When Roger H. Thomas, MD, joined Hoag in 1975 as a young radiologist, he stepped into a community hospital on the brink of transformation. Now, in his 50th year on staff, he stands as a living testament to that evolution, having shaped, witnessed, and contributed to Hoag’s rise into one of the nation’s premier regional health care centers.   

“When I first came to Hoag, it was a very different place,” Dr. Thomas recalls. “There were no CT scanners in all of Orange County. Ultrasound was in its infancy, and interventional radiology was virtually unknown. We were experimenting, learning, and building a whole new way of delivering care.”  

As one of the early interventional radiologists on the West Coast, Dr. Thomas helped introduce image-guided procedures that would later become standard across the country. Hoag has always embraced clinical innovation, he says, but what kept him here for five decades is a culture of mutual trust. “The administration believes in its physicians. There’s always been a sense of trust, of collaboration. Very few places are like Hoag in that way.”  

Motivated by a deep belief in physician-led care and a desire to give back to the institution that shaped his career, Dr. Thomas has made a philanthropic investment in the future of medical leadership and mentorship at Hoag. As a past president of the California Radiology Society and a board member of the American College of Radiology, he has seen firsthand what strong leadership looks like, and what it doesn’t. “When you’ve been in those roles, you learn to recognize the difference,” he says. “That’s why leadership training matters.” 

This gift will help support a new physician leadership initiative: seminars designed for physicians at the beginning of their medical journey. Starting in September 2025, these Hoag-sponsored seminars will bring physicians together to develop key leadership skills—such as communication, negotiation, and change management—through in-person learning, virtual coursework, and guided mentorship.  

Dr. Thomas believes this kind of training is essential to Hoag’s future. While strong administrative leadership has helped elevate the institution, he sees an opportunity to further invest in physician leadership: clinicians who understand the realities of care delivery and are prepared to take on leadership roles with confidence, clarity, and compassion.  

Dr. Thomas has also been instrumental in developing a preceptor program for physician assistant (PA) students training at Hoag. Having mentored countless students and young physicians over his five decades at Hoag, this effort reflects a personal commitment to nurturing the next generation of care providers. With a growing number of mid-level professionals entering the workforce, he sees structured mentorship as critical to ensuring clinical excellence and patient-centered care.  

By supporting programs that reflect his values, Dr. Thomas is helping to shape the future of Hoag. “This place gave me the opportunity to do meaningful, innovative work,” he says. “I hope this support inspires others to ask themselves: what can I do to give back?”  

Join Dr. Thomas in strengthening Hoag’s future.
Your gift can help ensure physicians have the leadership skills, wellness support, and mentorship they need to deliver world-class care for decades to come.
 

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