Thursday, October 9, 2008

Robert Byrd

Gary Jeandron

(PALM SPRINGS, Calif.) Robert Byrd, Riverside County Auditor-Controller and local business leader Toyin Dawudo will host a “Meet the Candidate” reception for 80th Assembly District candidate Gary Jeandron.

This reception takes place at the Courtyard by Marriott in Palm Springs, 1300 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Donations are appreciated, but not required.

“I want to make sure that business owners and community leaders have a chance to meet Gary Jeandron. He is passionate about helping those who live, work and raise families in the Coachella and Imperial valleys to enjoy the good life the region is known for,” Byrd said. “He is willing to work on both sides of the aisle in Sacramento to make that happen.”

Jeandron is the former Chief of Police for the City of Palm Springs and is a licensed marriage, family and child therapist. He also serves as a governing board member for the Palm Springs Unified School District.

He received the 2006 Jefferson Award Gold Medallion in Washington D.C. for his service to people in the Palm Springs area. The award was established by the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard, who has chaired programs for each of the last seven presidents of the United States.

Monday’s reception is an opportunity for constituents, business owners and community leaders to meet Jeandron and ask him questions about issues affecting their businesses and communities.

“My experience in law enforcement, counseling and as a member a local school district governing board gives me a sound understanding of the issues facing all of our communities,” Jeandron said. “I look forward to representing the deserts’ families and businesses in Sacramento.”

Current 80th District Assembly Member Bonnie Garcia, and dozens of other current and former elected officials in the desert have endorsed Jeandron.

To RSVP for the reception or for more information, call Eddie Catoe at (909) 888-0017.

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Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Dr. Albert Arteaga finalist in Spirit of Entrepreneur Awards



(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – Dr. Albert Arteaga, founder and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, is a finalist in the sixth annual Spirit of the Entrepreneur awards sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University, San Bernardino.

He will be honored during a black-tie awards ceremony at the Riverside Convention Center on Wednesday, Nov. 12. This event begins at 6 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, with a dinner and awards ceremony at 7 p.m.

Dr. Arteaga is one of three finalists in the Corporate Entrepreneur Category, which recognizes the top entrepreneurs in medium to large-size companies. The award also honors local business people who have overcome challenges and given back to their community.

“I am honored to be named a finalist,” he said. “I’ve always thought that putting the needs of my patients first is a good way to do business. This award recognizes LaSalle Medical Associates as among the best in the Inland Empire, so that tells me my fellow business people also recognize it as a good business practice too.”

When Dr. Arteaga first opened LaSalle Medical Associates in 1984, he set out to not just aid those in need, but to change patients’ perception of “going to the doctor.” He explained, “I want everyone to feel that going to the doctor is no more intimidating than going to the grocery store.”

Dr. Arteaga started out as a pediatrician. Now, as the CEO of four medical clinics, his practice serves more than 100,000 people each year, from babies to seniors. He also owns an Independent Physicians’ Association serving 115 doctors.

Many of his patients are on Medi-Cal, and with a growing number of elderly patients, many on Medicare. Some have no health insurance at all. But with a strong belief that everyone deserves quality health care, Dr. Arteaga has parlayed this commitment into a business that last year made more than $40 million.

Dr. Arteaga has practiced a different approach to health care since the beginning. He models his practice after the way his father, a Seventh Day Adventist pastor, ran the churches of which he was in charge.

“It seemed to me my father had a good way of running his business, which was churches,” Dr. Arteaga said. “He welcomed anyone who even approached the door of the church. And if the people weren’t good Christians, he still accepted them, knowing that in time, most of them would change their ways.So I said, my clinics are going to be run like churches. We don’t exclude patients. We welcome all who come in.”

That was 24 years ago. On the first day, Dr. Arteaga and his wife Maria, then employed as his nurse and still his chief assistant, saw two patients. Last year, Dr. Arteaga’s five medical clinics had 108,061 visits, and grossed a little more than $40 million.
Michael Stull, director for the Inland Center for Entrepreneurship, started this recognition program soon after coming to CSUSB in 2002.

Stull said this program not only promotes awareness of the Center for Entrepreneurship, but also provides role models to CSUSB students and local individuals interested in starting their own business.

“The Center for Entrepreneurship provides our students with solid instruction in how to be successful, which new businesses have a great need for in these economic times,” Stull said. And the businesses we are recognizing have been doing great things for awhile, which should serve as a motivation to anyone just starting out.”

Sponsors this year include The Business Press, Inland Empire Magazine, 951 Magazine, the San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency, the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, the City of Riverside, Best, Best & Krieger, Citi, Quick Caption, Varner & Brandt, Citizens Business Bank and Tech Coast Angels, the Inland Empire Economic Partnership and the Small Business Development Center.

For more information, go to www.inlandspiritawards.com or call Stull at (909) 537-3708.

LaSalle medical clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 1505 17th St. and 565 North Mount Vernon in San Bernardino and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia.

For an appointment or more information call LaSalle Medical Associates at (909) 890-0407.

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100 Minority-Owned Businesses Expected at Weekend Expo

ACQUIRE Learning Center will host the Minority Business Expo in its 9,000 square foot ballroom on Saturday, March 14.


(RIALTO, Calif.) – Set your calendars! Consumers will have an opportunity to shop for goods and services offered by the region’s diverse ethnically-owned businesses at the Inland Empire Minority Business Expo.

The Expo will be held on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rialto Events Center located at 1188 W. Leiske Dr., Rialto. The Expo will feature displays and merchandise offered by more than 100 minority-owned businesses from throughout the Inland Empire. The event will also host a teen fashion show.

The Rialto Events Center encompasses a 9,000 square foot ballroom where the Expo will take place. It’s one of several rooms available for events.

“There have been successful Black, Hispanic and Asian expos in Los Angeles for more than a decade,” said Carl Dameron, founder and creative director of Dameron Communications. “Now, with this great location in Rialto, we are bringing the idea to the Inland Empire, only ours will bring together enterprises from ALL minorities in our ethnically diverse Inland Empire.”

ACQUIRE Educational Services, Inc., Dameron Communications and the Cultural Alliance are sponsoring this event. Admission is free.

The Cultural Alliance is an informal alliance of all ethnic chambers of commerce in the Inland Empire, coming together for the common cause of improving relationships, business and our economic base.

Businesses owned by all races, ethnicities and genders can purchase 10 x 10 booths at the Expo for $125 each. The Expo will be attended by several hundred seeking your goods and services.

“This expo is an excellent opportunity for ethnically-owned businesses,” said Dolores Armstead vice president of the Inland Empire African-American Chamber of Commerce. Many people want to support these businesses, but don’t know they are out there. I urge all minority enterprises to register for this fantastic opportunity to showcase your business.”

“The Inland Empire has a rich diversity of businesses,” she added. “But often, we don’t know each other, when we should be working together to support each others’ business endeavors.

Dameron Communications is a Black-owned business that has successfully marketed its clients to an ethnically diverse customer base for almost 20 years. ACQUIRE Educational Services, Inc. is a Black- and Asian-owned business, offering its building for private parties and business functions.

“We are proud to host the Minority Business Expo at our new Rialto Events Center,” said Suzy Aguillard. ”It is an exciting opportunity for participants to learn more about and support all the great businesses owned by minorities in the Inland Empire.”

The Rialto Events Center ballroom can hold up to 600 people for a banquet or party, and up to 1,500 for a concert or presentation. It also has meeting rooms available for groups as small as 10 people, or as large as 100. For leasing information, call (909) 875-3356.

To learn more about the Inland Empire Minority Business Expo, or to find out the many ways Dameron Communications can help you market your business, call Sabrina Martinez at (909) 888-0017.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Disabilities Expo features Dr. Edna Arteaga-Hernandez


Guests at a previous Inland Empire Disability Resources EXPO visit the Inland Empire Health Plan booth.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Dr. Edna Arteaga-Hernandez will highlight October’s Inland Empire Disability Resources EXPO. The free event is slated for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday Oct. 23rd at the Loma Linda University Medical Center.

She will speak on “Getting the Most from Doctor Visits and Medications,” topics of paramount importance to today’s patients.

Exhibits and workshops at the EXPO will explore health, housing, transportation, advocacy, employment, assistive technology and education.

Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez is the president and CEO of the Inland Empire’s Arther Medical Corporation.

Over four consecutive years she has received the coveted Polaris Award of Excellence in Public Relations Community Service for her radio talk show, “Cita con su Medici.” Additionally, Arteaga-Hernandez has aided students in various medical departments at Loma Linda’s School of Medicine and at Western University of Health Sciences.

The EXPO is presented by the Inland Empire Disabilities Collaborative, a group of
70-plus organizations serving people with disabilities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. “We dedicate our efforts,” say the Collaborative’s leaders, “ to promoting equal opportunity, universal access and full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life.”

The Inland Empire Disability Resources EXPO is set for Thursday, October 23 from 9-2 at Loma Linda University Medical Center, 25040 Stewart Street in Loma Linda. For details on this free event call (909) 890-5833 or (909) 890-1623 TTY. On line you may write to iedisabilitiescollaborative@gmail.com.

For more information about Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez and other community doctors, call LaSalle Medical Associates at (909) 890-0407.

Dr. Arteaga-Hernandez is a member of the LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. Independent Physicians Association. (IPA.)


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Monday, October 6, 2008

L.A. Senior Doctor Makes House Calls

Dr. Azmy Ghaly, in front of photos of his three sons.


Dr. Francisco Quijas converses with his patient, Beatrice Cuellar and her husband, Carlos Cuellar. The staff at Senior Care Clinic takes time to get to know each of its patients as individuals.


(LOS ANGELES) – Dr. Azmy Ghaly and his staff at East Los Angeles’ Senior Care Clinic do whatever it takes to make sure their patients receive quality health care – even if they have to make a house call.

Many patients will see Dr. Ghaly, or one of the other three Senior Care Clinic physicians at their office in White Memorial Medical Building, 1700 E. Cesar Chavez Ave, Suite 3900. The other physicians are Dr. Francisco Quijas, Dr. Angelina Espinoza and Dr. Aung Mang.

But they also see patients at nearby White Memorial Medical Center itself, or in many of the board and care homes, and convalescent hospitals in East Los Angeles and nearby communities. Seniors who still live independently can also have a house call, if they’re too sick to travel, but not sick enough for hospitalization.

“If there is no other way, we will make a house call,” Dr. Ghaly said.

Senior Care Clinic primarily serves East Los Angeles. The website www.city-data.com says East Los Angeles is 96.8 percent Hispanic, and has a median income of $31,915, with 26.4 percent of the population living in poverty.

“These demographics put patients at a higher risk of contracting certain diseases,” says Dr. Ghaly. “This is partly because low income Hispanics typically have a high-fat diet with lots of lard, and partly because Hispanics from all walks of life are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol, hypertension and other diseases.”

As a geriatric or senior health care specialist, naturally patients are elderly, and many rely on either public transportation or senior housing shuttles to get to the doctors’ office.

Dr. Ghaly has tailored his practice to meet these unique needs.

For one thing, although the Egyptian-born physician came to the United States in 1991 fluent in two languages (Arabic and English), he quickly learned to speak Spanish after opening his clinic in 1994. Later two more doctors (Dr. Quijas and Dr. Espinoza), who were born in Mexico, joined the practice.

The fourth member of the practice, Dr. Maung, is from Myanmar (formerly Burma), and speaks Cantonese and Burmese. After Hispanics, the largest ethnic group in East Los Angeles is the growing Asian population, according to Dr. Ghaly.

Whatever their financial situation, patients won’t have to worry about the expense of health care. Since all Senior Care Clinic patients are at least 65 years old, they’re eligible for Medicare, and the employees of the clinic can help them apply if they haven’t already done so.

For those with insurance, Senior Care Clinic will usually charge only $75 for an initial office visit, and $40 to $45 for subsequent visits.

“Sometimes we will even see patients for free,” Dr. Ghaly said. “If a patient comes in with no money, what can you do? We have a heart here.”

For instance, while Dr. Ghaly encourages patients to apply for Medicare as soon as they are eligible, some newly retired senior citizens have lost coverage under their group plans at their last job, yet are still awaiting Medicare approval. If they need medical attention during that transition, Senior Care Clinic can help.

During an office visit, physicians at Senior Care Clinic spend the time each patient need. An initial visit, during which physicians give their patients a complete physical, takes about 30 minutes.

“We always take time with our patients to sit down and explain things,” Dr. Ghaly said. “For our Hispanic patients, sitting and chatting is part of their culture. If you stand up and talk to patients for 15 to 20 minutes, that is perceived as the worst care. If you sit down and talk with a patient for five minutes, it seems like an hour.”

Senior Care Clinic doctors ask their patients to bring every medication they’re taking with them to an appointment, especially the first meeting. That’s so they can make sure any medications they’re now taking or would be prescribed for their current ailment don’t cause harmful interactions.

“Some patients are taking 30 bottles of medication,” Dr. Ghaly said. “We review their medications with them, and make sure they’re not taking something that would hurt them.”

And if a new medication is necessary, Dr. Ghaly’s staff will assist by phoning the prescription to the pharmacy ahead of time. Pharmacies often verify prescriptions with a doctor’s office, he said, so calling ahead saves the patient from having to wait at the pharmacy while this step is completed

Appointments for office visits are encouraged, but patients are welcome to come in without them.

“If you are sick, and need to see a doctor right away, that’s why we are here,” Dr. Ghaly said. “We’re very flexible. “We try to have patients see the same doctor each time, so they can develop a relationship with that doctor. Still, we know almost all of each others’ patients.”

Since there are four physicians, the clinic can accommodate patients who didn’t make appointments by having at least one doctor available, in the office, whenever it’s open. That doctor can see his or her scheduled patients for the day, as well as any who come in without appointments.

Senior Care Clinic has a relationship with the East Los Angeles senior citizen community that goes beyond taking care of their medical needs. The staff participates in community health fairs and events for senior citizens, and the physicians serve as guest lecturers for schools and community groups.

In addition, Senior Care Clinic is helping The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU) to develop affordable housing for senior citizens. TELACU is a non-profit organization founded 40 years ago to improve the economic vitality of East Los Angeles and other southern California neighborhoods.

Senior Care Clinic was established in East Los Angeles in 1994, and is affiliated with nearby White Memorial Medical Center. A staff of four physicians, headed by Dr. Azmy Ghaly, handles all geriatric health care needs. Dr. Ghaly speaks Arabic, English and Spanish. Dr. Angelina Lopez and Dr. Francisco Quijas speak Spanish and English. Dr. Aung Maung speaks Burmese, Chinese and English.

For more information about Senior Care Clinic, call (323) 307-0800.

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