Simin Hashemizadeh Owner of South Pacific Surgery Centers

 

Beverly Hills, California—without a doubt the biggest ‘little’ city on earth which sets standards through- out the world for everything from beauty and style, to glamour and most certainly can determine success for a business.  Because if you can make it in Beverly Hills…you can make it any where.  Reality is harsh.  People are jaded.   Friends are few.  And competition is stiff.  Only the strong and smart survive!  Double that outlook if you are a woman; triple it if you are a woman who owns her own business.  

With businesses closing their doors right and left, what’s emerging from the rubble are the true movers and shakers of the City.  Those who not only manage to keep their businesses up and going, but manage to stay on top, and thrive despite a less than booming economy.  These are the true entrepreneurs who now more than ever are establishing themselves as cornerstones of our Beverly Hills community and the business triangle.  Some say it’s a ‘Man’s World’ —well as we look around and head into 2010, I have to say—not so much any more.  Incredibly it is the emerging group of talented, business savvy female entrepreneurs who are stepping up as today’s business success stories and flourishing in their roles as corporate leaders and business owners.  

One woman is Simin Hashemizadeh, owner and founder of South Pacific Surgery Centers.  With medical offices  and surgery center locations in the San Fernando Valley, San Pedro and a new facility in Beverly Hills, Hashemizadeh  has her hands full 24/7 with a daily roll call of physicians, patient consultations,   overseeing surgery schedules, business expansion and day-to-day of decision making, marketing/public relations, special events and her on-hands support and sponsoring of numerous non-profit charity organizations in Los Angeles.  I want to say that this is definitely a job for a SuperWoman—and she is.   

In order to understand the level of stress, perfection and zero room for error Hashemizadeh works under, one must recognize that her business employs more than 25 board-certified physicians from all medical specialties who consult with patients and perform surgeries at her fully accredited, out-patient medical facilities.  Ultimately, she carries the responsibility of making certain that patients receive the best, safest, and most state-of-the-art care available.  Their lives are in her hands. 

For more than 18 years, Hashemizadeh has not only succeeded in a business built around a roster of thousands of satisfied patient referrals—many of them celebrities—but has excelled in bringing together under one medical  facility umbrella some of the most well recognized, board-certified surgeons in Los Angeles from specialty fields  including, Plastic & Reconstructive  Surgery; Gynecology; Podiatry; Urology; Orthopedics; Ophthalmology; Ears, Nose & Throat, Gastroenterology, Pain Management and more.  Many of the surgeons are pioneers in their  respective fields and highly recognized  for their contributions to the medical world.  What makes Hashemizadeh more than just a businessowner, however, is her dedication to helping those who can’t afford surgery, but desperately need it as in the case of  LapBand patients who are morbidly obese and suffering with life-threatening heart conditions and  diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, and Sleep Apnea.  Since opening her first facility in Encino, in 1994, she has made available the services of the surgeons who work for her to non-profit and charity organizations who know of people who need medical assistance.  Generally, at the end of the day she picks up the tab, paying not only the surgeon’s fee but operating room costs as well.  In June 2009, Hashemizadeh hosted a spectacular invitation-only, A-list fundraising dinner for Larry King and the Larry King Cardiac Foundation. She graciously opened her gorgeous hilltop mansion to Larry and Shawn Southwick-King for the good cause evening that brought together an Iranian and American Who’s Who from the medical, social and entertainment communities to support King’s ongoing mission to provide funding for life-saving heart surgery for individuals with limited funds, no insurance and otherwise not get treat- ment.  The evening was a tremendous success with Hashemizadeh and her guests raising more than $40,000.00.  It was a bitter sweet moment for her as she lost her father to heart failure; her mother had open heart surgery, and her brother needs ongoing cardiac care.  What made the evening even more special was that King, spoke in great detail about his own quintuple bypass heart surgery in 1987, offering an intimate look at what could have been disaster if he had not gotten the treatment and surgery that saved his life.  He founded the Larry King Cardiac Foundation in 1988 and his son Larry King, Jr, sits as president and Shawn Southwick-King is Foundation Chair.  Larry King Jr. had this to say about Hashemizadeh to the Canyon News: “We were honored when Simin approached us to help the Foundation by donating proceeds from a party at her beautiful home. Early this year we decided not to do an annual gala with hopes that individuals would help us by having their own parties and help save a life. When Simin heard about this at, larrykingandfriends.org, she took on the challenge and in turn has directly saved 16-20 people in her community. What better way to spend an evening!”  

Hashemizadeh is a survivor.  She has faced her own struggles, one being when she left Iran and came to the United States to start a new life for herself.  With hard work, a sense of pride and dutiful determination she has made her businesses successful.  In turn, she is using that success to give her time, effort and money to help others.  She serves an inspiration that success doesn’t have to isolate you, but can if you allow it—give you an opportunity to enrich the lives and well being of others.   Simin’s interest in pursuing a career around medicine began in Iran where her father founded more than 300 medical clinics.  Each offered patients an opportunity to consult with  physicians from many medical fields—the same as her multi-specialty clinics in Encino and Beverly Hills.  When Simin and her family came  to the U.S. it was her father (who since passed away) that encouraged her to follow her dreams and never give up.  

ST:  How difficult was it to leave your home country of Iran and what’s life like for a single, successful woman in L.A?

SH: Leaving a country where I was born and raised; leaving behind a culture and people that I love was the hardest thing I’ve done.  When I came to the U.S. it was difficult learning a new language and way of life.  I went through periods of self-doubt, but I believe in God and his goodness and I believe in Karma.  Life is what you make it.  If you put out goodness it will come back to you.  We all have struggles to face.  For women to become successful in business they must put their heart and soul into their work.  My motivation is not just money —I have a passion for what I do.  Many people depend on me and my decisions have to be well thought out and move in a direction that will benefit others.  I never feel alone.  I have many people around me.  As far as love is concerned, right now I’m making the sacrifice to put my energy into work to ensure that in the future I will have something I can be proud of.  I hope to be married someday and if it is meant to be then it will happen.  Until then, my life is full, exciting and changes every day.  So far I haven’t met my soul mate, but I’m dating and enjoying my life. For me to be with a man I must have a heart feeling for him.

ST:  With the upheaval in your country it must be sad to hear about.

SH: It’s heartbreaking for me and the people of my country who want nothing but to live in peace.  Iranians living outside of Iran are sad at what their country, family and friends go through on a daily basis.  We pray that somehow, this brutality will stop   and return to a peaceful place to live. 

Heading up a group of California’s  premier surgical facilities is no walk in the park.  It takes dedication and a lot of stamina not only to make it success- ful, but keep it running smoothly.  It’s not a job everyone can handle, but clearly Hashemizadeh has things under control.  From early morning until late at night; six, and seven days a week; this woman works about 70-80 hours a week.  If she is not physically at one of her offices, then she is in the car driving to one of her facilities and doing business on her cell phone.  Her daily work load is staggering and her’s no business for a light-weight.  It takes a combination of brains and personality to handle patients, juggle inner office staff and deal with the individual personalities of the surgeons.  An impossible feat for most which brings up the subject of jealously among her peers. 

ST:  Let’s talk about the jealously that  surely comes with business success.

SH:  Jealously always comes when you reach a certain level of success. Successful women feel jealously from women around them, but also difficulty when men work for a woman in a high position; a woman who is their boss.  In my business I work with many physicians and I try to make sure   that both men and women are comfortable in the environment that I provide. 

Hashemizadeh’s generosity and good-hearted nature doesn’t just go toward helping co-workers, she is a staunch animal rights advocate and supporter, who recently adopted a precious bundle of joy (a white poodle) from a Valley shelter.  One such animal organization is C.A.R.E: Cat/Canine Assistance, Referral and Education.  The No-Kill/ Cage Free shelter recently held an event to help place animals needing homes and update the public on its services.  Another she supports is ACI—Animal Cruelty Investigation, chaired by CNN’s news reporter / talk show host Jane Valez-Mitchell.  ACI is a registered Society for the  prevention of cruelty to all animals.

Hashemizadeh’s philanthropic support includes organizations such as Red Eye, Inc., an affiliate of the DreamCenter Downtown which recently held a fund- raiser complete with celebrity fashion show, at the Peninsula Hotel, Beverly Hills.  Hosted by music legend Smokey Robinson, Red Eye Inc., keeps L.A. teenagers and young adults sober, off drugs and headed toward productive lives using education and support from mentors and members.

ST:  What do you say to women trying to find a career path to follow?

SH:  Never to give up.  Never stop trying.  We all have times in our lives when we get depressed, or feel our lives have become unmanageable.   The key to success is facing problems, finding ways to overcome them and then moving on as fast as possible.   I always choose not to live my life in the past.  It does no good to go back to something that you can’t change.  The past shows us what we need to change to move forward and improve.

ST: Today men and women share financial responsibilities.  No longer can a woman depend on a man to “save” her; she must find ways to save herself.

SH:  I never ask anything from any- one.  What I need I make for myself.  I feel that women have to be prepared to take care of themselves no matter what.  And when two people love one another and are committed to one another, then it doesn’t matter who provides the most financially.  It  then becomes teamwork to make the best life possible and be happy.

Another division of her business is the extensive Forbelle Luxury Caviar beauty and skin care product line. Formulated by Hashemizadeh more than 8-years ago, the luscious products have a high-profile following due to the fabulous nature of ingredients—Russian Beluga Caviar.  For last year’s Golden Globe and Oscar Gifting Suites celebrities were treated to Forbelle products in their gift bags.  Hashemizadeh felt that more people should enjoy the benefits of using it for skin rejuvenation and developed a caviar product line that is the same high quality, but affordable.  

 “I have sensitive skin and it’s hard  to find products that don’t irritate my skin.  Caviar is the secret of those who can afford the luxury of using it on their skin. It works miracles erasing fine lines and wrinkles.  I wanted to use those ingredients to make skin care products women could afford.

This past September, Hashemizadeh was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree from Dubna University, internationally known for its focus on higher education and for educating its students in humanities and natural sciences.  She was recognized for her efforts in bringing together diverse cultures in Los Angeles to ensure that young people can flourish in a world filled with hope and possibility.

ST:  Can money buy happiness?

SH:  Never.  Some people ruin their lives and that of those they love searching for material things that in the end never give them happiness.  Sometimes we look at people who have a lot of money and think that they have the perfect life just because they have money.  But if we go into their house and we see them in their relationships, will we will see the same thing?  Most times not.  Women and men marry all the time believing that money will make their lives happy, but find they are with someone they don’t love.  When it comes to matters of the heart only love matters, only love truly makes a relationship last.

ST:  What would your perfect man be? 

SH:  In the healthcare profession on some level because it would provide a mutual interest for him to understand my world and me to understand his.  It would be difficult for a man outside of my business to understand the commit- ment I carry to make my business work.  And though I live in L.A. I still respect many customs of my culture where relationships are concerned.  When I am with a man…then he is the only man that I am with, and of course I expect the same from him.     

It’s more than a brain for business and  winning smile that keep Hashemizadeh on top.  Those who know her—know that she gives her all to whatever she does.  As we head into 2010 we can look to a woman like Hashemizadeh as a role model to follow—who will open doors for women from all cultures and every walk of life.  It is through her survival and success she proves there is no stopping a woman on a mission to be the best that she can be.

ST:  Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?

SH:  Right now I am working on my future.  Every day I am building on a business that I feel will be a success for years to come.  I never give up no matter how difficult things get…I always have a plan in place that I follow.  I am very serious in whatever I do right now because I know that it will affect me for years to come.

By Suzanne Takowsky