CA ID Number: Michael Alcalay, M.D., CA lic. # 23544
452 Haddon Road * Oakland, CA 94606
CA lic. # A 23544
Everyone called him Dr. Mike. He's dead.Michael Alcalay -- doctor, activist, producer
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Even as his health failed, Dr. Michael Alcalay was treating other patients."He'd be completely debilitated and could hardly get out of bed, but was still taking care of people," said a
longtime friend, Mike Davis, a professor at UC Irvine. "You couldn't find a doctor who took the Hippocratic oath more seriously. He was one of the most hugely humane people I've met."
Dr. Alcalay, whose career merged medicine, media and political activism, died of leukemia on Nov. 18 at his home in Oakland, after a 20-year battle with HIV. He was 65.
A pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, Dr. Alcalay spent much of his career providing health care and advocating for disenfranchised patients. He opened a health clinic for farmworkers in Watsonville, produced a syndicated AIDS radio show, and served as medical director of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, among other accomplishments.
"He was an extraordinary person," said his brother Glenn Alcalay. "He just had this energy that was relentless. He was never satisfied with the status quo. He was always looking for new challenges."
Dr. Alcalay grew up in Los Angeles and attended UC Berkeley, and later UCLA medical school, on scholarships. Although he was in college during the Free Speech Movement, he did not become politically active until he served two years as a physician in the Vietnam War.
"That certainly radicalized him," his brother said. "He specialized in treating heroin addiction and was seeing all these young boys from Kansas getting hooked on drugs in Vietnam."
After the war, he moved back to the Bay Area and through his partner, who was Puerto Rican, he became interested in Latino immigrants' health issues. In 1975, he opened Salud Para la Gente, a free clinic for farmworkers, in Watsonville. The clinic was staffed by Bay Area doctors and nurses who donated their services.
In 1980, Dr. Alcalay began working abroad, in England, Germany, Kenya, Mexico and Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, he made his first foray into media, co-producing a 90-minute video documentary about gains in health care under the Sandinistas.
After Dr. Alcalay was diagnosed with HIV in 1986, he started producing a 15-minute radio show called "AIDS in Focus" through KPFA in Berkeley. The show, which aired on more than 200 stations nationwide, covered news about research, treatment, drugs and other topics related to AIDS.
In the early 1990s, Dr. Alcalay's attention turned to the medical properties of marijuana. He spent years researching the drug and its effects on various conditions, enrolling more than 1,000 patients through the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative. He was also featured on a PBS documentary called "Waiting to Inhale."
Dr. Alcalay, who insisted that patients call him Mike, played saxophone in an Oakland jazz band and spoke fluent Spanish. Friends and family remembered his gallows humor, occasional moodiness and relentless optimism.
"He had this contagious hope," said his friend Michael Couzens. "He never gave up. Whenever I ran into him, the contact always made me feel so good. He had this can-do attitude."
In addition to his brother Glenn, Dr. Alcalay is survived by twin sons, Aaron and Nolen Edmonston of San Francisco; his mother, Charlene Lau of San Francisco; a sister and another brother.
A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Vista Room, Lakeside Park Garden Center at Lake Merritt, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland.
Medical Marijuana Doctors
http://www.marijuana.org/marijuana%20doctors.htmNorthern California
www.PotDoc.com
- Dr. Roger Stephen Ellis, San Francisco Cal.: Phone (415) 681-0823
Dr. Frank Lucido, Berkeley Cal.: Phone (510) 848-0958 www.drlucido.com, www.medboardwatch.com Dr. Gene Schoenfeld, Sausalito, CA: Phone (415) 331-6832 Dr. Tod Mikuriya, El Cerrito/Berkeley (psychiatrist): Phone (510) 525-1278 www.mikuriya.com. Dr. Hanya Barth (415) 255-1200 (San Francisco & Santa Rosa) 1200 Howard St. , SF www.howardstreethealthoptions.com Dr. Hany Assad - (510) 839-0723 (Oakland, 1504 Franklin St #101, lower level - walk-ins accepted) 7 days a week www.norcalhealthcare.org. Dr. Tom O'Connell (510) 841-4594 (Berkeley) Dr. William R. Turnipseed, Orangevale - Sacto: Phone (916) 987-7080 Dr. Marion "Mollie" P. Fry, California Medical Research Center (office in Cool, El Dorado Co, CA). www.cannabisdoctor.com Phone (530) 272-9901 Dr. William Toy, Grass Valley (Nevada Co.): Phone (530) 273-5690 Dr. Stephen Bannister, 315E Spring St., Nevada City (530) 470-8913 Dr. Jeff Hergenrather, Sebastopol (Sonoma Co.): Phone (707) 484-7720 Norcal Healthcare, 527 S. State St. Ukiah (707) 468-7400 Dr. Milan Hopkins, Upper Lake (1st & Main St) (707)275-2366, and Mendocino Village (10951 Kasten St) (707) 937-1861 www.dochop.com Dr. Raymond Rowell, Livermore (925) 443-3097 www.ca215.com Dr. Philip Denney and Robert Sullivan, 1522 Charles Dr, Redding (530) 242-6784, and 4709 Engle Rd#5, Carmichael (Sac'to County) (916) 978-9777 Medicann (Dr. Jean Talleyrand) (Oakland, SF, Santa Cruz, Sacto, Stockton, San Rafael) 866-632-6627 www.medicann.com Southern California
- Dr. Philip Denney and Robert Sullivan, 22691 Lambert St, Lake Forest, Orange County; (949) 855-8845
- Dr. Claudia Jensen, 8 N. Fir St Ventura; and 34281 Doheny Park Rd 7538 Capistrano Beach (805) 648-LOVE (5683).
- Dr. James Eisenberg, Santa Monica 877-468-5874
- Dr. William Eidelman, 1654 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles (323) 463-3295
- Dr. Robert Sterner, San Diego and El Cajon: Phone (619) 442-5483
- Norcal Health Care, 2814 K St, Bakersfield (661) 322-4258
- Medicann (Dr. Jean Talleyrand) (Long Beach, San Diego, W. Hollywood) 866-632-6627 www.medicann.com
Cal. Physician Referral Services
- California Alliance for Medical MJ Patients (Ventura - LA area) (805) 890-1365
- Green Medicine Group (Los Angeles - referrals statewide) (310) 360-5911 greenmedgroup@yahoo.com www.greenmedicine.org
- Natural Remedies Health Center - 2445 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley (510) 841-4594 or (510) 524-1914.
- West Hollywood Medical Marijuana Evaluations 866-468-5876
- Oakland Doctors' Medical Clinic - (call for appointment): (510) 839-0723
- Fort Bragg - Mendo. Healing Alternatives - appointments: (707) 964-2756
Nevada
- Medical Marijuana Consultants of Nevada (702) 889-6626 www.medicalmarijuanareferrals.com
- Florida Medical Association Medical Marijuana Doctor
