VCMRF Honors Ventura County Health Innovators

VENTURA, CA, March 19, 2014 (Press-News.org) For more than two decades, the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation (VCMRF) has been a leader in recognizing the achievements and dedication of the county's medical doctors and health care professionals through the David Fainer, MD, and Leo Tauber, MD, Awards. By recognizing the work of health care professionals countywide, VCMRF brings awareness of the exemplary work taking place every day in the healthcare community to help drive innovation in patient care and access to care for all people, especially the county's underserved population.

The 21st annual award ceremony will be 5:30-9:30 p.m., April 3 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel, 450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura and will honor the Limoneira Company in Santa Paula and seven professionals from a wide range of disciplines. All are being recognized for exhibiting the highest standard of personal ethics and professional performance, reflecting Dr. Fainer's and Dr. Tauber's ideals of involvement, commitment and contributions to health care in our community.

Honorees were selected by a distinguished committee of the county's leading health organizations, including Assisted Home Care and Hospice, Dignity Health/St. John's Regional Medical Center, Camarillo Health Care District, Community Memorial Hospital, MediTech Health Services, Inc., Ventura County Health Care Agency and Simi Valley Hospital. VCMRF staff were also involved.

Harold Edwards will accept the award for the Limoneira Company, which is receiving the Community Health Innovator Award for its role in setting higher standards related to employee health care. Through its employee program, the company works to better meet the challenges of the future and improve health outcomes within the community. A special tribute will honor Edwards' father, Dr. Samuel Edwards, who worked with Dr. Fainer and Dr. Tauber at the Ventura County Medical Center.

As with previous years, the 2014 honorees have served as empathetic role models and mentors, said Jesus Torres, Foundation board chair. "We are honored to recognize them for their professional performance and selfless contributions to health care," he added.

2014 honorees include:

• Community Health Innovator Award - Limoneira Company
• Vision Care Specialist of the Year - Robert Pazen, OD
• Dentist of the Year - Ronald A. Guzman, DDS
• Behavioral Health Professional of the Year - Ronald C. Thurston, MD
• Favorite Hero of the Year - Marianne Cody
• Nurse of the Year - Alicia Zaragoza, RN, MSN, NP
• Community Physician of the Year - James Hornstein, MD
• Hospital Physician of the Year - Thomas Kong, Jr., MD

David Fainer was the director of the nationally recognized Family Practice Residency Program, as well as the medical director of the internal medicine department at Ventura County Medical Center. A doctor who was the paradigm in approaching medicine with equal parts knowledge and heart, Fainer's motto was, "The secret of the care of the patients is in caring for the patient."

Leo Tauber, along with four fellow doctors, founded the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation in 1956 and the Buenaventura Medical Clinic in 1950. It was the first multi-specialty group practice in Ventura County. Tauber's belief was that "The ideal doctor/patient relationship has never changed. Doctors, by virtue of their training, are morally and honor bound to treat and care for people to the best of their ability."

Founded in 1956, the role of the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation is to provide services to low-income and underserved families throughout the community. The Foundation's mission is to enhance the availability and quality of health care services in Ventura County.

For more information, contact the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation at (805) 641-9800 or email us at vcmrf@vcmrf.org.