biography
Dr. April M. Hurley
doctor of conscience
Dr. April M. Hurley, former resident of Monmouth County, NJ, is a graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School, Rutgers University,
and UMDNJ's Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (all in New Jersey); she completed her residency in St. Joseph's Hospital,
Syracuse, New York. April was born in Lodi, NJ, and raised in Middletown, on the Jersey Shore. At a time when many of her
peers were choosing to become nurses, teachers, nuns, secretaries, or pursuing liberal arts' degrees, April determined she would be
a physician. She entered Rutgers College (now University) in the first year Rutgers went co-ed. There, she maintained a variety of
interests while a student, including sculling, racket ball, sculpting, sailing, tapdancing, water-skiing, and appreciating, above all, the
lyrics and music of Tom Waits.
Later, however, residency in Syracuse afforded little time to unwind, particularly with outdoor leisure activities. Without
fail, whenever April was free to sail on the New York Finger Lakes, the skies were overcast and grey. She sorely missed
sun-filled days, and so decided that California was the best location to begin her practice. Once in California, April welcomed
the warmth of climate as well as the cordiality and openness of the West Coast culture. Again, she appreciated opportunities to
enjoy a variety of newly learned recreational activities such as scuba diving, flying, skydiving, and skiing.
Though initially a partner in a Central Valley medical group, April soon established her own practice as a home-visiting family physician.
She values her relationships with the families in her care and enjoys a gentle rapport with children. For many years, in fact, she volunteered
her time at Camp Sunshine Dreams, a camp for children with cancer (some of whom had been exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant accident). April's patients include seniors and special needs individuals, as well, for whom she holds a genuine fondness
and interest. She is blessed by the many patients who call her "friend".
Since her youth, April was willing to think outside the box and often aligned herself with visionary ideas: She became a member of
Physicians for Social Responsibility in the 1980s when the organization advocated strongly against nuclear power plants, nuclear
bombs,and nuclear weapons in space. Her daily rounds to patients' homes were made in a car that bore the license plate "4 NO WAR".
An allopathic physician, Dr. Hurley maintained Board Certified credentials; but she began to recognize the relevance of treating
the whole person rather than each isolated illness. This led her to pursue a path of homeopathic studies at Hahnemann College
of Homeopathy, Point Richmond, CA. While her schedule did not allow her time to explore the field to the depth she desired,
April hopes, at some time in the future, to hone her abilities in this discipline.
In the past two years, April has moved her residence to northern California and divides her time between patients she visits
in Orange, Sonoma, and Marin counties. During this past year, she has also worked as a contracted physician at Kaiser
Permanente Hospital. April resides in Santa Rosa with her beloved pets, Hobo, Tramp, Spot, (and Yoda- sadly, recently deceased,
but not forgotten.), and among nearby friends, both old and new.