Meet Our Donors
Dr. Melvin Donaldson
Calling the last 10 years the "best of my life" is only surprising when Dr. Melvin Donaldson reveals his age: 90. Those who know Dr. Donaldson, however, aren't surprised. He has a solo family medical practice in Oakland and still works full-time. "I see patients I delivered over 50 years ago," he said.
Dr. Donaldson graduated from Stanford Medical School in 1947. After two years serving in the Navy and three years residency at University of Colorado, he began his practice in 1952.
In addition to his regular patient load, Dr. Donaldson has recently become qualified to be a veterans' examiner, providing a critical service to our country's returning military. "I see as many patients as my schedule allows. There's a real need for this right now."
Dr. Donaldson is a familiar face at the Summit campus of Alta Bates Medical Center and has served in some capacity on the staff for five decades, including president of the staff at Peralta and chairman of the Family Practice Department at Merritt and Peralta. "I've been active in these hospitals my whole career," he said.
He and his wife, Nance, have also been generous supporters of the Medical Center through the Foundation. "Years ago I had some property that had a significant appreciation. Working with the Foundation, we came up with a plan to use that property to make a gift to benefit the Medical Center while providing some income for us and our five adult children," he said.
The gift plan, called a charitable remainder trust (CRT), suited Dr. Donaldson's goals. "I saw this as a way to provide our adult children with an 'inheritance' while they were able to enjoy it. I didn't receive any inheritance until I was in my late 70s when my mother passed away at age 98. My plan was for our children to benefit when they were grown, but young enough to enjoy it.
"The income has made a big difference for them-and they are all pleased," said Dr. Donaldson. He now has a total of eight trusts with the Foundation.
He's equally pleased knowing the money will be well used by the Medical Center that has been such an important part of his career. Two particular areas of interest are children and patient care. "At the time, I thought the CRT was the perfect plan. I'm even more sure now."