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Today's Featured Biography

 
Murray Thale

Hi All -

When I sat down to write this, my emotions were both of wonder and sadness. It felt like I was writing my obituary. So many of these bios read like that. So, saying that, here goes.

After graduation I attended the University of Minnesota where I was a premed and majored in Psychology and Sociology. As the Vietnam War evolved, admission to Medical School became tougher and so, I went off to study Medicine in Mexico (thanks LBJ) for 4 years. I then returned to the U.S. and graduated from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. After an Internship in Connecticut, I returned to Michigan to specialize in Opthalmology. After 2 years, I got the bug to do something more, and so began a Neurological Surgery Residency at the LAC/USC Medical Center. This was completed in 1982. Since then, I have been in private practice in Victorville, California. Then on December 18, 2002, I stopped performing primary neurosurgery. Since then, I have been assisting on all types of surgery and maintaining an office practice - mainly seeing old patients, second opinion consultations and even some new patients. I plan on continuing in this manner for several more years and then close the book on this portion of my life and move to Durango, Colorado where we will begin another book.....more out of doors and more photography.

In 1987, I married my current wife, Nancy. She loves to remind me that she was in the 3rd grade and I was a sophomore in College when JFK was murdered. She is currently a Nursing Instructor at our local Community College. I have started teaching medical terminology, in our local College, to the aspiring masses.
We are both active in animal rescue and animal related causes. She also shares my passion for snow skiing and scuba diving, but not for mountain climbing/camping. She is also quite active in the community.

As part of my new life, I spend part of 5 days/week in the gym. Sort of a new full time job. As a motivational source book, I would recommend Younger Next Year by Cowley and Lodge...thanks for asking.

Last year I traveled to Nepal and Everest (part of a lifelong dream....and a bucket list item). Later this year a trip up
Aconcagua may occur and then, next year, for our 25th year together, a trip to Africa and up Kilimanjaro - the
only trip my spouse says she would tolerate for a safari and a mountain climb.

We make frequent trips to L.A. for theatre, museums/exhibitions, dining and visiting friends. When we were last there, and while heading East on Olympic, I was shocked to see the change in that Grand Old Building that was once LA High.

I suppose it is only normal to reflect back as one grows older, and picks up one's Medicare Card, but life was simpler, and the music was better in the 1960's.

Be well. Be happy.

Murray A Thale

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