Lorena’s Journey to Public Service

0:01 Jesse L Hammonds: Welcome to the Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD, where the doctor helps you unlock your full potential by equipping you with tools and knowledge in the areas of health, wealth, and wisdom. Anchored in his experience as a business executive, a physician surveyor for the joint commission, a former mayor, and over 50 years of experience as a general surgeon. You've got questions, he's got answers. So let's get started. Here's Dr. William T. William T. Choctaw, Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: MD, JD. Good morning. I'm Dr. William T. Choctaw, and I welcome you to our Healthy, Wealth, and Wise podcast.

0:41 We have a very special guest today. Our guest today for our podcast is Mrs. Lorena Choctaw. That's right. You heard that correctly. She is my better half. And I am delighted to have her to share with you some of her thoughts and some of her impressions and experiences on leadership. So welcome Lorena. Lorena Choctaw: Thank you. Good morning. Good Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: morning. So let me ask you this. What would you say are if someone were to ask you to tell your story how would you tell your story? Lorena Choctaw: Well, my story started as I was born in Guatemala City in Central America, uh, to Christian parents.

1:32 My father was a pastor of a Baptist church, and so I grew up attending church all the time. So my faith grew up stronger and stronger as I grew up and got older. My introduction to service was probably by observing them serving others all the time. My dad, as a pastor, was constantly being sought by members of the church, where they would come and share their needs with him, and he would try to help them as much as he could. And my mother, as a surgical registered nurse, was constantly being asked to go to their homes and, and, and try to provide medication and treatment to, to the sick members of the church and others from the towns.

2:28 At an early age Did you have any Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: brothers Lorena Choctaw: and sisters? I have a brother. I have a brother. He is four years older than me. So you were the baby. I'm sorry. You were the baby. I was the baby. I was the baby. Yes. And, and for that reason my parents were very careful where I was going and in what I was learning. So they were very dedicated to make sure that I learn about Jesus Christ as my savior and that I learned different ways to, to help others and to serve others. Um, I remember that my mom was very good at teaching me how to read and write as, as I was very little.

3:15 So when the time came for me to go to kindergarten, she took me to the school and left me there with the understanding that at the end of the school day, she was going to come back and pick me up. Well, after an hour or so. I decided that that was not what I wanted in school because all we were doing was playing. So I grabbed my lunch pail and my sweater and left and went home and I walked back home. Now imagine the look in my mom's face when, when I knock at the door and she opened the front door and here I am back from school.

3:59 And he asked, oh, I must have been, Six, five, six years ago. And when she asked, what was I doing there? I just told her we're not learning anything. We are just playing and I want to learn how to read and write. So that decided right then, then that I was not going to go to kindergarten. And by the time I was ready to be registered on first grade. I was too advanced for, for that grade because, again, my mom had been teaching me at home. So, I was advanced to the second grade and that went on until I graduated from college.

4:43 I was always a year early from, from my classmates. So, that's, that's how my, my life has started. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Which is a good point because it shows that you can, as a parent, you can never start too early teaching your kids basic, you know, reading and writing, et cetera, et cetera. That children will learn whatever you teach them, whenever you teach it to them. Lorena Choctaw: Right, right. And she was, she was very good. She was patient and, and she would make it fun. And I think that that's how it was easier for me to learn. And I was eager to, to learn how to read and write. So that's, that's how it started.

5:24 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Tell me about when you say read and write, were, were you, were you reading and writing Spanish only? Were you reading and writing Spanish and English? How, how did all that come about? Lorena Choctaw: No, my introduction to English came later on in life, probably at junior high or high school. Okay. My father was the one that introduced me to, to English. He loved the language. He always he used to travel a lot and he came to the United States a couple of times and he fell in love with the language and he studied it and learned it and it was a goal of his that I was going to learn how to speak English.

6:11 And so whenever he was always busy, but whenever he would have a couple of minutes, I would go to his office and he would sit me in front of his desk and he would start teaching me words first. And he would have me repeat them over and over and over and, and it was never a, a hard thing to do or a, a homework or a fear. He made it so easy for me to feel comfortable with the language. And as it, we went along, then we got into phrases. Huh. And then sentences, and then like conversations, and he was always telling me that one day I needed to come to the United States.

7:01 Really? That, yes, that he wanted me to come to the United States to live. That that was my future. And that's why he was so adamant in teaching me the language. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Interesting. Interesting. So he started very early looking at your path down the road. And again, those who are blessed with both mom and dad and that's what you want, you know, because it really does make a difference. It's, it's not, it's not lost. It's not forgotten that that becomes a part of the children as, as they grow up. But what would you say are some of the, some of the things that you've learned in life your, your life lessons that sort of guide you, you mentioned about religion and how your mom, your dad being a pastor and your mom being active in the church, in addition to being a.

7:51 A medical professional, a nurse but what, what, what are some other things that you've learned either in Guatemala or in the United States or both? I Lorena Choctaw: learned that serving is a privilege. I used to see my mom and dad serve a lot and, and I used to tell him, don't you get tired of it? You know, why are people always asking you to do things? And their response will always be, it is my privilege. I enjoyed doing it and and they saw it as a blessing to be able to serve others. So I learned that at a very early age, and I grew up understanding that that we were all here to to serve those in need.

8:37 So it was not a strange thing for me when later on in life, I was given the opportunity to to serve. And, and it was, it felt like a second nature to me. It was not a stranger. What Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: are some of the other ways that you have served? Lorena Choctaw: I God blessed me when I came to the United States to find immediate work first as a tax collector up north in Modesto. And I was a, a, a collector of taxes. And, and I always felt that, that it was a service that we were providing to the community for them to have a place where they could come and pay their bills without having to travel long distances.

9:25 Okay. And later on, I had the opportunity to work for local hospitals here in the Los Angeles area. And my job was to service the physicians on the staff of the two hospitals that I was in charge of. And my job in helping them, I'm sorry, Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: I said you were the director of the medical staff office for the two. Lorena Choctaw: Correct. Correct. And some of my duties were to make sure that the physicians would have what they needed that it was my responsibility to make sure that they had their license current so that they wouldn't run into problems while treating patients.

10:10 I was yeah. In charge of making sure that they would follow the rules and regs and any other service that they needed. We provided them at the office that I was the director of. So, through my whole life. I Have had the opportunity to serve. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Yes, I can imagine. And and I should, I should add a note here. I was one of those positions because I, what one of the ways that Lorraine and I met was at the hospital. And and the medical self office is unique. for physicians. You know, many times we physicians take those in private practice may not think much of hospital administration that many times there's always a little tension there, but not the medical staff office.

10:54 And even though the medical staff office was employed by the hospital, but it was that bridge. Between the hospital and the practice in positions and and we relied on on individuals like yourself and in your office to help us to make sure that we follow the rules of that. We didn't run out of time and, you know, renewed our license on time. It's that, you know, a lot of the basic stuff that we tend to ignore. As physicians, but without that it would have been very difficult for us to do the things that we wanted to do. What, what other lessons have you learned other than service? And so service started for you at a very young age. Lorena Choctaw: Yes, it did. It did.

11:35 And I, I, I can only Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Tell me about education. What, Lorena Choctaw: what, what's your Yeah. I, I was, I was just about to say that as, as I grew up watching my mom practice medicine I always felt the attraction to be involved in medicine, either as a nurse or or a physician. But for some reason nursing did not attract me, but being a physician sounded more interesting and exciting. But since my parents could not afford to send the two of us, my brother and I to school, my brother decided that he wanted to go into medicine also.

12:21 So that made it more difficult for for me to go. So I had to instead choose to go to business school because it was it was easier to go that route financially. But as it is. Later in life, I, I met a physician that I, that I married to and, and I had the opportunity to, to work in his office and to be the administrator of a surgical medical office. So, as, as it is life is a circle and you kind of come, come all the way around to where you started.

13:05 And at the end, I was helping to treat patients and to write prescriptions and orders for treatments and surgeries and so on. So, I got involved in medicine in a Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: way. As a matter of fact, you're, you're being very modest. One, one of the things that, I'm a general surgeon and I had my own office but there are many other general surgeons in our hospital and we decided as surgeons to form a group. We didn't merge completely, but we were an affiliate group. We would use that group to, cover the emergency room because we took emergency call in the nights and weekends and holidays.

13:49 And so each of us would have some time off. We would form a group and Lorena actually was the manager of the group. There were seven of us and some of you who are old school can remember this. We called ourselves the Magnificent Seven. Okay, and if you think physicians are difficult to manage surgeons are the extreme of that, you know, they're the extreme of, of difficult positions and if you talk to anyone who works in a hospital, the docs that they have the difficult, the problems with oftentimes tend to be surgeons, but so my point is that Your ability to serve and to manage was extraordinary because most people cannot manage one position, let alone seven surgeons at the same time.

14:36 And it worked, it worked for years and years and years. Lorena Choctaw: Yeah, I also had the opportunity to, um, establish my own business. A consultant business for medical offices. That was the time when the HIPAA rules came. Right. And, and everyone was nervous and, and anxious about being in compliance with the new ruling and requirements from the state. And since I was well versed in it that was an opportunity for me to do some consulting. I was traveling throughout the East Sangria Valley. You know, the the visit, the the offices and I, what I would do is I would do training.

15:20 I would do an evaluation of their practice and at the end I would give a, my recommendations and observations so that they could improve and be in compliance with the ruling. So as you see throughout my life, everything has been working for others, and it's a pleasure for me. And Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: also, I heard that you actually did some medical missionary work in Mexico. Tell me about that. Lorena Choctaw: I did. I did. There was a group of physicians and volunteers that from the the city of Walnut that would go across the border to Tecate, and I loved it because since I was able to speak the language, it was easier for me to converse with, with the community members that came to receive medical care.

16:14 I was able to translate for the physicians that couldn't communicate. So that was another, another way that, that God's blessing, uh, and, and the fact that I could speak Spanish and English helped me to be of service during those trips. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: It's amazing not only that you started service very, very young with your mom and dad teaching you based on what they were doing, you've done a variety of different types of service, whether it's working with a group of physicians, whether it's being in a caravan of 20 or 30 people and driving across the border once a month. to Tecate, Mexico to treat whoever showed up.

16:57 And to have done that over 10 years or so. So I also hear that you actually got involved with, with food security with the food bank. And that indeed that presently you're the chief operating officer of Service Arms Food Bank, which is one of the largest food banks. In the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County. Tell me how that came about and what was really involved with that. Lorena Choctaw: The way that happened was that my husband was invited to become a member of, of the Board of Directors of Servants Arms, which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that it started at, at from, from St.

17:43 Stephen Baptist Church, and in order for them to be able to receive funding to sustain their food bag, they needed to And I was invited to become a member of the Board of Directors of Servants Arms, which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that it started at, at, at from St. Stephen Baptist Church, and in order for them to be able to receive funding to sustain their food bag, they needed to Have a separate organization that was not a religious organization, right? And as it happened when they invited him, he told them that that he would have to bring his his wife with him. So I wasn't an add on. And, and I became a member of the board of, Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: and you became the star of the board. And I'm the add on. Lorena Choctaw: But it has been a pleasure to be a member of the board. I was a year or so after I started to be a member, I was asked to be the secretary for the board in being responsible and taking the the minutes of, of the meetings.

18:36 And doing all the the office responsibilities. And, and I, I been doing that for, for a couple of years. And in 2019, following the resignation of, of the executive director, um, I was asked to hold the, the fort as, as a maid as the, as we could find a, a new executive director. It's been four years now that I've been holding the fort and I, I can say that it's been a. A tremendous blessing for me because the, the number in the variety of ways that you can serve, it's, it's just, it's, and it has no limits.

19:29 It has opened doors for me to have a relationship with, with, uh, state officials. Yes, that have seen the value of the work that we do for the community, and they have dedicated themselves to, to be of support financial support for us. One of them is Supervisor Hilda Solis. She has been the strongest. And a more permanent support supported of, of our costs. We have a food bank that has done tremendous service for the East Zangibar Valley.

20:15 Twice a month, we have a complete full food distribution and, and during the week for two hours, we, we provide vegetables and fruits and other items to the community. But it is, it is unbelievable the, the excitement, the, the Satisfaction, the happiness that that provides for me, and as, as it is, we have been recognized by the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank as one of the best food banks in the area.

20:55 Very recently, we were also recognized by Kaiser Permanente as one of their providers of nutritional food for their members. So, God has continuously been blessing us, and he allows us to grow, and we're going to the point that the number of, of community members that come in now has overpassed four hundred in, in number, and we distribute food for three hours, and we start from three to six, and the community members that start coming in at nine thirty, ten. To wait for the distribution and they make it a social event.

21:37 They make it a a fellowship event and they sit around and they talk to each other and they never complain. And it doesn't matter how the weather is. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: I'm sorry? Some of the community members volunteer actually at the Lorena Choctaw: Food Bank. Some of them are starting to volunteer too because they they see the work that we're doing and they want to be part of it. We have received certificates of appreciation from some of, of the members that come. We have a group of volunteers that are unbelievably wonderful. They're so faithful. They come every single time. We have lots of fun. We work a lot. We, some of us work from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

22:21 But we, we had never received a complaint from one of the volunteers. They're always looking forward to the next one. So it's been a tremendous blessing for, for us, especially for me. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And with the food bank, one of the things I've been struck by is that not only do you and your organization, Servants Arms, provide food, but food security many times is associated with homes, housing security. And Education. And what I heard was you actually give scholarships. Tell me about the scholarships. Lorena Choctaw: Servants Arms has a subdivision. It has an education committee that is in charge of putting together a scholarship program.

23:08 That is the scholarships are offered once a year, sometimes twice a year, depending on the funds. Remember And C3, a non profit. So, we don't have specific funds that come on a monthly basis. We, we depend on donations and contributions and grants that we obtain. And some of those funds are dedicated to the scholarships. We have been blessed with the opportunity to give. Three scholarships of 2, 000 each almost every every year, and we try to give it to students from our local high schools and local colleges, and because we have a relationship with the Hacienda La Puente School District, and that's one of the ways that we contribute to their advancement.

24:05 And to make sure that those students that can't afford it less get some, some, some financial support so that they can go ahead and continue with the college education. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And I had heard that some of those students are actually homeless, that, that, that they, they don't have homes and, and in addition to food problems and that sort of thing that, that Service Arms, your organization helps with that also, has helped that in the Lorena Choctaw: past. That is great. Last year, they had the school district had close to 700 students, and these are students that are from elementary school, junior high, and high school, and it's, it's It's amazing to believe that at this time and age, we still have homeless students.

24:54 Most of them live in, in garages, the ones that are less, others live in, in cars. And some of them receive vouchers for few nights at motels so that they can have a roof over their heads so that they can rest at least for one or two nights. This, the problem is serious and that is one of the programs that we have been working with, with the Board of Supervisors in making sure that they do do something that they they have a program for homeless students. We are trying to get housing for those students because the way that we see it is that this this student should be.

25:42 Having to worry just on their studies and their performance at school in advancing in school and not having to worry about where their next meal is going to come or where they're going to spend the following night. So, we will continue doing what we're doing to try to get more and more help for them, because it is, it is something that it should not be happening in 2023. It's Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: amazing too, because we think of food, but actually food is connected to housing and housing is connected to to advancement and that sort of thing. Let me go back to your background. So, you, you got your bachelor's, you got your master's in business, is that Lorena Choctaw: correct?

26:25 Mm hmm. I got my master's in business administration and commerce. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And commerce. Okay. Okay. Very good. What what would you say? Some of your biggest lessons learned over your life starting back in Guatemala when your parents were first introduced you to the whole idea of what service was all about. Going through the years of college and, and your time as, as a tax collector, and then most of your time getting to where you're most comfortable, which is in healthcare. What, what, what have been some of your biggest lessons learned? Lorena Choctaw: I think that I believe that the biggest lesson that I have learned in life is that during the time that I have served, I always thought wrongfully, so that I was helping others, when in reality, they are the ones, they help us, the ones that are providing for them, because if we pay attention to it, at the end of the day, a hard day of helping others, you get your blessing, you go home exhausted, but yet you have this, this feeling of, of satisfaction of what you've Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: done.

27:48 Absolutely. Absolutely. Loretta, I am so grateful for you sharing your time with us and helping us to understand the word of the, the world of philanthropy and helping us, or being of service, let me just be specific, of being of service. And I think that's so important going forward. And, you know, I think in any other any other part in comments, you would like to leave with our audience before we let you go. Lorena Choctaw: If I can, if I can inspire someone, just go find something that you can do for for someone in need.

28:28 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Well, I think just your story has already inspired some folks. And I might add just to add the funding for service arms, of course you get grants and that sort of thing, but you get a continuous source of small funds from individuals every month who just donate on a regular basis because they, they see the work that you and the food bank do and they want to be a part of that. Is that correct? Lorena Choctaw: That is correct. Yes. Because again, because we're a nonprofit. we Can only be supported by, by individuals and, and, or institutions that grant funds.

29:10 And that's how we survive. But it is amazing how God blesses, because every time that we are running down on funds, someone comes and, and, and, and donates, and funds are always coming. And God continues to bless us. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Excellent. Excellent. So, Lorena, are there any other thoughts you want to share with us? Lorena Choctaw: Yes. As I was mentioning before, I used to believe that by serving, I was helping others or those that I was serving. But I realized that that's not the way it is.

29:52 Every time that I work in serving someone, I get a blessing and, and that's, that's the value of it all, that when you serve others, you also receive a blessing from God. God has been extremely merciful to me. He has blessed me immensely. He has blessed me with two beautiful sons, two adults. They have their own families, a Christian man. Good citizens, and they both, each one of them have a wonderful career, and I am so proud of them, and that is one of the many ways that God has blessed me in this journey in life.

30:40 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And they've also blessed you with Lorena Choctaw: grandchildren. That is correct. I have been blessed with six beautiful grandkids. We are almost ready to have the first one go to college pretty soon, and we have the, the oldest daughter granddaughter that is working now. She's an adult, and she's a responsible adult, and, and we are, we are sincerely very, very blessed, and I thank God every day for my Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: family. Very good. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with Lorena Choctaw: us. Thank you so much. Thank you for this opportunity. God bless you. Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Same to you.

31:20 Take care. Bye bye. Jesse L Hammonds: Thank you for listening to this episode of the Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD. Be sure to check out other great episodes covering areas of health, wealth, and wisdom at thwwp. com. And while you're there, be sure to check out the books, blogs, and other literature in your preferred format. Don't forget to leave a review, subscribe, share, and support the podcast. That's at THWWP. com. You've been listening to the Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, Lorena Choctaw: JD.