Sandy and Steve Hartford, MD

The Hartfords Have Heart for Verdugo

    Dr. Steve and Sandy Hartford have been a part of the Verdugo family for over 23 years, and from the beginning, it’s been a family affair. In 1984, after finishing a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southern California, Steve’s decision to join Verdugo and team up with Dr. John Fox and retiring Dr. John Madsen, was facilitated by the fact that Dr. Madsen had been Sandy’s obstetrician and Steve had experienced filling in for vacationing Dr. Fox. But the big epiphany came in having had all three of their children born at Verdugo and having experienced first-hand the more family, personal environment of Verdugo as parents. Sandy and Steve decided that was the kind of place Steve should have his practice, which is how the decision to practice at Verdugo was born! And 4,756* babies later, is still going strong!

Sandy also runs her own busy practice in the same office space as Steve. As a physical therapist working with developmentally disabled children, Sandy is a member of VHH Foundation’s Women’s Council and just completed a two-year stint as President of Pasadena Jewish Temple. Living in La Canada, she was also very involved with her children’s activities, primarily schools, as all three went to Flintridge Prep for a span of 13 years, collectively. And apparently being involved at Verdugo runs in the blood as all three children, a son and two daughters, in addition to being born at Verdugo, have either volunteered for the hospital or worked in the office at some point. And youngest Julia just completed an internship at Verdugo this past summer.

Through the years and babies, Steve also found time to be Chief of Medical Staff from 1992-1998, and again from 2001-2005. “As Chief, I enjoyed being in tune with the physicians and hospital, and having a good sense of what was going on,” he said. Currently, Steve continues to stay involved in many ways; one way as Chair of the Caduceus Club Steering Committee, the physicians’ support group which initiated a new Medical Staff Endowment Fund this year. “Endowments are a great community asset and a demonstration of commitment. Establishing a medical staff endowment has been a dream of mine for 20 years as it is a source of pride for the doctors and makes a statement of longevity and strength.”

We are honored and thrilled to have Sandy and Steve Hartford working for and with team Verdugo. We thank them for their many years of support to the hospital, both financial and leadership, and hope we have given them as much as they have given us. Thank you!