San Diego Magazine / January 2004 / Letters

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Letters

At a time when [doctors] have lost the respect of the public and are being devoured by the insurance companies, it is nice to hear your words of encouragement.

Real Heroes
I enjoyed reading your recent issue highlighting San Diego’s “Best Doctors” [November]. I am honored to be a member of that group.It’s interesting to note that in the introduction to the article you describe a scenario of an older gentleman who became unresponsive at a recent North County charity event. Oddly enough, it was my wonderful wife, Karen, who resuscitated him. He is doing well. She is an intensive-care nurse who previously worked for more than a decade in Los Angeles. The point being that with such fine nurses present throughout California, healthcare delivery is impeccable. With the current (and impending) nursing shortage, the difficult work hours and the paucity of income these individuals receive for their efforts, the real heroes of the article are the nurses and other providers of ancillary service that allow physicians to look as good as they do.
Michael L. Levy, M.D.
Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery
Children’s Hospital, San Diego
University of California, San Diego

Pot Shot
I do not know how I received a subscription to your magazine. However, I can assure that I do not want to subscribe. When your editor of San Diego’s “50 People To Watch” selected the “pot head” that you selected last year, and placed his importance with real achievers in San Diego, I don’t believe you gave this much thought. The marvel of marijuana to be construed as a medical device has really sucked you in. I have good friends who lost their daughter in an auto accident because the driver was high on pot. You need to separate your desire to be fashionable with your duty to be responsible. You are neither.
Paul X. Bouzan
Fallbrook

Like Father
I thoroughly enjoyed Tom Blair’s article about his father [“My Best Doctor,” I on San Diego, October], especially as my father and uncle had similar experiences in New York City, where I grew up. Like his father, my dad didn’t care for himself very well, but was an idol to his patients—sometimes even to the detriment of the family. I am honored to have been named in the magazine as one of San Diego’s best doctors. At a time when we have lost the respect of the public and are being devoured by the insurance companies, it is nice to hear your words of encouragement, and those of San Diego Magazine.
Paul Goldstein
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Mira Mesa

Thank-You Note
I was very touched by [Ron Donoho’s] eloquent writing about Darren Bennett and his son, William [“When Football Is Job Two,” Sports, September]. His writing inspired me to help wherever I can in their plight. We met them a couple years ago when my son went to kindergarten with William, and I volunteered as a parent on Mondays in the classroom. I volunteered with Children’s Hospital Auxiliary for approximately seven years and plan to serve on the committee for Hats Off to Children, scheduled this spring. I encouraged the women to vote on designating the funds for neurology, the division that umbrellas muscular dystrophy. As a nonprofit organization, we try to rely on donations to the best of our abilities, so that we don’t waste precious funds on administrative dollars. Thanks to you and Ron for such a sensitive look at what the Bennetts have been going through—without delving into their personal lives.
Annette Fargo
Solana Beach

Fair Enough
As a Del Mar Fairgrounds board member, I found your “Unfairest of the Fair” story [by Candace Reed, November] of special interest. Candice accurately reports that the Fairest of the Fair program experienced unfortunate operational issues this past year. Please understand that measures have been taken to ensure that scoring irregularities and unauthorized board policies are not repeated in the future. Raquel Rusing has served with incredible grace, dignity and honor—we’ve been blessed with her participation in the program. Next year’s Fairest of the Fair, Troy Lemperle, will lead the cheers as our fair theme celebrates the 100th birthday of Ted “Dr. Suess” Geisel of Cat in the Hat fame. Troy is the perfect representative to convey to our fair attendees the joy of building skills and imagination through writing, illustrating and reading. Once again, it’s going to be a great summer at the San Diego County Fair.
Jim Morris
Board Member
Del Mar Fairgrounds
22nd District Agricultural Association.

Errata
In the Charitable Events Registry, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas was incorrectly referred to as Scripps Mercy Hospital. Its event, the Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas 21st-anniversary gala, “La Magique du Cirque,” is scheduled for June 12, 2004, at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. Please contact Rhonda Ohnesorge for more information at 858-678-6298 or ohnesorge.rhonda@scrippshealth.org. And due to a production error, a line was omitted from Ron Donoho’s December travel story on Palm Springs. The sentence should have read: “My take on what makes for a successful desert resort revolves around all-inclusiveness—like a retiree with orthopedic insoles, you want to kick back, keeping off-property sojourns to a minimum.”

Letters Welcome San Diego Magazine invites letters from its readers. Send comments to Letters to the Editor, San Diego Magazine, P.O. Box 85409, San Diego, CA 92186-5409 or to tblair@sandiegomag.com (e-mail) or 619-230-0490 (fax). Letters must be signed to be considered for publication. Please type or print your name, as well, and include a daytime phone number. E-mail should include the writer’s full name and city. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and to excerpt them.