Longtime leadership and employees of the group shared some of their memories :

Dr. Richard Merkin

“My first day in Lancaster, we were in the second floor of a bank with a wooden staircase outside the building, and it snowed,” recalled Dr. Richard Merkin. “My first patient was a Lockheed employee, who invited me to a union meeting asking me to discuss value-based care for 5 minutes. At that time High Desert Medical Group had less than 800 patients. After that meeting, 1000 more people joined and in one day we doubled our enrollment. Because of the health improvement programs that we instituted at HDMG, we were invited to go to Washington D.C. and speak to the National Institute of Health and multiple congressional leaders. The programs that we instituted were copied by medical groups and hospital systems all over the United States. We feel both blessed and grateful we had the opportunity to make this kind of impact. We could not have done this without our leadership and collaborative effort, not only between the HDMG teams, but also being embraced by the community and particularly by the local hospital systems.

Dr. Charles Lim

In 1987, Dr. Charles Lim was working in retail sales, and. Dr. Merkin persuaded him to shift his energies to the fledgling High Desert Medical Group.

“Dr. Merkin is a very smart man,” Dr. Lim said. “He knew the right people to bring in. He knew the right ones who could manage the group and take care of the patients.”

Originally from Burma, Dr. Lim graduated from the University of Health and Science at the Chicago Medical School. Dr. Lim recalled how Dr. Merkin chose him to be the group’s Medical Director: “He said, ‘I know that you came from Burma, and that you have done many things. You are a fighter. If you could do all those things in Burma, think what you can do here. Dr. Lim had worked as a mechanic, had worked on a printing press, had done farming and dairy work in addition to his medical training. “He didn’t talk about the university,” Dr. Lim recalled. “He talked about everything else. That is what a good leader does.Dr. Merkin understands that quality of care is the most cost efficient of care, and that only comes when we are able to decide what is the best treatment for the patient.”

“Opening the Senior Wellness Center in the AV Shopping Center location at 15th Street West was another milestone, Dr. Lim said. “And the seniors love it,” he said. “We are fortunate to have a good team, because I could not do all of this alone. I am fortunate to have Rafael Gonzalez. He is both tough-minded, but he has a good heart. He has helped with all the improvements.”

Dr. Don Parazo

For Dr. Don Parazo, High Desert Medical Group would usher in the next, important stage of his life. He was completing a career in military medicine, retiring as a Navy Lt. Commander, a physician with the Marine Corps Air Wing. “I got a call from Dr. Merkin and we met. I’ve been here 34 years,” he said, adding he remembers the smaller building a mile away. “We were just a few doctors, and we only had one floor of the building on Avenue J. The ‘Mervyn’s building,’ acquisition became a late-20th century growth engine. We had plans and had gotten bigger, and we were assigned the Men’s Department,” he recalled humorously. The building formed the nucleus of a full service clinic with many services under one roof. “Our goal was to try to integrate the nurses and the doctors so we could help each other,” Dr. Parazo said. “We have so many over-20 year employees. It’s that kind of commitment and longevity I am happy to be associated with,” he said. “And I have patients that I have been with for more than 30 years. What makes HDMG special is meeting the people and taking care of patients for their entire lives. You have the ability to grow and experience every facet of medical care here.”

Serving on the hospital board helped provide Dr. Parazo a broader perspective on community health and wellbeing. He visited other cities to see how it’s done, and that helped. “We have a lot of needs, so we need a lot of collaboration in community work,” he said. “Our group is totally dedicated to community care.”

Some of his attachment to the group is its leadership team. Dr. Merkin, he said, “encourages us, and pushes us to innovate. I don’t think I could work anywhere else. If it is good, we do it. He is the biggest reason I have been here for 34 years.”

“We went from paper, to computer, to all these mobile applications, and it is amazing how medicine has changed. We are all on it,” Dr. Parazo said.

Dr. Anthony Dulgeroff

Dr. Dulgeroff, a board certified Endocrinologist, has enjoyed his work at High Desert Medical Group for more than 25 years. During that time, his career has expanded and included a range of work, primary care, endocrinology, research, and elevation into the group’s top leadership as an Associate Medical Director. He recalls, humorously, that he used to have an office with a window in the old building, but also that his assigned parking place would probably pancake in an earthquake, so the big lot at 15th Street West is more ideal.

“Most of the memories are fond,” he said. “One thing that never changed over years is that overall, the patients are very appreciative, and that is one of the most rewarding aspects I have. Some patients I have had for the whole 25 years here. That is one of the unique things about High Desert Medical Group.”

He also appreciates the room for career development, in his own case, and others. “They have allowed me and many others to grow,” Dr. Dulgeroff said. “When you sign up at the beginning of your career you think it’s all about taking care of patients, and it is.” But, he added, “You come to discover there are many other roles that need to be filled.”

“We have people who start in the mailroom and move to leadership positions,” he said. “There aren’t too many places that allow the autonomy of their providers to make their own decisions. I think that’s one of the reason I could never go to other opportunities.”

Dulgeroff thinks highly of his colleagues in leadership, Dr. Lim, in particular, is a great boss to work for.

“Rafael Gonzalez was recruiting when I joined here,” Dr. Dulgeroff recalled. “He has grown and become a leader of this group who runs the dayto-day with great expertise and caring,” adding, “That is what makes this a great place to come to every day. Every day for nearly 26 years.

Rafael Gonzalez, M.Ed., M.S.

A few things come to mind that give rise to warm emotions for HDMG Administrator, Rafael Gonzalez. One might be the medical provider group’s growth. Recently, he is proud of the contributions HDMG made in efforts to control the Covid-19 pandemic in the Antelope Valley. And he is very proud of achieving two years of national accreditation as a “Great Place to Work.”

“While HDMG celebrates 40 years, I am amazed as to how our leaders continue to inspire their staff to deliver the highest quality care,” he said, “HDMG has become an integral part of the community. I’m proud and privileged to be part of an organization that takes pride in serving the entire community. From our free community health fairs, our home building projects, to the mass COVID testing and vaccination efforts, HDMG has provided compassionate care for these 40 years.”

Rafael Gonzalez finds himself quoting Dr. Merkin’s guidance: “When change is needed, check yourself first. Hold yourself accountable, then ask, ‘How did I contribute? What changes do I need to make as a leader?’”

Another of the group’s mentors, Dr. Ian Drew, counseled him on how important it is to have a two-way conversation with patients and employees. He added, “Listening is key,” and it helps to not have a desk between you and your conversation subject. “I have always felt like this was my home. I love celebrating our wins together, and I have always been relationship oriented. Our programs and initiatives work out when we do it together, and our initiatives are provider driven.”

Lisa Nelson

Lisa Nelson recruits physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Her long service with the organization has helped refine that talent. “You can tell pretty quickly who will be a good fit for us,” she said. “Not every single time, but most of the time I can tell if whoever I am talking to is going to be good for us.”

Her rise in the company has been due to her dedication and passion - making it her life’s work. “I started here when I was 18 years old. We have all grown up together here. My son is 26 years old, and he’s been coming here since he was born.”

Nathan Burnett

About the time that Nathan Burnett got out of the Army, he was l ooking for a place to apply Army values g “steadfast and loyal.” He had served in the 101st Airborne Division as a sergeant. He was working in Palmdale at a supermarket when he got the call. “I was knocking around Lucky market groceries, and I was recommended by a guy who said I’d be good for High Desert Medical Group,” Nate recalled.

“In December 1999,we were operating from scattered locations. I knew the Mervyn’s building pretty well. I bought my clothes for high school there.”

It took considerable renovation, allowing creation of the HDMG Senior Wellness Center. “The building is a living, breathing entity, and like a human body, it has all its component parts,” Burnett said. “My part in this is being an agent of dependability,” he said. “It’s all about being of service. We have been blessed in this organization.”