Retired Rear Admiral Dr. Connie Mariano will be the speaker for the Saturday, May 25, breakfast sponsored by the Veterans Ministry at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. Coffee is served at 7:30 a.m. and meal service begins at 8 a.m. Dr. Mariano will speak at 9 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Mariano was born in the Philippines to a Navy steward and his dentist wife. She was valedictorian of her high school, graduated with honors from college, earned a medical degree and, finally, was promoted to a top rank in the U.S. Navy.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, and her medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of Medicine. She went on to have a distinguished 24-year career in the U.S. Navy.

She was the first to be named for these achievements: first military woman as physician to the President; first woman director of the White House Medical Unit; and first Filipino American to become a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy.

In 2001, after nine years of service to U.S. Presidents Bush, Clinton and Bush, Mariano retired, and lives in Scottsdale, where she continues her work in the medical field as a practicing physician.

Following Dr. Mariano’s presentation, there will be a book signing of her memoir, The White House Doctor: My Patients Were Presidents (available for $20 cash).

Breakfast entertainment will be provided by The Uncalled Four Quartet.
In addition to breakfast, veterans may visit the Veterans Resource Booth to speak with experts for information and helpful resources.

For more information, and to register go to www.lacasadecristo.com/veterans, or call (480) 948-1234.