Otto Austel, MD, a member of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley (noontime club), is the recipient of the Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Award, the organization's highest recognition that is awarded for exemplary service beyond the district level. Only 50 of these awards are presented worldwide each year.

Austel is one of only two Rotarians in District 5240, which includes Ventura County, to receive this honor.

The award criteria include involvement at a substantial level in humanitarian activity for and with the foundation during an extended period of time. In his past 15 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley, Austel has traveled the world making a dif

ference. After retiring as a physician in Simi Valley in 1996, Austel devoted all of his time for volunteer services.

His work has taken him to Brazil, where he worked with the Karaja Indian tribe and was instrumental in establishing eight clinics, providing basic healthcare training for caregivers, installing solar powered water systems, providing thousands mosquito nets to help eliminate malaria, and developing literacy material in the native language.

As a Rotarian, he has served as a physician in Nigeria and Bangladesh; a medical surveillance officer in Ghana, Angola, Egypt, Pakistan and India; a volunteer with the Center of Disease Control; and as a consultant for the World Health Organization to help achieve Rotary Internation-al's goal of eradicating polio.

Austel had been named Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and Daily News Best Physician of Simi Valley. He received the Boys & Girls Club Award as a founder for outstanding service.

His other Rotary awards include Citation for Meritorious Service, Service Above Self Award, International Service Award for a Polio Free World, and The Rotary Foundation's Global Service to Humanity Award, one of only 10 such awards given.

The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian and educational programs.