Ben Medina MD

1937-2015

Ben Medina was born April 10, 1937 in Cleveland, New Mexico to Benjamin and Manuelita Perea Medina. He subsequently moved with his parents to Los Lunas where he was raised. He spent summers in Denver Colorado, which included building highways through the Rockies. He received his undergraduate degree from La Sierra College. He married Eunice Orozco in 1958 and together they raised three children, Wally, Ted and Natalie. He and his wife owned machine shops both in Los Angeles and Tijuana, where they made parts for military planes. Ben also made parts for the space shuttle. His lifelong dream was to be a physician and with the help of his wife he returned to school at the age of 35. He graduated from UCLA Medical School in 1976 and upon completion of his residency, where he received the honor of intern of the year, Dr. Medina moved to San Diego. There he established a practice in National City with the help of his soul-mate and wife, Eunice Medina, R.N. Through his medical practice and through his work at Paradise Valley Hospital, he achieved his lifelong goal of caring for patients in an underserved community. He spent time as a flight surgeon with the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was very proud of his time served. He established Paradise Medical Associates and recruited many physicians over the years who continue to practice in the area. As a physician, Dr. Medina had a great passion for supporting Hispanic professionals, contributing to nursing scholarships, and establishing a nursing school, Professional Nurses, Inc. He focused on the ongoing education of the medical and nursing staff of his community, holding annual conferences, “Caring for An Aging America” from 1989 to 2006 in addition to monthly educational Grand Rounds at Paradise Valley Hospital. During his time at Paradise Valley Medical Center, he continuously held medical staff leaderships starting as Chair of Medicine in 1982, was Chief of Staff, and held various other leadership roles over the years. He participated as both a board member and chairman of the Health Services Advisory Group for the San Diego Board of Supervisors helping to guide health care for San Diego County. He also was an active member of the California Medical Association, the American Medical Association and the Hispanic Medical Association. He was a member of the Ethnic Medical Association Section of the California Medical Association, writing multiple resolutions over the years with the goal of protecting both patient safety and physician practice. He represented Paradise Valley Hospital, as a member of these medical associations at multiple state and national conferences as well. He was proud of the awards he received from these organizations, which included 2010 Ethnic Physician Achievement Award, California Medical Association, 2009 Achievement Award-National Hispanic Medical Association and 2006 Advocacy Award from the California Latino Medical Association.

His hobbies included building houses with his son, Ted, camping, reading and traveling with his family. He was an active member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and over the last few months, when it was difficult to attend church in person, he faithfully watched the Barstow church service online every Sabbath. He was always blessed by being mentioned by Pastor Juan Lopez during the service, and greatly appreciated the prayers offered on his behalf. He was also the subject of many prayers and fasts by Pastor Juan and Pastora Rosa Hernandez from Tijuana, Mexico. Besides being the most caring, kindest, and exceptional physician, he will be remembered for his love of Mariachi music, the TV show, Bonanza, and going to County Fairs and eating “cobbie corn”. He was preceded in death by his sister, Frances Hall. He is survived by his wife, Eunice, his three children, Wally, Ted, and Natalie J. Medina, MD who followed him in becoming a physician. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Jennifer, Nathan, Manuel, Benjamin, and Ben’s “favorite person in the world,” Jonathan. He was also blessed with two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Louise Mitchell and his brother Norman Medina, DDS as well as multiple cousins, extended family and many, many friends.