presented to

Rodney E. Willard, M.D.

This twenty-sixth day of June, in the year two thousand two

On first meeting him, one is not likely to assume that Dr. Rodney Willard is a powerful persuader. But appearances are not all that count, and thus we gather tonight to honor this gentle man who for 35 years has quietly displayed outstanding dedication, participation, and leadership in the Medical Society and organized medicine.

Dr. Willard strongly believes in the value of the SBCMS, CMA and AMA. He is a quiet, well liked, highly respected individual, who has gained the admiration of his colleagues as an ethical and competent physician, and at all times concerned over the issues that face the Medical Society. When he joined SBCMS, the major interests of the organization appeared to be concentrated on the problems affecting those in private practice – particularly solo practice. He recognized that there were several other groups of physicians who at that time were out of sight from most of organized medicine’s attention – group practices, academic physicians, Kaiser and Kaiser-like groups, military physicians. Over the years, he has suggested to many physicians that just complaining was less likely to help start change, and a better way would be to become involved with the committees of the Society and in that way influence what the Society paid attention to. To be consistent and practice what he was saying, he joined the SBCMS Hospital Medical Staff Section, and his influence led SBCMS to serve a much broader spectrum of physicians.

Dr. Willard has been a dedicated member of the District II Delegation to the CMA since 1985. He served on the SBCMS Board from 1991-1996 and continues to attend meetings as a CMA Delegate. He regularly attends CMA’s Legislative Leadership Day in Sacramento. He has played an active role in taking the message of the SBCMS and CMA to his colleagues at Loma Linda University, presenting information to the LLU departments and encouraging membership in organized medicine. He worked tirelessly gathering information regarding AIDS and shared that information with the leaders at the medical society so they were conversant with the facts for the media, when testimony was needed on the floor of the CMA House of Delegates, and also when educating our legislators.

Since 1992 Dr. Willard has chaired the SBCMS Credentials Commission. He continues to review the applications of prospective members before their names are submitted for Board approval. He heads the Communication Committee and its Editorial Board and is a member of the Electronic Communications Committee where his advice on web technology is greatly appreciated. He represents SBCMS on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Southern California Physician. In the past, he participated on the Medical Society’s Nominating Committee, Membership Development, and Technical Advisory committees for Laboratory Medicine (1995) and HIV testing (1994).

It is for his many years of dedicated service, support, and participation that the membership of the San Bernardino County Medical Society honors Dr. Rodney Willard with its highest award, the Nicholas P. Krikes, M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Medical Society.

Jay E. Shankar, M.D.
President