When Dr. Al Sorkin talks about the agency he helped create to bring affordable health care to uninsured, low-income families in northwest Pasadena, there's not a trace of bravado.
Oh, he's proud of what he's accomplished, to be sure. But this 73-year-old Los Angeles psychologist seems to view his work as a calling rather than a vocation.
In 1992 Sorkin partnered with Bill Moore, a Northwest Pasadena community activist, to found URDC Human Services Corp.
Moore passed away later that year, but Sorkin moved ahead with the venture. And with the help of his wife, Nina, he has greatly expanded its services over the years.
The Bill Moore Community Health Clinic began operation in 1993 and has been offering free or low-cost health care to low-income residents ever since.
Today, URDC also provides supportive housing and other social services for abused women at Casa Maria and perinatal substance abuse treatment for women through its CHOICES program.
"I think it's been very successful," Sorkin said. "We've also developed an affiliation agreement with Pacific Clinics to better serve and provide health services to the severely mentally ill and those with medical problems. It's state of the art to be able to integrate these kinds of services."
Pacific Clinics, a private nonprofit behavioral health care agency, has been serving the greater Pasadena area since 1926.
"Susan Mandel is the director of Pacific Clinics and we've known each other for many years," Sorkin said. "She use to be the director of the Alameda County mental health service, and I was with the state Department of Mental Health, so we worked together then."
Sorkin said the new arrangement between the two agencies makes sense.
"I have always looked for ways to integrate health and behavioral care services to best meet the overall health needs of my patients," he said. "The affiliation of URDC with Pacific Clinics is the correct approach in moving toward integration of all health services."
On May 3, URDC's board of directors announced Sorkin's retirement as executive director of the agency. the board also announced the appointment of Sheri Inglizian-Vogel as the agency's new executive director.
Sorkin has worked with Vogel over the past several months to help her learn the intricacies of the URDC operation.
"I'm only 73, so I guess there comes a time for everybody," he joked.
Sorkin's tireless work for URDC has not gone unnoticed, and Mandel may have summed it up best:
"He works with the community but he doesn't care about himself or the glory," she said. "He just wants to get people taken care of."
626-962-8811, ext. 2701
LADDER OF SUCCESS
Dr. Al Sorkin
TITLE: Co-founder and former executive director
BUSINESS: URDC Human Services Corp.
LOCATION: 1460 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena
PHONE: 626-398-3796
WEB ADDRESS: www.urdchsc.org
SECRECT TO SUCCESS: A long-term commitment to providing services for uninsured, low-income families
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_15134098