Obituary for Philip Azer MD
Dr. Philip Azer, a long-time San Diego resident and Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist passed away from complications associated with acute respiratory failure on March 29, 2022, at the age of 87. Dr Azer was on the staff of Scripps Mercy Hospital where he provided decades of meticulous care to patients across the San Diego region. He is survived by his children David, Richard & Steven Azer and Kristen Taylor.
Phil was born in Cambridge Massachusetts on March 8, 1935. His father was a pharmacist who owned a neighborhood corner drug store with a soda fountain and a prescription area. They lived in Revere and Chelsea, Massachusetts.
After graduating high school Phil attended Pharmacy School. After completing the four-year pharmacy program, Phil decided he wanted to go into medicine and become a doctor. He felt he could make a better difference to people as a doctor versus a pharmacist. During his college years he was introduced to Evelyn Taylor. They wed in 1957 and were married for 58 years until Evelyn's death in 2016. Phil graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine, New York in June 1961.
Phil decided to specialize in Ear, Nose & Throat and completed a three-year residency program at Boston University and Tufts. This was during the Vietnam war era, and upon completion of his residency Phil went into the army for two years to satisfy a deferred draft. He was appointed as a Reserved commissioned officer grade of First Lieutenant in the Army of the United States. He was stationed in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, caring for soldiers returning from war and the families of soldiers deployed. He was honorably discharged from the US army in July 1968.
After discharge from the army, Phil moved his family to Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1968 and established an independent medical practice. For a long while he was the primary Ear, Nose & Throat specialist in the region. Tiring from the long, cold winter weather of the northeast Phil and his family relocated San Diego in 1976.
Upon arrival in San Diego, Phil established a practice aligned with another doctor. They shared facilities while maintaining independent practices for ten years. Phil kept his solo practice in constant operation in San Diego for 45 years, affiliated with Sharp hospital and Scripps Mercy until his retirement in 2021. He served on the staff of those hospitals and Phil provided on-call emergency services where he was a treasured member of the staff of those facilities for many years, valued for his kindness, thoughtfulness, dedication, and attention. He often volunteered to be on call during holidays when staff was short. For a while Phil operated satellite medical offices in Chula Vista and Hemet, CA in addition to San Diego. Late in his career Phil served as an expert witness for his Otolaryngology specialty providing professional review of worker’s compensation testimony, giving opinion about the medical issues presented in the cases.
Dr. Azer continued to practice medicine until his retirement in 2020. His age and health along with safety issues related to the Covid pandemic were factors in his choice to retire. Dr. Azer enjoyed practicing medicine and helping people and kept his profession operational for as long as he could.
Dr Azer is survived by his four children, David Azer of Passaic New Jersey, Kristen Taylor, Richard Azer, and Steven Azer of San Diego California, their spouses Chaya Azer, Brenda Azer & Gary Boriero, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Phil was born in Cambridge Massachusetts on March 8, 1935. His father was a pharmacist who owned a neighborhood corner drug store with a soda fountain and a prescription area. They lived in Revere and Chelsea, Massachusetts.
After graduating high school Phil attended Pharmacy School. After completing the four-year pharmacy program, Phil decided he wanted to go into medicine and become a doctor. He felt he could make a better difference to people as a doctor versus a pharmacist. During his college years he was introduced to Evelyn Taylor. They wed in 1957 and were married for 58 years until Evelyn's death in 2016. Phil graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine, New York in June 1961.
Phil decided to specialize in Ear, Nose & Throat and completed a three-year residency program at Boston University and Tufts. This was during the Vietnam war era, and upon completion of his residency Phil went into the army for two years to satisfy a deferred draft. He was appointed as a Reserved commissioned officer grade of First Lieutenant in the Army of the United States. He was stationed in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, caring for soldiers returning from war and the families of soldiers deployed. He was honorably discharged from the US army in July 1968.
After discharge from the army, Phil moved his family to Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1968 and established an independent medical practice. For a long while he was the primary Ear, Nose & Throat specialist in the region. Tiring from the long, cold winter weather of the northeast Phil and his family relocated San Diego in 1976.
Upon arrival in San Diego, Phil established a practice aligned with another doctor. They shared facilities while maintaining independent practices for ten years. Phil kept his solo practice in constant operation in San Diego for 45 years, affiliated with Sharp hospital and Scripps Mercy until his retirement in 2021. He served on the staff of those hospitals and Phil provided on-call emergency services where he was a treasured member of the staff of those facilities for many years, valued for his kindness, thoughtfulness, dedication, and attention. He often volunteered to be on call during holidays when staff was short. For a while Phil operated satellite medical offices in Chula Vista and Hemet, CA in addition to San Diego. Late in his career Phil served as an expert witness for his Otolaryngology specialty providing professional review of worker’s compensation testimony, giving opinion about the medical issues presented in the cases.
Dr. Azer continued to practice medicine until his retirement in 2020. His age and health along with safety issues related to the Covid pandemic were factors in his choice to retire. Dr. Azer enjoyed practicing medicine and helping people and kept his profession operational for as long as he could.
Dr Azer is survived by his four children, David Azer of Passaic New Jersey, Kristen Taylor, Richard Azer, and Steven Azer of San Diego California, their spouses Chaya Azer, Brenda Azer & Gary Boriero, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.