Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) recently announced it will honor Charles Magistro, a pioneering physical therapist and professional icon, by naming the Rehabilitation Services Center in the soon-to-be opened Robert and Beverly Lewis Outpatient Pavilion—the Charles M. Magistro Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Center.

Mr. Magistro led the effort in establishing PVHMC’s physical therapy and rehabilitation services department more than 60 years ago. Throughout the years, he played an integral role in its success and growth, serving as director for 35 years.

“We are delighted to honor Charles Magistro for his longstanding professional relationship with PVHMC, as well as he and his family’s generous philanthropic support for the hospital over the years,” said Richard Yochum, president and CEO. “It is absolutely fitting that that the Rehabilitation Services Center will bear Charles Magistro’s name.”

PVHMC’s rehabilitation services department, built in 1954, was the first of its kind in Southern California. Today, it is one of the largest outpatient rehabilitation programs in the tri-county area, serving tens of thousands of patients each year.

The new center, housed in the Outpatient Pavilion, is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, designed to deliver the very best in treatment and patient experience.

“I am proud of the physical therapy department at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, and the tremendous impact it has had on the region,” said Mr. Magistro, PT, FAPTA. “The department has always stayed on the cutting edge of what the profession is doing as a whole, with the singular goal of providing exemplary services to inpatients and outpatients alike.”

Mr. Magistro remains active in the field of physical therapy and at PVHMC, both in a professional capacity and as a benefactor. When asked what inspired him to give back, Charles said that the hospital provided him “the opportunity to accomplish all that [he] did over the years. It seemed right to contribute where there was a need.”

For more information, visit pvhmc.org.