George Kambara
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George Kiyoshi Kambara (1916–2001) was a Japanese-American ophthalmologist and influential member of the ophthalmic community. After receiving a doctorate of medicine degree from Stanford University in 1941, he began a residency in ears, nose and throat (E.N.T.) at San Francisco's Stanford Lane Hospital.[1] Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1942 and the implementation of Executive Order 9066, he was ordered to Marysville Assembly Center in Arboga, California.[2] Six weeks later, he was transferred to Tule Lake Relocation Center in Newell, California as head of the Eye and E.N.T. clinic. Kambara left Tule Lake in 1943 and completed his training as an ophthalmology resident at Memphis E.E.N.T. Hospital and the State of Wisconsin Hospital.[1]
After starting a practice in Los Angeles in 1948, Kambara practiced as an ophthalmologist until 1990. He held various teaching appointments and leadership positions. The most notable of these included President of the Los Angeles Eye Society in 1967 and Chairman of the Eye Section and Advisory Panel in 1972. Kambara's story and widespread influence demonstrates his resilience and willingness to adapt, especially in the face of the rampant discrimination that Asian-Americans faced during WWII. George K. Kambara cared for thousands of patients and educated two generations of residents, instilling an understanding of the ethics and moral responsibilities associated with being a leader in ophthalmology.[1]
Education and early career[edit]
Kambara was born on February 23, 1916 in Sacramento, California to Motomu and Kusui (Nakazawa) Kambara. He had three siblings: Mary (Kambara) Izuno, William Kambara and Alice (Kambara) Higashiuchi. His father owned a shoe store and the family lived in the outskirts of the city.[1] George did well in his studies and graduated from Sacramento High School in 1933. Due to financial constraints, he attended Sacramento Junior College for two years before transferring to Stanford University and receiving a Bachelor’s degree in basic medical sciences in 1937. Upon graduation, he was one of two Nisei (a Japanese American born in the United States) students admitted to the Stanford University School of Medicine. He received his Doctorate of Medicine degree in 1941 and remained at Stanford University as an E.N.T. resident.[3]
Before he could complete this residency program, he was uprooted from Stanford University in 1942. Due to the implementation of the infamous Executive Order 9066 in February of that year. Kambara and his family comprised a few of the over 100,000 Japanese Americans that were removed from their homes and relocated to concentration camps.[2] His father was incarcerated in March of 1942 and the Kambara family was forced to liquidate their personal property along with the inventory of the shoe store.[1]
A couple months later, in May, Kambara suddenly received a notice to join a medical team to set up a Japanese-American hospital at the Arboga War Assembly Center.[1] He stayed to help for six weeks, before being transferred to the Tule Lake Relocation Center at the California-Oregon border.
Once given the opportunity to leave Tule Lake on July 8th, 1943, Kambara began the journey to Tennessee to start as a resident of the E.E.N.T. (combined eyes and E.N.T.) program of the Memphis Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital. His passion for ophthalmology proliferated under the guidance of various mentors, including Edward C. Ellett and Alice Deutsch.[1] In order to pursue this interest and gain the knowledge to pass the board examinations in ophthalmology, Kambara moved to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in January 1945 for full-time ophthalmology training.
Career[edit]
Upon completing board certification and fellowship in Madison, Kambara moved to Los Angeles, California to establish his own practice in Japantown.[3] He was welcomed by the staff at White Memorial Hospital and was appointed as an instructor in ophthalmology at the College of Medical Evangelists. He was a fellow at the Academy of Ophthalmology and Fellow American College of Surgeons in addition to a diplomate at the American Board of Ophthalmology. In 1956, Kambara became a Clinical Assoc. Professor of Ophthalmology at Loma Linda School of Medicine. Kambara became the Chief of Eye Services at White Memorial Medical Center in 1958 and by 1965 his medical achievements grew and he became the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at White Memorial.
Kambara was named the President of the Los Angeles Eye Society in 1967 and President of all medical staff at White Memorial Medical Center by 1968.[3] Kambara began teaching as a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at USC School of Medicine in 1970 while working as an attending staff at Olive View Hospital. In 1972 the California Medical Association named Kambara the Chairman of the Eye Section and Advisory Panel.
Between 1954 and 1982 Kambara went to multiple International Congress’ and society meetings and traveled across the world. These International Ophthalmology Tours included: International Congress of Ophthalmology, Pan American Congress of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Tour of Eastern Europe and Russia, Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, 2nd African International Congress of OPhthalmology, Ophthalmology Tours in South East Asia, Good Will Ophthalmic Tour of People’s Republic of China, Metabolic Eye Disease Symposium, San Joaquin County Medical Association Tour, Scandinavian Ophthalmology Tour, International Ophthalmic Congress in China and Pediatric Ophthalmology Seminars.[3]
Cultural impact[edit]
Following his evacuation from Stanford to Arboga War Assembly Center Hospital in 1942, Kambara remarked, “I was notified by telegram at 2 a.m. to report to camp. Stanford Hospital was in the area north of California Street and was one of the first areas to be evacuated. Within 24 hours, my wife and I had to move all our things to Sacramento, our home town. Otherwise we would have been shipped to some other camp where we didn't know anyone”.[1]
Kambara and his wife, a nurse, stayed at the Arboga War Assembly Center for six weeks treating bug bites, rashes and diarrhea before being relocated to Tule Lake Internment Camp.[2] At Marysville Tulelake War Relocation Authority Hospital in Newell, California, Kambara was ordered to be in charge of the ears, nose, throat and eyes clinic serving a community of 17,000 detainees. Kambara had only two months of experience with eye work at the time and claimed it was a “baptism into ophthalmology over one weekend.” Kambara wrote letters to Dr. Jerome W. Bettman inquiring about various eye diseases and treatments. Through these correspondences his curiosity, attraction and foundation in eye surgery grew. He saw up to 125 patients daily for 6 weeks.[4] Kambara was the Operating Room Supervisor, and while at the relocation camp in 1942, he completed his first cataract operation and laryngectomy. Ultimately, these events left a lasting impact on Kambara, and served him throughout his career. He served the Japanese-American community of Los Angeles, as well as patients from every other background and walk of life. Kambara was a pioneer in medicine who paved the way for future Asian American physicians. His accomplishments in the face of harsh adversity are an inspiration to many, and his story serves as a reminder of the discrimination that Japanese Americans faced in WWII, a dark moment in U.S. history that must not be forgotten.
Personal life[edit]
Kambara married May F. Tanaka of Sacramento, RN, UCSF at Stanford University Chapel Hill in September 1940.[5] Together they had a family including their four children: Kay (Kambara) Furuyama, Ken Kambara, Kary Kambara and Kim (Kambara) Dorman and nine grandchildren. Kambara retired on June 29, 1990 and died on December 4, 2001.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Marmor MF. The Training of George K. Kambara, MD. Arch Ophthalmol. 1999;117(9):1227–1235. doi:10.1001/archopht.117.9.1227
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Kambara, George". American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kambara, George. “Biographical Sketch.” 1983. Accessed 3 January 2022
- ↑ Kambara, George. “Yellow Peril Concentration Camp Parolee to Southern White.” Accessed 5 January 2022.
- ↑ Kambara, George. “Curriculum Vitae.” May 1991. Accessed 5 January 2022.
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