Candidate for
Member of City Council; City of Santa Cruz

Born in New York, educated in Cincinnati, I have been a California resident for over 20 years, 16 in Santa Cruz. I am a family physician specializing in AIDS, Hospice and Geriatrics (seniors). Prior to my private medical practice, I was Commissioner of Public Health for three local governments having responsibility for environmental, medical, preventive health and mental health issues. I have testified before innumerable state legislative committees and the congress. I have been the manager of organizations with over 2000 employees. I have published over 30 papers in areas such as pollution, drug abuse, immunizations, care of the poor. While in Cincinnati, I helped immunize the school population, decrease the pollution of the Ohio river, improve the safety of nursing homes, among others. In Santa Cruz, I was the only AIDS physician for the first years of the epidemic (and still care for many AIDS patients), was the Hospice medical director, helped draft the county's first toxics ordinance, implement the paramedic system, pass the first non-smoking ordinance. I am still a part-time family physician. A year ago, my partner and I opened up a small bed and breakfast inn (http://www.adobeongreen.com) so I am familiar with beginning and managing small businesses. I have been on the faculty of four departments (Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Family Practice, Internal medicine, Pharmacology) in two mwdical schools (University of California and Cincinnati). For more, please see http://www.docleff.com.