Charles M. Hair, MD
VCMA member since 1949

For 38 years, Charles M. Hair, MD, was a busy, devoted family doctor. Although retired now, he continues to care for the residents of Ventura County by doing all he can to insure that people, regardless of their circumstances, have access to quality healthcare. As a result, Dr. Hair was recently honored at the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice's 60th anniversary celebration.

As President of Livingston Memorial Foundation, which he co-founded in 1974, Dr. Hair directs the allocation of the foundation's grants The largest beneficiary is LMVNA, the oldest non-profit home healthcare agency in the county; it was founded as an alternative to institutionalizing the frail, elderly, sick and disabled, regardless of the ability to pay.

Dr. Hair's commitment has also been demonstrated through his work as Chairman of the American Medical Association's Council on Legislation. He also served on the legislative commission of the California Medical Association, the Board of Directors of United Way of Ventura County and the Board of Trustees of St. John's Regional Medical Center Foundation.
Dr. Hair's involvement in the policies of healthcare "just sort of evolved," he says modestly. It all began back in the 1950s when he became active with the Ventura County Medical Society, of which he became President in 1958. From there, he served as CMA President and also on the Boards of Directors of the California State Board of Consumer Affairs, the California State Chamber of Commerce, the Western Conference of Prepaid Service Plan, and of Blue Shield of California.

Dr. Hair graduated from the USC School of Medicine in 1945. He was a medical staff member at both St. John's Medical Center and Ventura County Medical Center and Chief of Staff at St. Johns and chairman of the obstetrics-gynecology department. "Among the things I'm proudest of is the founding and the work of the Livingston Foundation, and LMVNA" says Dr. Hair. "It's wonderful really. I had a successful medical practice for 38 years, and we raised our family here. There's a lot of satisfaction in giving something back to a community that has been so good to me over the years."

George Sarka, MD
LACMA member since 2003

In May, George Sarka, MD, was appointed Governor of the Southern California Region II Chapter of the American College of Physicians. ACP Governors are elected by local ACP members and serve four-year terms. Responsibilities include supervising ACP chapter activities, appointing members to local committees, presiding at regional meetings and serving on the ACP Board of Governors.

Currently, Dr. Sarka is the Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA and a physician and headache specialist at CSU, Northridge. In addition, he is an attending physician in the Division of Medicine/Rheumatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is an active affiliate in neurology at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Sarka is also President of the Los Angeles Neurological Society.

Dr. Sarka earned his medical degree from the McGill University Medical School in Montreal in 1980 and a master's degree in public health from UCLA. He is currently pursing a doctorate in public health at UCLA.

Peggy J. Fritzsche, MD
SBCMS member

Peggy J. Fritzsche, MD, Professor of Radiological Sciences at Loma Linda University, has been named 2008 Alumna of the Year for the school. The Alumnus of the Year award recognizes a person who "typifies success in one or more aspects-professional distinction, administrative talent, humanitarian service, nobility of character, and self sacrifice." Dr Fritzsche graduated from LLU School of Medicine in 1966 and then went on to complete her residency at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, a cardiovascular fellowship at LLUMC and a uroradiology fellowship at UCLA.

Dr. Fritzsche has been a member of the LLUSM faculty for more than 30 years and was President of the LLU Medical Center staff. She has also served as medical director at multiple independent MRI and PET imaging centers in the Inland Empire. Throughout her career, she has been active in organized medicine and radiology. She served as president of the San Bernardino County Medical Society and is a delegate to the California Medical Association and American Medical Association.

Her leadership roles in radiology societies are also impressive. In 2003, she served as the 86th President of the largest scientific and educational radiology society, the Radiological Society of North America. During her tenure, she oversaw the annual meeting for approximately 60,000 registrants and handled corporate relations with more than 450 companies. She chaired the committee responsible for the radiology exhibit at the Disney Epcot Technology and Science Center. Dr Fritzsche served as President of the American Association for Women Radiologists and has received honorary membership into the European Congress of Radiology and the Swiss Radiology Society.