Page 27 - Sandy Jackman Pantai Hotel

Dreams Do Come True

Dr Ruth Larson Photos by Lisa K. Miller

When you walk into the practitioner in my practice.”
office of Bernardo Derma- Dr. Larson is a woman who
tology you are instantly is truly thankful for all that
struck by the beauty of life has given her, but there
your surroundings. The is one thing that she can’t
gorgeous statues seem help but credit for a lot of
more fitting in a museum her success in life, “With
than in a dermatology all the moves I made for
office. Bernardo Derma- internship and residency
tology is not your typical programs, to my final deci-
doctor’s office and to be sion to transfer to UCLA to
honest, the doctors are practice Dermatology, my
not typical either. It is ap- husband was always sup-
parent that everyone who portive. When I decided on
works there is more like UCLA, Alan had completed
family than co-workers. As his training in Gastroenter-
anyone who has ever ran ology and even though he
a business will tell you, was offered many presti-
the essence of a business gious positions in Phoenix,
comes from the owner, the he turned all of them down
leader, the one in charge. so I could go to UCLA to
This is undeniably true. pursue my dream. This is
Bernardo Dermatology truly a supportive husband.
began 31 years ago this This is what I believe a
past July by Dr. Ruth Lar- lot of women need. This
son, and her leadership is team work, and shared
has grown this business responsibility. It takes a
into a very successful and team to be successful, and
sought after practice. we are most definitely a
Growing up in the small team.” I had to agree on
farming community of this point. Dr. Larson went San Diego
Beaver Creek, Oregon, on to add, “when I finished Woman
the first in her family‘s my dermatology training
generation to graduate at UCLA I wanted to start
from college, Dr. Larson’s both private practice and
choices were to become a family in my dream city 27
either a teacher or a of San Diego. However by
nurse. At the time Dr. then my husband’s career
Larson chose teaching. was flourishing as Chief of
With a Master’s in Educa- Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
tion Dr. Larson went on to at USC Medical Center. Yet
teach biology. Not long again, he agreed to leave
after she began teach- his academic career to fol-
ing, she met the love of low my vision.
her life, Alan, a medical My husband is simply
student, and they were amazing! He said that he
soon married. It was a felt that it was better for our
question posed by her family if I got to do what I
new husband which would loved, especially since we
forever change the course wanted to have children,
of her life. He asked her, than to fulfill his ego by
“So, when are you going becoming the head of Gas-
to do it?” Confused at troenterology.” All I could
first, she quickly realized think to say to Dr. Larson
what Alan had already instinctively known: Dr. Ruth Larson was not des- was where did you find this man?
tined to be a teacher, she was meant to be a doctor. She quickly applied to When Dr. Larson’s second child, David, was just 3 months old she opened
six medical schools and was accepted to four. She selected the University her private practice with baby in tow and a nanny, breast feeding between
of Oregon Medical School, where her husband was a resident in the area of patients. Her original nurse Shirley (from 31 years ago) is still with her today
Internal Medicine. During her second year, when she had the opportunity to along with a staff full of long term employees, many of whom have been
interact with patients there was no longer a doubt in her mind, this is what inspired to go on to medical school, nursing school and nurse practitioner
she was meant to do. Following medical school, Dr. Larson did an internship school.
in internal medicine for one year at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. There are eight providers now that help to complete the full service Derma-
“I knew right away I wanted to go into dermatology, since I was very visual tology Center. Along with Dr. Ruth A. Larson, there is a husband and wife
and I liked the immediate gratification of helping people and connecting on team Dr. Elizabeth Vierra and Dr. Mark Vierra, Dr. Frank Barber, Dr. Lynn
a personal level. I was very lucky to do a rotation at UCLA, and it was a per- Shipman, Dr. Vanessa London, Dr. Julie Gladsjo and nurse practitioner
fect fit. After I completed my internship, my husband and I were blessed to Leah Larson Brown,NP.
find out we were expecting our first child, Leah, who now works as a nurse