Public Health Heroes Awards Ceremony

L. Martin Griffin, M.D., M.P.H. has combined a lifetime of wildlife and environmental preservation with a distinguished statewide career in public health. While practicing medicine in Marin County after World War II, Dr. Griffin began to recognize that the destruction of the tidelands, bays, and coastal rivers posed a serious threat to the physical and emotional health of his patients. Motivated by this knowledge, Dr. Griffin led the effort to create the Audubon Canyon Ranch preserve and wildlife sanctuaries on Bolinas Lagoon, Tomales Bay, and Highway 1, which helped guarantee the creation of the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Dr. Griffin joined the ranks of the public health profession after receiving his M.P.H. from UC Berkeley in 1972, becoming public health director at Sonoma State Hospital and Development Center. It was a move that marked the beginning of a second career for this Stanford-trained physician. During his 15-year tenure in the position, Dr. Griffin carried out ground breaking work on Hepatitis B prevention among patients and employees alike.

Now retired from the health care field, Dr. Griffin continues attending to patient earth. Included among his recent efforts is protecting the Russian River, which straddles the land upon which his landmark Hop Kiln Winery is located.

Award Presenter

Dr. Griffin is being introduced by William Ames Atchley, M.D. Dr. Atchley is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. An oncology specialist, Dr. Atchley is also widely regarded for his work in medical ethics. He is currently president emeritus of the International Bioethics Institute, having served as the organization’s president for seven years.

	1999 Regional Hero L. Martin Griffin M.D., M.P.H. Wildlife Preservationist & Author	Other 1999 Heroes International Carol Bellamy, J.D. National Mark A. Rothstein Organizational Glide Memorial United Methodist Church of San Francisco
1999 Regional Hero - L. Martin Griffin M.D., M.P.H. L. Martin Griffin, M.D., M.P.H. has combined a lifetime of wildlife and environmental preservation with a distinguished statewide career in public health. While practicing medicine in Marin County after World War II, Dr. Griffin began to recognize that the destruction of the tidelands, bays, and coastal rivers posed a serious threat to the physical and emotional health of his patients. Motivated by this knowledge, Dr. Griffin led the effort to create the Audubon Canyon Ranch preserve and wildlife sanctuaries on Bolinas Lagoon, Tomales Bay, and Highway 1, which helped guarantee the creation of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Dr. Griffin joined the ranks of the public health profession after receiving his M.P.H. from UC Berkeley in 1972, becoming public health director at Sonoma State Hospital and Development Center. It was a move that marked the beginning of a second career for this Stanford-trained physician. During his 15-year tenure in the position, Dr. Griffin carried out ground breaking work on Hepatitis B prevention among patients and employees alike. Now retired from the health care field, Dr. Griffin continues attending to patient earth. Included among his recent efforts is protecting the Russian River, which straddles the land upon which his landmark Hop Kiln Winery is located. Award Presenter Dr. Griffin is being introduced by William Ames Atchley, M.D. Dr. Atchley is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. An oncology specialist, Dr. Atchley is also widely regarded for his work in medical ethics. He is currently president emeritus of the International Bioethics Institute, having served as the organization’s president for seven years.