Kenneth Knudtson, MD
1915-2000
The Medical Society was recently notified that retired pathologist Kenneth Knudtson, M.D. passed away December 19, 2000. Dr. Knudtson was a member of SBCMS for 36 years.
A native of DeForest, Wisconsin, Dr. Knudtson received his medical degree in 1941 from the University of Wisconsin Medical School. He did an internship at the Research Hospital in Kansas City followed by residencies at Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, Memorial Hospital, New York, and Cornell Medical School, New York. He was a board certified pathologist and served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1951. He left his practice at the Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington in 1964 and came to California to practice at Redlands Community Hospital. He was also an Associate Professor at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Dr. Knudtson was a member of the American College of Pathologists and the American Association of Pathology. He retired in 1978.
Hugh Kohler, MD
1924-2001
Hugh Kohler, M.D. died on February 27, 2001 of a massive stroke at Tacoma General Hospital near his home in Gig Harbor, Washington. Dr. Kohler joined the Medical Society in 1975.
Born in St. Joseph, Minnesota Dr. Kohler attended Creighton University School of Medicine where he received his medical degree in 1950.. He took his internship at St. Josephs Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. A family practitioner, he practiced for seven years in Dallas, Texas and seven years in Tacoma, Washington prior to his arrival in Pomona. He joined the Los Angeles County Medical Association and was very active as an Alternate Delegate and Delegate to the CMA. Ten years later he opened his office in Alta Loma where he practiced for nine years prior to retirement in 1984. Dr. Kohler was a member of the medical staff of San Antonio Community Hospital and Pomona Valley Community Hospital. He served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service as a torpedo man from 1941 to 1944 and received the U.S. Submarine Combat Award.
Dr. Kohler was a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice. He was a member of the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus, the Lions Club and the American Legion. He authored, "Man the Machine," which was published in 1983 by Carlton Press. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo, a daughter and three sons.
Owen J. O'Connor, MD
1917 - 2001
Retired San Bernardino surgeon Dr. Owen J. O'Connor died on July 19, 2001 of complications from a stroke. He was a member of SBCMS for 56 years and a recipient of the society's Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award in 1989.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Dr. O'Connor in 1943 received his medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland. He came to San Bernardino in 1943 to take his internship and residency at the San Bernardino County Charity Hospital, where he was senior resident in Surgery from October 1944 to July 1945. Duty called, and he was Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and Assistant Chief of Surgery at Tripler General Hospital 1945-1947. Following his release from the Army, he had a private practice in San Bernardino for two years and then two years as Assistant Surgeon for the Beaver Clinic in Redlands. In 1951 Dr. O'Connor returned to private practice in San Bernardino. He retired in 1982 to teach in the Department of Family Practice at the San Bernardino County Medical Center. His dedication to his students earned him two Golden Apple awards for outstanding teaching.
Dr. O'Connor was a charter Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was a former chief of staff at both San Bernardino County Medical Center and St. Bernardine Medical Center, where he was also a member of the board of directors. Another interest was the St. Bernardine Hospice Program, where Dr. O'Connor served as director for five years. He was very active on the Board of Directors of the Blood Bank of San Bernardino-Riverside Counties. Dr. O'Connor's involvement in ancillary medical organizations included being one of the founding fathers of the San Bernardino Foundation for Medical Care and officiated as President in 1964, 1965 and 1966. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Inland Health Plan in 1981-82 and was Medical Director for the Area XV PSRO for two years. Other organizations that he has participated in are the Uptown Lion's Club of San Bernardino and the United Funds Drives by being Co-chairman and Chairman of the Medical Division.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley; two sons and a daughter; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Change of Membership Status
The Medical Society Board of Directors accepted the requests received from the following physicians for a reinstatement of their membership:
Kenneth A. Ballou, M.D.
Cyrus Damirchi, M.D.
Anh The Nong, M.D.
Victor Sabo, M.D.
Christopher K. Tsai, M.D.
The Board of Directors approved the requests received from the following physicians for retired status of membership:
David M. Bee, M.D.
Joseph A. Corig, M.D.
Donald E. Halverson, M.D.
Stewart Shankel, M.D.
Edward M. Yaeger, M.D.
Medicare Agency Reorganized, Renamed
The federal agency that runs Medicare and other health programs got reorganization,
a name change and a publicity push from the Bush administration in June.
Under its new name -- the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - the agency will launch a $35 million public information campaign aimed at helping seniors and other participants to navigate complex rules. The advertising campaign will coincide with the open enrollment period for Medicare.
Beginning this fall, customer service representatives will be available 24
hours a day. The department was formerly known as the Health Care Financing
Administration (HCFA). Several changes will follow this summer, including a
plan for the agency to rate nursing homes and other facilities that serve elderly
and disabled citizens.
