Don Kurth
Encyclopedia
Donald J. Kurth, Jr. is a physician, businessowner, educator, and mayor of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, California
. He was elected President of the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce in 1994, Director of the Cucamonga County Water District in 1996, appointed to the Rancho Cucamonga City Council in 2002, and elected mayor of Rancho Cucamonga on November 7, 2006.
, Rhode Island where his father, also named Donald James Kurth, was stationed in the United States Navy
. Don’s father and mother, Isabelle, both served in the hospital corps in the Navy throughout World War II
. His mother taught Navy carrier pilots how to use oxygen masks for high altitude missions. His father served on the famous and highly decorated heavy cruiser, the USS New Orleans
, in many battles including Pearl Harbor
, Coral Sea
, Midway
, Eastern Solomons and Tassafaronga. During the night Battle of Tassafaronga in November 1942, the New Orleans engaged the famous “Tokyo Express” troop convoy which was supplying troops and supplies to block the United States Marine invasion of Gaudalcanal
.
During the battle, the New Orleans was hit and cut nearly in half by an enemy submarine torpedo, losing her bow and two hundred brave seamen. The ship travelled backwards to port in Sidney, Australia and was later repaired and returned to action. Following the war, Don’s father was stationed first in Newport Rhode Island and subsequently transferred to the Brooklyn Naval Yard when Don was less than a year old and the family bought a home in northern New Jersey, where Don was raised.
(BA), graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1975 before attending medical school at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
, from which he graduated in 1979 (MD). Following a fellowship in orthopedic surgery at Oxford University , he returned to the United States to complete his medical education. After completing his internship at Johns Hopkins University
, he trained at the UCLA Hospital Medical Center and later became Board Certified first in Emergency Medicine and then in Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Kurth subsequently received his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Loma Linda University
School of Public Health and his Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard University
Kennedy School of Government.
and abuse. In 1999, he founded California Legislative Day for the California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM)http://www.csam-asam.org/, and in 2003 the National Legislative Day for the American Society of Addiction Medicine
(ASAM)http://www.asam.org/. He and his colleagues were instrumental in the repeal of the Uniform Policy Provision Law (UPPL) in California and passage of the bipartisan Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. In 2003, Dr. Kurth received the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Fellowship for Developing Leadership in Reducing Substance Abuse.
from 2002 to 2004, and was elected President Elect of the American Society of Addiction Medicine
in 2008. In 2002 Dr. Kurth’s peers awarded him the title of Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, an honor given to less than 300 physicians worldwide.
Dr. Kurth also served as the California State Healthcare Coalition Chairperson for Presidential Candidate John McCain
in 2008. In this capacity, he served as a frequent speaker on national healthcare issues throughout the state of California.
Dr. Kurth currently serves on the faculty of Loma Linda University
School of Medicine as an assistant professor with appointments in both Preventive Medicine and Psychiatry. In addition, he holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Loma Linda University School of Public Health
.
Don Kurth owns the Urgent Care Center and Alta Loma Medical Group in Rancho Cucamonga, California. He is founder of the Children’s Free Immunization Clinic, which has provided free immunizations to many thousands of local children since 1983. He has also served as a medical volunteer with the Flying Samaritans, a group of physicians and other volunteers who use private airplanes to bring free medical care to underserved children in inaccessible regions of rural Mexico
.
Don Kurth is married to Dee Matreyek, Ph.D., who is the founder and president of the Restorative Justice Center of the Inland Empire.
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Rancho Cucamonga is a suburban city in San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,269, up from 127,743 at the 2000 census. L. Dennis Michael was elected as Mayor on November 2, 2010. Jack Lam is the City Manager...
. He was elected President of the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce in 1994, Director of the Cucamonga County Water District in 1996, appointed to the Rancho Cucamonga City Council in 2002, and elected mayor of Rancho Cucamonga on November 7, 2006.
Early life
Donald James Kurth, Jr. was born in NewportNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Rhode Island where his father, also named Donald James Kurth, was stationed in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Don’s father and mother, Isabelle, both served in the hospital corps in the Navy throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His mother taught Navy carrier pilots how to use oxygen masks for high altitude missions. His father served on the famous and highly decorated heavy cruiser, the USS New Orleans
USS New Orleans (CA-32)
USS New Orleans was a United States Navy heavy cruiser, the lead ship of her class. The New Orleans-class represented the last of the Treaty Cruisers, built to the specifications and standards of the Washington Naval Treaty. Originally, was the lead ship of this class...
, in many battles including Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Coral Sea
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
, Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
, Eastern Solomons and Tassafaronga. During the night Battle of Tassafaronga in November 1942, the New Orleans engaged the famous “Tokyo Express” troop convoy which was supplying troops and supplies to block the United States Marine invasion of Gaudalcanal
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
.
During the battle, the New Orleans was hit and cut nearly in half by an enemy submarine torpedo, losing her bow and two hundred brave seamen. The ship travelled backwards to port in Sidney, Australia and was later repaired and returned to action. Following the war, Don’s father was stationed first in Newport Rhode Island and subsequently transferred to the Brooklyn Naval Yard when Don was less than a year old and the family bought a home in northern New Jersey, where Don was raised.
Education
Don graduated from Westwood High School in 1967. He later completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(BA), graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1975 before attending medical school at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
, from which he graduated in 1979 (MD). Following a fellowship in orthopedic surgery at Oxford University , he returned to the United States to complete his medical education. After completing his internship at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, he trained at the UCLA Hospital Medical Center and later became Board Certified first in Emergency Medicine and then in Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Kurth subsequently received his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
School of Public Health and his Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Kennedy School of Government.
Public policy
Dr. Kurth has been a prolific writer and advocate regarding matters of healthcare public policy, particularly in the area of substance dependenceSubstance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
and abuse. In 1999, he founded California Legislative Day for the California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM)http://www.csam-asam.org/, and in 2003 the National Legislative Day for the American Society of Addiction Medicine
American Society of Addiction Medicine
The American Society of Addiction Medicine is a physician society with a focus on addiction and its treatment.- History :ASAM has its roots in research and clinical traditions that pre-date its founding in the early 1950s, when Ruth Fox, M.D. began regular meetings with other physicians interested...
(ASAM)http://www.asam.org/. He and his colleagues were instrumental in the repeal of the Uniform Policy Provision Law (UPPL) in California and passage of the bipartisan Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. In 2003, Dr. Kurth received the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the United States' largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care; it is based in Princeton, New Jersey. The foundation's mission is to improve the health and health care of all Americans...
Fellowship for Developing Leadership in Reducing Substance Abuse.
Professional activities
He served as President of the California Society of Addiction MedicineCalifornia Society of Addiction Medicine
California Society of Addiction Medicine is the California organization of physicians who specialize in treating addiction. Addiction medicine is the medical specialty that provides care and treatment for people with substance use disorder...
from 2002 to 2004, and was elected President Elect of the American Society of Addiction Medicine
American Society of Addiction Medicine
The American Society of Addiction Medicine is a physician society with a focus on addiction and its treatment.- History :ASAM has its roots in research and clinical traditions that pre-date its founding in the early 1950s, when Ruth Fox, M.D. began regular meetings with other physicians interested...
in 2008. In 2002 Dr. Kurth’s peers awarded him the title of Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, an honor given to less than 300 physicians worldwide.
Dr. Kurth also served as the California State Healthcare Coalition Chairperson for Presidential Candidate John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
in 2008. In this capacity, he served as a frequent speaker on national healthcare issues throughout the state of California.
Dr. Kurth currently serves on the faculty of Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
School of Medicine as an assistant professor with appointments in both Preventive Medicine and Psychiatry. In addition, he holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Loma Linda University School of Public Health
Loma Linda University School of Public Health
The Loma Linda University School of Public Health offers degrees in environmental and occupational health, epidemiology and biostatistics, global health, health policy and management, health promotion and education, and nutrition.- History :...
.
Don Kurth owns the Urgent Care Center and Alta Loma Medical Group in Rancho Cucamonga, California. He is founder of the Children’s Free Immunization Clinic, which has provided free immunizations to many thousands of local children since 1983. He has also served as a medical volunteer with the Flying Samaritans, a group of physicians and other volunteers who use private airplanes to bring free medical care to underserved children in inaccessible regions of rural Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Don Kurth is married to Dee Matreyek, Ph.D., who is the founder and president of the Restorative Justice Center of the Inland Empire.