Leader Details

David Lawrence Dave Lawrence recalls looking for turtles and bugs in childhood Pennsylvania on his near-mile walks to first grade - he has always comfortably been a "Nature Boy". He received a BS in Marine Biology (USC, '72), then an MD (UCLA, '78). After lots of schooling (and a Pathology Residency) he moved to the Central Coast 42 years ago. In the hectic early practice years (Central Coast Pathology co-founder) coupled with a growing family of 4 kids, he stayed sane by running lots of miles (including 5 Boston Marathons). Just when the miles were getting longer, a Spotted Towhee jumped on a backyard perch: he didn't know what it was and wanted to. He's birded passionately for 30 years, transitioning with time to bird photography: http://flickr.com/photos/dave_lawrence. Retiring in 2017 because of a scientifically fascinating but personally vexing progressive eye condition (pathologists love to talk about diseases, even their own), he's become focused (best he can) on Northern Elephant Seals, enjoying 5 years as a Docent with Friends of the Elephant Seals. He frequently volunteers at our local rookery - the largest mainland hangout (census and expanse) for this species in the world. The seals' arrival in his life is perfectly timed, and he's drawn now to them as much as the birds - they lay out in the open, are bigger, slower, and don't fly.