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Dr. Myron Liebhaber earned Physician of the Year honors from the Santa Barbara County Medical Society largely for his volunteer work with children with asthma.

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Physician of the Year helps kids breathe easy

By ERIC LINDBERG — Nov. 21, 2009

Dr. Myron Liebhaber has seen countless children pass through Camp Wheez, his innovative day camp for kids with asthma.

He has seen them benefit greatly by sharing their experiences with other children who suffer from the respiratory disease. Many leave his camp with a better understanding of their affliction and how to cope with it in everyday situations.

Some have even gone on to become doctors themselves, likely inspired by the longtime local practitioner and Sansum Clinic mainstay.

So it came as no surprise to many when the Santa Barbara County Medical Society honored Dr. Liebhaber as Physician of the Year earlier this week, although the doctor insists the award caught him off guard.

“I had no idea — I didn’t even know they were considering me,” he said. “I’m very flattered.”

Society members cited his longtime practice in the allergy and immunology department at Sansum Clinic, his role as chair of the clinic’s research department, and his monthly trips to UCLA as an adjunct professor as factors in their decision.

But above all, Dr. Liebhaber’s long track record with Camp Wheez — having served as medical director of the camp since he established it 32 years ago — won over the committee of previous award recipients and board president.

Held in the second week of August every year, the camp offers an educational and fun experience for children between 6 and 12 years old.

“It’s a weeklong thing where kids come and learn all about the lungs, all about asthma,” the 66-year-old doctor said. “Asthma can be complicated, so they learn how to use their inhalers, why it’s important and how they can control their asthma. But mostly it’s to have fun and to give these kids a camping experience.”

He said it is gratifying to see children with asthma interacting with each other, an experience that often removes the sense of isolation that can come with having a disease that makes them different than other kids their age.

“I kind of think of it as the Alcoholics Anonymous of asthma,” Dr. Liebhaber said. “They come together and support each other.”

He likes to catch the kids early, before they develop bad habits, and supply them with coping skills so they can head off into the world without fear about their disease.

The camp typically brings in between 30 to 50 children each year, and Dr. Liebhaber volunteers his time to run it. It’s not much of a sacrifice for the doctor, who gets to practice another passion by holding the camp — magic.

“I do real good corny magic,” he said. “All the kids figure out the tricks right away, because they’re all smarter than me.”

Beyond his involvement in Camp Wheez — which was named by the initial group of children that participated in the camp — Dr. Liebhaber spends much of his time at Sansum Clinic as an allergist.

He linked his interest in asthma with his own experiences growing up with the disease. His family also has a history with asthma, as both of his grandfathers died from the respiratory illness.

“In those days, they told people [with asthma] that the only thing they could do is move to Arizona,” Dr. Liebhaber said, describing how he grew up in the Grand Canyon State.

Along with his involvement in advancing asthma research, the doctor also focuses on allergic disorders, immunodeficiences and cystic fibrosis. He has taught as a visiting professor at UCLA for 32 years and recently received an award from his students.

“They calculated out my mileage at 32,000 miles that I’ve put on my car just commuting back and forth from here and UCLA,” he said.

Born in Denver, Colo., Dr. Liebhaber earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate from University of Arizona before completing an internship, residency and chief residency in pediatrics at Stanford University Medical Center.

He continued his studies with a fellowship in allergy, immunology and pulmonary diseases at the medical center before heading to Santa Barbara, where he has remained since 1977.

He holds a lengthy list of professional affiliations and has served on the boards of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and the American Lung Association. Dr. Liebhaber has previously been honored with the Poettinger Award from the lung association for his outstanding volunteer work, and was named a Healthcare Hero by the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.

“He’s done a lot,” said Lisa Reich, executive director of the Santa Barbara County Medical Society.

She said the Physician of the Year award goes to a local doctor that exemplifies the principles of the society — by improving public health, fostering collegiality, participating in organized medicine, educating other physicians and engaging in community service.

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Camp Wheez : 11/23/2009

I was fortunate enough to have been one of the campers that first year, back when I was about 6 years old. Back then, there was so much that we thought we couldn't do because of our asthma, things like running in the grass, hiking, lots of things that most kids take for granted. Fortunately for me, Camp Wheez is focused on education, teaching us things like yes, we can go out and have fun just like all the other kids! For all the parents of kids with asthma reading this, please consider this camp well, it changed my life for the better!

Bobby C.

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