

Colleen and Craig Quinn

Adam Goldenberg

Giuliano’s Delicatessen and Bakery

Connie and Jeff Lai, MD

Julie Richland

Martin Chevrolet – Joe Giacomin

Anne Gonzales

Tracy and Andy Livian

Lincoln Riley

Shari and Morgan Moore

Carra Graziadio and

Helaine and Steve Lopes

Roclord Studio Photography

Pat and Richard Lucy

Pat and Robert Romeri

Barbara Demming Lurie and

Kirsten Wagner, DDS, and

Jonathen Lund $1,000+

Mary and Scott Grillo

Ruth and Harv Daniels

Jackie and Craig Halverson

Kenny G

Dianne and Mickey Hawke

Tami and Paul Mance

Dolly and Mark Rouse

Halper Fine Art

Maureen and Jeff Hawke

Judith and Gene Matsuda

Deena and William Ruth

Los Angeles Football Club

Eve and Rick Higgins

Laurie and Thomas McCarthy

Patricia Sacks, MD

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Helen and Dave Hitzel

Colleen and James McKinnell, MD

Patti and Rich Severa

Morgan’s Jewelers – Torrance

Merilee and Keith Hobbs

Karen and Michael Melideo

Marianne Sfreddo

MS Rouse Co, Inc.

Erin Hoffman and

Cessie and John Moody

Pam and Brian Sherman, MD

Shalini Singh and

Sam and Kay Sheth

Newport Printing Solutions, Neal Verga

Heidi Hoffman, MD Jenn and Brandon Hohm

Mark Lurie, MD

Vimal Murthy, MD

Richard Rounsavelle, DDS

Terrie and Steven Solomon

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Allison and Justin Holcher

Mychal’s Learning Place

Shari and Craig Sunada

Mark Pfeil

Galena Miller-Horii and

Doreen and Erlend Myhre

Janice and Timur Tecimer

Lori and Steve Nolls

The Rex Steakhouse

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Dwayne Horii

Rowley Portraiture

Katherine and Kirk Johnson

Kathleen and Rick Ocampo

Linda and Robert Vallee Jr.

Laura and Marc Schenasi

Deborah and JP Jones

Lori and Tom O’Hern

Sandy VandenBerge

Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach

Kendra Scott

Julia Parker

Russell Varon

Vicki and Jeff Kern

Kathy and Andy Patman

Susan and Wade Welch

Dede King

Lauren Phan

Kathleen and Chris Wilson

Christy and Jay Abraham

Jen and Bill Kirk

Jen and Kent Phillips

Ted and Ann Wu

Valerie and Chris Adlam

Gina and Gregg Kirkpatrick

Piccini Italian Takeout

Vic and Lyndsey Yang

Annette and John Aguirre

Song and David Klei

Mary and Tony Podell

Ann and Gary Zimmerman

UNDER $1,000

Lori and David Baldwin Bennett Landscaping Susan and Derek Berz Veann and Tracy Bracken Jennifer Brown and Clark Drake Heather and Glenn Burr Lisa and James Cheatham Jennifer and Anthony Chen, MD Amie and Erik Chessmore Louise and David Clinton Cultured Slice Randy and Luke Dauchot Deidre Davidson Photography Lori and Greg Delgado Donna and R. Stephen Doan Michael Emenhiser Regina and Dan Finnegan Bob Fullerton Gaetano’s Restaurant

Melody Cooper, Gary Cooper

Judith Gassner

FAL L 2 02 2 | PATR ON S

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Th e L ast Wo r d

“CHANGE IS THE MARK OF PROGRESS, AND THERE CAN BE NONE WITHOUT IT.” George W. Graham, former president and CEO

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PATR ON S | FALL 2 02 2

DON’T DELAY YOUR BREAST HEALTH AND SCHEDULE YOUR ANNUAL MAMMOGRAM TODAY. Torrance Memorial’s Polak Breast Diagnostic Centers offer advanced diagnostics, 3D imaging and expert analysis to detect breast cancer in its earliest form. Mammograms can find small tumors before they can be felt in a physical examination, allowing for the most successful and least invasive treatment options.

South Bay Locations: Manhattan Beach • Rolling Hills • Carson • Torrance

Be Your Own Hero

Schedule your annual mammogram today.

310-517-4709 TMMammogram.com

Rhonda Gil, Torrance Memorial Patient & Breast Cancer Survivor

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

3330 Lomita Blvd.

Torrance, CA 90505 310-325-9110 www.TorranceMemorial.org

PERMIT NO. 381 TORRANCE, CA

39th ANNUAL

Holiday Festival

November 29 - December 4, 2022 Located in the white tent at Skypark Drive and Medical Center Drive

Enjoy beautifully decorated holiday trees, boutique, food court and local entertainment Public Exhibit – Boutique Shopping

Special Ticketed Events

Tuesday, November 29 ........................1:30 - 3:30 pm Wednesday, November 30 ..................... 10 am - 9 pm Thursday, December 1 ...........................10 am - 9 pm Friday, December 2............................. Closed to Public Saturday, December 3 ............................10 am - 9 pm Sunday, December 4..............................10 am - 4 pm

Tuesday, November 29 ........................... Fashion Show Friday, December 2................................... Festival Gala

$5 General Admission.

Call 310-517-4703 for further information or to make a reservation.

Opportunity Drawing

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Premier (Est. MSRP $41,270)

Children 5 and under are free.

Senior Days – Free Admission Wednesday, November 30 ..................... 10 am - 2 pm Thursday, December 1 ........................... 10 am - 2 pm For all festival activities dates and times visit: TorranceMemorial.org/HolidayFestival or call 310-517-4606

Donated by Joe Giacomin’s Martin Chevrolet

Call 310-517-4703 to buy Opportunity Drawing tickets.

Winner will be announced Sunday, December 4 at 1pm

3330 Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505