Lorena’s Journey to Public Service

100:00:01,180 --> 00:00:03,790Jesse L Hammonds: Welcome to the Healthy,Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr.200:00:03,790 --> 00:00:04,410William T.300:00:04,410 --> 00:00:09,470Choctaw, MD, JD, where the doctorhelps you unlock your full potential by400:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,320equipping you with tools and knowledge inthe areas of health, wealth, and wisdom.500:00:14,620 --> 00:00:18,499Anchored in his experience as abusiness executive, a physician600:00:18,529 --> 00:00:23,410surveyor for the joint commission,a former mayor, and over 50 years700:00:23,410 --> 00:00:25,279of experience as a general surgeon.800:00:25,780 --> 00:00:27,960You've got questions, he's got answers.900:00:28,400 --> 00:00:29,279So let's get started.1000:00:29,880 --> 00:00:30,490Here's Dr.1100:00:30,490 --> 00:00:31,020William T.1200:00:31,040 --> 00:00:31,099William T.1300:00:31,099 --> 00:00:31,660Choctaw,1400:00:31,930 --> 00:00:33,500Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: MD, JD.1500:00:34,000 --> 00:00:34,740Good morning.1600:00:35,490 --> 00:00:36,040I'm Dr.1700:00:36,040 --> 00:00:36,470William T.1800:00:36,480 --> 00:00:40,730Choctaw, and I welcome you to ourHealthy, Wealth, and Wise podcast.1900:00:41,270 --> 00:00:43,300We have a very special guest today.2000:00:43,659 --> 00:00:46,929Our guest today for our podcast is Mrs.2100:00:46,939 --> 00:00:48,099Lorena Choctaw.2200:00:48,689 --> 00:00:49,229That's right.2300:00:49,229 --> 00:00:50,679You heard that correctly.2400:00:51,039 --> 00:00:52,559She is my better half.2500:00:52,964 --> 00:00:59,544And I am delighted to have herto share with you some of her2600:00:59,564 --> 00:01:03,854thoughts and some of her impressionsand experiences on leadership.2700:01:03,854 --> 00:01:05,424So welcome Lorena.2800:01:06,724 --> 00:01:07,334Lorena Choctaw: Thank you.2900:01:07,754 --> 00:01:08,354Good morning.3000:01:09,074 --> 00:01:09,154Good3100:01:09,254 --> 00:01:10,024Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: morning.3200:01:10,624 --> 00:01:12,564So let me ask you this.3300:01:12,664 --> 00:01:17,484What would you say are if someonewere to ask you to tell your story3400:01:17,904 --> 00:01:19,654how would you tell your story?3500:01:21,164 --> 00:01:27,614Lorena Choctaw: Well, my story started asI was born in Guatemala City in Central3600:01:27,614 --> 00:01:31,524America, uh, to Christian parents.3700:01:32,124 --> 00:01:37,784My father was a pastor of aBaptist church, and so I grew up3800:01:37,884 --> 00:01:41,134attending church all the time.3900:01:41,514 --> 00:01:47,254So my faith grew up stronger andstronger as I grew up and got older.4000:01:48,670 --> 00:01:54,030My introduction to servicewas probably by observing them4100:01:54,370 --> 00:01:56,590serving others all the time.4200:01:57,150 --> 00:02:02,539My dad, as a pastor, was constantlybeing sought by members of the church,4300:02:03,060 --> 00:02:06,950where they would come and share theirneeds with him, and he would try4400:02:06,950 --> 00:02:09,380to help them as much as he could.4500:02:09,820 --> 00:02:16,920And my mother, as a surgical registerednurse, was constantly being asked to4600:02:17,260 --> 00:02:22,290go to their homes and, and, and tryto provide medication and treatment4700:02:22,299 --> 00:02:27,840to, to the sick members of thechurch and others from the towns.4800:02:28,530 --> 00:02:29,739At an early age Did you have any4900:02:29,900 --> 00:02:30,300Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: brothers5000:02:30,300 --> 00:02:31,079Lorena Choctaw: and sisters?5100:02:31,605 --> 00:02:32,875I have a brother.5200:02:32,875 --> 00:02:33,765I have a brother.5300:02:34,105 --> 00:02:36,575He is four years older than me.5400:02:37,055 --> 00:02:38,165So you were the baby.5500:02:39,515 --> 00:02:40,165I'm sorry.5600:02:40,415 --> 00:02:41,295You were the baby.5700:02:41,595 --> 00:02:42,575I was the baby.5800:02:42,605 --> 00:02:43,274I was the baby.5900:02:43,665 --> 00:02:44,095Yes.6000:02:44,505 --> 00:02:49,175And, and for that reason my parentswere very careful where I was6100:02:49,205 --> 00:02:51,695going and in what I was learning.6200:02:51,695 --> 00:02:58,945So they were very dedicated to make surethat I learn about Jesus Christ as my6300:02:58,945 --> 00:03:05,195savior and that I learned different waysto, to help others and to serve others.6400:03:06,030 --> 00:03:12,870Um, I remember that my mom was verygood at teaching me how to read6500:03:12,870 --> 00:03:15,360and write as, as I was very little.6600:03:15,810 --> 00:03:22,270So when the time came for me to go tokindergarten, she took me to the school6700:03:22,270 --> 00:03:27,830and left me there with the understandingthat at the end of the school day, she6800:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,420was going to come back and pick me up.6900:03:31,380 --> 00:03:33,080Well, after an hour or so.7000:03:33,930 --> 00:03:38,360I decided that that was notwhat I wanted in school because7100:03:38,430 --> 00:03:40,570all we were doing was playing.7200:03:40,570 --> 00:03:45,480So I grabbed my lunch pail andmy sweater and left and went7300:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,730home and I walked back home.7400:03:48,190 --> 00:03:54,350Now imagine the look in my mom'sface when, when I knock at the7500:03:54,350 --> 00:03:58,640door and she opened the front doorand here I am back from school.7600:03:59,560 --> 00:04:05,505And he asked, oh, I must havebeen, Six, five, six years ago.7700:04:06,405 --> 00:04:09,955And when she asked,what was I doing there?7800:04:09,955 --> 00:04:13,025I just told her we'renot learning anything.7900:04:13,225 --> 00:04:17,765We are just playing and I wantto learn how to read and write.8000:04:18,305 --> 00:04:24,215So that decided right then, then thatI was not going to go to kindergarten.8100:04:24,535 --> 00:04:29,265And by the time I was ready tobe registered on first grade.8200:04:29,975 --> 00:04:34,665I was too advanced for, for thatgrade because, again, my mom8300:04:34,665 --> 00:04:36,055had been teaching me at home.8400:04:36,825 --> 00:04:41,695So, I was advanced to thesecond grade and that went on8500:04:41,695 --> 00:04:43,715until I graduated from college.8600:04:43,715 --> 00:04:48,695I was always a year earlyfrom, from my classmates.8700:04:48,705 --> 00:04:52,475So, that's, that's howmy, my life has started.8800:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,920Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Which isa good point because it shows that you8900:04:55,920 --> 00:05:01,470can, as a parent, you can never start tooearly teaching your kids basic, you know,9000:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,550reading and writing, et cetera, et cetera.9100:05:03,590 --> 00:05:07,180That children will learn whatever youteach them, whenever you teach it to them.9200:05:08,290 --> 00:05:09,500Lorena Choctaw: Right, right.9300:05:09,990 --> 00:05:11,510And she was, she was very good.9400:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,140She was patient and, andshe would make it fun.9500:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,600And I think that that's howit was easier for me to learn.9600:05:18,890 --> 00:05:22,100And I was eager to, tolearn how to read and write.9700:05:22,660 --> 00:05:24,300So that's, that's how it started.9800:05:24,970 --> 00:05:26,940Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:Tell me about when you say read9900:05:26,940 --> 00:05:30,680and write, were, were you, were youreading and writing Spanish only?10000:05:30,700 --> 00:05:33,280Were you reading andwriting Spanish and English?10100:05:33,290 --> 00:05:35,540How, how did all that come about?10200:05:36,270 --> 00:05:39,650Lorena Choctaw: No, my introductionto English came later on in life,10300:05:39,670 --> 00:05:44,860probably at junior high or high school.10400:05:45,160 --> 00:05:45,510Okay.10500:05:45,530 --> 00:05:49,850My father was the one thatintroduced me to, to English.10600:05:50,210 --> 00:05:51,690He loved the language.10700:05:52,195 --> 00:05:58,685He always he used to travel a lot andhe came to the United States a couple10800:05:58,685 --> 00:06:04,025of times and he fell in love with thelanguage and he studied it and learned10900:06:04,025 --> 00:06:11,015it and it was a goal of his that I wasgoing to learn how to speak English.11000:06:11,545 --> 00:06:17,285And so whenever he was always busy,but whenever he would have a couple of11100:06:17,285 --> 00:06:23,485minutes, I would go to his office andhe would sit me in front of his desk and11200:06:23,485 --> 00:06:27,335he would start teaching me words first.11300:06:28,080 --> 00:06:33,140And he would have me repeat themover and over and over and, and11400:06:33,370 --> 00:06:39,210it was never a, a hard thing todo or a, a homework or a fear.11500:06:39,750 --> 00:06:44,300He made it so easy for me to feelcomfortable with the language.11600:06:44,790 --> 00:06:49,300And as it, we went along,then we got into phrases.11700:06:49,680 --> 00:06:49,900Huh.11800:06:49,980 --> 00:06:56,060And then sentences, and then likeconversations, and he was always11900:06:56,060 --> 00:07:00,670telling me that one day I neededto come to the United States.12000:07:01,190 --> 00:07:01,470Really?12100:07:01,910 --> 00:07:08,750That, yes, that he wanted me tocome to the United States to live.12200:07:08,830 --> 00:07:10,770That that was my future.12300:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,690And that's why he was so adamantin teaching me the language.12400:07:14,730 --> 00:07:15,350Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:Interesting.12500:07:15,850 --> 00:07:16,290Interesting.12600:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,040So he started very early lookingat your path down the road.12700:07:21,320 --> 00:07:26,390And again, those who are blessedwith both mom and dad and that's12800:07:26,390 --> 00:07:29,230what you want, you know, becauseit really does make a difference.12900:07:29,230 --> 00:07:31,380It's, it's not, it's not lost.13000:07:31,420 --> 00:07:36,250It's not forgotten that that becomes apart of the children as, as they grow up.13100:07:36,570 --> 00:07:40,110But what would you say are some of the,some of the things that you've learned13200:07:40,110 --> 00:07:44,710in life your, your life lessons thatsort of guide you, you mentioned about13300:07:44,710 --> 00:07:48,680religion and how your mom, your dadbeing a pastor and your mom being active13400:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,810in the church, in addition to being a.13500:07:51,140 --> 00:07:54,890A medical professional, a nurse butwhat, what, what are some other things13600:07:54,890 --> 00:07:59,000that you've learned either in Guatemalaor in the United States or both?13700:07:59,990 --> 00:08:00,100I13800:08:00,270 --> 00:08:02,570Lorena Choctaw: learnedthat serving is a privilege.13900:08:03,350 --> 00:08:07,410I used to see my mom and dad servea lot and, and I used to tell14000:08:07,410 --> 00:08:09,550him, don't you get tired of it?14100:08:09,780 --> 00:08:12,470You know, why are peoplealways asking you to do things?14200:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,970And their response willalways be, it is my privilege.14300:08:17,435 --> 00:08:24,765I enjoyed doing it and and they saw itas a blessing to be able to serve others.14400:08:25,365 --> 00:08:33,775So I learned that at a very early age,and I grew up understanding that that we14500:08:33,775 --> 00:08:36,985were all here to to serve those in need.14600:08:37,325 --> 00:08:42,765So it was not a strange thing forme when later on in life, I was14700:08:42,765 --> 00:08:45,155given the opportunity to to serve.14800:08:45,765 --> 00:08:51,795And, and it was, it feltlike a second nature to me.14900:08:51,915 --> 00:08:52,815It was not a stranger.15000:08:52,845 --> 00:08:52,985What15100:08:52,985 --> 00:08:55,475Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: are someof the other ways that you have served?15200:08:56,775 --> 00:09:00,425Lorena Choctaw: I God blessed mewhen I came to the United States15300:09:00,425 --> 00:09:07,325to find immediate work first as atax collector up north in Modesto.15400:09:08,280 --> 00:09:12,900And I was a, a, a collector of taxes.15500:09:13,610 --> 00:09:18,480And, and I always felt that, that itwas a service that we were providing to15600:09:18,480 --> 00:09:23,180the community for them to have a placewhere they could come and pay their bills15700:09:23,220 --> 00:09:25,130without having to travel long distances.15800:09:25,530 --> 00:09:25,910Okay.15900:09:25,980 --> 00:09:31,820And later on, I had the opportunityto work for local hospitals16000:09:31,820 --> 00:09:33,920here in the Los Angeles area.16100:09:34,715 --> 00:09:42,585And my job was to service thephysicians on the staff of the two16200:09:42,585 --> 00:09:45,015hospitals that I was in charge of.16300:09:45,570 --> 00:09:50,130And my job in helping them, I'm sorry,16400:09:50,300 --> 00:09:51,700Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Isaid you were the director of the16500:09:51,700 --> 00:09:53,200medical staff office for the two.16600:09:53,200 --> 00:09:53,560Lorena Choctaw: Correct.16700:09:53,950 --> 00:09:54,290Correct.16800:09:54,650 --> 00:10:00,880And some of my duties were to make surethat the physicians would have what they16900:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,340needed that it was my responsibility tomake sure that they had their license17000:10:05,460 --> 00:10:10,250current so that they wouldn't runinto problems while treating patients.17100:10:10,580 --> 00:10:11,170I was yeah.17200:10:11,695 --> 00:10:15,715In charge of making sure that theywould follow the rules and regs and17300:10:16,305 --> 00:10:18,255any other service that they needed.17400:10:18,605 --> 00:10:22,875We provided them at the officethat I was the director of.17500:10:23,575 --> 00:10:25,965So, through my whole life.17600:10:26,675 --> 00:10:28,535I Have had the opportunity to serve.17700:10:28,975 --> 00:10:31,765Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:Yes, I can imagine.17800:10:31,835 --> 00:10:33,785And and I should, Ishould add a note here.17900:10:33,785 --> 00:10:38,405I was one of those positions becauseI, what one of the ways that Lorraine18000:10:38,405 --> 00:10:40,355and I met was at the hospital.18100:10:40,795 --> 00:10:43,275And and the medical self office is unique.18200:10:43,405 --> 00:10:44,325for physicians.18300:10:44,325 --> 00:10:48,415You know, many times we physicians takethose in private practice may not think18400:10:48,425 --> 00:10:52,445much of hospital administration that manytimes there's always a little tension18500:10:52,445 --> 00:10:54,795there, but not the medical staff office.18600:10:54,795 --> 00:10:57,895And even though the medicalstaff office was employed by the18700:10:57,895 --> 00:11:00,565hospital, but it was that bridge.18800:11:00,885 --> 00:11:06,745Between the hospital and the practicein positions and and we relied on18900:11:06,815 --> 00:11:10,645on individuals like yourself and inyour office to help us to make sure19000:11:10,645 --> 00:11:12,185that we follow the rules of that.19100:11:12,185 --> 00:11:17,185We didn't run out of time and, youknow, renewed our license on time.19200:11:17,185 --> 00:11:20,715It's that, you know, a lot of thebasic stuff that we tend to ignore.19300:11:21,075 --> 00:11:24,555As physicians, but without that itwould have been very difficult for us19400:11:24,565 --> 00:11:26,415to do the things that we wanted to do.19500:11:27,215 --> 00:11:29,965What, what other lessons haveyou learned other than service?19600:11:30,135 --> 00:11:32,745And so service started foryou at a very young age.19700:11:33,575 --> 00:11:34,425Lorena Choctaw: Yes, it did.19800:11:34,635 --> 00:11:35,155It did.19900:11:35,165 --> 00:11:40,295And I, I, I can only20000:11:43,075 --> 00:11:44,305Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:Tell me about education.20100:11:44,305 --> 00:11:44,395What,20200:11:45,055 --> 00:11:45,715Lorena Choctaw: what, what's your Yeah.20300:11:45,895 --> 00:11:51,505I, I was, I was just about to saythat as, as I grew up watching my mom20400:11:51,885 --> 00:11:58,445practice medicine I always felt theattraction to be involved in medicine,20500:11:58,835 --> 00:12:01,175either as a nurse or or a physician.20600:12:01,570 --> 00:12:07,660But for some reason nursing did notattract me, but being a physician20700:12:07,670 --> 00:12:10,030sounded more interesting and exciting.20800:12:10,850 --> 00:12:16,510But since my parents could not affordto send the two of us, my brother and20900:12:16,510 --> 00:12:21,120I to school, my brother decided thathe wanted to go into medicine also.21000:12:21,530 --> 00:12:26,010So that made it moredifficult for for me to go.21100:12:26,010 --> 00:12:32,430So I had to instead choose to go tobusiness school because it was it was21200:12:32,490 --> 00:12:36,330easier to go that route financially.21300:12:36,970 --> 00:12:38,820But as it is.21400:12:39,400 --> 00:12:46,980Later in life, I, I met a physicianthat I, that I married to and, and21500:12:48,210 --> 00:12:53,390I had the opportunity to, to work inhis office and to be the administrator21600:12:53,470 --> 00:12:55,930of a surgical medical office.21700:12:55,940 --> 00:13:02,570So, as, as it is life is a circleand you kind of come, come all the21800:13:02,570 --> 00:13:05,170way around to where you started.21900:13:05,850 --> 00:13:12,410And at the end, I was helpingto treat patients and to write22000:13:12,410 --> 00:13:17,720prescriptions and orders fortreatments and surgeries and so on.22100:13:18,060 --> 00:13:21,450So, I got involved in medicine in a22200:13:21,730 --> 00:13:22,170Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: way.22300:13:22,825 --> 00:13:26,275As a matter of fact, you're,you're being very modest.22400:13:26,575 --> 00:13:30,055One, one of the things that, I'ma general surgeon and I had my own22500:13:30,055 --> 00:13:34,205office but there are many othergeneral surgeons in our hospital and22600:13:34,205 --> 00:13:37,365we decided as surgeons to form a group.22700:13:37,795 --> 00:13:40,765We didn't merge completely,but we were an affiliate group.22800:13:40,765 --> 00:13:44,595We would use that group to,cover the emergency room because22900:13:44,625 --> 00:13:48,845we took emergency call in thenights and weekends and holidays.23000:13:49,125 --> 00:13:52,295And so each of us wouldhave some time off.23100:13:52,655 --> 00:13:57,395We would form a group and Lorenaactually was the manager of the group.23200:13:57,725 --> 00:14:02,085There were seven of us and some of youwho are old school can remember this.23300:14:02,295 --> 00:14:04,635We called ourselves the Magnificent Seven.23400:14:05,125 --> 00:14:10,565Okay, and if you think physicians aredifficult to manage surgeons are the23500:14:10,565 --> 00:14:16,195extreme of that, you know, they're theextreme of, of difficult positions and23600:14:16,195 --> 00:14:19,875if you talk to anyone who works in ahospital, the docs that they have the23700:14:19,875 --> 00:14:25,135difficult, the problems with oftentimestend to be surgeons, but so my point23800:14:25,135 --> 00:14:31,475is that Your ability to serve and tomanage was extraordinary because most23900:14:31,475 --> 00:14:36,585people cannot manage one position, letalone seven surgeons at the same time.24000:14:36,615 --> 00:14:39,635And it worked, it worked foryears and years and years.24100:14:40,455 --> 00:14:43,635Lorena Choctaw: Yeah, I alsohad the opportunity to, um,24200:14:43,705 --> 00:14:45,540establish my own business.24300:14:45,830 --> 00:14:49,210A consultant business for medical offices.24400:14:49,710 --> 00:14:52,180That was the time whenthe HIPAA rules came.24500:14:52,500 --> 00:14:52,670Right.24600:14:52,740 --> 00:14:58,110And, and everyone was nervousand, and anxious about being in24700:14:58,110 --> 00:15:01,970compliance with the new rulingand requirements from the state.24800:15:02,455 --> 00:15:07,425And since I was well versedin it that was an opportunity24900:15:07,445 --> 00:15:09,805for me to do some consulting.25000:15:09,885 --> 00:15:13,615I was traveling throughoutthe East Sangria Valley.25100:15:14,050 --> 00:15:18,120You know, the the visit, thethe offices and I, what I would25200:15:18,130 --> 00:15:20,300do is I would do training.25300:15:20,490 --> 00:15:25,020I would do an evaluation of theirpractice and at the end I would give25400:15:25,080 --> 00:15:30,800a, my recommendations and observationsso that they could improve and25500:15:30,810 --> 00:15:32,510be in compliance with the ruling.25600:15:33,125 --> 00:15:38,865So as you see throughout my life,everything has been working for25700:15:38,905 --> 00:15:41,871others, and it's a pleasure for me.25800:15:41,871 --> 00:15:42,585And25900:15:43,265 --> 00:15:46,115Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: also,I heard that you actually did some26000:15:46,425 --> 00:15:48,345medical missionary work in Mexico.26100:15:48,405 --> 00:15:49,235Tell me about that.26200:15:49,985 --> 00:15:50,685Lorena Choctaw: I did.26300:15:50,755 --> 00:15:51,275I did.26400:15:51,375 --> 00:15:57,425There was a group of physicians andvolunteers that from the the city of26500:15:57,435 --> 00:16:05,065Walnut that would go across the borderto Tecate, and I loved it because26600:16:05,075 --> 00:16:10,025since I was able to speak the language,it was easier for me to converse26700:16:10,055 --> 00:16:14,175with, with the community membersthat came to receive medical care.26800:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,140I was able to translate for thephysicians that couldn't communicate.26900:16:18,500 --> 00:16:25,890So that was another, another waythat, that God's blessing, uh, and,27000:16:25,920 --> 00:16:30,470and the fact that I could speakSpanish and English helped me to27100:16:30,470 --> 00:16:32,400be of service during those trips.27200:16:33,740 --> 00:16:37,130Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: It'samazing not only that you started service27300:16:37,150 --> 00:16:41,320very, very young with your mom and dadteaching you based on what they were27400:16:41,320 --> 00:16:46,270doing, you've done a variety of differenttypes of service, whether it's working27500:16:46,270 --> 00:16:51,360with a group of physicians, whether it'sbeing in a caravan of 20 or 30 people and27600:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,620driving across the border once a month.27700:16:54,340 --> 00:16:57,090to Tecate, Mexico totreat whoever showed up.27800:16:57,520 --> 00:17:01,770And to have done that over 10 years or so.27900:17:02,110 --> 00:17:06,590So I also hear that you actuallygot involved with, with food28000:17:06,590 --> 00:17:08,300security with the food bank.28100:17:08,550 --> 00:17:12,250And that indeed that presentlyyou're the chief operating officer28200:17:12,670 --> 00:17:16,820of Service Arms Food Bank, whichis one of the largest food banks.28300:17:17,450 --> 00:17:20,330In the San Gabriel Valleyin Los Angeles County.28400:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,830Tell me how that came about andwhat was really involved with that.28500:17:25,250 --> 00:17:30,480Lorena Choctaw: The way that happenedwas that my husband was invited to28600:17:30,500 --> 00:17:35,720become a member of, of the Board ofDirectors of Servants Arms, which is28700:17:35,720 --> 00:17:43,010a 501c3 nonprofit organization thatit started at, at from, from St.28800:17:43,010 --> 00:17:44,816Stephen Baptist Church, and in order forthem to be able to receive funding to28900:17:44,816 --> 00:17:46,742sustain their food bag, they needed toAnd I was invited to become a member of29000:17:46,742 --> 00:17:48,307the Board of Directors of Servants Arms,which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization29100:17:48,307 --> 00:17:49,270that it started at, at, at from St.29200:17:49,270 --> 00:17:51,076Stephen Baptist Church, and in order forthem to be able to receive funding to29300:17:51,076 --> 00:17:54,904sustain their food bag, they needed toHave a separate organization that was29400:17:54,904 --> 00:17:57,114not a religious organization, right?29500:17:57,184 --> 00:18:03,304And as it happened when they invitedhim, he told them that that he would29600:18:03,314 --> 00:18:05,644have to bring his his wife with him.29700:18:06,324 --> 00:18:08,314So I wasn't an add on.29800:18:08,594 --> 00:18:11,904And, and I became amember of the board of,29900:18:11,904 --> 00:18:15,077Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: andyou became the star of the board.30000:18:15,077 --> 00:18:16,484And I'm the add on.30100:18:18,774 --> 00:18:21,324Lorena Choctaw: But it has been apleasure to be a member of the board.30200:18:21,974 --> 00:18:29,214I was a year or so after I startedto be a member, I was asked to30300:18:29,504 --> 00:18:34,474be the secretary for the board inbeing responsible and taking the30400:18:34,474 --> 00:18:36,084the minutes of, of the meetings.30500:18:36,619 --> 00:18:40,589And doing all the theoffice responsibilities.30600:18:40,639 --> 00:18:45,399And, and I, I been doing thatfor, for a couple of years.30700:18:45,454 --> 00:18:55,079And in 2019, following the resignationof, of the executive director, um,30800:18:55,169 --> 00:19:02,319I was asked to hold the, the fortas, as a maid as the, as we could30900:19:02,519 --> 00:19:04,639find a, a new executive director.31000:19:05,279 --> 00:19:09,859It's been four years now thatI've been holding the fort and31100:19:10,049 --> 00:19:12,189I, I can say that it's been a.31200:19:12,349 --> 00:19:23,579A tremendous blessing for me becausethe, the number in the variety of31300:19:23,579 --> 00:19:28,779ways that you can serve, it's, it'sjust, it's, and it has no limits.31400:19:29,409 --> 00:19:34,779It has opened doors for meto have a relationship with,31500:19:34,799 --> 00:19:37,169with, uh, state officials.31600:19:37,699 --> 00:19:46,009Yes, that have seen the value of thework that we do for the community, and31700:19:46,009 --> 00:19:52,249they have dedicated themselves to, tobe of support financial support for us.31800:19:53,619 --> 00:19:57,159One of them is Supervisor Hilda Solis.31900:19:57,979 --> 00:20:00,249She has been the strongest.32000:20:00,869 --> 00:20:07,899And a more permanent supportsupported of, of our costs.32100:20:08,329 --> 00:20:13,049We have a food bank that hasdone tremendous service for32200:20:13,049 --> 00:20:15,129the East Zangibar Valley.32300:20:15,664 --> 00:20:23,254Twice a month, we have a completefull food distribution and, and32400:20:23,264 --> 00:20:28,294during the week for two hours, we,we provide vegetables and fruits32500:20:28,314 --> 00:20:30,944and other items to the community.32600:20:31,204 --> 00:20:41,034But it is, it is unbelievable the, theexcitement, the, the Satisfaction, the32700:20:41,044 --> 00:20:48,944happiness that that provides for me, andas, as it is, we have been recognized32800:20:48,944 --> 00:20:55,254by the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank asone of the best food banks in the area.32900:20:55,754 --> 00:21:02,674Very recently, we were alsorecognized by Kaiser Permanente33000:21:02,854 --> 00:21:06,774as one of their providers ofnutritional food for their members.33100:21:07,549 --> 00:21:15,329So, God has continuously been blessingus, and he allows us to grow, and we're33200:21:15,329 --> 00:21:19,549going to the point that the numberof, of community members that come in33300:21:19,549 --> 00:21:25,589now has overpassed four hundred in,in number, and we distribute food for33400:21:25,589 --> 00:21:30,509three hours, and we start from threeto six, and the community members that33500:21:30,509 --> 00:21:32,359start coming in at nine thirty, ten.33600:21:32,924 --> 00:21:37,144To wait for the distributionand they make it a social event.33700:21:37,634 --> 00:21:42,279They make it a a fellowship eventand they sit around and they talk to33800:21:42,279 --> 00:21:44,479each other and they never complain.33900:21:44,939 --> 00:21:47,209And it doesn't matter how the weather is.34000:21:47,619 --> 00:21:48,189Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: I'm sorry?34100:21:48,199 --> 00:21:50,579Some of the community membersvolunteer actually at the34200:21:50,599 --> 00:21:50,859Lorena Choctaw: Food Bank.34300:21:50,999 --> 00:21:56,369Some of them are starting to volunteer toobecause they they see the work that we're34400:21:56,679 --> 00:21:58,659doing and they want to be part of it.34500:21:59,569 --> 00:22:02,879We have received certificatesof appreciation from some34600:22:02,879 --> 00:22:04,439of, of the members that come.34700:22:04,889 --> 00:22:10,409We have a group of volunteersthat are unbelievably wonderful.34800:22:10,479 --> 00:22:11,679They're so faithful.34900:22:11,979 --> 00:22:13,869They come every single time.35000:22:14,169 --> 00:22:15,489We have lots of fun.35100:22:15,549 --> 00:22:17,319We work a lot.35200:22:17,319 --> 00:22:20,679We, some of us workfrom 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.35300:22:21,924 --> 00:22:25,564But we, we had never received acomplaint from one of the volunteers.35400:22:26,004 --> 00:22:28,234They're always lookingforward to the next one.35500:22:28,554 --> 00:22:32,974So it's been a tremendous blessingfor, for us, especially for me.35600:22:33,654 --> 00:22:35,814Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And withthe food bank, one of the things I've35700:22:35,814 --> 00:22:42,974been struck by is that not only do you andyour organization, Servants Arms, provide35800:22:42,994 --> 00:22:48,294food, but food security many times isassociated with homes, housing security.35900:22:48,304 --> 00:22:49,879And Education.36000:22:49,909 --> 00:22:53,489And what I heard was youactually give scholarships.36100:22:53,769 --> 00:22:55,059Tell me about the scholarships.36200:22:56,029 --> 00:22:59,989Lorena Choctaw: ServantsArms has a subdivision.36300:23:00,309 --> 00:23:05,719It has an education committeethat is in charge of putting36400:23:05,719 --> 00:23:07,899together a scholarship program.36500:23:08,289 --> 00:23:13,269That is the scholarships are offeredonce a year, sometimes twice a36600:23:13,269 --> 00:23:14,779year, depending on the funds.36700:23:15,119 --> 00:23:19,319Remember And C3, a non profit.36800:23:19,349 --> 00:23:24,239So, we don't have specific fundsthat come on a monthly basis.36900:23:24,239 --> 00:23:30,619We, we depend on donations andcontributions and grants that we obtain.37000:23:30,969 --> 00:23:34,809And some of those funds arededicated to the scholarships.37100:23:35,319 --> 00:23:37,669We have been blessed withthe opportunity to give.37200:23:38,309 --> 00:23:46,379Three scholarships of 2, 000 eachalmost every every year, and we try37300:23:46,379 --> 00:23:54,069to give it to students from our localhigh schools and local colleges, and37400:23:54,589 --> 00:23:59,539because we have a relationship withthe Hacienda La Puente School District,37500:23:59,899 --> 00:24:04,779and that's one of the ways that wecontribute to their advancement.37600:24:05,079 --> 00:24:09,219And to make sure that those studentsthat can't afford it less get37700:24:09,229 --> 00:24:13,299some, some, some financial supportso that they can go ahead and37800:24:13,299 --> 00:24:15,719continue with the college education.37900:24:16,509 --> 00:24:18,639Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And Ihad heard that some of those students38000:24:18,639 --> 00:24:22,929are actually homeless, that, that,that they, they don't have homes and,38100:24:22,929 --> 00:24:28,209and in addition to food problems andthat sort of thing that, that Service38200:24:28,209 --> 00:24:31,299Arms, your organization helps withthat also, has helped that in the38300:24:31,299 --> 00:24:31,829Lorena Choctaw: past.38400:24:32,249 --> 00:24:32,629That is great.38500:24:33,469 --> 00:24:41,969Last year, they had the school districthad close to 700 students, and these38600:24:41,969 --> 00:24:46,419are students that are from elementaryschool, junior high, and high school,38700:24:47,099 --> 00:24:52,079and it's, it's It's amazing tobelieve that at this time and age,38800:24:52,079 --> 00:24:54,599we still have homeless students.38900:24:54,959 --> 00:25:02,069Most of them live in, in garages, the onesthat are less, others live in, in cars.39000:25:02,659 --> 00:25:10,609And some of them receive vouchers forfew nights at motels so that they can39100:25:10,619 --> 00:25:15,899have a roof over their heads so that theycan rest at least for one or two nights.39200:25:16,249 --> 00:25:21,309This, the problem is serious and thatis one of the programs that we have39300:25:21,309 --> 00:25:25,949been working with, with the Boardof Supervisors in making sure that39400:25:25,949 --> 00:25:32,259they do do something that they theyhave a program for homeless students.39500:25:32,689 --> 00:25:38,139We are trying to get housing for thosestudents because the way that we see39600:25:38,139 --> 00:25:41,869it is that this this student should be.39700:25:42,619 --> 00:25:48,549Having to worry just on their studiesand their performance at school in39800:25:48,859 --> 00:25:53,849advancing in school and not havingto worry about where their next meal39900:25:53,849 --> 00:25:57,189is going to come or where they'regoing to spend the following night.40000:25:57,859 --> 00:26:04,069So, we will continue doing what we'redoing to try to get more and more help40100:26:04,069 --> 00:26:08,239for them, because it is, it is somethingthat it should not be happening in 2023.40200:26:10,119 --> 00:26:10,499It's40300:26:10,499 --> 00:26:12,369Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:amazing too, because we think of food,40400:26:12,379 --> 00:26:16,249but actually food is connected tohousing and housing is connected to40500:26:16,679 --> 00:26:18,719to advancement and that sort of thing.40600:26:19,339 --> 00:26:20,719Let me go back to your background.40700:26:20,729 --> 00:26:25,169So, you, you got your bachelor's, yougot your master's in business, is that40800:26:25,169 --> 00:26:25,539Lorena Choctaw: correct?40900:26:25,539 --> 00:26:25,719Mm hmm.41000:26:26,239 --> 00:26:30,349I got my master's in businessadministration and commerce.41100:26:31,014 --> 00:26:31,754Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:And commerce.41200:26:31,794 --> 00:26:32,254Okay.41300:26:32,324 --> 00:26:32,744Okay.41400:26:32,844 --> 00:26:33,304Very good.41500:26:33,674 --> 00:26:35,224What what would you say?41600:26:35,564 --> 00:26:40,774Some of your biggest lessons learnedover your life starting back in41700:26:40,784 --> 00:26:44,844Guatemala when your parents werefirst introduced you to the whole41800:26:44,844 --> 00:26:46,934idea of what service was all about.41900:26:47,374 --> 00:26:51,744Going through the years of collegeand, and your time as, as a tax42000:26:51,744 --> 00:26:55,524collector, and then most of yourtime getting to where you're most42100:26:55,524 --> 00:26:57,534comfortable, which is in healthcare.42200:26:57,924 --> 00:27:00,914What, what, what have been someof your biggest lessons learned?42300:27:02,024 --> 00:27:06,074Lorena Choctaw: I think that I believethat the biggest lesson that I have42400:27:06,084 --> 00:27:14,604learned in life is that during the timethat I have served, I always thought42500:27:15,509 --> 00:27:23,209wrongfully, so that I was helpingothers, when in reality, they are the42600:27:23,209 --> 00:27:29,389ones, they help us, the ones that areproviding for them, because if we pay42700:27:29,389 --> 00:27:35,409attention to it, at the end of the day,a hard day of helping others, you get42800:27:35,409 --> 00:27:42,719your blessing, you go home exhausted,but yet you have this, this feeling42900:27:42,719 --> 00:27:46,329of, of satisfaction of what you've43000:27:46,329 --> 00:27:46,829Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: done.43100:27:48,019 --> 00:27:48,939Absolutely.43200:27:49,039 --> 00:27:49,969Absolutely.43300:27:50,539 --> 00:27:56,679Loretta, I am so grateful for yousharing your time with us and helping43400:27:56,679 --> 00:28:01,709us to understand the word of the,the world of philanthropy and helping43500:28:01,709 --> 00:28:05,719us, or being of service, let me justbe specific, of being of service.43600:28:06,049 --> 00:28:08,879And I think that's soimportant going forward.43700:28:09,199 --> 00:28:13,539And, you know, I think in anyother any other part in comments,43800:28:13,539 --> 00:28:16,549you would like to leave with ouraudience before we let you go.43900:28:20,179 --> 00:28:25,099Lorena Choctaw: If I can, if I caninspire someone, just go find something44000:28:25,099 --> 00:28:27,739that you can do for for someone in need.44100:28:28,649 --> 00:28:30,419Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:Well, I think just your story44200:28:30,419 --> 00:28:32,339has already inspired some folks.44300:28:32,669 --> 00:28:38,679And I might add just to add the fundingfor service arms, of course you get grants44400:28:38,859 --> 00:28:44,099and that sort of thing, but you get acontinuous source of small funds from44500:28:44,309 --> 00:28:49,449individuals every month who just donateon a regular basis because they, they44600:28:49,449 --> 00:28:55,529see the work that you and the food bankdo and they want to be a part of that.44700:28:55,629 --> 00:28:56,309Is that correct?44800:28:56,869 --> 00:28:57,569Lorena Choctaw: That is correct.44900:28:57,639 --> 00:28:58,149Yes.45000:28:58,499 --> 00:29:00,799Because again, because we're a nonprofit.45100:29:01,519 --> 00:29:07,319we Can only be supported by,by individuals and, and, or45200:29:07,319 --> 00:29:09,699institutions that grant funds.45300:29:10,019 --> 00:29:11,519And that's how we survive.45400:29:11,949 --> 00:29:18,809But it is amazing how God blesses, becauseevery time that we are running down on45500:29:18,819 --> 00:29:25,729funds, someone comes and, and, and, anddonates, and funds are always coming.45600:29:26,104 --> 00:29:28,704And God continues to bless us.45700:29:29,694 --> 00:29:30,274Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Excellent.45800:29:30,384 --> 00:29:30,754Excellent.45900:29:31,784 --> 00:29:36,384So, Lorena, are there any otherthoughts you want to share with us?46000:29:37,774 --> 00:29:38,184Lorena Choctaw: Yes.46100:29:38,254 --> 00:29:44,964As I was mentioning before, I used tobelieve that by serving, I was helping46200:29:45,124 --> 00:29:47,484others or those that I was serving.46300:29:48,064 --> 00:29:51,744But I realized thatthat's not the way it is.46400:29:52,374 --> 00:29:58,184Every time that I work in servingsomeone, I get a blessing and, and46500:29:58,184 --> 00:30:03,624that's, that's the value of it all,that when you serve others, you46600:30:03,624 --> 00:30:05,954also receive a blessing from God.46700:30:06,684 --> 00:30:11,004God has been extremely merciful to me.46800:30:11,014 --> 00:30:12,794He has blessed me immensely.46900:30:13,384 --> 00:30:17,974He has blessed me with twobeautiful sons, two adults.47000:30:17,994 --> 00:30:21,684They have their ownfamilies, a Christian man.47100:30:22,149 --> 00:30:28,159Good citizens, and they both, eachone of them have a wonderful career,47200:30:28,599 --> 00:30:36,639and I am so proud of them, and thatis one of the many ways that God has47300:30:36,649 --> 00:30:39,269blessed me in this journey in life.47400:30:40,449 --> 00:30:41,799Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:And they've also blessed you with47500:30:41,799 --> 00:30:42,459Lorena Choctaw: grandchildren.47600:30:42,869 --> 00:30:43,779That is correct.47700:30:44,129 --> 00:30:48,059I have been blessed withsix beautiful grandkids.47800:30:48,674 --> 00:30:54,144We are almost ready to have the firstone go to college pretty soon, and47900:30:54,144 --> 00:30:58,794we have the, the oldest daughtergranddaughter that is working now.48000:30:59,064 --> 00:31:03,914She's an adult, and she's aresponsible adult, and, and we are,48100:31:03,924 --> 00:31:09,164we are sincerely very, very blessed,and I thank God every day for my48200:31:09,164 --> 00:31:09,854Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: family.48300:31:11,614 --> 00:31:12,234Very good.48400:31:12,674 --> 00:31:15,054Thank you so much forsharing your thoughts with48500:31:15,054 --> 00:31:15,414Lorena Choctaw: us.48600:31:16,069 --> 00:31:17,009Thank you so much.48700:31:17,009 --> 00:31:18,459Thank you for this opportunity.48800:31:18,699 --> 00:31:19,419God bless you.48900:31:20,119 --> 00:31:20,749Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD:Same to you.49000:31:20,779 --> 00:31:21,269Take care.49100:31:21,489 --> 00:31:21,789Bye bye.49200:31:22,929 --> 00:31:25,239Jesse L Hammonds: Thank you forlistening to this episode of the Healthy,49300:31:25,239 --> 00:31:27,599Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr.49400:31:27,609 --> 00:31:28,269William T.49500:31:28,279 --> 00:31:30,849Choctaw, MD, JD.49600:31:30,849 --> 00:31:34,369Be sure to check out other greatepisodes covering areas of health,49700:31:34,589 --> 00:31:38,919wealth, and wisdom at thwwp.49800:31:38,929 --> 00:31:39,469com.49900:31:39,719 --> 00:31:43,339And while you're there, be sure tocheck out the books, blogs, and other50000:31:43,339 --> 00:31:45,469literature in your preferred format.50100:31:46,169 --> 00:31:51,039Don't forget to leave a review,subscribe, share, and support the podcast.50200:31:51,339 --> 00:31:54,159That's at THWWP.50300:31:54,189 --> 00:31:54,759com.50400:31:55,129 --> 00:31:58,999You've been listening to the Healthy,Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr.50500:31:58,999 --> 00:31:59,549William T.50600:31:59,549 --> 00:32:02,369Choctaw, MD,50700:32:02,369 --> 00:32:03,488Lorena Choctaw: JD.