Grace Leland Physician Appreciation Award

This award was established in 2014 to honor an attending physician at Northridge Hospital Medical Center for his/her excellence in their field, and for their commitment to saving lives, and contributions to not only Northridge Hospital, but to the greater community.

Celebrating our 7th year with the “Grace Leland Physician Appreciation” Award this year’s honoree is Gustavo Machicado, MD serving the Northridge community for more than 46 years.

Gustavo Machicado, MD, FACP, FACG, MASGE

Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Dr. Gustavo Machicado migrated with his family to the United States in the 1960’s at the age of 13.

After finishing High School in the U.S., he attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he studied microbiology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1970.  Admittedly, the “best years of my life,” Dr. Machicado selected the Medical School at the University of California, San Francisco, and graduated with his Medical Degree in 1974.  Post-graduate education in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology were accomplished at V.A. Wadsworth/UCLA combined training program and completed in 1979.  This was followed with the opening of his private practice becoming a member of the Northridge Hospital Medical Staff where he remains today.

Academically, Dr. Machicado has continued to teach future gastroenterologists at UCLA, and has progressed through the academic ladder, eventually receiving the title of Full Clinical Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Throughout his first 30 years in practice, Dr. Machicado has participated in many basic and clinical research studies, publishing multiple papers in peer reviewed journals.  Also, he has lectured at many gastroenterological conferences throughout the world and as well as at Northridge Hospital’s major gastroenterological meetings to present our data.  As a result of his contributions to the field of gastroenterology, Dr. Machicado was honored and awarded the title of Master Endoscopist by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and later named Master of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Society (MASGE).  In addition, he has had the privilege and honor to write several textbook chapters.

Dr. Machicado and wife Donna have been blessed with four wonderful children and two grandchildren.  They spend as much time as possible with all of them – planning get-togethers,  family vacations, and creating wonderful memories.  He and Donna enjoy playing golf together and also enjoy bicycling.  They have taken multiple bicycling vacations around the world with an extremely reliable and wonderful VBT group.

Dr. Machicado acknowledges the privilege he has had to work, for the past 40 plus years at Northridge Hospital, with such a group of very dedicated, world class physicians, and a wonderful and dedicated nursing staff.  He is also very appreciative of the hospital’s administrative staff who perform a wonderful job in the management of the hospital.