Professional Title: Obstetrician-gynecologist, public health doctor, population activist, journalist.
Education: Swarthmore College, BA in Zoology and Psychology, 1965 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, MD, 1969 Hartford Hospital, Straight Medical Internship, 1970 University of New Mexico, Residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1976 Loma Linda University, School of Public Health, MPH, 1993
Email: Email Richard
Career Profile: After internship Richard served as a conscientious objector to war in Questa, New Mexico, then specialized in OB-GYN. He has delivered babies and provided medical care in the Durango area for almost 40 years, except for working for 8 months in Puerto Rico in the early 1980s. He has also been the medical advisor for the Basin Health Department for about 30 years.
Although my wife’s and my primary reason for moving to Durango was that it was the best place to raise our two sons, Fort Lewis College was another major reason for favoring this community. Gail earned her second bachelor’s degree at Fort Lewis College, after earning a master’s at Harvard.
My primary concern since high school has been the influence of the burgeoning human population on the natural world and causing an increased risk of armed conflict. In order to turn this concern into action I have done several things: invented a “rip-stop” condom, written the world’s only regularly appearing newspaper column on aspects of human population for more than 20 years, and most recently I’m developing a new genre of art: “contraceptual art.”
I joined other Durango residents in teaching the first on-line class on human population at Fort Lewis College. We have also sponsored observation of World Population Day in Durango and brought speakers to the Lifelong Learning series on population issues. Most recently I taught Biology 141 (People and the Planet) at FLC; all service to the College has been as a volunteer.
My goals in joining the Professional Associates include improving relations between “town and gown”, and intellectual stimulation. My strong feeling is that the College can benefit both intellectually and financially from building closer ties with people in the community. In addition, I would be happy to teach classes in areas of my expertise.
Fort Lewis College has been an important part of my life for the last 4 decades and I would like to support it in any way I can.
Volunteer/Community Service: Former board member, San Juan Symphony Former board member, Durango Nature Studies Former board member, Quaker Earthcare Witness Former board member, FLC Environmental Center Former member, Planned Parenthood Federation of America National Medical Board Former board member, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health Member, Pine River Valley Centennial Rotary and its Student Exchange committee Member, Durango Choral Society Member, Professional Associates of Fort Lewis College