2018 December Paso Robles Magazine

PASO PEOPLE
Honoring Dr. James Longo
Distinguished Oncologist Retires,
Continues Vision for Local Treatment
By Millie Drum and Hayley Mattson
n August, after 28 years as the primary
Radiation Oncologist in Templeton, Dr.
James Longo started saying his goodbyes
to his patients and his team as he prepared
for his approaching retirement. 37 years ago,
Dr. Longo graduated from medical school and
after 5 additional years of specialty training
and board certification, he was able to start
practicing as a Radiation Oncologist. He
received the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical
Society Award in 1980 and was the chief
resident in Radiation Oncology at UCLA,
and in 1986 he received the American Cancer
Society Clinical Fellowship Award in Oncology
at UCLA and became Board-certified.
“As a student, I was overwhelmed with compassion
for cancer patients; convincing me to
specialize in Oncology. For the last 28 years,
I served as Director of the Templeton Radiation
Oncology Medical Center. I’m honored
and privileged to have served the North San
“As a student, I was overwhelmed
with compassion
for cancer patients...”
Luis Obispo County; witnessing the progress
in both the level and quality of care. I am
proud of the medical teams assembled here.”
As he should be, Dr. Jim Longo, as most know
him, was at the forefront of setting the tone of
providing the upmost quality of care to all
cancer patients. He served as the Chief of
Staff Physicians, Vice President of the Governing
Board, Chair of Physicians Leadership
Council, and Chair of the Medical
Staff at Twin Cities Community
Hospital where he also served as the moderator
of their monthly Oncology Conferences
for the Medical Staff. Dr. Longo believed in
the team approach when working with his
patients, sometimes he was the quarterback
and other times the referring physician or
medical oncologist, staying plugged and involved
within the local medical community.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is one of the
most difficult, Dr. Longo took great pride
in knowing each patients entire history and
He treated every patient
as if they were family.
researching what the absolute best treatment
would be. In addition he understood that a
cancer diagnosis affects the entire family or
care unit around the patient, which is why
over the years he has stayed deeply involved
and supported the Cancer Support Community,
which his wife Deborah Longo
was one of the founding partners, Shannon
D’Acquisto, Executive Director of the Cancer
Support Community, regards Dr. Jim Longo as a
“longstanding staple in local cancer care and
a current Board Member”. Shannon shared
with us, “His retirement is bittersweet for the
Cancer Support Community. He is passionate
about the lives he’s touched and knows that
the social and emotional impact of cancer
is hard to support in the medical visit. This
organization was formed to support the
whole patient and family. We are proud of
his work and look forward to seeing his
passion for the patients and philanthropy as
it follows him into retirement.”
This sentiment of Dr. Longo was shared by
family, friends and colleagues as they gathered
at the Paso Robles Golf Club on September
8th to honor and congratulate Dr. James Longo
on his retirement. “It was just great, we had a
James Longo, Thom Shulz and David Bolivar.
Dr. James Longo
blast. It was so nice to hear the warm wishes
from so many people.” Dr. Longo shared,
and they did from his close friend Dr. David
Bolivar to another friend and colleague Mark
Lisa, CEO of TCCH, as well as Founding
Board Member of the Cancer Support Community,
Thom Schulz and so many others. It
really was a special night honoring a true hero
in his own right, for all the years he dedicated
countless hours, sleepless nights, on call
every weekend, endless research, all while he
experienced the loss of patients, friends and
colleagues and still always remained equally
passionate about the strides in care that cancer
“My next big goal is to recruit
medical oncologists and
establish a North County
chemotherapy program...”
patients were able to receive locally. He treated
every patient as if they were family.
So what is next for Dr. Jim Longo retired
Radiation Oncologist … “My next big goal is
to recruit medical oncologists and establish a
North County chemotherapy program. Currently,
patients must travel to San Luis Obispo
for treatment. There are huge strides and
changes in immunotherapy that targets the
disease more effectively. More efficient imaging
equipment has led to better localization and
targeting. Better treatment equipment has led
to higher accuracy with less toxicity we are on
the verge of great benefits for cancer patients.”
Knowing Dr. Longo we would not expect anything
different.
Thank you, Dr. Longo. Upon your retirement,
your talents, skills and interests will be a great
asset through your vision and a new phase for
cancer care in our community.
26 | pasomagazine.com PASO Magazine, December 2018