We’ve seen heart-wrenching decisions to ration healthcare in Italy and New York. Now with the recent surge, the lives of seniors might be in jeopardy for lack of hospital beds or equipment. In many states, odds are against you if you are an older adult needing hospitalization: – Gray hair allows...

On one of my early morning runs as the community began to stir, I saw a law enforcement neighbor leaving for work, followed closely by family. Their 4-year-old daughter clung to the uniformed pant leg, crying, “Please don’t go to work” several times. After reassurance, but still crying and waving...

Today marks my 100th consecutive day of posting a commentary on COVID-19, and most recently BLM. These two events of 2020 will be forever etched in history, yet we are still living though evolving changes daily. Documenting the twists and turns in a snippet from a physician’s viewpoint hopefully has...

Most people can’t determine my race when they look for features to categorize my skin, hair, eyes and nose. For years, I have been aware of my biracial background, and now I can identify with the fastest growing “race” in the Untied States – the mixed race. This was extended further with DNA...

My father was born in 1902, so he lived through the pandemic of 1918, which killed 675,000 Americans. Yet I know little about the challenges he and his family faced during this frightening period of history. When I was growing up, the 1918 pandemic was not on my radar – especially when the Civil Rights...

California is a technologically rich state. During this pandemic, we should retool industry and manufacture masks, gowns, gloves, hand sanitizers, cleaning bactericides and all PPEs. There will be no further shortages, biddings or rip-offs. Plus, we can produce ample swabs and testing kits with antibody...

Early this month, a Washington, D.C., newspaper claimed 60,000 primary care physicians (PCPs) could be forced to close their practices by the end of June. That’s almost 29 percent of the 209,000 PCPs in the United States. PCPs are your family practitioners, general internists and pediatricians. Healthcare...

My mother, in her late 90s, fell at home and broke a hip. She needed surgery, then one week of rehabilitation. This was last year when the Dodgers were again heading toward the playoffs, and she was lucky to have cable TV at home that carried the games. But not at rehab. “Where are the Dodgers on this...

Budget cuts will soon be made by many governors throughout the nation. The cost and impact of the pandemic has markedly effected state finances, and much of the brunt will be taken by older adults. The Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers have significantly contributed to the basis of our thriving nation....

Playing Little League baseball was out. My family could not afford it. A few in our neighborhood could, so they got that opportunity. Our friend, “Jimmy James Barber Junior the Third,” played on a baseball team at Queen Anne Park near Los Angeles High School. One day when we were 9 years old, he...