2025 Icon of San Juan Capistrano
Legacy of Care & Courage
Horseman. Healer. Humanitarian.

The Icon of San Juan Capistrano Award, presented by Otra Mas, honors individuals whose life’s work has shaped the cultural, philanthropic, and spiritual fabric of this remarkable town. In honoring Dr. Peter Czuleger, we recognize not only a man of exceptional medical accomplishment but a humble servant whose influence spans the ER, the classroom, the trail, and the community he so deeply cherishes.

A board-certified emergency physician, educator, and founding advocate of community-based healthcare, Dr. Czuleger has spent more than four decades serving the people of South Orange County. His leadership helped launch the Camino Health Center, expand emergency access at Mission Hospital, and mentor hundreds of future medical professionals.

Yet his story doesn’t end in the clinical wing. As a dedicated horseman, Dr. Czuleger has long been an integral part of the equestrian fabric of San Juan Capistrano — riding with the Portolás, preserving ranching traditions, and upholding the quiet values of humility, grit, and generosity. In every space he inhabits, he leads with a servant’s heart.

His life’s work reflects the soul of this award: a commitment not to accolades, but to action. His impact is measured not in titles, but in the thousands of lives he’s touched — patients comforted, systems improved, traditions protected, and futures inspired.

Tonight, we honor a man who has not only lived among us but uplifted us, reminding us that healing and heritage are not separate paths, but deeply intertwined legacies.

Honoring: