Summary
After 23 years in private practice Dr. Spogen came to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine to become faculty in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. In 2 years as director of medical education he helped start OB & Sports Medicine Fellowships, METRIC, and faculty development sessions. He is also assistant student clerkship director. He served as Chair of the Department for 15 years (2006-2021).
Education and Research
BA in Biophysics from Occidental College, Los Angeles, California. MS in Biomedical Engineering form the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Research for Master's Thesis involved design of a totally implantable intracranial pressure transducer for monitoring patients with hydrocephalus. Medical degree from University of Southern California. Published research entitled, "A Matched-Controlled Study on Developmental and Physical Outcome Regarding Low Birth weight Infants Requiring Phototherapy." Residency in Family Medicine from Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, California.
Professional Experience
While in California, Dr. Spogen was involved in Sports Medicine and was the team physician for La Canada High School football team. He also coordinated a class entitled, "Preparation for Parenthood," that focused on pediatrics and well-child care. He worked as medical staff in an alcohol rehab program through Glendale Memorial Hospital. However, since that time in California, Dr. Spogen has been in private practice, practicing Family Medicine in the Reno/Sparks area. That time amounted to 22 years of clinical practice which included obstetrics and hospital privileges in all three of the major hospitals in the area and, in fact, he was Chief of Staff of Northern Nevada Medical Center 1995-1997. He was acting Residency Director of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine 1987 through 1989, but chose to go to full-time private practice until April of 2005 when he took the position of Director of Medical Education at the University of Nevada, Reno.
During that interlude, Dr. Spogen continued his love of teaching. He was volunteer preceptor for 1st - 4th year medical students, he taught a colposcopy workshop for medical residents, he taught a suture clinic biannually and a procedure workshop that included stress tests, echocardiograms and pulmonary function testing. He also is the main faculty advisor for the Student Outreach Clinic, which is a free clinic run by first and second year medical students. For the last 18 years he has been the Family Medicine Interest Group liaison to the Nevada Academy of Family Physicians.
Dr. Spogen has been active in the Nevada and American Academies of Family Medicine. He was elected to the NAFP Board of Directors in 1984, became president in 1989, alternate delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates from 1989 until 1994 and delegate since. He was elected to the Commission on Education 2001, became Chair of the Subcommittee on International Family Medicine in 2001 and then Chair of the COE 2003-2004. Dr. Spogen has also been involved in bioethics. He was, until recently, the chair of the Bioethics Committee at Northern Nevada Medical Center and is still a member of the committee. He authored a case study entitled, "Ethical Concerns Involving Delay of Treatment in a Patient with Changing Mental Status."
Personal Interests
Dr. Spogen loves animals. He has two dogs, three horses and 30 cattle. He considers himself a sure-enough cowboy and manages his ranch the "cowboy way." So when he is not involved in medicine he is out riding the range, doctoring cattle. He also loves fly-fishing, a hobby that takes him and his wife on international travels. Their favorite place to fly-fish is the Hunter River in the South Island of New Zealand. Dr. Spogen's daughter is currently working in clinical social work in Louisville, KY.
Education
- Medical School: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
- Undergraduate: Occidental College
- Residency: Glendale Adventist Medical Center (Family Medicine)