Albert E. Hirst, M.D.
1915 - 2003
Retired SBCMS member Albert E. Hirst, M.D. died April 11, 2003 at his home in Loma Linda. He was a professor of pathology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and chairman of the Pathology Department. He was also chief of clinical services at Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda.

A native of Riverside, Dr. Hirst graduated from the College of Medical Evangelists (Loma Linda University School of Medicine) in 1942. He served his internship and residency at White Memorial Hospital 1941-1943. He was a member of CMA, AMA, California Society of Pathologists, the American Board of Pathology, and the American Heart Association. He joined SBCMS in 1966 when he transferred his membership from the Los Angeles County Medical Association. He lectured to grade school students against smoking.

His wife, Lolita Duerksen, two sons, a daughter, and seven grandchildren survive Dr. Hirst.

Varner J. Johns, M.D.
1921 - 2003
Former SBCMS President (1974/75) Varner Johns, M.D. passed away April 25, 2003 in Loma Linda. He was former chairman of the Department of Medicine at Loma Linda University where he taught for 38 years and achieved the status of Emeritus Professor.

Dr. Johns was born in Denver, Colorado and received his medical degree in 1945 from the College of Medical Evangelists (Loma Linda University School of Medicine). He took his internship and residency at White Memorial Medical Center 1944-1947, followed by a Pathology residency at College of Medical Evangelists 1947-1948. Dr. Johns was a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Internal Medicine, subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Diseases. He was a visiting colleague at the Institute of Cardiology in London, a visiting consultant to Hospital Central del Empleado in Lima, Peru; and a consulting cardiologist at Riyadh Military Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Johns served two years in the Army during the Korean conflict as Chief of the Professional Training Branch in the Surgeon General's office in Washington, D.C. He became a Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 1957, Governor of Southern California Region II, Chairman of their committee on Post-graduate courses, and a member of the editorial board of their Bulletin. Dr. Johns was president of many organizations, including the LLU School of Medicine Alumni Association, the Alumni Federation Board of Governors of LLU, the Los Angeles Society of Internal Medicine, the Inland Society of Internal Medicine, and the Audio-Digest Foundation. He was also a member of the Editorial Board of CMA's California Physician magazine, and a consultant to the Western Journal of Medicine. Dr. Johns served on the Board of Trustees of Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Loma Linda University Medical Center where he was a member and chaired several committees, and he chaired the Board of Directors of Loma Linda Physicians Medical Group 1980-86. He received several awards, including Outstanding Teacher at LLU (four times), Outstanding Service Award, American Heart Association, the AMA Physicians Recognition Award (three times), and in 1985, the SBCMS Award for Outstanding Contribution to Medicine.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, one son and two daughters, and six grandchildren.

Change of Status
The Board of Directors approved the requests received from the following physicians for reinstatement of membership:

John Fagan, M.D.
Labib A. Hashimi, M.D.
Tung Van Huynh, M.D.
Jien S. Kim, M.D.
Ahn N. Nguyen, M.D.
Donald Shearer, M.D.

The Board accepted the following physician's request for an affiliate status of membership:

Glenn N. Ledesma, M.D.

The Board also granted a request from the following physician for retired status of membership:

Irvin Strub, M.D.