Senior resource fair coming to Grossmont Healthcare District on April 23
Printer-friendly version East County News Service April 20, 2026 (La Mesa) — Health advocates from across San Diego County will provide critical resources through the upcoming “Spring into Healthy Living 2026: Senior Conference & Resource Fair” on Thursday, April 23 at Grossmont Healthcare District headquarters. Hosted by the San Diego East County Action Network (SanDi ECAN), the free event is set for 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at GHD’s site at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa. The summit aims to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and East County’s older adults and those who live with disabilities. The conference arrives at a time when healthcare costs and navigation are primary concerns for San Diegans. The fair will feature a series of expert-led seminars designed to address some of the most pressing safety and health issues facing the 65-and-older demographic. The main informational presentations will be on preventing falls among older adults, caring for the mind and advance healthcare planning tips. Experts will provide actionable advice on home safety modifications and balance exercises. According to County health data, falls remain the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations for local seniors. A session will cover lifelong brain health and early detection of dementia, offering guidance on cognitive exercises and support systems for caregivers. And legal and medical professionals will outline necessary steps for establishing healthcare directives, so individuals’ wishes are respected during critical medical events. Beyond the formal presentations, the event serves as a central hub for service providers. Representatives from Aging & Independence Services, local food security initiatives and transportation advocates are expected to be on site. Host Grossmont Healthcare District has long served as the backbone of wellness in La Mesa, its conference center and adjacent Health & Wellness Library providing a professional setting for regional health initiatives. GHD invests in community health and recently approved several grants to support senior-focused nonprofits in the region. The fair is open to the public at no cost, though organizers encourage early registration due to the limited capacity of the speaking sessions. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage one-on-one with service providers and collect information on everything from local “Cool Zones” to volunteer opportunities with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. To secure a spot, register by calling (858) 505-6435 or by visiting the official registration portal at https://shorturl.at/m7ZLb Printer-friendly version
East County-based physician Charles Hamori honored by American College of Physicians
Printer-friendly version By Karen Pearlman April 21, 2026 (La Mesa) — When he was a teenager growing up in Muncie, Indiana, Charles Hamori performed his first successful medical diagnosis — on himself. Hamori was 14 when he correctly identified his own appendicitis, and it was at that moment (or soon thereafter) a doctor was born. “With my first diagnosis of appendicitis, my mom ignored it and my sister cried wolf,” Hamori said, laughing. “But what I remember most about that is that many times, most times, your patients are going to tell you what they have, what’s wrong, if you take the time to listen. That (appendicitis incident) influenced how I listen to my patients today.” With nearly 30 years at Kaiser Permanente as a physician and surgeon under his medical belt, Dr. Charles J. Hamori, a Mount Helix resident, has reached one of the true pinnacles of American medical leadership. Dr. Hamori, a long-time internal medicine doctor at Kaiser Permanente’s Rancho San Diego Medical Offices and who practices at Kaiser offices in La Mesa and Bostonia (El Cajon), was officially named Chair of the Board of Regents for the American College of Physicians (ACP). The ACP honor The merit-based appointment, announced at the conclusion of the ACP’s Annual Internal Medicine Meeting in San Francisco last weekend, placed Dr. Hamori at the helm of the largest medical specialty organization in the United States. The ACP represents more than 160,000 internal medicine physicians, subspecialists and medical students across 172 countries. The ACP is the second-largest physician group in the country, trailing only the American Medical Association. As Chair of the Board of Regents, Dr. Hamori will have a growing slate of national responsibilities, and will take a leave of absence from Kaiser Permanente but do some per diem work. Dr. Hamori said he will focus on leading the primary policy-making body for the organization. He said he is focused on some of the biggest challenges facing doctors in 2026, including declining reimbursements and insurance coding challenges. The ACP and related industry experts report that physicians, particularly in primary care and internal medicine, are facing significant financial challenges because of declining insurance reimbursements, which are often not keeping pace with inflation or practice operating costs. These challenges are leading to burnout and impacting patient access to care, according to the groups. “Patients get caught in the middle,” Dr. Hamori said. The role is a culmination of Dr. Hamori’s decades of service. Since 2007, Dr. Hamori has been a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), a peer-reviewed mark of distinction. He also served as the Governor of the ACP’s California Southern Region III from 2017 to 2021. During his tenure as governor, he was a staunch advocate for both patients and providers. He frequently traveled to Sacramento to meet with legislators, championing initiatives like the “Patients Before Paperwork” campaign and supporting mental health resources for physicians. Dr. Hamori’s leadership earned the regional chapter the prestigious John Tooker Evergreen Award in 2021 for “The DEI Shift,” an award-winning podcast focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion in medicine. Some background After graduating from Stanford University and a brief stint in biotechnology, Dr. Hamori moved to San Diego in 1989 to attend the UC San Diego School of Medicine. He stayed for his residency and a year as chief resident before joining Kaiser Permanente in 1997. For three decades, he has been a fixture at Kaiser’s Rancho San Diego Medical Offices, a location he chose specifically because it allowed him to live and work in the same neighborhood. He said he has thrived as part of Kaiser’s collaborative team approach that includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants and medical assistants. “I’m a strong believer in the concept that good things happen when each member of the team practices to their maximum potential,” Dr. Hamori said. He said his practice has always focused on preventive medicine —a passion he honed during four years in Kaiser’s Department of Preventive Medicine, and was once part of a grant from Pfizer that showed how in a two-year period doctors were able to save about 500 lives. “That’s how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Dr. Hamori said. “That, and the best stroke is the one you never have. And I say that as someone who once had a mini stroke.” About that storke: Nearly two years ago, Dr. Hamori was playing tennis when he noticed he was playing clumsily. At first he thought he tweaked something in his arm but instead of letting it go, he ended the match and drove to a Kaiser emergency room. Thanks to quick-acting doctors armed with new telestroke technology, Dr. Hamori was giving a clot-busting medication less than 30 minutes after he arrived at the ER. Acting quickly likely saved his life. “If I had brushed it off and gone to sleep that night, I probably wouldn’t have made a full recovery,” he said. Teaching and living well He also serves as a clinical professor at UCSD, mentoring the next generation of doctors. “Teaching keeps my perspective fresh,” he noted. “It’s really satisfying mentoring students and residents, and it’s also satisfying seeing a doctor you hired as a resident six or seven years later and they’re blossoming.” He said the best advice he has given to students and residents is to enjoy what you do. “You have to get up and do this job for 30 years, 35 years, so you better like it,” Dr. Hamori said. “Find something that challenges you and that you find joy in. It has to be something you can get up and do that you know you’re not going to burn out.” Dr. Hamori said his wife many years ago gave him a card that said “Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” Dr. Hamori said he’s