About the Author
Claude DeShazo, MD founded the support group Renewal in 1982. He conducted its meetings on a weekly basis for most of the years following. The group recently celebrated its 27th anniversary of existence. He has spoken and written on health-related issues including aging, death and dying, and self-help for over 35 years.
The author is a board-certified general surgeon who devoted much of his career to cancer surgery and care of cancer patients. He also has served as Medical Director of an inpatient hospice.
Dr. DeShazo is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Fellow of the American College of Physician Executives. He is a certified Physician Executive who spent six years as Chief Executive of a large community-based physician organization. He engaged in private practice as Senior Partner of a surgical group practice for over 20 years. He has also been Chief Executive of several startup companies dealing with Information Technology and the improvement of patient-physician communication.
Early in his career he spent two years doing basic research in immunology at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. Following this he took specialized training in organ transplantation and served as Chief of Transplantation at two medical schools prior to starting his private clinic. He served as a Battalion Surgeon with the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam.
Dr. DeShazo has six grown children and ten grandchildren. He and his wife of 36 years, Maureen, divide their time in retirement between Southern California and Washington State.