We were under curfew. No one was on the streets. The air was filled with smoke, and a looter was killed at the corner store. Darting between houses, we were careful not to be seen, nor arrested. Being young teenagers during the 1965 Watts Riots, we wanted to listen to Dodger games together. We violated...

The 1996 movie “Independence Day” was a futuristic lesson in unity when the world fought for survival. Neither race, nationality, religion, social status, gender, educational level nor political party played a role in this battle. We were one. Similarly, when admitting patients to the hospital, I...

Growing up in the 1960s before “60 Minutes,” there was a Sunday evening television show called “Candid Camera.” It conjured up embarrassing yet funny hidden filming culminating in “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera.” In 1974, when doing research using controlled medication, I found drugs missing...

In his June message, Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth observes the resilience of Santa Clarita residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The best way to describe the Santa Clarita community over the past few weeks is resilient. Residents and businesses have shown resilience while facing uncertainties...

I see patients in nursing homes once a month. Most elderly residents are relegated to these facilities because debilitating health problems prevent them from living at home. Around the country, they have become “hotspots” of infection. County Public Health maintains real-time statistics that are...

In his monthly message for June 2020, Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Striplin offers an appreciation of city staff’s creativity. The last two-plus months have been challenging for everyone, regardless of age. Whether you are a child missing schoolmates or an adult spending a lot more free time...

I wake up without an alarm clock. I’ve done that for years. If I have to catch a plane or train, which is rare nowadays, I set one as back up. First thing I do is heat water for my hot chocolate. Dependent on the time of year, this is usually around 5 in the morning, before sunrise. I take my blood...

The Santa Clarita Valley three decades ago was serene. Running in early morning hours before sunrise smelled of country with the occasional sighting of coyotes and bobcats, and hearing the rustling of awakening native birds. We were an extension of urban life taking over their grounds. One morning, it...

In 1975, I presented my master’s thesis at an Indiana University health conference. The data collected were a culmination of one year of research, accepted and later published in a medical journal. It was my first foray into this realm, so I used a scholarly statistic group from Purdue University,...

Visitation is highly restricted for nursing homes, as they are hotspots of life and death. If your loved one uses a smart phone, family communication is maintained. For those with less technical skills, many nursing homes now compassionately lend residents cell phones for usage. One of my patients was...