The Heart of the Matter
The Del Vicarios help Providence LCM celebrate a milestone
Paula and Michael Del Vicario, M.D. in the garden of the Palos Verdes Estates home. Photo by David Fairchild.
The human heart is important to cardiologist Dr. Michele Del Vicario and his wife, volunteer extraordinaire Paula Del Vicario. Dr. Del Vicario has tended to the hearts of thousands of patients, some for over 30 years. At the same time, through her volunteer efforts with the Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation, Paula supports the hearts and souls of many throughout the South Bay.
Thus, it is fitting that Paula is co-chairing Sellabration 2010, a gala event to be held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Nov. 6 to celebrate the 50-year healing presence of the Little Company of Mary Sisters in Southern California.
Dr. and Mrs. Del Vicario have been an integral part of the Little Company of Mary family for decades. The Del Vicarios moved to the Peninsula in 1976, the same year that Dr. Del Vicario began treating patients at Little Company of Mary Hospital, now known as Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance.
Dr. Del Vicario, also affectionately known as Dr. Del by his patients, is currently the secretary/treasurer of their medical staff. Paula serves as a trustee of the Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation Board and has held leadership roles for events such as Sellabration and Women’s Wellness Conferences.
Born in Southern Italy, Dr. Michele immigrated as a child to Northern British Columbia, Canada. He decided to become a physician because, “I always thought that medicine was a fine profession. I was always interested in science and medicine and wanted to help out and do my bit for society,” said Del Vicario. He moved to Southern California in 1970 for an internship and then did his residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of California at Irvine/Long Beach VA. Paula joined Mike after their marriage. “We came for a year but ended up staying a lifetime,” said Dr. Del Vicario.
“Cardiology was picked by accident,” remarked Del Vicario, since it was the best program at UC Irvine/Long Beach VA. “Overall, I enjoy the subject matter and the patients. It was a fairly easy choice.”
A consummate doctor who clearly “lives to work instead of works to live,” Dr. Del Vicario works 12-hour days. Instead of sharing weekend calls with other cardiologists, Del Vicario prefers to see his hospital patients himself.
“The patients like the continuity and things get done quicker,” said this highly respected cardiologist who performs hundreds of angiograms and angioplasties each year.
To the doctor – in cardiology and in life –“Time is of the essence. For a closed artery, or a damaged muscle, the quicker you open it, the better you can salvage it and have a better outcome.”
In addition to his busy cardiology practice, Dr. Del Vicario serves on medical committees. “I’ve always been involved with committees to advance patient safety and concerns,” he remarked. As chair of the Institutional Review Board at Providence LCM Medical Center in Torrance, he endeavors to ensure that patients receive the right therapy at the right time.
When Dr. Del Vicario first started admitting patients to Little Company of Mary Hospital, the Sisters were actively involved with patient medical care, working as nurses and overseeing departments. Though there are fewer Sisters at the Providence Medical Centers in Torrance and San Pedro campuses, their healing presence is still tangible.
“Take Sister Terrence Landini. She comes into the room, talks to patients and there’s a difference. She’s not going to save their lives, but rather nurture their emotional well being and support the families,” said Del Vicario. “Day to day, the Sisters do something special for somebody. They’re always around, unselfish, giving of themselves. And for the most part, patients do appreciate that.”
“When you enter the Little Company of Mary hospitals there is a sense of peace. The atmosphere is one of hope, care and concern for patients and their families,” Paula added.
Paula is a well-known fixture on the Peninsula volunteer landscape: past president of the Peninsula Education Foundation, four time PTA president and longtime member of the Peninsula Committee for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Music has been a large part of Paula’s life. She started piano lessons at age six. For 16 years, she studied piano and voice at the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Toronto. Later, Paula received her elementary teaching credential for upper elementary grades with a minor in music from the University of British Columbia.
The Del Vicarios met when Mike was a fourth year medical student and Paula an elementary school teacher. Theirs has been a true partnership, and they recently celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary. The couple has four grown children, all of whom graduated from Peninsula schools.
When the Del Vicario children were young, Paula taught piano to neighborhood kids for $2.50 per hour. After some soul-searching in her 40s, Paula developed a better sense of who she was. “I found myself in my 40s, when you like who you are,” said Paula. “This is me, and you quit trying to be somebody else.”
She decided to devote more time to teaching. Paula has been a music specialist at Lunada Bay and Montemalaga Elementary Schools for almost 14 years. “After all, I was a teacher from the time I was three years old. I taught my teddy bears, probably even lectured my parents and definitely taught my siblings,” commented Paula.
Music is to the soul what medicine is to the heart. A passionate music teacher, Paula believes music can nurture students and build self esteem. “Music gives that child who is not an academic star a place to come into her own,” said Paula.
As one little girl at Lunada Bay Elementary expressed to Paula, “When I walk through this door, my heart is happy.”
“Music just brightened her whole life,” Paula said.
“I’m really happiest when I’m busy, when I’m giving, utilizing my talents and when I’m with people. That’s my life,” commented Paula.
With four adult children, five grandchildren and two on the way, the Del Vicarios enjoy a rich life filled with family, service and philanthropy.
When asked to describe his wife, Dr. Del Vicario replied, “She is very intelligent and patient. Paula is a superb mother and a great companion. We think we’ve made a great team over the years. I guess our moments alone are pretty rare. However, there’s a lot that we share.”
Clearly, they share a commitment to Providence Little Company of Mary.
The Sisters of Little Company of Mary holds a special place in the Del Vicarios’ hearts. In the earlier days, there were Sunday barbecues where the physicians, staff and their families would enjoy time with the Sisters. These gatherings allowed the Del Vicarios to become well-acquainted with the Sisters and their dedication, mission and compassion for the poor and vulnerable.
Toward these goals, Paula has helped to organize many Foundation fundraising events and is co-chairing Sellabration 2010 with fellow trustee Shelley Joyce.
This special event to honor the Sisters’ 50 years of service will raise funds for numerous Providence LCM charitable care and community outreach programs. Included are programs to assist victims of violence and abuse, to support patients and families facing severe illnesses and to provide a mobile pediatric van to treat underserved children and their families.
Said Foundation President Joe Zanetta, “Paula and Mike Del Vicario are truly role models for philanthropy and volunteer leadership. Mike is a longtime member of the Providence Little Company of Mary Service Area Board of Directors, and is respected by his physician colleagues, administrators and community board members for his insights and incredible intuition. Paula, as a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees, sets a pretty high bar for energy, creativity and thoughtfulness in her volunteer work. In addition, they are extremely generous benefactors.”
In describing her volunteer leadership with Little Company of Mary, Paula said, “It’s just exciting to be involved with different people and everyone is giving of their time. They’re doing it because they love the hospitals and they want them to succeed.”
For Mike and Paula Del Vicario – it’s all about giving back and getting to the heart of the matter – helping others. PEN