Lorena’s Journey to Public Service

1 00:00:01,180 --> 00:00:03,790 Jesse L Hammonds: Welcome to the Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr. 2 00:00:03,790 --> 00:00:04,410 William T. 3 00:00:04,410 --> 00:00:09,470 Choctaw, MD, JD, where the doctor helps you unlock your full potential by 4 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,320 equipping you with tools and knowledge in the areas of health, wealth, and wisdom. 5 00:00:14,620 --> 00:00:18,499 Anchored in his experience as a business executive, a physician 6 00:00:18,529 --> 00:00:23,410 surveyor for the joint commission, a former mayor, and over 50 years 7 00:00:23,410 --> 00:00:25,279 of experience as a general surgeon. 8 00:00:25,780 --> 00:00:27,960 You've got questions, he's got answers. 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:29,279 So let's get started. 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:30,490 Here's Dr. 11 00:00:30,490 --> 00:00:31,020 William T. 12 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:31,099 William T. 13 00:00:31,099 --> 00:00:31,660 Choctaw, 14 00:00:31,930 --> 00:00:33,500 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: MD, JD. 15 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:34,740 Good morning. 16 00:00:35,490 --> 00:00:36,040 I'm Dr. 17 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:36,470 William T. 18 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:40,730 Choctaw, and I welcome you to our Healthy, Wealth, and Wise podcast. 19 00:00:41,270 --> 00:00:43,300 We have a very special guest today. 20 00:00:43,659 --> 00:00:46,929 Our guest today for our podcast is Mrs. 21 00:00:46,939 --> 00:00:48,099 Lorena Choctaw. 22 00:00:48,689 --> 00:00:49,229 That's right. 23 00:00:49,229 --> 00:00:50,679 You heard that correctly. 24 00:00:51,039 --> 00:00:52,559 She is my better half. 25 00:00:52,964 --> 00:00:59,544 And I am delighted to have her to share with you some of her 26 00:00:59,564 --> 00:01:03,854 thoughts and some of her impressions and experiences on leadership. 27 00:01:03,854 --> 00:01:05,424 So welcome Lorena. 28 00:01:06,724 --> 00:01:07,334 Lorena Choctaw: Thank you. 29 00:01:07,754 --> 00:01:08,354 Good morning. 30 00:01:09,074 --> 00:01:09,154 Good 31 00:01:09,254 --> 00:01:10,024 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: morning. 32 00:01:10,624 --> 00:01:12,564 So let me ask you this. 33 00:01:12,664 --> 00:01:17,484 What would you say are if someone were to ask you to tell your story 34 00:01:17,904 --> 00:01:19,654 how would you tell your story? 35 00:01:21,164 --> 00:01:27,614 Lorena Choctaw: Well, my story started as I was born in Guatemala City in Central 36 00:01:27,614 --> 00:01:31,524 America, uh, to Christian parents. 37 00:01:32,124 --> 00:01:37,784 My father was a pastor of a Baptist church, and so I grew up 38 00:01:37,884 --> 00:01:41,134 attending church all the time. 39 00:01:41,514 --> 00:01:47,254 So my faith grew up stronger and stronger as I grew up and got older. 40 00:01:48,670 --> 00:01:54,030 My introduction to service was probably by observing them 41 00:01:54,370 --> 00:01:56,590 serving others all the time. 42 00:01:57,150 --> 00:02:02,539 My dad, as a pastor, was constantly being sought by members of the church, 43 00:02:03,060 --> 00:02:06,950 where they would come and share their needs with him, and he would try 44 00:02:06,950 --> 00:02:09,380 to help them as much as he could. 45 00:02:09,820 --> 00:02:16,920 And my mother, as a surgical registered nurse, was constantly being asked to 46 00:02:17,260 --> 00:02:22,290 go to their homes and, and, and try to provide medication and treatment 47 00:02:22,299 --> 00:02:27,840 to, to the sick members of the church and others from the towns. 48 00:02:28,530 --> 00:02:29,739 At an early age Did you have any 49 00:02:29,900 --> 00:02:30,300 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: brothers 50 00:02:30,300 --> 00:02:31,079 Lorena Choctaw: and sisters? 51 00:02:31,605 --> 00:02:32,875 I have a brother. 52 00:02:32,875 --> 00:02:33,765 I have a brother. 53 00:02:34,105 --> 00:02:36,575 He is four years older than me. 54 00:02:37,055 --> 00:02:38,165 So you were the baby. 55 00:02:39,515 --> 00:02:40,165 I'm sorry. 56 00:02:40,415 --> 00:02:41,295 You were the baby. 57 00:02:41,595 --> 00:02:42,575 I was the baby. 58 00:02:42,605 --> 00:02:43,274 I was the baby. 59 00:02:43,665 --> 00:02:44,095 Yes. 60 00:02:44,505 --> 00:02:49,175 And, and for that reason my parents were very careful where I was 61 00:02:49,205 --> 00:02:51,695 going and in what I was learning. 62 00:02:51,695 --> 00:02:58,945 So they were very dedicated to make sure that I learn about Jesus Christ as my 63 00:02:58,945 --> 00:03:05,195 savior and that I learned different ways to, to help others and to serve others. 64 00:03:06,030 --> 00:03:12,870 Um, I remember that my mom was very good at teaching me how to read 65 00:03:12,870 --> 00:03:15,360 and write as, as I was very little. 66 00:03:15,810 --> 00:03:22,270 So when the time came for me to go to kindergarten, she took me to the school 67 00:03:22,270 --> 00:03:27,830 and left me there with the understanding that at the end of the school day, she 68 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,420 was going to come back and pick me up. 69 00:03:31,380 --> 00:03:33,080 Well, after an hour or so. 70 00:03:33,930 --> 00:03:38,360 I decided that that was not what I wanted in school because 71 00:03:38,430 --> 00:03:40,570 all we were doing was playing. 72 00:03:40,570 --> 00:03:45,480 So I grabbed my lunch pail and my sweater and left and went 73 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,730 home and I walked back home. 74 00:03:48,190 --> 00:03:54,350 Now imagine the look in my mom's face when, when I knock at the 75 00:03:54,350 --> 00:03:58,640 door and she opened the front door and here I am back from school. 76 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:05,505 And he asked, oh, I must have been, Six, five, six years ago. 77 00:04:06,405 --> 00:04:09,955 And when she asked, what was I doing there? 78 00:04:09,955 --> 00:04:13,025 I just told her we're not learning anything. 79 00:04:13,225 --> 00:04:17,765 We are just playing and I want to learn how to read and write. 80 00:04:18,305 --> 00:04:24,215 So that decided right then, then that I was not going to go to kindergarten. 81 00:04:24,535 --> 00:04:29,265 And by the time I was ready to be registered on first grade. 82 00:04:29,975 --> 00:04:34,665 I was too advanced for, for that grade because, again, my mom 83 00:04:34,665 --> 00:04:36,055 had been teaching me at home. 84 00:04:36,825 --> 00:04:41,695 So, I was advanced to the second grade and that went on 85 00:04:41,695 --> 00:04:43,715 until I graduated from college. 86 00:04:43,715 --> 00:04:48,695 I was always a year early from, from my classmates. 87 00:04:48,705 --> 00:04:52,475 So, that's, that's how my, my life has started. 88 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,920 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Which is a good point because it shows that you 89 00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:01,470 can, as a parent, you can never start too early teaching your kids basic, you know, 90 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,550 reading and writing, et cetera, et cetera. 91 00:05:03,590 --> 00:05:07,180 That children will learn whatever you teach them, whenever you teach it to them. 92 00:05:08,290 --> 00:05:09,500 Lorena Choctaw: Right, right. 93 00:05:09,990 --> 00:05:11,510 And she was, she was very good. 94 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,140 She was patient and, and she would make it fun. 95 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,600 And I think that that's how it was easier for me to learn. 96 00:05:18,890 --> 00:05:22,100 And I was eager to, to learn how to read and write. 97 00:05:22,660 --> 00:05:24,300 So that's, that's how it started. 98 00:05:24,970 --> 00:05:26,940 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Tell me about when you say read 99 00:05:26,940 --> 00:05:30,680 and write, were, were you, were you reading and writing Spanish only? 100 00:05:30,700 --> 00:05:33,280 Were you reading and writing Spanish and English? 101 00:05:33,290 --> 00:05:35,540 How, how did all that come about? 102 00:05:36,270 --> 00:05:39,650 Lorena Choctaw: No, my introduction to English came later on in life, 103 00:05:39,670 --> 00:05:44,860 probably at junior high or high school. 104 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:45,510 Okay. 105 00:05:45,530 --> 00:05:49,850 My father was the one that introduced me to, to English. 106 00:05:50,210 --> 00:05:51,690 He loved the language. 107 00:05:52,195 --> 00:05:58,685 He always he used to travel a lot and he came to the United States a couple 108 00:05:58,685 --> 00:06:04,025 of times and he fell in love with the language and he studied it and learned 109 00:06:04,025 --> 00:06:11,015 it and it was a goal of his that I was going to learn how to speak English. 110 00:06:11,545 --> 00:06:17,285 And so whenever he was always busy, but whenever he would have a couple of 111 00:06:17,285 --> 00:06:23,485 minutes, I would go to his office and he would sit me in front of his desk and 112 00:06:23,485 --> 00:06:27,335 he would start teaching me words first. 113 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:33,140 And he would have me repeat them over and over and over and, and 114 00:06:33,370 --> 00:06:39,210 it was never a, a hard thing to do or a, a homework or a fear. 115 00:06:39,750 --> 00:06:44,300 He made it so easy for me to feel comfortable with the language. 116 00:06:44,790 --> 00:06:49,300 And as it, we went along, then we got into phrases. 117 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:49,900 Huh. 118 00:06:49,980 --> 00:06:56,060 And then sentences, and then like conversations, and he was always 119 00:06:56,060 --> 00:07:00,670 telling me that one day I needed to come to the United States. 120 00:07:01,190 --> 00:07:01,470 Really? 121 00:07:01,910 --> 00:07:08,750 That, yes, that he wanted me to come to the United States to live. 122 00:07:08,830 --> 00:07:10,770 That that was my future. 123 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,690 And that's why he was so adamant in teaching me the language. 124 00:07:14,730 --> 00:07:15,350 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Interesting. 125 00:07:15,850 --> 00:07:16,290 Interesting. 126 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,040 So he started very early looking at your path down the road. 127 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:26,390 And again, those who are blessed with both mom and dad and that's 128 00:07:26,390 --> 00:07:29,230 what you want, you know, because it really does make a difference. 129 00:07:29,230 --> 00:07:31,380 It's, it's not, it's not lost. 130 00:07:31,420 --> 00:07:36,250 It's not forgotten that that becomes a part of the children as, as they grow up. 131 00:07:36,570 --> 00:07:40,110 But what would you say are some of the, some of the things that you've learned 132 00:07:40,110 --> 00:07:44,710 in life your, your life lessons that sort of guide you, you mentioned about 133 00:07:44,710 --> 00:07:48,680 religion and how your mom, your dad being a pastor and your mom being active 134 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,810 in the church, in addition to being a. 135 00:07:51,140 --> 00:07:54,890 A medical professional, a nurse but what, what, what are some other things 136 00:07:54,890 --> 00:07:59,000 that you've learned either in Guatemala or in the United States or both? 137 00:07:59,990 --> 00:08:00,100 I 138 00:08:00,270 --> 00:08:02,570 Lorena Choctaw: learned that serving is a privilege. 139 00:08:03,350 --> 00:08:07,410 I used to see my mom and dad serve a lot and, and I used to tell 140 00:08:07,410 --> 00:08:09,550 him, don't you get tired of it? 141 00:08:09,780 --> 00:08:12,470 You know, why are people always asking you to do things? 142 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,970 And their response will always be, it is my privilege. 143 00:08:17,435 --> 00:08:24,765 I enjoyed doing it and and they saw it as a blessing to be able to serve others. 144 00:08:25,365 --> 00:08:33,775 So I learned that at a very early age, and I grew up understanding that that we 145 00:08:33,775 --> 00:08:36,985 were all here to to serve those in need. 146 00:08:37,325 --> 00:08:42,765 So it was not a strange thing for me when later on in life, I was 147 00:08:42,765 --> 00:08:45,155 given the opportunity to to serve. 148 00:08:45,765 --> 00:08:51,795 And, and it was, it felt like a second nature to me. 149 00:08:51,915 --> 00:08:52,815 It was not a stranger. 150 00:08:52,845 --> 00:08:52,985 What 151 00:08:52,985 --> 00:08:55,475 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: are some of the other ways that you have served? 152 00:08:56,775 --> 00:09:00,425 Lorena Choctaw: I God blessed me when I came to the United States 153 00:09:00,425 --> 00:09:07,325 to find immediate work first as a tax collector up north in Modesto. 154 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:12,900 And I was a, a, a collector of taxes. 155 00:09:13,610 --> 00:09:18,480 And, and I always felt that, that it was a service that we were providing to 156 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:23,180 the community for them to have a place where they could come and pay their bills 157 00:09:23,220 --> 00:09:25,130 without having to travel long distances. 158 00:09:25,530 --> 00:09:25,910 Okay. 159 00:09:25,980 --> 00:09:31,820 And later on, I had the opportunity to work for local hospitals 160 00:09:31,820 --> 00:09:33,920 here in the Los Angeles area. 161 00:09:34,715 --> 00:09:42,585 And my job was to service the physicians on the staff of the two 162 00:09:42,585 --> 00:09:45,015 hospitals that I was in charge of. 163 00:09:45,570 --> 00:09:50,130 And my job in helping them, I'm sorry, 164 00:09:50,300 --> 00:09:51,700 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: I said you were the director of the 165 00:09:51,700 --> 00:09:53,200 medical staff office for the two. 166 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:53,560 Lorena Choctaw: Correct. 167 00:09:53,950 --> 00:09:54,290 Correct. 168 00:09:54,650 --> 00:10:00,880 And some of my duties were to make sure that the physicians would have what they 169 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,340 needed that it was my responsibility to make sure that they had their license 170 00:10:05,460 --> 00:10:10,250 current so that they wouldn't run into problems while treating patients. 171 00:10:10,580 --> 00:10:11,170 I was yeah. 172 00:10:11,695 --> 00:10:15,715 In charge of making sure that they would follow the rules and regs and 173 00:10:16,305 --> 00:10:18,255 any other service that they needed. 174 00:10:18,605 --> 00:10:22,875 We provided them at the office that I was the director of. 175 00:10:23,575 --> 00:10:25,965 So, through my whole life. 176 00:10:26,675 --> 00:10:28,535 I Have had the opportunity to serve. 177 00:10:28,975 --> 00:10:31,765 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Yes, I can imagine. 178 00:10:31,835 --> 00:10:33,785 And and I should, I should add a note here. 179 00:10:33,785 --> 00:10:38,405 I was one of those positions because I, what one of the ways that Lorraine 180 00:10:38,405 --> 00:10:40,355 and I met was at the hospital. 181 00:10:40,795 --> 00:10:43,275 And and the medical self office is unique. 182 00:10:43,405 --> 00:10:44,325 for physicians. 183 00:10:44,325 --> 00:10:48,415 You know, many times we physicians take those in private practice may not think 184 00:10:48,425 --> 00:10:52,445 much of hospital administration that many times there's always a little tension 185 00:10:52,445 --> 00:10:54,795 there, but not the medical staff office. 186 00:10:54,795 --> 00:10:57,895 And even though the medical staff office was employed by the 187 00:10:57,895 --> 00:11:00,565 hospital, but it was that bridge. 188 00:11:00,885 --> 00:11:06,745 Between the hospital and the practice in positions and and we relied on 189 00:11:06,815 --> 00:11:10,645 on individuals like yourself and in your office to help us to make sure 190 00:11:10,645 --> 00:11:12,185 that we follow the rules of that. 191 00:11:12,185 --> 00:11:17,185 We didn't run out of time and, you know, renewed our license on time. 192 00:11:17,185 --> 00:11:20,715 It's that, you know, a lot of the basic stuff that we tend to ignore. 193 00:11:21,075 --> 00:11:24,555 As physicians, but without that it would have been very difficult for us 194 00:11:24,565 --> 00:11:26,415 to do the things that we wanted to do. 195 00:11:27,215 --> 00:11:29,965 What, what other lessons have you learned other than service? 196 00:11:30,135 --> 00:11:32,745 And so service started for you at a very young age. 197 00:11:33,575 --> 00:11:34,425 Lorena Choctaw: Yes, it did. 198 00:11:34,635 --> 00:11:35,155 It did. 199 00:11:35,165 --> 00:11:40,295 And I, I, I can only 200 00:11:43,075 --> 00:11:44,305 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Tell me about education. 201 00:11:44,305 --> 00:11:44,395 What, 202 00:11:45,055 --> 00:11:45,715 Lorena Choctaw: what, what's your Yeah. 203 00:11:45,895 --> 00:11:51,505 I, I was, I was just about to say that as, as I grew up watching my mom 204 00:11:51,885 --> 00:11:58,445 practice medicine I always felt the attraction to be involved in medicine, 205 00:11:58,835 --> 00:12:01,175 either as a nurse or or a physician. 206 00:12:01,570 --> 00:12:07,660 But for some reason nursing did not attract me, but being a physician 207 00:12:07,670 --> 00:12:10,030 sounded more interesting and exciting. 208 00:12:10,850 --> 00:12:16,510 But since my parents could not afford to send the two of us, my brother and 209 00:12:16,510 --> 00:12:21,120 I to school, my brother decided that he wanted to go into medicine also. 210 00:12:21,530 --> 00:12:26,010 So that made it more difficult for for me to go. 211 00:12:26,010 --> 00:12:32,430 So I had to instead choose to go to business school because it was it was 212 00:12:32,490 --> 00:12:36,330 easier to go that route financially. 213 00:12:36,970 --> 00:12:38,820 But as it is. 214 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:46,980 Later in life, I, I met a physician that I, that I married to and, and 215 00:12:48,210 --> 00:12:53,390 I had the opportunity to, to work in his office and to be the administrator 216 00:12:53,470 --> 00:12:55,930 of a surgical medical office. 217 00:12:55,940 --> 00:13:02,570 So, as, as it is life is a circle and you kind of come, come all the 218 00:13:02,570 --> 00:13:05,170 way around to where you started. 219 00:13:05,850 --> 00:13:12,410 And at the end, I was helping to treat patients and to write 220 00:13:12,410 --> 00:13:17,720 prescriptions and orders for treatments and surgeries and so on. 221 00:13:18,060 --> 00:13:21,450 So, I got involved in medicine in a 222 00:13:21,730 --> 00:13:22,170 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: way. 223 00:13:22,825 --> 00:13:26,275 As a matter of fact, you're, you're being very modest. 224 00:13:26,575 --> 00:13:30,055 One, one of the things that, I'm a general surgeon and I had my own 225 00:13:30,055 --> 00:13:34,205 office but there are many other general surgeons in our hospital and 226 00:13:34,205 --> 00:13:37,365 we decided as surgeons to form a group. 227 00:13:37,795 --> 00:13:40,765 We didn't merge completely, but we were an affiliate group. 228 00:13:40,765 --> 00:13:44,595 We would use that group to, cover the emergency room because 229 00:13:44,625 --> 00:13:48,845 we took emergency call in the nights and weekends and holidays. 230 00:13:49,125 --> 00:13:52,295 And so each of us would have some time off. 231 00:13:52,655 --> 00:13:57,395 We would form a group and Lorena actually was the manager of the group. 232 00:13:57,725 --> 00:14:02,085 There were seven of us and some of you who are old school can remember this. 233 00:14:02,295 --> 00:14:04,635 We called ourselves the Magnificent Seven. 234 00:14:05,125 --> 00:14:10,565 Okay, and if you think physicians are difficult to manage surgeons are the 235 00:14:10,565 --> 00:14:16,195 extreme of that, you know, they're the extreme of, of difficult positions and 236 00:14:16,195 --> 00:14:19,875 if you talk to anyone who works in a hospital, the docs that they have the 237 00:14:19,875 --> 00:14:25,135 difficult, the problems with oftentimes tend to be surgeons, but so my point 238 00:14:25,135 --> 00:14:31,475 is that Your ability to serve and to manage was extraordinary because most 239 00:14:31,475 --> 00:14:36,585 people cannot manage one position, let alone seven surgeons at the same time. 240 00:14:36,615 --> 00:14:39,635 And it worked, it worked for years and years and years. 241 00:14:40,455 --> 00:14:43,635 Lorena Choctaw: Yeah, I also had the opportunity to, um, 242 00:14:43,705 --> 00:14:45,540 establish my own business. 243 00:14:45,830 --> 00:14:49,210 A consultant business for medical offices. 244 00:14:49,710 --> 00:14:52,180 That was the time when the HIPAA rules came. 245 00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:52,670 Right. 246 00:14:52,740 --> 00:14:58,110 And, and everyone was nervous and, and anxious about being in 247 00:14:58,110 --> 00:15:01,970 compliance with the new ruling and requirements from the state. 248 00:15:02,455 --> 00:15:07,425 And since I was well versed in it that was an opportunity 249 00:15:07,445 --> 00:15:09,805 for me to do some consulting. 250 00:15:09,885 --> 00:15:13,615 I was traveling throughout the East Sangria Valley. 251 00:15:14,050 --> 00:15:18,120 You know, the the visit, the the offices and I, what I would 252 00:15:18,130 --> 00:15:20,300 do is I would do training. 253 00:15:20,490 --> 00:15:25,020 I would do an evaluation of their practice and at the end I would give 254 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:30,800 a, my recommendations and observations so that they could improve and 255 00:15:30,810 --> 00:15:32,510 be in compliance with the ruling. 256 00:15:33,125 --> 00:15:38,865 So as you see throughout my life, everything has been working for 257 00:15:38,905 --> 00:15:41,871 others, and it's a pleasure for me. 258 00:15:41,871 --> 00:15:42,585 And 259 00:15:43,265 --> 00:15:46,115 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: also, I heard that you actually did some 260 00:15:46,425 --> 00:15:48,345 medical missionary work in Mexico. 261 00:15:48,405 --> 00:15:49,235 Tell me about that. 262 00:15:49,985 --> 00:15:50,685 Lorena Choctaw: I did. 263 00:15:50,755 --> 00:15:51,275 I did. 264 00:15:51,375 --> 00:15:57,425 There was a group of physicians and volunteers that from the the city of 265 00:15:57,435 --> 00:16:05,065 Walnut that would go across the border to Tecate, and I loved it because 266 00:16:05,075 --> 00:16:10,025 since I was able to speak the language, it was easier for me to converse 267 00:16:10,055 --> 00:16:14,175 with, with the community members that came to receive medical care. 268 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,140 I was able to translate for the physicians that couldn't communicate. 269 00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:25,890 So that was another, another way that, that God's blessing, uh, and, 270 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:30,470 and the fact that I could speak Spanish and English helped me to 271 00:16:30,470 --> 00:16:32,400 be of service during those trips. 272 00:16:33,740 --> 00:16:37,130 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: It's amazing not only that you started service 273 00:16:37,150 --> 00:16:41,320 very, very young with your mom and dad teaching you based on what they were 274 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:46,270 doing, you've done a variety of different types of service, whether it's working 275 00:16:46,270 --> 00:16:51,360 with a group of physicians, whether it's being in a caravan of 20 or 30 people and 276 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,620 driving across the border once a month. 277 00:16:54,340 --> 00:16:57,090 to Tecate, Mexico to treat whoever showed up. 278 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:01,770 And to have done that over 10 years or so. 279 00:17:02,110 --> 00:17:06,590 So I also hear that you actually got involved with, with food 280 00:17:06,590 --> 00:17:08,300 security with the food bank. 281 00:17:08,550 --> 00:17:12,250 And that indeed that presently you're the chief operating officer 282 00:17:12,670 --> 00:17:16,820 of Service Arms Food Bank, which is one of the largest food banks. 283 00:17:17,450 --> 00:17:20,330 In the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County. 284 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,830 Tell me how that came about and what was really involved with that. 285 00:17:25,250 --> 00:17:30,480 Lorena Choctaw: The way that happened was that my husband was invited to 286 00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:35,720 become a member of, of the Board of Directors of Servants Arms, which is 287 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:43,010 a 501c3 nonprofit organization that it started at, at from, from St. 288 00:17:43,010 --> 00:17:44,816 Stephen Baptist Church, and in order for them to be able to receive funding to 289 00:17:44,816 --> 00:17:46,742 sustain their food bag, they needed to And I was invited to become a member of 290 00:17:46,742 --> 00:17:48,307 the Board of Directors of Servants Arms, which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization 291 00:17:48,307 --> 00:17:49,270 that it started at, at, at from St. 292 00:17:49,270 --> 00:17:51,076 Stephen Baptist Church, and in order for them to be able to receive funding to 293 00:17:51,076 --> 00:17:54,904 sustain their food bag, they needed to Have a separate organization that was 294 00:17:54,904 --> 00:17:57,114 not a religious organization, right? 295 00:17:57,184 --> 00:18:03,304 And as it happened when they invited him, he told them that that he would 296 00:18:03,314 --> 00:18:05,644 have to bring his his wife with him. 297 00:18:06,324 --> 00:18:08,314 So I wasn't an add on. 298 00:18:08,594 --> 00:18:11,904 And, and I became a member of the board of, 299 00:18:11,904 --> 00:18:15,077 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: and you became the star of the board. 300 00:18:15,077 --> 00:18:16,484 And I'm the add on. 301 00:18:18,774 --> 00:18:21,324 Lorena Choctaw: But it has been a pleasure to be a member of the board. 302 00:18:21,974 --> 00:18:29,214 I was a year or so after I started to be a member, I was asked to 303 00:18:29,504 --> 00:18:34,474 be the secretary for the board in being responsible and taking the 304 00:18:34,474 --> 00:18:36,084 the minutes of, of the meetings. 305 00:18:36,619 --> 00:18:40,589 And doing all the the office responsibilities. 306 00:18:40,639 --> 00:18:45,399 And, and I, I been doing that for, for a couple of years. 307 00:18:45,454 --> 00:18:55,079 And in 2019, following the resignation of, of the executive director, um, 308 00:18:55,169 --> 00:19:02,319 I was asked to hold the, the fort as, as a maid as the, as we could 309 00:19:02,519 --> 00:19:04,639 find a, a new executive director. 310 00:19:05,279 --> 00:19:09,859 It's been four years now that I've been holding the fort and 311 00:19:10,049 --> 00:19:12,189 I, I can say that it's been a. 312 00:19:12,349 --> 00:19:23,579 A tremendous blessing for me because the, the number in the variety of 313 00:19:23,579 --> 00:19:28,779 ways that you can serve, it's, it's just, it's, and it has no limits. 314 00:19:29,409 --> 00:19:34,779 It has opened doors for me to have a relationship with, 315 00:19:34,799 --> 00:19:37,169 with, uh, state officials. 316 00:19:37,699 --> 00:19:46,009 Yes, that have seen the value of the work that we do for the community, and 317 00:19:46,009 --> 00:19:52,249 they have dedicated themselves to, to be of support financial support for us. 318 00:19:53,619 --> 00:19:57,159 One of them is Supervisor Hilda Solis. 319 00:19:57,979 --> 00:20:00,249 She has been the strongest. 320 00:20:00,869 --> 00:20:07,899 And a more permanent support supported of, of our costs. 321 00:20:08,329 --> 00:20:13,049 We have a food bank that has done tremendous service for 322 00:20:13,049 --> 00:20:15,129 the East Zangibar Valley. 323 00:20:15,664 --> 00:20:23,254 Twice a month, we have a complete full food distribution and, and 324 00:20:23,264 --> 00:20:28,294 during the week for two hours, we, we provide vegetables and fruits 325 00:20:28,314 --> 00:20:30,944 and other items to the community. 326 00:20:31,204 --> 00:20:41,034 But it is, it is unbelievable the, the excitement, the, the Satisfaction, the 327 00:20:41,044 --> 00:20:48,944 happiness that that provides for me, and as, as it is, we have been recognized 328 00:20:48,944 --> 00:20:55,254 by the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank as one of the best food banks in the area. 329 00:20:55,754 --> 00:21:02,674 Very recently, we were also recognized by Kaiser Permanente 330 00:21:02,854 --> 00:21:06,774 as one of their providers of nutritional food for their members. 331 00:21:07,549 --> 00:21:15,329 So, God has continuously been blessing us, and he allows us to grow, and we're 332 00:21:15,329 --> 00:21:19,549 going to the point that the number of, of community members that come in 333 00:21:19,549 --> 00:21:25,589 now has overpassed four hundred in, in number, and we distribute food for 334 00:21:25,589 --> 00:21:30,509 three hours, and we start from three to six, and the community members that 335 00:21:30,509 --> 00:21:32,359 start coming in at nine thirty, ten. 336 00:21:32,924 --> 00:21:37,144 To wait for the distribution and they make it a social event. 337 00:21:37,634 --> 00:21:42,279 They make it a a fellowship event and they sit around and they talk to 338 00:21:42,279 --> 00:21:44,479 each other and they never complain. 339 00:21:44,939 --> 00:21:47,209 And it doesn't matter how the weather is. 340 00:21:47,619 --> 00:21:48,189 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: I'm sorry? 341 00:21:48,199 --> 00:21:50,579 Some of the community members volunteer actually at the 342 00:21:50,599 --> 00:21:50,859 Lorena Choctaw: Food Bank. 343 00:21:50,999 --> 00:21:56,369 Some of them are starting to volunteer too because they they see the work that we're 344 00:21:56,679 --> 00:21:58,659 doing and they want to be part of it. 345 00:21:59,569 --> 00:22:02,879 We have received certificates of appreciation from some 346 00:22:02,879 --> 00:22:04,439 of, of the members that come. 347 00:22:04,889 --> 00:22:10,409 We have a group of volunteers that are unbelievably wonderful. 348 00:22:10,479 --> 00:22:11,679 They're so faithful. 349 00:22:11,979 --> 00:22:13,869 They come every single time. 350 00:22:14,169 --> 00:22:15,489 We have lots of fun. 351 00:22:15,549 --> 00:22:17,319 We work a lot. 352 00:22:17,319 --> 00:22:20,679 We, some of us work from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 353 00:22:21,924 --> 00:22:25,564 But we, we had never received a complaint from one of the volunteers. 354 00:22:26,004 --> 00:22:28,234 They're always looking forward to the next one. 355 00:22:28,554 --> 00:22:32,974 So it's been a tremendous blessing for, for us, especially for me. 356 00:22:33,654 --> 00:22:35,814 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And with the food bank, one of the things I've 357 00:22:35,814 --> 00:22:42,974 been struck by is that not only do you and your organization, Servants Arms, provide 358 00:22:42,994 --> 00:22:48,294 food, but food security many times is associated with homes, housing security. 359 00:22:48,304 --> 00:22:49,879 And Education. 360 00:22:49,909 --> 00:22:53,489 And what I heard was you actually give scholarships. 361 00:22:53,769 --> 00:22:55,059 Tell me about the scholarships. 362 00:22:56,029 --> 00:22:59,989 Lorena Choctaw: Servants Arms has a subdivision. 363 00:23:00,309 --> 00:23:05,719 It has an education committee that is in charge of putting 364 00:23:05,719 --> 00:23:07,899 together a scholarship program. 365 00:23:08,289 --> 00:23:13,269 That is the scholarships are offered once a year, sometimes twice a 366 00:23:13,269 --> 00:23:14,779 year, depending on the funds. 367 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:19,319 Remember And C3, a non profit. 368 00:23:19,349 --> 00:23:24,239 So, we don't have specific funds that come on a monthly basis. 369 00:23:24,239 --> 00:23:30,619 We, we depend on donations and contributions and grants that we obtain. 370 00:23:30,969 --> 00:23:34,809 And some of those funds are dedicated to the scholarships. 371 00:23:35,319 --> 00:23:37,669 We have been blessed with the opportunity to give. 372 00:23:38,309 --> 00:23:46,379 Three scholarships of 2, 000 each almost every every year, and we try 373 00:23:46,379 --> 00:23:54,069 to give it to students from our local high schools and local colleges, and 374 00:23:54,589 --> 00:23:59,539 because we have a relationship with the Hacienda La Puente School District, 375 00:23:59,899 --> 00:24:04,779 and that's one of the ways that we contribute to their advancement. 376 00:24:05,079 --> 00:24:09,219 And to make sure that those students that can't afford it less get 377 00:24:09,229 --> 00:24:13,299 some, some, some financial support so that they can go ahead and 378 00:24:13,299 --> 00:24:15,719 continue with the college education. 379 00:24:16,509 --> 00:24:18,639 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And I had heard that some of those students 380 00:24:18,639 --> 00:24:22,929 are actually homeless, that, that, that they, they don't have homes and, 381 00:24:22,929 --> 00:24:28,209 and in addition to food problems and that sort of thing that, that Service 382 00:24:28,209 --> 00:24:31,299 Arms, your organization helps with that also, has helped that in the 383 00:24:31,299 --> 00:24:31,829 Lorena Choctaw: past. 384 00:24:32,249 --> 00:24:32,629 That is great. 385 00:24:33,469 --> 00:24:41,969 Last year, they had the school district had close to 700 students, and these 386 00:24:41,969 --> 00:24:46,419 are students that are from elementary school, junior high, and high school, 387 00:24:47,099 --> 00:24:52,079 and it's, it's It's amazing to believe that at this time and age, 388 00:24:52,079 --> 00:24:54,599 we still have homeless students. 389 00:24:54,959 --> 00:25:02,069 Most of them live in, in garages, the ones that are less, others live in, in cars. 390 00:25:02,659 --> 00:25:10,609 And some of them receive vouchers for few nights at motels so that they can 391 00:25:10,619 --> 00:25:15,899 have a roof over their heads so that they can rest at least for one or two nights. 392 00:25:16,249 --> 00:25:21,309 This, the problem is serious and that is one of the programs that we have 393 00:25:21,309 --> 00:25:25,949 been working with, with the Board of Supervisors in making sure that 394 00:25:25,949 --> 00:25:32,259 they do do something that they they have a program for homeless students. 395 00:25:32,689 --> 00:25:38,139 We are trying to get housing for those students because the way that we see 396 00:25:38,139 --> 00:25:41,869 it is that this this student should be. 397 00:25:42,619 --> 00:25:48,549 Having to worry just on their studies and their performance at school in 398 00:25:48,859 --> 00:25:53,849 advancing in school and not having to worry about where their next meal 399 00:25:53,849 --> 00:25:57,189 is going to come or where they're going to spend the following night. 400 00:25:57,859 --> 00:26:04,069 So, we will continue doing what we're doing to try to get more and more help 401 00:26:04,069 --> 00:26:08,239 for them, because it is, it is something that it should not be happening in 2023. 402 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:10,499 It's 403 00:26:10,499 --> 00:26:12,369 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: amazing too, because we think of food, 404 00:26:12,379 --> 00:26:16,249 but actually food is connected to housing and housing is connected to 405 00:26:16,679 --> 00:26:18,719 to advancement and that sort of thing. 406 00:26:19,339 --> 00:26:20,719 Let me go back to your background. 407 00:26:20,729 --> 00:26:25,169 So, you, you got your bachelor's, you got your master's in business, is that 408 00:26:25,169 --> 00:26:25,539 Lorena Choctaw: correct? 409 00:26:25,539 --> 00:26:25,719 Mm hmm. 410 00:26:26,239 --> 00:26:30,349 I got my master's in business administration and commerce. 411 00:26:31,014 --> 00:26:31,754 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And commerce. 412 00:26:31,794 --> 00:26:32,254 Okay. 413 00:26:32,324 --> 00:26:32,744 Okay. 414 00:26:32,844 --> 00:26:33,304 Very good. 415 00:26:33,674 --> 00:26:35,224 What what would you say? 416 00:26:35,564 --> 00:26:40,774 Some of your biggest lessons learned over your life starting back in 417 00:26:40,784 --> 00:26:44,844 Guatemala when your parents were first introduced you to the whole 418 00:26:44,844 --> 00:26:46,934 idea of what service was all about. 419 00:26:47,374 --> 00:26:51,744 Going through the years of college and, and your time as, as a tax 420 00:26:51,744 --> 00:26:55,524 collector, and then most of your time getting to where you're most 421 00:26:55,524 --> 00:26:57,534 comfortable, which is in healthcare. 422 00:26:57,924 --> 00:27:00,914 What, what, what have been some of your biggest lessons learned? 423 00:27:02,024 --> 00:27:06,074 Lorena Choctaw: I think that I believe that the biggest lesson that I have 424 00:27:06,084 --> 00:27:14,604 learned in life is that during the time that I have served, I always thought 425 00:27:15,509 --> 00:27:23,209 wrongfully, so that I was helping others, when in reality, they are the 426 00:27:23,209 --> 00:27:29,389 ones, they help us, the ones that are providing for them, because if we pay 427 00:27:29,389 --> 00:27:35,409 attention to it, at the end of the day, a hard day of helping others, you get 428 00:27:35,409 --> 00:27:42,719 your blessing, you go home exhausted, but yet you have this, this feeling 429 00:27:42,719 --> 00:27:46,329 of, of satisfaction of what you've 430 00:27:46,329 --> 00:27:46,829 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: done. 431 00:27:48,019 --> 00:27:48,939 Absolutely. 432 00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:49,969 Absolutely. 433 00:27:50,539 --> 00:27:56,679 Loretta, I am so grateful for you sharing your time with us and helping 434 00:27:56,679 --> 00:28:01,709 us to understand the word of the, the world of philanthropy and helping 435 00:28:01,709 --> 00:28:05,719 us, or being of service, let me just be specific, of being of service. 436 00:28:06,049 --> 00:28:08,879 And I think that's so important going forward. 437 00:28:09,199 --> 00:28:13,539 And, you know, I think in any other any other part in comments, 438 00:28:13,539 --> 00:28:16,549 you would like to leave with our audience before we let you go. 439 00:28:20,179 --> 00:28:25,099 Lorena Choctaw: If I can, if I can inspire someone, just go find something 440 00:28:25,099 --> 00:28:27,739 that you can do for for someone in need. 441 00:28:28,649 --> 00:28:30,419 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Well, I think just your story 442 00:28:30,419 --> 00:28:32,339 has already inspired some folks. 443 00:28:32,669 --> 00:28:38,679 And I might add just to add the funding for service arms, of course you get grants 444 00:28:38,859 --> 00:28:44,099 and that sort of thing, but you get a continuous source of small funds from 445 00:28:44,309 --> 00:28:49,449 individuals every month who just donate on a regular basis because they, they 446 00:28:49,449 --> 00:28:55,529 see the work that you and the food bank do and they want to be a part of that. 447 00:28:55,629 --> 00:28:56,309 Is that correct? 448 00:28:56,869 --> 00:28:57,569 Lorena Choctaw: That is correct. 449 00:28:57,639 --> 00:28:58,149 Yes. 450 00:28:58,499 --> 00:29:00,799 Because again, because we're a nonprofit. 451 00:29:01,519 --> 00:29:07,319 we Can only be supported by, by individuals and, and, or 452 00:29:07,319 --> 00:29:09,699 institutions that grant funds. 453 00:29:10,019 --> 00:29:11,519 And that's how we survive. 454 00:29:11,949 --> 00:29:18,809 But it is amazing how God blesses, because every time that we are running down on 455 00:29:18,819 --> 00:29:25,729 funds, someone comes and, and, and, and donates, and funds are always coming. 456 00:29:26,104 --> 00:29:28,704 And God continues to bless us. 457 00:29:29,694 --> 00:29:30,274 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Excellent. 458 00:29:30,384 --> 00:29:30,754 Excellent. 459 00:29:31,784 --> 00:29:36,384 So, Lorena, are there any other thoughts you want to share with us? 460 00:29:37,774 --> 00:29:38,184 Lorena Choctaw: Yes. 461 00:29:38,254 --> 00:29:44,964 As I was mentioning before, I used to believe that by serving, I was helping 462 00:29:45,124 --> 00:29:47,484 others or those that I was serving. 463 00:29:48,064 --> 00:29:51,744 But I realized that that's not the way it is. 464 00:29:52,374 --> 00:29:58,184 Every time that I work in serving someone, I get a blessing and, and 465 00:29:58,184 --> 00:30:03,624 that's, that's the value of it all, that when you serve others, you 466 00:30:03,624 --> 00:30:05,954 also receive a blessing from God. 467 00:30:06,684 --> 00:30:11,004 God has been extremely merciful to me. 468 00:30:11,014 --> 00:30:12,794 He has blessed me immensely. 469 00:30:13,384 --> 00:30:17,974 He has blessed me with two beautiful sons, two adults. 470 00:30:17,994 --> 00:30:21,684 They have their own families, a Christian man. 471 00:30:22,149 --> 00:30:28,159 Good citizens, and they both, each one of them have a wonderful career, 472 00:30:28,599 --> 00:30:36,639 and I am so proud of them, and that is one of the many ways that God has 473 00:30:36,649 --> 00:30:39,269 blessed me in this journey in life. 474 00:30:40,449 --> 00:30:41,799 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: And they've also blessed you with 475 00:30:41,799 --> 00:30:42,459 Lorena Choctaw: grandchildren. 476 00:30:42,869 --> 00:30:43,779 That is correct. 477 00:30:44,129 --> 00:30:48,059 I have been blessed with six beautiful grandkids. 478 00:30:48,674 --> 00:30:54,144 We are almost ready to have the first one go to college pretty soon, and 479 00:30:54,144 --> 00:30:58,794 we have the, the oldest daughter granddaughter that is working now. 480 00:30:59,064 --> 00:31:03,914 She's an adult, and she's a responsible adult, and, and we are, 481 00:31:03,924 --> 00:31:09,164 we are sincerely very, very blessed, and I thank God every day for my 482 00:31:09,164 --> 00:31:09,854 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: family. 483 00:31:11,614 --> 00:31:12,234 Very good. 484 00:31:12,674 --> 00:31:15,054 Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with 485 00:31:15,054 --> 00:31:15,414 Lorena Choctaw: us. 486 00:31:16,069 --> 00:31:17,009 Thank you so much. 487 00:31:17,009 --> 00:31:18,459 Thank you for this opportunity. 488 00:31:18,699 --> 00:31:19,419 God bless you. 489 00:31:20,119 --> 00:31:20,749 Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD: Same to you. 490 00:31:20,779 --> 00:31:21,269 Take care. 491 00:31:21,489 --> 00:31:21,789 Bye bye. 492 00:31:22,929 --> 00:31:25,239 Jesse L Hammonds: Thank you for listening to this episode of the Healthy, 493 00:31:25,239 --> 00:31:27,599 Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr. 494 00:31:27,609 --> 00:31:28,269 William T. 495 00:31:28,279 --> 00:31:30,849 Choctaw, MD, JD. 496 00:31:30,849 --> 00:31:34,369 Be sure to check out other great episodes covering areas of health, 497 00:31:34,589 --> 00:31:38,919 wealth, and wisdom at thwwp. 498 00:31:38,929 --> 00:31:39,469 com. 499 00:31:39,719 --> 00:31:43,339 And while you're there, be sure to check out the books, blogs, and other 500 00:31:43,339 --> 00:31:45,469 literature in your preferred format. 501 00:31:46,169 --> 00:31:51,039 Don't forget to leave a review, subscribe, share, and support the podcast. 502 00:31:51,339 --> 00:31:54,159 That's at THWWP. 503 00:31:54,189 --> 00:31:54,759 com. 504 00:31:55,129 --> 00:31:58,999 You've been listening to the Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise podcast with Dr. 505 00:31:58,999 --> 00:31:59,549 William T. 506 00:31:59,549 --> 00:32:02,369 Choctaw, MD, 507 00:32:02,369 --> 00:32:03,488 Lorena Choctaw: JD.