In 1915, right in the middle of World War I, songwriters Alfred Bryan and Jack Wells penned a poignant tune named “When Our Mothers Rule the World.” It was dedicated to the belief that if more women were the leaders of governments, fewer children would be sent off to die in battle. Our matriarchs...

Doctors are judged by decision-making. If poor, you are sued or lose your license. If good, you receive a genuine “thank you.” A patient visits his physician: “I have a stomachache after eating clams last night.” He is quickly sent home after a cursory exam with a diagnosis of “gastroenteritis,”...

Much of my success as a doctor came from the nurses around me. Skills such as inserting foley catheters, IV lines, and changing post-surgical dressings came from the patience of dedicated nurses who took the time to teach a fledgling young doctor. I never had a Nurse Ratched, although some were definitely...

It is apparent the coronavirus mortality rate for seniors is higher than the general population. As the public comes out of isolation, older adults will probably remain in place for fear of becoming seriously ill. Therefore, all seniors should be adequately prepared for the pandemic long-run with this...

Growing up, our mother cut our hair. It was cheaper. The money we saved allowed her to go to the beauty salon … which she deserved. Initially, she used handheld army clippers, then an electric one from Blue Chip Stamps. (Look it up youngsters!) In my family, several relatives have essential tremors...

As an end-of-life physician, I know being with a loved one during their final moments is a deeply personal and emotional memory. This has been changed by COVID-19. Since the onset throughout the country, patients have passed away without family members. It is inhumane, and a horror story. Knowing of...

Santa Clarita – Ready and Resilient As we move further into these unprecedented and uncharted times, I’ve had people ask how the City prepares for such occasions and how we ensure that Santa Clarita will be resilient. The City Council’s mantra has long been, “The decisions we make during...

Some states have decided upon “reopening,” allowing the return of citizens to past freedoms. Politicians have accepted the cries of constituents despite increasing statistics of coronavirus cases and deaths. As a physician, statistics allow me to decide whether a patient is a candidate for surgery....

In his May message, Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth explains why rules sometimes differ between the state, county and city, and urges residents to get their news from local Santa Clarita media outlets. There’s never been a time when information was changing so quickly, when restrictions were being...

If you live in California and serve on a city council, county board, commission or nonprofit organization especially where taxpayer money is doled out, transparency is mandatory. Generally, there are two laws these bodies adhere to: the Brown Act and the Bagley-Keene Act. They guarantee the public a...