Les Zendle, MD
Retired December 2010

- South Bay Medical Center (1980-1992)
- Walnut Center (1993-2004)
- Los Angeles Medical Center (2004-2006)
- Palm Desert Medical Office Building (2006-2010)

After 31 ½ years with SCPMG, I retired 17 months ago and I’m enjoying every minute of retirement -- in no small part to the generous retirement benefits offered to SCPMG physicians. Although my "varied" SCPMG career makes it look like I had a hard time holding a job, the variety of experiences and locations made my career more interesting and rewarding.  My 11 years as SCPMG Associate Medical Director for Clinical Services were certainly highlights, but after my administrative term it was also important to show (myself and everyone else) that I could return to full-time clinical practice.

Since retirement, I’ve been taking better care of myself (losing weight and going to aqua aerobics at one of the Palm Springs spas 4-5 days a week). I work as a per diem at Kaiser Permanente Palm Springs a couple days a month to keep up my SCPMG credentials. I also started volunteering twice a month at the desert’s only free clinic (Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine), and a few months ago they asked me to be the clinic medical director. Some habits never die!

Finally, an additional highlight is the twice a year reunions with Oliver (Goldsmith), Irwin (Goldstein), Pete (Pellerito) --- the 1994-2003 Regional Executive Team, and our spouses. Since we’re all retired now and on fixed incomes, we don’t let Irwin order the wine anymore!