Rene Ray De La Cruz Staff Writer @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

VICTORVILLE After a 60-year medical career, William Jacobson recently hung up his stethoscope. But he couldn't stay away too long. Instead, he has picked up his stethoscopre again after a few short months.

I retired in October, but I got bored and realized this old body and mind still have a lot to offer the community, said Dr. Jacobson, 85, from his newly opened clinic located on 11th Street, just across from Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville.

Jacobson and his staff said theyre hosting an open house at noon July 21 at his clinic and are hoping that old and new friends will drop by.

When I started working for Desert Valley Hospital, I was one of five doctors who specialized in family medicine, said Jacobson, who moved to the High Desert from the East Coast in the late 1990s. I tried to stay retired, but then I got bored and tried to pick up a part-time job. Thats when I knew it was time to open a clinic.

Besides his new practice, Jacobson is also the medical director for Green Valley Home Health Care Services and Hospice Services, according to Community Liaison Betty Stevenson.

Hes an old-school doctor who really loves his patients and what he does, Stevenson said. When people discover that hes back, hes going to have a full calendar.

Wearing a bright white physicians lab coat, Jacobson pointed to his computer monitor and told the Daily Press this technological wonder is one of the biggest changes hes seen in medicine over the decades.

Jacobson, who grew up on a farm in the small town of Hagerman, New Mexico, said computer-based medical programs have been a major benefit for patients and medical staff around the world, but a nightmare to him.

These programs are so sophisticated, and inputting patient information is just not for me, said Jacobson, as his iPhone 6 Plus rang on his desk. These advances are wonderful, but a definite challenge to me.

Jacobson said advances in medicine, such as stem cell research and new drugs that pinpoint effectiveness rather than offering a shotgun effect, are the second biggest change hes seen over the years.

Even in the eight months that I was gone, theres been many advances in medicine, Jacobson said. Theres a lot to keep up with and there are constant changes, and I hope that my brain can handle it.

Jacobson said despite having an aortic valve replacement at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center four years ago and back surgery for a ruptured disc, he feels good and younger than ever.

He graduated from Pacific Union College in Napa Valley and Loma Linda University with a medical degree in 1957. A Naval physician for 10 years his office was once aboard the U.S.S. Northampton Jacobson ended his military career in 1967 and he opened a practice in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he later opened a medical rehabilitation center and gym.

Jacobson headed to California in 1994, He worked at a clinic in Redlands and at a Loma Linda University Medical Center-based clinic in Sun City before moving to the High Desert.

Ive always been fascinated with medicine. I used to read my mothers large medical book all the time as a child, Jacobson said. I was also inspired by my two uncles. One was a gynecologist and the other a general practitioner.

Jacobson said the biggest challenge in opening the clinic and coming out of retirement was city officials, health insurance companies and other people in the industry treated him like he just graduated from medical school.

It was a challenge to get back on the saddle, but were here and ready to start caring for people, Jacobson said. Im going to do what I love for as long as I can.

Dr. Jacobsons clinic is located at 15203 11th St., Suite D, in Victorville. For more information, call 760-241-0080.

Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLa Cruz@VVDailyPress.com or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

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The doctor is in again - VVdailypress.com