This year, Alzheimers Coachella Valley (ACV) is recognizing neurologist Esmaeil Sebti, MD, FAAN, as the recipient of its Edie Keller Leadership Award at its fourth annual fundraising event, the “Endless Possibilities” Gala.

Each year, the Edie Keller Leadership Award is given to an exceptional individual who contributes significantly to the community by helping those struggling with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses. This year’s honor is appropriately appointed as few have demonstrated the amount of kindness, empathy and genuine care for patients that Dr. Sebti has.

For more than 24 years, Sebti has served the Coachella Valley as a physician, educator and advocate who puts his patients above all. I had the unique opportunity of assisting him and his Desert Oasis Healthcare associate Jamie Robinson, DNP, (my mom) at the annual Los Médicos Voladores (Flying Doctors) in September, a volunteer-led event providing free medical, dental and vision care to families in the community. It allowed me to see first-hand the care he puts into his practice, and how thorough and intentionally present he is with each patient.

At different times throughout the day, he could be overheard making patients and colleagues laugh and taking the time to get to know each person with whom he was interacting. In addition to his contagious smile, empathy and quick wit, his wealth of knowledge and passion for sharing that knowledge make him an outstanding physician and person.

Of Alzheimer’s and dementia, Sebti always tells his patients, colleagues and students to remember the connection between the two: “Dementia is a symptom diagnosed ONLY by getting a complete history of the person. Alzheimer’s is the disease that causes dementia, among many other symptoms. When it comes to dementia, remember three words: Alzheimer, Alzheimer, Alzheimer.”

Sebti is also known for often saying, “Focus on the patient, not the scan.” Taking a patient-centered approach in all he does, he leads by example, as both a teacher and lifelong learner, and is truly a treasure to our community.

ACV’s “Endless Possibilities” will be held March 27 at the Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Come honor Esmaeil Sebti, MD, while enjoying an evening of dinner, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and live and silent auctions to raise funds for ACV’s activities and educational programming. All monies raised stay in the valley to help those in our community affected by cognitive impairment.

Wendy Fink is lead editor of Desert Health. For gala tickets and more information, call (760) 776.3100 or visit www.cvalzheimers.org.