MEDA board of directors chair Mel Stjernholm kicks off a new MEDAzine series, Why I like MEDA, by MEDA sage Wally Kroeker.

Mel Stjernholm, Breckenridge, Colo., MEDA board chair

Day job: Endocrinologist, Boulder Endocrinology Associates; president and medical director, Flatirons Osteoporosis Center

Good-natured Mel is both a physician and a businessperson. “From my standpoint I’m running a business, with accounting principles, income and overhead, which is becoming more difficult with changes in the insurance industry and medicare guidelines.” He’s also a top-flight endocrinologist who reminds fellow board and staff members of the foods that can overwork their pancreas and lead to diabetes.

He met MEDA 30 years ago when invited to a local chapter meeting and was “impressed by the job creation part of it.” He attended the 1992 MEDA convention in Denver and got more involved. He joined a tour to Paraguay with other members of his church in Denver and witnessed some of the planning for the starch plant being set up with MEDA Paraguay. He ended up investing in the plant and more recently also invested in a related biofuel project.

Why he likes MEDA: “Because it allows us to really put our faith and our works together. I am very sold on the concept that you teach people business (rather than giving them things) and help them become self-sufficient.”
Hobbies: skiing (fanatic); travel; tennis; grandchildren

“MEDA board chair Mel Stjernholm on a recent board tour to MEDA’s mosquito net project in Tanzania.”