Joanne Stenger MD         
After leaving Gables, I went to the University of Florida and was a member of Tri Delta sorority. Upon graduating, I flew with National Airlines before teaching chemistry at Southwest Miami High for two years. I received a NSF fellowship and went to the University of Miami for  my Master’s Degree. I then went on to medical school at the University of Florida for four great years. After graduating, I was accepted to Stanford Medical  Center for a six year residency in general surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery. I was the first women ever accepted into the program; so, there were lots of challenges both professionally and socially. I joined Interplast and traveled to Central America, Mexico and the South Pacific  providing reconstructive surgery to those in need. After my residency, I was offered a position at the Menlo Medical Clinic, a 32 person multispecialty clinic owned by Stanford Medical Center. This allowed me to stay on the Clinical Faculty to continue teaching residents and to have a private practice. After sixteen years with the Clinic, I was elect to the position of COO, in addition to my private practice. This came about when the HMO’s came to our area; so, I had a quick MBA course.
 
I retired several years ago. I have always enjoyed  lots of traveling, but the places that continue to draw me back are the South of France, where my best friend lives and South Africa. I am now involved in a program that tutors children from families whose parents do not speak English.  We have 34 students from first grade through high school. My responsibility is the junior high students three afternoons a week. One evening a week I teach English as a second language to Spanish speaking women who are trying to improve their skills. One of the most fun activities that I have done for ten year is to be the advisor to the Stanford University  Tri Delta Chapter. I spend a lot of time on campus and am fortunate to have season tickets to  Women’s B’Ball. Soccer and Field Hockey. I sometimes think that if I could do it all over again, I would be a sport announcer.
 
I rescue animals and it seems that if I cannot find a home for them, I end up keeping them. I  have five cats and a recently rescued two pound puppy. This summer when school is out, I will be volunteering in the recovery room at our local Humane Society. I spend any free time that I have gardening, hiking, used to ski, and spending time in San Francisco, where an amazing number of my college sorority sisters live.
 
My fondest memories of Gables centers around all of the activities with the Cavaliettes and driving to school every day with Paulette Andre and Marilyn Steele in Paulette’s crazy car that her grandmother gave her.