Rotarian of the Week 04-11-12

Our Rotarian of the Week grew up in Los Angeles California where he attended Los Angeles High School Home of the “Romans”.  In June of 1954 this Rotarian was already demonstrating his leadership talents. He was selected to attend Boys State of California, a very special privilege in those days.
This Rotarian attended Pomona College for his undergraduate degree and Baylor University …College of Medicine for his medical degree. He did an internship in surgery at UCLA School of Medicine in 1963 and from 1964 through 1965 he completed residencies at both Johns Hopkins Hospital and UCLA School of Medicine. 
From 1966 through 1968 our Rotarian of the Week served as a Captain in United States Army Medical Corps, with assignments in South Vietnam and Darnell Army Hospital in Fort Hood, Texas.
Dr. James (Jim) Harper has been married to his lovely wife Ingrid for a long, long time. They continue what has always been a beautiful partnership.
Jim spent more than a quarter century in Southern California as a cardiac surgeon. In the spring and summer of 1997 Dr. Harper provided temporary Cardiac Surgical support to Wyoming Medical Center in Casper Wyoming following the sudden death of their only Cardiac Surgeon.
In 2000 he retired from his practice in California and relocated to Cheyenne, Wyoming. From March 2000 until October 2001 he worked with Dr. David G. Silver and others at Cheyenne Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.     
 Jim Harper first joined the Rotary Club of Long Beach in 1976. After finally retiring from surgery here in Cheyenne in October of 2001, Jim joined our Rotary Club of Cheyenne in 2002.
Over his past 12 years in Wyoming Dr. Jim Harper has established a remarkable record of volunteerism and community service.
• Jim serves as a volunteer consultant to the Wyoming Tobacco Use prevention Coalition
• Jim serves as volunteer consultant to the Department of Health, Substance Abuse Division
• He is a member of the Department of Health Cardiovascular Disease Coalition Board
• He is a member of the Wyoming Department of health Advisory Council
• He is a member of the Chronic Disease and Health Information Technology Subcommittee of the Wyoming Health Care Commission. 
In addition Dr. Jim Harper has served on the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees and currently serves as Director Emeritus on the CRMC Foundation.
 Jim is also actively working to support the Laramie County Community Partnerships efforts to create a healthier Laramie County.
In his spare time Jim Harper enjoys gardening and traveling.
In recognition of his remarkable service to our community, our state, and our nation, The Sargent at Arms will present Jim Harper with a gift certificate from our Club.
Thank you Jim Harper and congratulations.