Download Advocate - Huntington Hospital

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Advocate
Huntington Hospital
Our mission
To excel at the delivery of healthcare to
our community.
Our vision To become the finest community‑based
regional medical center in
Southern California.
H
Dear Friends:
igh-quality, community-based healthcare is something
we all desire. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly rare.
Here in our region, several hospitals have closed their doors in response
to difficult economic times. At a time like this, Huntington Memorial
Hospital’s mission — to excel at the delivery of healthcare to our community
— becomes even more important.
And essential to the hospital’s do-all-we-can-to-care-for-you philosophy are relationships with members of our community who share this sense
of responsibility. In the pages of this publication, you will read about some
of these special community partners — and the above-and-beyond medical
care made possible through their gifts.
Thanks to community support, for example, our hospital is equipped to
provide specialty care in areas including stroke, heart attack and cardiac arrest, perinatal care, and pediatric critical care. We remain the only Center for
Trauma Care in the entire San Gabriel Valley. And we are committed to continued medical excellence — including preparation of the next generation of
physicians for our region — through our graduate medical education program.
As the economy continues to cast a shadow over the entire healthcare industry, we at Huntington Hospital remain deeply
grateful to our generous philanthropic partners. Your help
makes it possible for our team of expert medical professionals to provide high-quality care, in response to local
needs. Thank you for your support.
James F. Rothenberg
Chairman of the Board
Advocate | 1
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Advocate
Huntington Hospital
Featured
4
Constance G. Zahorik
A Lasting Impact on Care
8
UniHealth Foundation
Innovations in Excellence
12
Henry L. Guenther Foundation
Funding the Future of Care, Today
Ann Slavik Hall
15
Investing in Community
Sally L. and George A. Harris
Supporting the Very Best, Close to Home
Orthopedic Excellence
Achieving Success, Together
18
21
President's Circle
MEMBER RECOGNITION DINNER
24
Recognizing Support for Lifesaving Care
MEDICUS SOCIETY DINNER
26
Community Donors Make the Huntington Difference
Sonia and Neil K. Singla, MD
Philanthropy with Vision
Penny and Harold Ray
Making Good Things Possible
Claire Wilcott
Enduring Support
28
30
32
Legacy Gift Society
IN MEMORIAM: MIRIAM AND Gilbert P. Kipnis, MD
A Deep Sense of Dedication
Michael H. and Sally L. Horner
Building Dreams, Supporting Excellence
Betty West Keatinge
39
Involved, Impassioned, Inspirational
2 | Fall 2011
36
34
SCRUBS
41
SCRUBS SPECTACULAR
Vintage Treats for a New Generation of Philanthropists
Jones Coffee Roasters
Lending a Helping Hand
43
Heather and Matthew Lillard
Planting Philanthropic Seeds
44
COMMUNITY UPDATE
Emergency & Trauma Center Expansion
Hospital Leaders Underscore Benefits
47
53
Jill Westbrook ROberts
Finding New Ways to Get Involved
Our Support Groups
Altadena Guild
55
Support that Strengthens the Future of Care
Huntington Collection
Hidden Treasures
56
Fall Food & Wine Festival
57
Helping Ensure Access to Trauma Care
Flintridge La Cañada Guild
Carrying on a Tradition of Service
H.E.A.R.T.
58
59
William D. Young: Leading by Example
National Charity League Juniors of San Marino
Support with Lifesaving Impact
San Marino Guild
60
61
Supporting Patient Care and Comfort
Women’s Auxiliary
62
Help for Those with Nowhere Else to Turn
S. Robert and Denise Zeilstra Gift Shop
Everything You Need and More!
63
Advocate | 3
CONSTANCE G. ZAHORIK
A Lasting
Impact on Care
During her lifetime, Constance G. Zahorik provided
significant support toward breast cancer care at
Huntington Memorial Hospital. She funded the
work of nurse navigators, for example, who offer
extensive support and care coordination for patients
diagnosed with breast cancer. And she contributed
toward a variety of other services and technologies at
Huntington Hospital Cancer Center.
4 | Fall 2011
Prior to her passing
in 2008, Constance
Zahorik received
breast cancer care at
Huntington Memorial
Hospital. Connie
provided generously
for the hospital’s breast
program — as well as
other programs and
services — through
her estate.
H
erself a survivor of breast cancer who
received care from former Huntington
Hospital surgeon David M. Faddis, MD,
Connie was also determined to continue
making a difference in the lives of breast
cancer patients after her own lifetime. To accomplish this,
she provided leadership support to the hospital through her
estate — with the majority of funds designated toward our
breast program’s work.
Connie passed away in December 2008, at the age of 85.
Funds from her estate were recently distributed. In addition
to providing endowment support for breast cancer care, a
portion of her gift is designated toward cardiac care, neonatal intensive care and pediatric care at the hospital. >
Advocate | 5
Inspired by gratitude
Jane Haderlein, senior vice president, philanthropy and
public affairs, at Huntington Hospital, notes that Connie’s support was inspired, in large part, by her gratitude
toward physicians and nurses here. “She also believed
that nobody, regardless of their circumstances, should
face the process of recovering from breast cancer alone,”
Jane adds.
Ruth C. Williamson, MD, medical director, breast
program and radiation oncology, at Huntington Hospital,
explains that patients who receive treatment for breast
cancer at the hospital are far from alone — thanks in part
to Connie’s philanthropic involvement. “We have a team
of specialists providing comprehensive clinical and supportive services from diagnosis to treatment and beyond,
in a state-of-the-art environment,” Dr. Williamson
explains. “We’re pleased to provide the kind of aboveand-beyond care that just wouldn’t be possible without
community involvement, and that Connie supported
every step of the way.”
6 | Fall 2 011
Quality and compassion...
The breast program’s multidisciplinary team includes
three surgical oncologists, magnetic-resonance-imaging
and mammography specialists, a dietitian, psychologists with expertise in cancer coping, and a social
worker who is a certified specialist in cancer, among
other experts. In addition, patients continue to benefit
from the services of two nurse navigators, who provide
intensive support and guidance through every step of the
treatment process.
Housed under one roof in Huntington Pavilion, the
breast program is also equipped with the most advanced
imaging and treatment technologies available. It is
designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the
American College of Radiology, and was also recently
named a Center of Excellence for breast brachytherapy.
(This treatment modality involves the delivery of highdose radiation via a device implanted directly into the
tumor site. Eligible patients can be treated over five
days, versus six weeks using more traditional radiation.)
We are the only hospital in our region with radiation oncology physicians who specialize in breast cancer care.
And we are one of only three hospitals in Los Angeles
County to have achieved accreditation by the American
College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program
for Breast Centers.
Opposite (from left), Ruth Williamson, MD,
medical director, breast program and radiation
oncology, at Huntington Hospital, and Jane
Haderlein, senior vice president, philanthropy
and public affairs. Both speak highly of the late
Constance Zahorik's support for breast cancer
care at the hospital. Above, Jeannie Shen, MD,
medical director, breast surgery.
...with a personal touch
High-tech, state-of-the-art care and the breast program’s broad range of supportive services are delivered
in a serene, spa-like environment. “We want to provide
the highest-quality patient care possible,” says Dr. Williamson, “and we also want to give patients a lot of TLC,
because we feel they deserve it.”
At the same location, breast cancer patients also
have access to Constance G. Zahorik Appearance Center,
named in honor of Connie’s support during her lifetime.
Here, a licensed cosmetologist provides no-cost counsel
and assistance — with wigs, makeup, hats, scarves and
other cosmetics-related issues.
Support groups for patients and their loved ones are
also available. (Dr. Williamson co-facilitates the monthly
groups, along with a cancer center social worker.) And
a palliative care physician provides weekly clinics for
patients needing an extra measure of assistance with
pain, side-effects of treatment, or other issues related to
their illness.
Many avenues of involvement
Yet another important feature of the breast program’s
care continuum is its mentorship component, which
pairs extensively trained mentors — themselves survivors who have experienced the same type and stage
of cancer — with newly diagnosed patients. By sharing
their experiences and receiving comfort and support, participants can reduce feelings of both isolation
and anxiety.
Connie herself participated as a mentor following her treatment for breast cancer. “She had a special
understanding of the fear and confusion that often accompanies a diagnosis of breast cancer,” says Jane, “and
she was determined to alleviate the suffering of others.”
Adds James F. Rothenberg, chair of Huntington
Hospital’s board of directors, “Above all else, Connie was
motivated by human compassion and kindness, but she
also had a sophisticated understanding of the kind of resources needed to deliver comprehensive care to breast
cancer patients.
“She was an extraordinary woman,” he adds, “and
we’re all deeply grateful for her foresight and generosity
in helping Huntington Hospital so significantly through
her estate.” +
Advocate | 7
UniHealth Foundation recently
renewed its partnership with
Huntington Memorial Hospital,
through a significant grant toward
our Patient Partners Program, an
innovative effort to enhance care for
underserved patients. The foundation
is based in Los Angeles and provides
grants to nonprofit hospitals and
healthcare organizations that benefit
residents in areas including the
San Gabriel Valley. Its mission: to
support and facilitate activities that
significantly improve the health
and well-being of individuals and
communities it serves.
UNIHEALTH FOUNDATION
Innovations
in Excellence
H
“
untington Hospital’s new Patient
Partners Program,” says Mary Odell,
UniHealth Foundation’s president,
“will work to achieve better patient
outcomes through care-system enhancements — and that’s one of our top priorities.” >
8 | Fall 2 011
From left, Kristin
Karlyn, MD, faculty
attending, co-director,
chronic disease
management program,
and Mendy Drury,
nurse practitioner, are
among those involved
in the hospital’s new
Patient Partners
Program, generously
funded by UniHealth
Foundation.
Advocate | 9
Enhancing the care system
The Patient Partners Program is designed to enhance
patient outcomes, with a special emphasis on the needs
of patients with chronic health conditions. Using a
variety of innovative approaches, the program seeks
— for example — to reduce the need for hospital readmission among those with chronic illnesses. Currently,
preventable rehospitalizations represent a significant
healthcare cost, nationwide.
The new program is being implemented at Huntington Ambulatory Care Center (the Dispensary). It involves
a team approach: Physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other professionals work in close coordination
with individual patients to assess and manage health
problems and support healthy lifestyle changes. A new
staff designation — that of health navigator — has also
been created at the Dispensary. Navigators will serve a
lynchpin role on the care team, helping to connect patients with the complete range of assistance they need.
10 | Fall 2011
And the Patient Partners Program will also further
enhance training for new physicians in Huntington Hospital’s graduate medical education program. Specifically,
residents will have enhanced opportunities to practice
care in a team setting. “Traditionally,” notes Paula M.
Verrette, MD, vice president, performance and quality
improvement, at the hospital, “physicians have been
trained to work quite autonomously, but as healthcare
continues to evolve and improve, it’s moving away from
a physician-centric model,” she adds. “The training
component thus represents an important strength of the
new program.”
A sustainable plan
“In the future, under healthcare reform,” says Mary
Odell, “hospitals will be reimbursed for quality patient
outcomes, rather than simply based on services provided.”
By enhancing patient well-being (including, as noted,
a reduction in the occurrence of problems requiring
Opposite: Huntington Memorial
Hospital’s new Patient Partners
Program is being implemented at
Huntington Ambulatory Care Center
(the Dispensary). Key staff involved
in program implementation include,
from left, Kristin Karlyn, MD, faculty
attending, co-director, chronic
disease management program; Sona
Nikoghossian, dispensary manager;
Edward Cordero, lead health navigator;
and Mendy Drury, nurse practitioner.
This page: Luis Dimen, MD, is medical
director, community care, at Huntington
Memorial Hospital, a role that
encompasses assistant directorship of the
hospital’s graduate medical education
program in internal medicine. Through
funding from UniHealth Foundation,
residents supervised by Dr. Dimen will
receive enhanced training, preparing
them to provide high-quality care in a
dynamic, multidisciplinary setting.
readmission to inpatient care) the new Patient Partners
Program will help prepare Huntington Hospital for these
coming changes in the national healthcare landscape.
In the interim, however, several aspects of the Patient Partners Program are not currently reimbursed by
public or private insurers — and the hospital thus relies
on the support of generous partners like UniHealth Foundation to implement them. “Hospitals have been given
a mandate to change the way they do business,” says Huntington Hospital President and CEO Stephen A. Ralph.
“But the Affordable Care Act did not provide a bridge
from here to there. UniHealth Foundation is helping to
bridge the gap at Huntington Hospital, through generous
funding for the Patient Partners Program.”
And, because of the “built-in sustainability strategy” of future reimbursements under healthcare reform,
the program was particularly appealing to the foundation, Mary notes. “Sustainability is very important to our
board of directors,” she says. “We don’t want to fund nice
projects that go away the day our funding ends. Instead,
we want to fund sustainable change. Since we know that
reimbursements will be changing in the future to cover
the kind of care this program will provide, we know that
the impact of our funding will last far beyond the end of
the grant period.”
A strong partnership
Mary also praises Huntington Hospital for its strong
physician leadership — not only in designing and implementing the Patient Partners Program, but in its other
endeavors. “If we’ve learned anything in the twelve years
since our foundation opened its doors,” she says, “it’s
that, for hospital-based projects to be successful, they
have to have buy-in from physicians. In every project
we’ve funded at Huntington Hospital, physicians have
been at the table from conceptualization to execution to
accountability,” she adds. “That’s another thing we feel
makes the hospital a great partner for us!” +
Advocate | 11
12 | Fall 2011
The Henry L. Guenther Foundation
— a longtime philanthropic partner of
Huntington Memorial Hospital — recently
provided funding toward a new, advanced
robotic surgery system here. The da Vinci Si
system expands the hospital’s capacity with
regard to advanced robotic procedures.
Roger Satterthwaite, MD,
is an expert in robotic
surgery. He explains
how advanced robotic
surgery technology —
recently acquired by the
hospital with funding
from the Henry L.
Guenther Foundation —
benefits our patients.
HENRY L. GUENTHER FOUNDATION
Funding the Future
of Care, Today
T
he hospital’s new da Vinci Si system has four
robotic arms, one of which holds an endoscope
— an optical instrument with a variety of zoom
and view-rotation features, through which the
surgeon can observe the interior of the body with
great clarity, during surgery. >
Advocate | 13
The da Vinci Si system allows surgeons such as (from
left) Ramin Khalili, MD, and Armen Dikranian, MD, to
perform precise, robotic surgeries for patients with multiple conditions, reducing pain and speeding recovery.
The other three high-tech arms carry what is known
as EndoWrist surgical instrumentation, named for the
wrist-like design that increases its motility. Specific
instrumentation can be changed as needed, depending
on the surgery being performed.
All four of the arms have a rotational range of
motion of 336 degrees. This, along with the system’s
specially designed instrumentation, allows surgeons a
broad reach during surgery — and helps account for the
system’s advanced capabilities.
Multiple benefits for patients
“Huntington Hospital’s acquisition of the da Vinci Si has
benefited our patients in a host of ways,” says Roger W.
Satterthwaite, MD, a surgeon who regularly performs robotic procedures at Huntington Hospital. He also serves
as an assistant professor of urology at City of Hope. “Notably,” Dr. Satterthwaite adds, “we have begun to perform
robotic heart surgeries, and ear, nose and throat surgeries, and have been able to increase the number of robotic
colon, kidney, prostate, bladder, and hysterectomy
procedures we perform. The only alternative to robotic
14 | Fall 2011
surgery for some of these operations is open surgery,
which in many cases requires much longer incisions and
extended hospital stays.”
Dr. Satterthwaite, who, in addition to his medical
degree holds a master’s in public health, notes that even
patients who could be treated using our existing robotic
system may experience benefits from the newer technology. For example, “Some surgeries that previously
required as many as five incisions can now be performed
with only a single inch-long incision,” he notes. “As a
result,” Dr. Satterthwaite adds, “patients may heal more
rapidly, experience reduced pain and scarring, and be
able to return home from the hospital more quickly.”
Thanks to the new system, Huntington Hospital
estimates that the number of surgeries performed robotically at the hospital will double in the coming years.
“We’re thrilled that the Henry L. Guenther Foundation
has chosen to partner with us to enhance care in this
meaningful way,” says Stephen A. Ralph, the hospital’s
president and CEO. “The foundation’s support will help
us to serve more patients, and to serve them better — in
keeping with our mission.” +
Ann Slavik Hall recently
contributed generously
toward expansion of
Huntington Memorial
Hospital’s Emergency
& Trauma Center,
demonstrating her
commitment to highquality care in our region.
Ann Slavik Hall
Investing in
Community
A longtime resident of the San Gabriel Valley, Ann Slavik Hall recognizes
the region’s urgent need for expanded access to emergency and trauma
care services. And she is happy to help ensure the availability of such care
at Huntington Memorial Hospital. To this end, her most recent gifts have
supported expansion of the hospital’s Emergency & Trauma Center. >
Advocate | 15
“When St. Luke’s closed in 2002, the burden on
Huntington Hospital increased dramatically,” Ann
says. “As a result, the need for emergency services
is greater than the hospital was designed to handle,
so it’s going to be wonderful when the Emergency &
Trauma Center is fully expanded.”
Ann considers her philanthropic support an investment in her own well-being and
that of her husband, Jack. By supporting expansion of the hospital’s emergency and trauma
facilities, of course, she is also impacting the wellbeing of all San Gabriel Valley residents.
“I’ve had several surgeries at Huntington Hospital and have received fantastic care,” she says. “Jack
and I will undoubtedly need more medical care in the
future. Donating to the hospital helps ensure that it
will continue to provide the same excellent help I’ve
received there to date.”
ultimately settling in Southern California when she
was in eighth grade. She is a graduate of the University
of Southern California, where she studied psychology
and English. After college, she wed Donald Slavik. The
couple’s daughter, Susan (now Susan Slavik Williams), was born at Huntington Hospital.
During the early years of their marriage, Donald
worked with Union Bank, where he served as head
loan officer. Following his early retirement, he and Ann
acquired and managed real estate, including — for a time
— Pala Mesa Golf Resort, in northern San Diego County.
Donald passed away in 2000. Ann was subsequently introduced to Jack Hall — also a widower
— through his sister (a neighbor of Ann’s), but emphasizes that she had no intention of remarrying, at the
time. Jack’s persistence, however — and her deepening feelings for him — turned the tide. They have been
happily married since 2005.
Family, business
A strong advocate
Ann has been a Pasadena-area resident since the
1950s. Born in Detroit, she relocated with her family
first to New York and then to Massachusetts, before
16 | Fall 2 011
Ann has spent a significant portion of her adult life advocating for causes about which she cares deeply. On
the medical front (“Medicine is a true love of mine,”
Once construction is complete,
the hospital’s new Emergency
& Trauma Center will
accommodate up to 80,000
patient visits per year — a
significant increase over
current capacity. At left,
Karen Knudsen, RN, manager,
emergency services, walks
through the construction site.
she declares), she is a member of the board of directors
of Huntington Medical Research Institutes. In addition to her generous support for Huntington Hospital,
she has also funded the creation of a molecular neurology laboratory at HMRI. This gift was made in honor
of her father, who suffered from amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
In addition to medicine, Ann is passionate about
animals. “I’ve loved animals ever since I was a child,”
she explains, adding that she grew particularly interested in marine mammals as a result of her regular
scuba-diving and snorkeling adventures. Daughter
Susan also snorkels, while first husband Donald was
a boating enthusiast, and thus it was perhaps natural
that the family’s philanthropy should begin to focus
on ocean life. The Donald Slavik Family Foundation
— which is based in St. Louis, Missouri, where Susan
lives — began by supporting organizations dedicated
to preserving marine mammals. Today, it provides
support to a variety of organizations working to preserve marine life, African cats and other animals.
“Trying to protect the animals of the world is one
of the most important things in life, to me,” says Ann.
“The cheetahs are gone. The ocean is in serious trouble. Our grandchildren will probably never see a tiger. I
want to do everything I can to make a difference.”
Supporting...and inspiring
In addition to her overarching interest in medicine
and in animal preservation, Ann has been involved in a
number of other causes over the years. She previously
served as a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of
Pasadena, for example, the administrative offices of
which are housed in a facility named for Donald Slavik’s
parents. She has also been involved at Five Acres and
with Spastic Childrens League Inc, in the past.
With regard to Huntington Hospital, she hopes to
inspire others to get involved in the work she considers
so important. “The hospital needs the support of our
community,” she says. “It’s giving so much service to everyone, so I feel everyone should be as generous as they
can be.” Asked about the most important message she
wants to share with residents of Huntington Hospital’s
community, she responds without hesitation: “Give!” +
Advocate | 17
George A. Harris required lifesaving
surgery on the day of his birth. Over
more recent years, he has received care
from a variety of medical institutions
— and credits this care with saving his
life an additional three times.
Sally L. and George A. Harris
Supporting the
Very Best,
Close to Home
T
oday, George and his wife, Sally L. Harris,
are making a meaningful contribution to
medical care in their community, through
their support of Huntington Memorial
Hospital. Most recently, they have provided a generous gift toward expansion and renovation
of the hospital’s Emergency & Trauma Center. >
18 | Fall 2011
The central
communications room
within Huntington
Memorial Hospital’s
Emergency & Trauma
Center will be named
for Sally and George
Harris, in honor of
their generous support.
Advocate | 19
At left, the existing
central communications
room at Huntington
Memorial Hospital.
At right, a rendering
of the new Sally and
George Harris Central
Communications Room.
In recognition of their gift, Huntington Hospital
is pleased to name the Sally and George Harris Central
Communications Room in the expanded center. In this
important area, hospital staff will coordinate with local
fire-department paramedics — gathering information
regarding the needs of incoming patients. This will allow
the appropriate clinical team to be standing by at the
hospital. Even as the patient is still in transit, clinical
personnel will prescribe medical procedures and medications, to be administered by paramedics en route. All
this will be possible using communications equipment
in the special area named for the Harrises.
Far and wide
“Traveling is really eye-opening,” says Sally. “It’s a totally
different experience when you land at an airport somewhere in Africa and there are zebras running to get out
of the way. It gives you a very different perspective.”
In addition, the Harrises’ travel bug has demonstrated how much better it is to catch a bug at home!
“It’s definitely enlightened us regarding the superior
medical care available in the United States — how lucky
we are to have it, and how important it is to support it,”
notes George.
Close to home
Seeing the need
George became convinced of the value of high-quality
medicine early in life — not only through his own care
experiences, but as a result of family expeditions with
his father, an ear, nose and throat specialist. “My father
periodically traveled around the world teaching stateof-the-art ENT techniques in third-world countries,”
George says. “It showed me the need for excellent medical care from a very young age.”
He and Sally met when they were both students at
the University of Southern California. Sally received a
bachelor’s degree in design and went on to enjoy a successful career in advertising. After completing his own
bachelor’s degree in finance, George pursued law and
business degrees, subsequently working as a transactional real-estate attorney for 38 years. He is now retired
from this first career, and together the couple manages
their rental properties.
In addition to operating their business (and cheering on their alma mater), they continue the Harris family
tradition of travel. They have visited many parts of the
world, from Belize to China and from New Zealand to
Poland, for example.
20 | Fall 2 011
Sally hails originally from the Carmel/Pebble Beach area
of California, while George is a Los Angeles-area native
who moved to the San Gabriel Valley at the age of 5. “I
can’t remember a time when I was not aware of Huntington Hospital,” he notes.
Both are grateful for the excellent care they — as
well as family members and friends in the community —
have received at the hospital. “We’ve seen how well they
work,” says George.
Adds Sally, regarding a recent emergency department visit, “The medical staff who treated me were both
very competent and efficient.” And she and George underscore that the need for high-quality care is universal
— and that it tends to increase with age. “Everyone gets
sick sometime in life,” points out George.
As a result, the couple wants their local hospital to
be the very best, “and that’s certainly their goal, too,” says
Sally, of Huntington Hospital. Regarding philanthropic
support, she adds, “We are fortunate to be able to give
back to the institution and community that has given so
much to us.” +
Orthopedic surgeons Todd
Dietrick, MD, left, and Paul
Gilbert, MD, led Huntington
Memorial Hospital’s efforts
to establish a top-quality
total-joint-replacement
program. This year, the
program was awarded a
Gold Seal of Approval by
The Joint Commission, in
recognition of its excellence.
Orthopedic Excellence
Achieving Success,
Together
Huntington Memorial Hospital orthopedic surgeons Paul K. Gilbert, MD,
and Todd B. Dietrick, MD, have been instrumental in the development of
a top-quality total-joint-replacement program at Huntington Hospital.
And when they became aware that The Joint Commission — a national
healthcare accreditation organization — had begun to recognize excellence
in disease-specific care programs, they determined that they would seek
recognition for the joint-replacement program. >
Advocate | 21
A recent gift from generous
donors Larry and Kathryn
Keele allowed Huntington
Hospital to purchase new
ultrasound technology to
guide anesthesia for patients
during joint-replacement
surgeries. Huntington Hospital
anesthesiologist Jonathan
Maskin, MD, right, notes that
the technology can reduce pain
and speed recovery for patients.
So the physicians began what Dr. Gilbert describes
as a “grassroots effort” to document the program’s
success. “We had many of the pieces in place already,”
he explains. “It was really a matter of putting together
a multidisciplinary team, seeking the support of
hospital administration, and documenting our data
and protocols.”
As a result of these efforts, Huntington Hospital
in January 2011 became one of just four hospitals in
California to receive a Gold Seal of Approval™ from
The Joint Commission for total-knee- and total-hipreplacement programs.
Exciting advances
Over recent years, Dr. Dietrick points out, the jointreplacement team at Huntington Hospital has
continuously expanded its use of leading-edge practices
and techniques. “One of the greatest advances in our
program recently,” he says, “and one which helped support our application for certification, was the addition
of new ultrasound technology.” Specifically, he adds,
“New ultrasound equipment has brought about tremendous advances in the pain-management aspect of our
program, which is a key benchmark for accreditation.”
22 | Fall 2011
The new technology is used to administer local anesthesia known as peripheral nerve block.
Jonathan D. Maskin, MD, medical director, anesthesiology, at the hospital, explains advancements in the
specialty of nerve blocks in orthopedics: “Some seven
years ago, we began using nerve blocks as a technique
for perioperative pain control among joint-replacement patients,” he says. “Until that time, it was not
uncommon for a patient to tell you that their knee or
hip replacement was the most painful experience of
their lives,” he adds.
When a patient is admitted for joint replacement, however, everyone on the team has a clear
objective in mind. “That’s to keep the patient’s pain
under control throughout their hospital stay,” says
Dr. Maskin. Members of the hospital’s anesthesia
team were therefore pleased to learn more about the
use of ultrasound technology to guide administration
of nerve blocks, and to implement these techniques at
Huntington Hospital. And today — thanks to generous
support from Kathryn and Larry Keele — the hospital
has been able to acquire advanced ultrasound technology, manufactured by Zonare, that provides further
important benefits.
“We’ve lived in the Pasadena community for
many years and we are both grateful patients
of Huntington Hospital. Making investments
to advance care and create a better patient
experience is what the hospital has always
been about. We’re thrilled to be part of
supporting continued excellence there.”
Larry and Kathryn Keele
Enhanced patient outcomes
Older ultrasound technology already allowed anesthesiologists to block the femoral nerve with accuracy
— and, in knee-replacement surgery, for example, the
femoral nerve can be responsible for anywhere from
80 to 100 percent of a patient’s perioperative pain,
Dr. Maskin notes. However, there are two other nerves
that supply the knee joint, both of which can contribute
to the patient’s experience of pain. “With the newer
technology, we can safely and reliably begin doing
blocks on these other two nerves, and work towards
our ultimate goal of routinely pain-free joint-replacement surgery,” Dr Maskin adds. “There’s little that is
more satisfying to an anesthesiologist or surgeon than
to have a patient smiling and telling you they are painfree the day after such a major operation,” he adds.
And there is more at stake than patient comfort
alone: Complications following joint-replacement
surgery can include blood clots and chest infections,
but “the less pain a patient suffers, the quicker they are
able to get out of bed and begin their rehab,” says Dr.
Maskin. “This reduces the potential for these complications.” In turn, the patient may be able to return
home from the hospital sooner.
Essential donor support
Both Dr. Gilbert and Dr. Dietrick underscore the
importance of support of the Keeles in making these
advances possible. “The Keeles are very good friends
of Huntington Hospital and we can’t thank them
enough for making the purchase of this equipment
possible,” says Dr. Gilbert. “It has allowed the hospital
to remain at the leading edge of care and helped us
achieve recognition by The Joint Commission.”
The philanthropic engagement of donors like the
Keeles, says Dr. Dietrick, “supports our orthopedic
program’s status as a standard-bearer in its field. This
not only gives patients confidence that they’ll receive
high-quality, top-of-the-line care here; it also motivates us to explore how we can remain at the forefront
of care…how we can even further improve patient
outcomes year over year…. We’re accountable to those
who’ve expressed such confidence in us, and it makes
us want to do even better.” +
Advocate | 23
Pre sid e n t ’ s C ir c le
President’s Circle members make generous
contributions to the Huntington Annual Fund that
help sustain essential care services.
recognizing support
P
f o r l i f e s a v i n g ca r e
President’s Circle members are the cornerstone of Huntington Memorial Hospital’s annual fund, contributing
more than 80 percent of the fund’s philanthropic income
each year. To show our appreciation for these donors’
generous and vital support, the hospital holds an annual
recognition dinner for President’s Circle members. The
events offer members the opportunity to learn about the
latest advancements in care, via presentations by respected
keynote speakers.
At this year’s President’s Circle Member Recognition
Dinner, held on March 31, 2011, at the University Club of
Pasadena, approximately 200 members enjoyed a delicious
meal and good company. A highlight of the evening was
the keynote address — entitled Taking the Trauma Out of
Trauma Care — made by Amal K. Obaid, MD, Huntington
Hospital’s medical director of trauma services.
Dr. Obaid presented compelling information regarding
recent advances in trauma care and how these have dramatically improved outcomes for patients with life-threatening
internal injuries. She also underscored the importance
of ready access to trauma care when needed: Reminding
members and their guests of the attempted assassination
of President Ronald Reagan in 1981, by way of example,
Dr. Obaid explained that the president would not have survived had a trauma center not been close by.
Leading-edge trauma care is a vital community resource, and Huntington Hospital is dedicated to providing
this care for our region’s residents. We are thus in the process of expanding our Emergency & Trauma Center — the
only center of its kind in the entire San Gabriel Valley. The
new center will encompass additional treatment rooms,
allowing us to meet the growing need for care. Among other
benefits, it will also provide for enhanced communications with emergency services personnel in the field. Thus,
patients being raced here by ambulance will begin receiving
Huntington Hospital-directed treatment even before they
arrive at the hospital.
It was a privilege and a pleasure to recognize President’s Circle members at the March Member Recognition
Dinner. By supporting the hospital, they are helping to
ensure the best of healthcare for all of us. +
24 | Fall 2011
T
Huntington Hospital Donor Levels and Benefits
he Huntington Annual Fund seeks to engage community members
in ensuring continued, excellent healthcare for our region. This
essential fund provides approximately $3 million in flexible operating
support each year, helping to cover unreimbursed expenses at the
hospital. We are deeply grateful for the annual support of more than
3,000 community members. We particularly appreciate the generosity of those who
contribute at the President’s Circle level. Through their charitable support, President’s
Circle donors provide approximately 80 percent of annual funds raised by the hospital.
DONOR $1-149
Receipt of all Huntington Hospital publications
President’s Circle members, from left,
Pam Waterman, Nancy Van Tuyle, Julie
Oropallo and Bob Oropallo were among
the guests at Huntington Memorial
Hospital’s 2011 President’s Circle Member
Recognition Dinner.
PARTNER $150-499
All of the above PLUS
• Recognition in the hospital’s Year in Review publication
ADVOCATE $500-1,999
All of the above PLUS
•Discount at Huntington Hospital’s S. Robert and Denise Zeilstra Gift Shop
President’s Circle
MEMBER $2,000-4,999
All of the above PLUS
• Annual complimentary hospital parking
• Invitation to annual President’s Circle Member Recognition Dinner
• Access to complimentary flu shots each fall, as available
The March event was also attended by
members of the hospital’s medical staff
and leadership including, from left, Amal
Obaid, MD, medical director, trauma
services; Steve Ralph, president and CEO;
and Syeda Ali, MD, nephrologist.
ASSOCIATE $5,000-9,999
All of the above PLUS
•Annual recognition on President’s Circle donor wall to be located in the hospital’s
main lobby
• Invitation to private President’s Circle dinner seminar with hospital physicians
MEDICUS SOCIETY $10,000-24,9999
All of the above PLUS
• Invitation to annual President’s Circle VIP cocktail reception
• Annual stewardship report on use of your funds
COLLEAGUE $25,000-49,999
From left, President’s Circle members
Henry Keck, Martha Tolles and Louise
Bryson , who is also a Huntington
Hospital board member, at the event.
All of the above PLUS
•Two complimentary tickets to Huntington Hospital’s Fall Food & Wine Festival
PATRON $50,000-99,999
All of the above PLUS
•Invitation to special evening with the president, physicians and trustees of
Huntington Hospital
CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL
Cumulative lifetime giving of $100,000 or more
All of the above PLUS
• Permanent donor recognition on hospital campus
•Gold Card. For benefits associated with the Gold Card, please call the office of
philanthropy at (626) 397-3241.
Advocate | 25
Pre sid e n t ’ s C ir c le
community donors
ma k e t h e h u n t i n g t o n d i ff e r e n c e
Huntington Memorial
Hospital’s senior vice
president, philanthropy
and public affairs,
Jane Haderlein, at left,
along with president
and CEO, Steve Ralph,
far right, are pictured
at a June President’s
Circle event with
members Howard and
Nan Schow, for whom
the hospital’s new
Emergency & Trauma
Center is named.
O
On June 30, 2011, Huntington Memorial Hospital and
The Valley Hunt Club hosted a special dinner seminar
for President’s Circle members at the Medicus Society
level and above, recognizing these leadership donors
for their especially generous involvement. More than
100 local philanthropists enjoyed the opportunity to
become better acquainted with each other and with
the hospital through this exclusive event.
The annual event also provides Medicus Society
members the opportunity to interact with some
of our region’s leading medical experts. This year,
members learned about aspects of care that make The
Huntington Difference.
During the evening, Lori Wynstock, MD, discussed the many ways medical practice has changed
over the past 10 years. Dr. Wynstock is an internal
medicine physician who practices in Pasadena and
has been on the medical staff of the hospital since
1999. She is also medical director of GEM transitional
care. Prior to joining our medical staff, Dr. Wynstock
26 | Fall 2011
completed her residency at Huntington Hospital —
serving as chief resident in 1999.
Following Dr. Wynstock’s presentation, Huntington Hospital President and CEO Stephen A. Ralph
took the podium. He spoke with event attendees about
the ways in which Huntington Hospital is preparing to
address challenges associated with healthcare reform.
He emphasized the importance of community support
in safeguarding care of the highest caliber and thus
promoting the best possible patient outcomes.
President’s Circle members who make contributions of $10,000 and above annually receive special
benefits in recognition of their generosity. We are extremely grateful for their strong support, which makes
a real and measurable difference. +
President’s Circle members enjoy a variety of benefits
designed exclusively for them. If you are interested in
becoming a President’s Circle member, please contact
Lia Miller, director, annual giving, at (626) 397-3241.
Valerie Siu and Annie Siu were among those in
attendance at the Medicus Society dinner seminar.
Peggy and Bob Hemmings at the June event.
Sue and Steve
Ralph, left, and Jane
Haderlein, far right,
join President’s Circle
members Jeanne
and Bob DeKruif, as
well as Huntington
Hospital physician
Lori Wynstock, MD
(second from right), for
a photo opportunity.
Dr. Wynstock was the
event’s keynote speaker.
President’s Circle members John and Dorothy Shea, left, and Marcia
Hayden were also among the approximately 100 Medicus Societylevel donors recognized at the event for their generosity and support of
Huntington Hospital.
Huntington Hospital physicians Sonia (far left) and Neil (far right)
Singla, MD, along with Yafa Minazad, DO (center), were on hand at the
event, which provided Medicus Society members with the opportunity to
interact with hospital physicians and leadership.
Advocate | 27
Pre sid e n t ’ s C ir c le
S
philanthropy
Sonia and Neil K. Singla, MD, are
physicians who practice at the community hospital that serves their family
— Huntington Memorial Hospital. “As
physicians who work inside the walls,
we believe and trust in Huntington
Hospital to provide excellent care for our
community,” says Dr. Sonia Singla. “We
really have a soft spot in our hearts for
the hospital.”
Strong ties. The Singlas’ three children
— twins Mia and Asher, 6, and baby
Roen, 1 — were all born at Huntington
Hospital. The twins, who were six weeks
premature, received care in our neonatal intensive care unit. Their parents
describe the care received as “excellent”
and are happy to report that, after a
scary start in life, Mia and Asher are now
“healthy and vibrant kids.”
In addition to these personal ties,
Huntington Hospital is home to a clinical research unit that is the brainchild of
Dr. Neil Singla. An anesthesiologist by
training, Dr. Singla was in his final year
of residency when he developed plans
for a clinical research center that would
conduct studies in his field of specialty.
Its work, he envisioned, would improve
anesthesiology for patients, leading to
reduced pain and other benefits.
“I interviewed with a handful of
hospitals in the San Gabriel Valley and
pitched the idea to them,” Dr. Singla explains. “The physicians and leadership at
Huntington Hospital shared my enthusiasm about the exciting possibilities of
this center, and provided the administrative and infrastructural support needed
to get it off the ground.”
Benefiting patients. Ten years later,
the center, Lotus Clinical Research,
28 | Fall 2 011
with vision
Sonia and Neil K. Singla, MD
LLC, has grown from a small operation
with just one coordinator to a significant 35-person research unit — and its
work has led to a number of significant
improvements in the field of anesthesiology. Its findings have been widely
published in the scientific community.
Most importantly for regional patients,
it helps ensure that patients at Huntington Hospital have access to the latest
technologies and medication protocols
in the field. Recent studies conducted
at the center have led to Federal Drug
Administration approval for intravenous
delivery of the pain medications Motrin®
and Tylenol®, for example.
The Singlas are both involved in the
research enterprise today. Dr. Neil Singla
is chief executive officer of the company,
while Dr. Sonia Singla serves as chief
operating officer. In addition to these responsibilities, both continue to provide
direct patient care.
A cycle of quality. Their personal and
professional appreciation for Huntington Hospital serves as the impetus for
the Singlas’ annual, President’s Circlelevel financial support for the hospital.
“In addition to knowing how important
quality care is, we know how difficult it
is for hospitals to provide that level of
care,” Dr. Sonia Singla notes. Private
support, including generous gifts from
President’s Circle members, helps ensure such care is available at Huntington
Hospital, around the clock and throughout the year.
“Because the hospital receives
significant financial support from the
community, has quality facilities and
services, and is located in a beautiful
area, it’s able to attract great doctors,”
says Dr. Neil Singla. “Great doctors
provide great clinical care and attract
more community support — and so it
becomes a positive cycle.”
Spreading the word. “Our parents were
immigrants,” Dr. Sonia Singla notes.
“Their first goal was to survive and make
a life for their kids. We are the next
generation. We can give back to the community in a way our parents could not.”
“And we feel very fortunate we
do have the ability to give back,” adds
Dr. Neil Singla. “We want to instill in
our children a sense of responsibility —
that the only way to have a community
is to give to that community. For us,
Huntington Hospital is the nucleus of
our community.”
The Singlas are keenly aware that,
as physicians, they are also ambassadors for Huntington Hospital. They
are committed to spreading the word
— informing others of the importance of
community support to safeguard highquality care for coming generations.
“While some of our peers are already involved, we want more of them to support
Huntington Hospital,” says Dr. Sonia
Singla. “We want to let them know how
important it is for them to be involved.”
The Singlas note that their own
commitment to Huntington Hospital
comes from a deep sense of gratitude
that the hospital has supported them.
“It’s easy to look back now and say, ‘Of
course the clinical research center will
succeed’,” Dr. Neil Singla notes. “But supporting its creation was a visionary step
for the hospital to take. We’re so grateful
for the hospital’s partnership, and so
gratified that we now have the chance to
give back.” +
Sonia and Neil Singla, MD, are
physicians at Huntington Memorial
Hospital and run a research unit
housed here. They are also donors
to the hospital, providing generous
President’s Circle-level support.
The Singlas are pictured here with
their three children — from left, Mia,
Asher and Roen.
Through their support,
President’s Circle donors
Harold and Penny Ray
are helping Huntington
Memorial Hospital to
provide a superior level
of care for patients in
our region.
Pre sid e n t ’ s C ir c le
P
making good
things possible
Penny and Harold Ray are skilled
in many areas. Retirement, however,
still requires some practice. “I thought I
was going to be looking for something to
do in my retirement,” says Harold, who
retired from his position as executive vice
president of Southern California Edison
in 2006. “As it turns out, I’m still working!”
And Penny, a certified public accountant
in private practice, is also “trying to retire”
— but has not quite managed to do so, yet.
Doubtless, the Rays’ work ethic
was instilled at a young age. Southern
California natives, they were each raised
by parents who worked long hours to
give them a good start in life: “They
were amazing people,” says Penny.
“All their energy went to providing for
their families.”
The Rays in turn provided a good
start in life for their own two daughters.
And they are grateful for the ability to
provide for their community through
thoughtful philanthropy. “We feel it’s our
obligation,” says Harold.
Local roots. After graduating from Compton High School, Harold attended the
University of California, Los Angeles. He
served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and then pursued an advanced
degree in nuclear engineering at California Institute of Technology. Starting
work for Southern California Edison in
1970, he later oversaw construction and
operations at the San Onofre Nuclear
Generating Station in San Diego County.
And he served as the organization’s chief
nuclear officer for a period, before being
promoted still further.
Today, Harold provides consultation
services to Southern California Edison
Penny and Harold Ray
and to the federal government. He is also
a member of the United States Nuclear
Regulatory Commission’s Advisory
Committee on Reactor Safeguards and
is a past president of the American
Nuclear Society.
Penny grew up in East Los Angeles,
and met Harold at a church they both
attended. They married, and Penny went
to work as a legal secretary during the
time of Harold’s military service. Then,
after taking time off work to raise the
couple’s two daughters, she pursued a
degree in accounting at California State
Polytechnic University, Pomona. Penny
went on to become a certified public
accountant, first for a firm in Irvine,
and later, in private practice. Today, she
continues to provide accounting services
to a select group of clients.
The Rays relocated to Pasadena in
1993, having previously lived in Mission
Viejo. The couple have five grandchildren — four girls and a boy — two of
whom were welcomed into the world at
Huntington Memorial Hospital.
A shared passion. The Rays share a deep
love of music — traveling worldwide to
attend performances of favorite operas,
for example. They are particularly fond
of Richard Wagner’s monumental 15hour opera “Der Ring des Nibelungen”
(the “Ring” Cycle), and try to see it performed in its entirety at least annually.
(Plans for New York in 2012 and Seattle
in 2013 are already in place.)
“I’ve found, as an engineer,” says
Harold, “that opera is the most accessible form of music for me. It’s music made
visual. There are many, many levels on
which to appreciate it.”
Thoughtful engagement. The Rays’
involvement with the musical arts extends beyond participation as audience
members. Harold, for example, serves
on the board of directors of LA Opera.
Penny is a board member of Musica
Angelica, which presents music from the
early Baroque to early Classical periods,
via concerts in the Los Angeles area
and beyond.
In addition to their strong local
attachments, Penny and Harold are
avid skiers who spend as much time as
possible in Mammoth Lakes. Though, as
Harold notes, “At this stage of our lives,
we’re actually often babysitting while
our daughters are skiing!”
It was through their younger daughter that the Rays first became acquainted
with Huntington Hospital. In the 1990s,
she was admitted to the hospital’s
emergency department with a rare viral
infection — and the Rays are grateful for
the excellent care she received.
Other family members have also required treatment at the hospital. And the
Rays are gratefully giving back. “We’re at
the point in our lives where it’s important that we express our support for the
institutions we value and appreciate,”
explains Penny.
The Rays are repeat President’s
Circle donors, whose gifts are making a
difference. “The people at Huntington
Hospital are striving toward a vision,”
says Harold, “and we like to think of our
support as helping the hospital go above
and beyond — to do things it couldn’t do
otherwise.” Philanthropists like the Rays
are indeed helping to ensure a superior
level of care excellence at the hospital. +
Advocate | 31
Longtime Pasadena
resident and
Huntington Memorial
Hospital donor Claire
Wilcott provides
President’s Circle-level
support to the hospital
in gratitude for the
excellent care she and
members of her family
have received here.
32 | Fall 2 011
Pre sid e n t ’ s C ir c le
C
enduring
Claire Wilcott’s involvement with
Huntington Memorial Hospital spans
more than three quarters of a century:
She became a registered nurse at Pasadena Hospital School of Nursing in 1933
— before Pasadena Hospital became Huntington Hospital. Today a resident of Villa
Gardens in Pasadena, she is a vibrant and
engaged 101-year-old who is still deeply
committed to excellent medical care.
The hospital has played a significant
role in Claire’s life, starting with her nursing education and continuing through
occasions both difficult and joyful. She and
her family have received what Claire describes as exceptional care over the years
— from the delivery of her daughter, Anita,
to the end-of-life care provided to her second husband, James Wilcott. James was
born at the hospital in 1910, and passed
away here in 2007, at the age of 97).
Faith in the care received. Claire, in
turn, has provided regular support to the
hospital over many years — generously
giving at the President’s Circle level. “Jim
and I had so much faith in the kind of care
provided at Huntington Hospital,” she
says. As a result, the Wilcotts’ gifts were
typically without restrictions — to be used
wherever the need was greatest. “Only
twice did we restrict our support,” Claire
notes. When they did so, it was to benefit
activities of special importance to them:
nursing education and expansion of the
hospital’s Emergency & Trauma Center.
Claire has continued to provide generous annual support for the hospital since
Jim’s passing. She says she fell in love with
the hospital during her time in nursing
school here. She and her fellow nursing
students lived in a dormitory with a house
mother and, “We all liked each other and
supported each other and we really liked
the hospital, too,” she says. “I think you
support
Claire Wilcott
have to be a special person to be a nurse,
and so it was a special experience.”
Stay healthy. Pass it on! Born 1910 in
Ogden, Utah, Claire relocated to Southern California with her mother and four
siblings after her father passed away.
She received her bachelor’s degree in
home economics from the University of
California, Los Angeles, following which
she wanted to become a teacher. A lack of
jobs — due to the Great Depression — led
her to reconsider these plans, however,
and prepare for a career in nursing.
Claire met her first husband at a
social event at the nursing school. The
couple married in 1935. When he passed
away four years later, Claire became a
single mother to two small children —
Anita, then aged 5, and Scott, aged 3.
Combining her nursing skills and her
passion for teaching, she returned to
UCLA and pursued the credits necessary
for the teaching credential then required
to become a school nurse. Thereafter,
she began work with Pasadena Unified
School district, where she remained until
taking early retirement 20 years later.
Claire found school nursing particularly rewarding: “I got to work with kids,
which I just love,” she says, “and I was
able to teach preventive medicine. I truly
believe than an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure!”
Active and engaged. Claire and Jim
Wilcott met in 1945 and were married in
1947. The couple shared a happy family
life in the San Gabriel Valley for more
than 50 years. In addition, “Once the
children finished college, we traveled
just about all around the world together,”
Claire says. For example, “We went to
Ireland by ourselves, when we were 90
years old!”
In addition to traveling, the couple
enjoyed square dancing on regular
occasion, and — following retirement —
became more deeply involved in their
community. Jim served on the Public
Relations Committee at the hospital, for
example. Claire volunteered with the
Altadena Guild, which supports the work
of Huntington Hospital and of Huntington Medical Research Institutes. Hearing
through the Altadena Guild of a need
for nurse volunteers in a neurosurgeryrelated research project at HMRI, Claire
signed up, putting her nursing credentials to further use. (She maintained her
licensure well into her 80s. “You never
know when you’ll have to go back to
work,” she laughs!)
A lasting commitment. When Jim fell
and suffered a compound fracture in his
leg in 2004, he underwent significant
surgery at Huntington Hospital, and was
hospitalized for several weeks. Following discharge, he continued to receive
physical therapy here, and the hospital’s
Senior Care Network also served as an
important resource — linking the Wilcotts to in-home care services.
Today, Claire — who was recently
among the Pasadena centenarians recognized in Rose Magazine — continues to
enjoy the pursuits of a good and healthful
life. She tends to her garden, savors dinners
with friends and family (she has 13 grand-,
great-grand- and great-great-grandchildren) and engages in exercise both mental
and physical. When illness strikes, even despite her best preventive healthcare efforts,
she counts on Huntington Hospital.
“The hospital has been so good to
us,” Claire says. “I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m so glad I have the opportunity to
give back to an institution that’s given me
so much.” +
Advocate | 33
á
Legacy Gift Society
Donors providing estate-related support such as a gift
annuity or bequest qualify for membership in Huntington
Memorial Hospital’s prestigious Legacy Gift Society.
The Dr. Gilbert P. and
Miriam B. Kipnis
Surgical Waiting Room
is named in honor of this
late couple’s generous
contributions to the
hospital, and Dr. Kipnis’
many years of service.
IN MEMORIAM: MIRIAM AND Gilbert P. Kipnis, MD
A deep sense of
dedication
Gilbert P. Kipnis, MD — a beloved and longtime member
of Huntington Memorial Hospital’s medical staff and a
former chief medical officer at the hospital — passed away
on December 6, 2010, after a series of illnesses. His wife,
Miriam, died shortly after him, on February 8, 2011. >
34 | Fall 2 011
Shelly Kipnis Gambardella, BSN, the couple’s daughter, is a nurse in Huntington Hospital’s Emergency
& Trauma Center. She explains that the hospital was an important part of both her parents’ lives.
“They cared so much for Huntington Hospital,” she says. “It was almost part of our family.”
The Kipnises’ deep dedication to Huntington Hospital led them to provide generously for its work
during their lifetimes — and through their estate. Because they wanted their estate support to be directed
to an area of greatest need, Shelly discussed allocation of the gift carefully with the hospital’s president
and CEO Stephen A. Ralph. Together, they decided to direct her parent’s estate support toward expansion of the hospital’s Emergency & Trauma Center. “I definitely have firsthand knowledge of that need
through my work in the emergency department,” Shelly says. “We thought it was the perfect fit.”
In recognition of the Kipnises’ contribution — and Dr. Kipnis’ many years of service here — Huntington Hospital has named the Dr. Gilbert P. and Miriam Kipnis Surgical Waiting Room (located on
the second floor of the East Tower) in the couple’s honor.
Early memories. After relocating to Pasadena from Chicago when Shelly was 5 years old, the Kipnises
lived in the San Gabriel Valley until Dr. Kipnis’ retirement in 1992. (Thereafter, he and Miriam moved
to Montecito.) Dr. Kipnis, an internal medicine physician, opened a private practice in Pasadena. He
joined the medical staff of Huntington Hospital in 1954.
Shelly remembers with fondness accompanying her father to the hospital, when he conducted
early-morning weekend rounds here. (She often waited at a nurses station, perhaps sowing some early
seeds of enthusiasm for her chosen profession.) “It was special dad-and-daughter time,” she says. “I
can’t remember a point when Huntington Hospital wasn’t part of my life.”
Effective leadership. Eventually, Dr. Kipnis left private practice to serve as the hospital’s first vice
president of healthcare services and director of medical education. In this role, “Gil was thoughtful about creating an environment in which everyone could provide better patient care in a collegial
environment,” says Donald J. Gaspard, MD, former medical director, trauma services, at Huntington
Hospital — and a colleague of Dr. Kipnis.
In addition to his clinical knowledge, Dr. Kipnis’ people skills were among his key strengths. “He
did an extraordinary job of strengthening communication between the administration and the medical
staff, which is a key aspect of this position,” says Dr. Gaspard. “And he taught me that an ounce of honey
is better than a pound of vinegar,” Dr. Gaspard adds. “If there were more people like Gil in this world, it
would be a better place.”
Shelly notes that the opportunity to be a part of the hospital’s fledgling graduate medical education
program was of particular importance to her father when he accepted the position of vice president.
“My dad believed that a medical residency program improves the quality of care provided across an
entire hospital, keeping physicians on their toes as they answer questions from residents and continue
their own educations,” she explains. “Keeping your skills sharp is extremely important in the medical world, where things change so quickly,” she adds, mentioning her own involvement in continuing
education as a Huntington Hospital nurse by way of example.
Family tradition. Shelly has worked in various hospital settings and as a public health nurse for the
City of Pasadena over the course of her career. But she feels most at home, she says, in the emergency
department at Huntington Hospital, where she has worked since 2001.
During her father’s lifetime, her work at the hospital also allowed her the joy of a deeper connection with him, she adds. “When the hospital began construction on the new Emergency & Trauma
Center, I would keep my dad up-to-date about all the new developments,” she says. “In his mind, I don’t
think he ever retired from Huntington Hospital. He was always interested in what was going on here.”
In addition to their daughter, Shelly, the Kipnises are survived by their two grandchildren
— Cara, who lives and works in New York City, and Alessa, who is attending graduate school in
North Carolina. +
Advocate | 35
á
Legacy Gift Society
Deeply involved
community members
Sally and Michael Horner
have been generous
supporters of Huntington
Memorial Hospital
for many years. They
recently renewed their
commitment to medical
care in our region through
the creation of a gift
annuity at the hospital.
MICHAEL H. and SALLY L. HORNER
Building
dreams, supporting excellence
If you blinked you might have missed it…but on
New Year’s Day 2011, Michael H. Horner posed as a
snowboarder on the Home & Garden Television float in
the Rose Parade. >
36 | Fall 2 011
He was the winning bidder for this honor, during a Pasadena Police Activities League (PAL) fundraising event. The theme of the parade, “Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories,” resonated strongly
with Mike and his wife, Sally L. Horner.
“That’s what we do!” exclaims Mike.
Indeed. For the Horners are longtime owners of Tom Sawyer Camps, a well-known and wellloved Pasadena institution that has provided generations of children with memories of summer and
after-school camp fun. The organization has been in existence since 1926 and the Horners took over
operations in 1973. In 1991, their family also became involved with Catalina Island Camp.
Finding magic. Owning and operating summer camps was hardly an obvious career path for the
Horners. The two Pittsburghers were introduced by a friend during their freshman year of college.
Sally was working toward her bachelor’s degree in European history at what was then the Connecticut
College for Women. Mike was pursuing a degree in geology from Cornell University. After dating longdistance for several years, Mike and Sally were married shortly after graduation in 1958.
The next several years were a period of what Mike jokingly describes as “dragging Sally — and
eventually Sally and three kids — around with me.” The Horners relocated several times, as Mike fulfilled military obligations, ran a construction business, worked as a sales engineer, and then obtained a
master’s in business administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1967.
While at Wharton, Mike was recruited by McKinsey & Company. Following his graduation,
the Horners and their three children moved to Southern California and a more permanent home in
La Cañada Flintridge and Mike joined that firm’s Los Angeles office.
It was shortly after settling in that the Horners had their first experience with Tom Sawyer
Camps. “It came about by accident, really,” Sally explains. “Our son, Tom, was a hyperkinetic kid,
always full of energy.” A friend recommended Tom Sawyer Camps, as a way of keeping young Tom
occupied during the summer vacation. “When he came back the first day full of stories and then fell
asleep at the dinner table, we realized we’d found magic!” says Mike.
A family affair. When Tom Sawyer Camps later put out a call for help with strategic planning, Mike
volunteered his assistance, given his considerable experience as a strategic and financial management
consultant. Sadly, however, the organization’s founder passed away in 1973 and his son announced his
intention of shutting down. Mike — remembering how the couple’s own son had benefited from participation — decided he could not let that happen. “This good management consultant,” recalls Sally, “with
an advanced business degree, said, ‘I’ll buy it!’”
“And it was the smartest dumb decision I’ve ever made in my life,” Mike adds.
While the Horners initially had staff running the camp programs, Sally soon became involved,
and in short order took on the role of executive director. The Horner family became immersed in camp
life. In addition to directing all aspects of camp administration, programming and staffing, Sally also
became involved in various camp associations, in order to learn more about camp operations. Among
other things, she served for eight years on the American Camp Association’s National Standards
Board, which sets accreditation standards for camps across the United States. She also became president of the Southern California Section of the ACA.
While Mike initially continued to work in consulting, in his “spare” time he managed the business
side of Tom Sawyer Camps. “Over the next decade and a half, it really started growing,” he says.
During that time period, the Horners’ children, who followed what Mike refers to as the “camper
career path,” began work as camp counselors — and subsequently worked their way up the family business’ ladder. Then, in 1990, “I’d finally had enough of wearing so many hats, so I decided I’d go to work
for Sally full-time,” says Mike.
It was just a year later that the Horners also became involved with Catalina Island Camps, which
was founded in 1922 and is located at the west end of Catalina. By 1995, they had taken over management of that camp also. Today, both camps remain family-run. Daughter Sarah Horner Fish took over
as executive director of Tom Sawyer Camps when Sally retired several years ago. (Sarah is married to
Advocate | 37
Guy Fish, arts education manager at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.)
Son Tom and his wife Maria, a former Girl Scouts camp director, are co-executive directors of Catalina
Island Camps (while their son, Nick, 15, holds the affectionate title of “executive camper”).
The Horners’ daughter Virginia (Ginny), while not involved in camp operations, has kept up the
family tradition of working with children. She is a fifth-grade teacher, living in San Juan Capistrano
with her husband, Louis Villa, and daughter, “executive camper” Grace, 15.
Lives of service. For Mike and Sally, being active and engaged members of their community is simply
a way of life. Mike, for example, is currently a trustee of Mount Wilson Institute, which operates
Mount Wilson Observatory. He is also a trustee of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation and serves
on the board of directors of Day One, a Pasadena organization that provides drug, alcohol and tobacco
education services for youth. He is a two-time past chairman of the board of directors of Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center, having served for a total of 38 years with this organization that provides
care to underserved residents of downtown and South Los Angeles. He has also served on the board of
directors of The Gooden Center (formerly Bishop Gooden Home) in Pasadena, and has played a leadership role at a variety of other community organizations.
Sally, in addition to being involved in camp associations, was a longtime active member of the
Junior League of Pasadena. She has also served on the boards of the Pasadena Dispensary, Visiting
Nurse Association, and Homemakers of Southern California.
Mutual benefit. “It’s wonderful to have Huntington Hospital so close by,” says Sally. “Sadly, the older
we get the more we seem to visit, and it’s comforting to know there are wonderful people there to care
for you. The care and consideration we’ve received have been remarkable.”
And the Horners have in turn provided generous support to Huntington Hospital over many years.
They describe the hospital as “one of Pasadena’s great institutions — one that merits significant support
from the citizens of Pasadena, and particularly those able to provide support in a more robust fashion.”
He and Sally recently stepped up their own commitment through the creation of a gift annuity,
which Mike describes as “a wonderful giving vehicle that really does give two times.
“As a financial guy, I was looking for the right way to increase our support for Huntington Hospital,” he adds. “The gift annuity was very simple to set up and provides a nice yield and good tax benefits.
Importantly, we were able to create it using appreciated stock, which provided an additional benefit. It
just made a lot of sense.” +
38 | Fall 2 011
á
Legacy Gift Society
Betty West Keatinge
Involved,
impassioned , inspirational
Betty West Keatinge, who passed away on September 1,
2010, at the age of 90, will be remembered for both her
passion and her compassion. She cared deeply about
numerous causes on a local, state and national level
— and participated with gusto in the work of various
service and political organizations. >
Advocate | 39
“My mother was very involved in her community and in supporting organizations, like Huntington Hospital, that she knew and loved,” says Nancy Keatinge, Betty’s daughter.
Betty has left behind a legacy of caring that will continue to have a positive impact on the lives of
others, long into the future: Through her estate, she made a significant unrestricted gift to Huntington
Memorial Hospital. Such unrestricted support is essential, allowing the hospital to allocate funds wherever the need is greatest — and to respond flexibly as community care needs change.
An adventurous spirit. Betty was born in Astoria, Oregon, in 1920. She graduated from the University of
Washington before moving to New York City to pursue a career as a journalist. She served as marketing
editor for what was then BusinessWeek magazine and, later, as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal,
before relocating once more — to Washington, DC. There, she managed the Washington bureau of The
Journal of Commerce and became a member of the White House Correspondents’ Association.
In 1944, Betty married Richard H. Keatinge, and the couple moved to California, where they lived for
the rest of their lives. (Richard, a prominent attorney in Los Angeles, passed away several years before Betty.)
In addition to daughter Nancy, the couple had two sons, Richard and Daniel, and eight grandchildren.
Nancy and her husband, Stanley Felderman, are Pacific Palisades residents. (Their architecture and
design firm, Felderman Keatinge + Associates, is located in Century City. Clients include MTV Networks,
The Walt Disney Company, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP, for example.) Daniel is also a California resident and a doctor with Kaiser Permanente,
while Richard now lives in Paris, France, and works for a biotechnology firm.
Devoted to doing good. The growing-up years were made exciting for her and her siblings, notes
Nancy, thanks to their parents’ sense of adventure. “In addition to being involved in their community and
active and knowledgeable about world affairs, my parents loved the outdoors and skiing,” says Nancy,
by way of example. “We traveled to the far reaches of the Middle East, to Ur of the Chaldees, to South
America, including the Galápagos Islands, and to Asia,” she says. Betty and Dick even trekked in the
Himalayas more than once — “and loved it!” she adds.
While she loved to travel, however, Betty was also deeply involved in her home community. She
provided generously for organizations with which she was involved during her lifetime. In addition to
Huntington Hospital, these included Villa Esperanza, a Pasadena organization that provides services for
developmentally disabled children and adults, and the Pasadena Public Library Foundation, whose board
of directors Betty chaired. She also helped lead a fundraising campaign to support library renovation.
(Betty was a staunch advocate of public libraries, also serving for four years as president of the Library of
California Board, previously known as California State Library Services Board. And she was a member of
California’s State Advisory Council on Libraries.)
In addition, Betty was on the boards of directors of the Western Justice Center Foundation, the Art
Center College of Design, and Pacific Clinics. Other Los Angeles-area organizations with which she was
involved included the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County (the Music Center); The Museum of
Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens; the Los Angeles Committee on Foreign Relations; and the Los Angeles Olympics Advisory Committee, to name but a few.
Over the years, Betty became increasingly involved in healthcare causes, including Huntington Hospital. She and Dick made a number of gifts to the hospital during their lifetimes.
A far-reaching legacy. With a history of such significant involvement, Betty’s legacy extends far beyond
the generous support provided for Huntington Hospital and other local organizations through her will.
She has left an example of community philanthropy for future generations.
“My mother’s involvement has been inspirational for my husband and me…and for our children,”
says Nancy, whose 11-year-old twins save a portion of their pocket money to contribute to worthy causes.
“We’re so pleased they’re already continuing the legacy of looking outside yourself and donating in
your community.”
The twins, Kate and Sara, were also personally involved in presenting a check from Betty’s estate to
Huntington Hospital. “We’re proud that such a prominent Pasadena-area resident elected to support the
hospital through her estate,” says Jack Brickson, the hospital’s director of planned giving. “And we very
much appreciated the involvement of Nancy, Stanley, Sara and Kate in conveying the funds,” he adds. “It
was a wonderful way to honor Betty — and made the check presentation even more meaningful for everyone at the hospital.” +
40 | Fall 2 011
SCRUBS
SCRUBS is a group of dynamic young philanthropists
who are interested in supporting the work of
Huntington Memorial Hospital.

From left: Carrie Walker, Una Battaglia, Jeff Lin, Julie Lin and April
Danz at the SCRUBS Spectacular.
Lawrence Jones, MD, and son Chuck Jones at the event.
Vintage treats for a new
generation of philanthropists
SCRUBS Spectacular, held on July
8, 2011, at Jones Coffee Roasters in
Pasadena (see page 43), was indeed,
well…spectacular! The venue, decorated in keeping with the theme of a
1920s traveling caravan, offered a fitting
environment for the event. Carnival
performers and other attractions helped
continue a well-established SCRUBS
tradition for fabulous parties.
Magic medicine. Guests were treated
to a vintage carnival show, including
performers from Cirque Bezerk. A
stilt walker, ring master, fire eater,
and fire hula-hooper were all on hand.
Meanwhile, a wandering “medicine
man” (actually a representative from
Krome Vodka) distributed bottles
of his “secret elixir” to guests on the
outdoor promenade. There, large posters
advertised the charms of the Chicken
Lady, the Strong Man and other biological rarities. Strings of suspended lights,
overstuffed velvet couches, and large
gold candelabra completed the scene.
It would be wrong to imagine that
such a vintage theme meant the event
was in any way old-fashioned, however.
The fabulous carnival-themed setting
and delicious culinary delights set the
tone for an evening of up-to-date fun.
And the Cowling Band of West Coast
Music provided a more-than-sufficient
reason for the crowd to get up and dance
all night long.
Special thanks go to Town and Country Event Rentals and to The Kitchen
for Exploring Foods for their creativity
and service. Many thanks also to those
SCRUBS members — known as the Caravan Crew — who worked hard in planning
and implementing this spectacular party.
Answering the call to help.
SCRUBS fundraising activities to date
have raised more than $3 million, with
most of these funds designated toward
expansion of Huntington Memorial
Hospital’s Emergency & Trauma Center.
Originally designed to provide care
through 30,000 patient visits each year,
the center currently serves patients
through approximately 60,000 patient
visits annually. It is the only emergency
department in the City of Pasadena, and
houses the only Center for Trauma Care
in the entire San Gabriel Valley.
Once complete, the newly expanded 20,000-square-foot facility will
Advocate | 41

Top: Dancing to the Cowling Band of West Coast Music. Above, from left:
Sara Hurley, Phil Baker and Kevin Hurley enjoying the party.
be able to accommodate up
to 80,000 patient visits per
year, meeting a growing need
in our region. As SCRUBS
Spectacular’s fortune teller
would doubtless agree, the
expanded center will provide lifesaving care to San
Gabriel Valley residents for
generations to come. This is
possible only through community support.
Focusing on the future.
SCRUBS was created in 2005
by a group of young community members as a way to
engage other next-generation
philanthropists in the work of
42 | Fall 2011
Jill Westbrook Roberts, Kent Roberts and Jennifer Allen also
participated in the fun evening.
Caravan Crew
Jennifer Allen
Tina Baker
Lauren Bender
Michele Carter
Soraya Dancsecs
Drew Domenghini
Heather Drake
Erika Foy
Stephanie Harvey
Cordelia Hinckley
Cheryl Kauffman
Debbi Hoffman
Courtney Hotchkis
Katherine Johnson
Heather Lillard
Mary Morphy
For more information about SCRUBS membership,
please call the office of philanthropy at (626) 397–3241.
Huntington Hospital. The
main focus of SCRUBS Spectacular (in addition to having
fun) was to introduce new
friends to SCRUBS and to the
hospital, helping to ensure
needed stewardship of this
vital community resource,
now and for the future.
SCRUBS members
enjoy benefits including
invitations to exciting social
and networking events like
SCRUBS Spectacular, as
well as special opportunities to learn more about
the hospital and become
acquainted with members
of our medical staff. +
From left, Jones Coffee
Roasters co-owners
Mireya Jones and
son Chuck generously
contributed use of
their coffee house
to host this spring’s
SCRUBS Spectacular
gala event. Mireya’s
husband (Chuck’s father)
Lawrence Jones, MD, is a
urologist at Huntington
Memorial Hospital.
Jones Coffee roasters
M
Lending a Helping Hand
ireya and Chuck Jones are the mother-and-son team behind Pasadena’s
popular specialty coffee house, Jones Coffee Roasters. The two also have
a deep connection to Huntington Memorial Hospital.
Mireya reflects on how the Jones family’s connection to the hospital
became so strong. “Could the most significant thing be that two of
my children were born there,” she wonders aloud, “or that my husband
[urologist Lawrence W. Jones, MD] has practiced medicine there since 1974, or that I’ve been
involved with the President’s Committee there?” While all those things are true, Mireya concludes,
their involvement is “mostly because we just really appreciate the fact that we have Huntington
Hospital in our community.”
It is this appreciation that has led to the Joneses’ willingness “to support the hospital
however we can,” notes Mireya. Most recently, they contributed use of their spacious coffee
house as the venue for the SCRUBS Spectacular gala event.
“When we were approached by the office of philanthropy and the SCRUBS Planning
Committee about holding the party here, it was a perfectly natural fit,” Chuck says. “In addition to
being born at the hospital, and my dad having spent most of his professional career there, I grew
up in the community and have a lot of friends in SCRUBS. We felt it was important to help in this
way — because we could!”
Mireya grew up on her family’s coffee farm, Finca Dos Marias, in Guatemala. It was a return
to her roots when she and Chuck opened Jones Coffee Roasters in 1994 — thus continuing a
five-generation tradition of involvement in the coffee trade. The business occupies a space Chuck
describes as both “edgy and hip — perfect for the young SCRUBS vibe.”
Jones Coffee Roasters uses worker- and environment-friendly farming methods; imports
delicious, handcrafted coffees; and gives back to the Pasadena community, through generous
involvement in SCRUBS. “We’re carrying on the family tradition of people working in harmony with
nature, in a community that values both,” says Mireya.+
Advocate | 43
SCRUBS
HEATHER AND MATTHEW LILLARD
Planting
Philanthropic
seeds
Heather and Matthew Lillard joke that they have
“every intention of living forever and never seeing someone
in scrubs.” (They don’t mean SCRUBS — the dedicated
group of next-generation supporters of Huntington
Memorial Hospital. In fact, they see SCRUBS members
regularly as a result of their deep involvement in and
passion for the group.) All joking aside, however, they know
a time will likely come when members of their family and
their community will need medical care.
It is based on their conviction regarding the current
and future importance of high-quality medical care in their
local community that the Lillards have supported expansion of the hospital’s Emergency & Trauma Center.
“Locally, there are very few options in crisis situations.
Our state and country are going through budget crunches,
shutting down emergency rooms right and left,” says Matt.
“We’re supporting something we hope never to need, of
course. But we recognize that emergency and trauma care
benefits everyone in our community.”
Career success. Heather grew up in La Cañada (she
later attended the University of California, Los Angeles),
Her parents were involved in a variety of local charitable
causes. Matt was born in Lancaster, Michigan, and grew
up in Tustin, California — later living in Pasadena while
studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in
Los Angeles.
After a stint in New York to continue his acting studies,
Matt returned to Southern California and began a successful career in Hollywood. He has appeared in numerous
44 | Fall 2 011
Through their charitable
support and SCRUBS
involvement, Heather
and Matthew Lillard
are helping ensure the
continued availability
of high-quality care at
Huntington Memorial
Hospital. They are
pictured here with
their children, from
left, Liam, Macey
and Addison.

Advocate | 45
movies, including Scream, SLC Punk! and
Scooby-Doo (taking over the voice of Shaggy from
radio and voice personality Casey Kasem in 2009).
Currently, Matt is working on his directorial
debut — which he describes as “the single greatest
challenge of my professional career.” The film, Fat
Kid Rules the World, is adapted from the popular
young adult novel of the same name. (“It’s taken
Hollywood a while to catch up to the fact that I’m
no longer that kid from Scream,” he laughs.)
The perfect place to be. Heather recently
partnered with good friend and well-established
Pasadena realtor, Ted Clark. Despite turmoil
in the national economy, Heather is optimistic
about the local real estate market. “We are lucky
that our ups and downs have not been as dramatic
as in other parts of the county,” she says. “And on
a personal note, I am particularly excited because
Ted Clark & Partners has recently joined deasy/
penner, an exciting boutique agency new to
Pasadena.” Previously, Heather spent eight years
in marketing at The Walt Disney Studios, before
taking time off to care for the couple’s three children — Addison, 9, Macey, 6, and Liam, 3.
While she now helps others to find new
homes, the process of searching for the perfect
place to live is not new to either of the Lillards.
“When we got married, we really thought about
the environment we wanted our kids to grow up
in,” explains Heather, “and we chose Pasadena.
We feel very connected to the community here.”
“I’ve always loved the process of looking at
homes,” she adds. “Matt and I have bought and
sold several in this area,” she says. “It’s such a
desirable place to be.”
In the nine years they have lived in Pasadena, the Lillards have become involved in their
community in myriad ways. They are active with
Polytechnic School in Pasadena and with Holy
Family Church in South Pasadena. And both
have served on the board of Madison’s Foundation, an organization devoted to helping children
with rare diseases. Heather also recently joined
the Friends of Foothill Family Services. In the
46 | Fall 2011
past, she has volunteered with Kidspace Children’s Museum’s Circle of Friends, and has been
involved with Pasadena Children’s Guild.
A body of support. The Lillards’ involvement
in SCRUBS is particularly important to them.
Heather remembers being invited to join the
group shortly after its inception and attending
the first-ever SCRUBS event. “I liked the fact
that it was a bit irreverent,” she says. “It’s a young,
dynamic group of people who are getting together
to make a difference.”
“For us,” Matt says, “SCRUBS is an amazing
opportunity. We love that we’re participating in
planting the seeds of philanthropy and growing a
body of support for the hospital among local residents from a young age. Right now, we don’t need
Huntington Hospital as much as we will down the
road,” he adds, “and we’re proud to be involved in
creating the future of care in our community.” +
Our expanded Emergency & Trauma Center will significantly benefit patients.
Emergency &
Trauma Center
Expansion
Hospital Leaders
Underscore
Benefits
+
In the previous issue of Advocate, we
announced the successful completion
of Huntington Memorial Hospital’s
$80-million campaign to expand our
region’s only Emergency & Trauma
Center — and recognized generous
donors whose contributions are making
this expansion possible.
Once construction is complete, the
new Emergency & Trauma Center will
bring important benefits to patients. In
the pages that follow, you will learn about
these benefits — described by those on
the front lines of care.
Advocate | 47
The individuals quoted here know — perhaps better
than anyone else — how Huntington Hospital’s
expanded Emergency & Trauma Center will
enhance patients’ experience and outcomes.
They explain that the new center will…
Stanley Kalter, MD
Robert Goldweber, MD
Jeanette Abundis, RN
Expand care capacity…
+ Stanley M. Kalter, MD, medical
director, emergency services:
The emergency department at
Huntington Hospital was too small
to accommodate the demand for
emergency services in our region.
Our new Emergency & Trauma
Center will allow doctors, nurses
and other hospital staff to deliver
rapid, high-quality healthcare to all
patients who need such care.
48 | Fall 2 011
+ Robert T. Goldweber, MD,
assistant director, emergency
services: Once complete, our
new state-of-the-art, world-class
Emergency & Trauma Center
will efficiently and effectively
accommodate up to 80,000 patient
visits per year. Through the new
center, Huntington Hospital
will have the ability to rapidly
evaluate and treat patients with
any emergency problem — and
to coordinate prompt admission
for definitive, high-quality care,
as needed.
+ Jeanette Abundis, RN, executive
director, emergency and trauma
services: Huntington Hospital
is a specialty-designated service
provider for stroke, heart attacks,
cardiac arrest, pediatric critical
care, and perinatal, mental health
and trauma care. Due to current
capacity restrictions, we often are
forced to prioritize care, focusing
our resources on those patients
with life-threatening emergencies.
As the expansion takes us from 20
acute beds to 50 multipurpose beds,
we look forward to being able to
serve patients with a range of acute
medical needs, more consistently. The new center will encompass 50 private care rooms.
Enhance patient comfort and safety…
+ Stanley Kalter, MD:
Exciting design elements
of the new Emergency
& Trauma Center
include subdued lighting,
special acoustics and
soft flooring, making
for an improved patient
experience. By making
work in the center easier
on our workforce, these
design elements will also
help us sustain highquality care.
+ Robert Goldweber, MD: + Jeanette Abundis, RN:
The new Emergency
& Trauma Center’s
expertly designed
waiting room and patient
care rooms will provide
a more comfortable
experience for patients,
family members and
hospital staff alike.
Each room in the new
Emergency & Trauma
Center has been
designed with privacy
and comfort in mind,
helping to reduce anxiety
and support healing.
The center will include
50 private rooms. Each
will also accommodate
the patient’s significant
others — and offer access
to a bedside phone
and television.
+ Robert Goldweber, MD:
The expanded center’s
design will also
incorporate rooms
specially designed to
prevent the spread of
infectious diseases.
Advocate | 49
Further speed the delivery of care…
+ Robert Goldweber, MD: In prepa- + Karen Knudsen, RN, manager,
ration for the move into our new
Emergency & Trauma Center, we
have continually improved the
efficiency of our patient-flow and
tracking processes, and we will
bring these improvements along
with us into the new facility.
A newer, faster CT scanner,
integrated into the Emergency &
Trauma Center, will decrease the
time between arrival at the center
and availability of diagnostic results
for stroke and trauma patients.
Amal Obaid, MD
emergency services: Further
speeding care, we will be able to
transport critically ill patients
rapidly, via elevator, from the
Emergency & Trauma Center to an
operating room or to our intensive
care unit as needed.
Karen Knudsen, RN
Susan Thompson, RN
Significant community support has
made construction possible.
Improve trauma capacity and care…
+ Amal K. Obaid, MD, medical
director, trauma services: The
expansion of Huntington Hospital’s
Emergency & Trauma Center will
allow our superior team of boardcertified trauma surgeons to triage
and care for more seriously injured
patients simultaneously.
Increased availability of trauma-specific treatment areas will
mean fewer ambulance diversions
to other hospitals.
50 | Fall 2 011
+ Susan Thompson, RN, trauma
program manager: Expansion will
allow us to treat multiple casualties
from a major incident…to handle
a larger number of more critically
injured patients concurrently. And
the redesigned layout will allow for
rapid transport from the patient’s
point of entry on to the next phases
of care.
+ Amal Obaid, MD: In the event
of a major disaster, such as an
earthquake or multiple-casualty
accident, the capacity to care for
multiple patients simultaneously
becomes all the more critical. As
the only remaining trauma center
in the San Gabriel Valley, we must
anticipate these events and be able
to respond when disaster strikes.
Our new facilities and trauma
protocols will ensure that we are
prepared to respond to any critical
situation — at any time.
Rendering of one of the center’s centrally located nursing stations.
Julie Brown, RN
Monica Shima, RN
Promote continued clinical excellence…
+ J ulie Brown, RN, education
Conference area (rendering).
development specialist: From the
early stages of designing the new
Emergency & Trauma Center, we
planned space for staff education. A
conference room designed for this
purpose — located in the center —
will accommodate a variety of learning activities. And the overall design
of the center, with its private rooms,
will allow us to conduct essential
drills and training exercises without
disturbing patients or compromising their privacy.
+ M
onica Shima, RN, emergency
department charge nurse: In
the new Emergency & Trauma
Center, all patient rooms will be
fully equipped to provide lifesaving
care for critically ill patients. Once
the center is complete, my fellow
nurses and I will be able to provide
even better care for patients
requiring a high level of care.
Advocate | 51
Jenny Van Slyke, RN
Construction is increasing the center’s care capacity.
Provide other significant benefits…
+ J enny Van Slyke, RN, pre-
hospital care coordinator: The
new Emergency & Trauma Center
will have a larger radio room — the
Sally and George Harris Central
Communications Room —
providing space for hospital staff
to communicate frequently and
efficiently with emergency medical
services 9-1-1 personnel. Such
communication supports prompt,
highly coordinated care upon the
patient’s arrival at the center.
+ R obert Goldweber, MD: As
we continue to modernize our
equipment — adding, for example,
portable x-ray machines that
generate digital images; rapid,
bedside laboratory testing; and so
on — we will be able to deliver care
even more effectively, and meet the
needs of more patients.
+ K aren Knudsen, RN: Computers
in each room will allow nurses
to complete documentation
efficiently — thus increasing
the time they have available for
patient care.
The benefits of Emergency &
Trauma Center expansion are the
direct result of generous community
support. Many thanks to those who
have contributed so generously to
make this expansion possible.
52 | Fall 2011
Jill Westbrook Roberts
recently hosted an event to
raise funds toward breast
cancer care at Huntington
Memorial Hospital in
memory of her mother,
Shirley Ann Westbrook
(pictured right). Proceeds
from the event — which
was generously sponsored
by San Marino jewelry
boutique Single Stone and
designer Irene Neuwirth —
were designated toward the
nurse navigator program at
Huntington Hospital.
Jill Westbrook Roberts
Finding New Ways to Get Involved
Jill Westbrook Roberts has found numerous ways to help Huntington Memorial Hospital over
the years. She first became involved through National Charity League Juniors of San Marino,
helping to raise funds for the hospital’s neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. (“Since
my oldest son’s life was saved by a pediatric intensive care unit when he was young,” Jill
notes, “I was very interested in this group.”) She has also been involved in SCRUBS, a group of
younger-generation philanthropists focused on ensuring the future of high-quality care at
Huntington Hospital.
Thus, when Ari and Corina Madilian, the husband-and-wife owners of Single Stone, asked
if it might be possible to host a jewelry showcase at the Westbrook Roberts’ San Marino
home, Jill had one question: How might such an event be organized to help the hospital?
In addition to a downtown Los Angeles location, Single Stone has an elegant jewelry
store on Mission Street in San Marino. Jill treasures a ring her husband Rick purchased there
for her. It was designed by Irene Neuwirth — whose work was to be featured at the jewelry
trunk show. “Irene’s designs are unusual...colorful...visually appealing,” Jill says. “They’re
bright and fun, like the designer herself!” (The designer’s pieces are among the top sellers at
Barneys New York.) >
Advocate | 53
Nurse navigators and other
specialists who provide
comprehensive support
services for patients in the
hospital’s breast program
include, from left, Ann Brady,
RN, clinical coordinator,
oncology symptom
management; Leah Kurihara,
outpatient oncology dietitian;
Catherine O’Connor, RN,
clinical coordinator, radiation
oncology; Saskia de Koomen,
RN, nurse navigator,
colorectal and gynecological
cancers; Barbara Ann Perry,
licensed clinical oncology
social worker; and Nancy
Cushing, RN, nurse navigator,
breast cancer.
Inspired by someone special.
Jill contacted the hospital’s office of philanthropy and arranged to benefit Huntington-Hill Breast
Center through the jewelry showcase and luncheon. The event, she had determined, would honor
her mother, who passed away in October 2010, after a six-year struggle with breast cancer.
“My mother was absolutely the inspiration for this event,” Jill says. “I wanted to support
the breast center at Huntington Hospital as a way of helping other women like her.”
Jill notes that she is particularly impressed by the hospital’s nurse navigation program.
By way of context, she explains that her mother (who lived and received care in Northern
California) had a lot of support, but that the family was still completely unprepared for her
first chemotherapy treatment, for example. At Huntington Hospital, on the other hand, “The
nurse navigators are there to answer patients’ and families’ questions and explain what to
expect,” Jill says. “To me, the idea that the hospital has someone there with you — checking
in, taking care of you — is wonderful, and we want to do anything we can to help women get
this kind of care.”
An opportunity for support.
The Single Stone event was held at the Westbrook Roberts’ home in April 2011. The
approximately 60 guests included Jill and Rick’s friends as well as store customers. In addition
to admiring and trying on pieces from Irene Neuwirth’s latest collection, attendees had the
opportunity to hear from Nancy Cushing, RN. This nurse navigator with Huntington-Hill
Breast Center provided an overview of the comprehensive services available to breast cancer
patients at the hospital.
Guests also purchased tickets for a special opportunity drawing — with a lucky winner
taking home a spectacular piece of Irene Neuwirth jewelry, jointly donated by Single Stone
and Irene herself. All proceeds from the drawing were then contributed to the hospital in
support of the breast center’s work. “It was such a great day,” says Jill. “I loved it — because
I was able to have a good time with friends and help raise funds for Huntington Hospital in
memory of my mom.”+
54 | Fall 2 011
Altadena
Guild
On May 6, 2012, the guild will host
its 61st annual Home Tour. Planning
is currently underway for this
signature event.
Members of the Altadena Guild present a check representing proceeds of their recent
fundraising efforts to Huntington Memorial Hospital staff. Pictured, from left, are
Maury Kulwin, executive director, ambulatory and cancer services; Ruth Williamson,
MD, medical director, breast program and radiation oncology; Yo Zeiman, esthetician,
Constance G. Zahorik Appearance Center; Susan D’Antuono, past president, Altadena
Guild; Tarnie Fulloon Israelsson, co-chair, 2011 Altadena Guild Home Tour; and Debbie
Williams, president, Altadena Guild.
Throughout the year, the Altadena
Guild hosts events to support the hospital’s Constance G. Zahorik Appearance
Center and to fund the guild’s employee
scholarship award. The guild also supports Huntington Medical Research
Institutes. The guild’s annual fashion
show, Fall Fashion Fun, was presented
in association with Macy’s South
Lake and Jones New York, on October
13, 2011. Members modeled the latest
trends and holiday wear. Guests also
enjoyed special prize drawings, store
discounts, a lipstick clinic, and personal
stylist consultations. Fine wine and
hors d’oeuvres were served.
For information regarding future
events, visit www.altadenaguild.org.
Support that Strengthens the Future of Care
With more than 65
active and 80 associate
members, the Altadena
Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital is one of the
hospital’s largest support
groups. It is also one of the
most active: Guild members
provide over 500 hours of
Victoria Young, RN , is the 2011
volunteer service at the
recipient of the Altadena Guild
Community Service Scholarship.
hospital each month, helping in the surgical center, at
information desks, and in
the S. Robert and Denise Zeilstra Gift Shop.
The group also sponsors the Altadena Guild Community Service Scholarship — each year offering funds toward
education in the healthcare field for a hospital employee who
displays excellence in community service.
Guild members have selected Victoria (Vicki) Young, RN,
a nurse in the hospital’s medical oncology department, as the
winner of their prestigious scholarship award in 2011.
E x p a n d i n g k n o w l e d g e , e n h a n c i n g ca r e . Vicki
has worked at Huntington Hospital for more than 30 years,
and is committed to continuing education. She is using her
scholarship toward pursuit of a master’s of science in nursing.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” says Vicki. (Having
participated in other educational opportunities at the hospital,
she waited for her daughters to grow up before embarking on an
advanced degree.) Now in her third semester, “I’m gaining more
tools to help me help the hospital — and its patients,” she says.
Gloria Tango, RN, is the manager of Vicki’s department. “I
feel she truly deserves this award,” Gloria says. “She has given
so much to her patients and their families, and to her peers,
over the years she’s been with the hospital.”
The guild’s hope, says Debbie Williams, president, is that
providing financial assistance for continuing education will
help employees advance in the healthcare field, “which in turn
helps ensure the availability of well-educated and well-prepared employees to serve patients at the hospital.”
R e c o g n i z i n g s e r v i c e . Since beginning her master’s
studies, Vicki has been sharing what she has learned with
other members of her department’s staff — expanding
the benefits of her higher education. She was the front-runner
for this year’s scholarship award thanks to her extensive
service to our community both within and beyond the hospital’s walls: For the past nine years, she has mentored fifth- and
sixth-grade girls at First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena.
“Vicki is one of the most reliable volunteers I’ve ever worked
with,” says Nicole Johnson, children’s pastor at the church,
“and she’s also a great communicator and a natural leader."
Advocate | 55
Huntington
Collection
Huntington Collection is located
at 766 Fair Oaks Avenue, at the
intersection with Fillmore Street.
Huntington
Collection is a oneof-a-kind resale
shop featuring items
ranging from home
goods to fine jewelry
— including rare
antiques and hardto-find collectibles.
Funds raised by
the Collection
benefit Huntington
Memorial Hospital’s
Senior Care Network.
Hidden Treasures
The Huntington Collection,
The Huntington Collection is open weekdays
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Thursdays,
when hours are from noon to 6 p.m. On the
last Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to
1 p.m., shoppers receive half off all regular
clothing and 20 percent or more off boutique
clothing. When stopping by, ask about the
Collection’s Bag Sale, held three to four
times a year. During this special event,
shoppers may fill a grocery bag to the brim
with clothing and accessories for the special
price of only $10.
56 | Fall 2 011
one of Pasadena’s jewels for more
than 20 years, is a unique resale
shop, which — through sales
of donated and consignment
merchandise — benefits Huntington Memorial Hospital’s Senior
Care Network. The Collection —
housed in a 29,000-square-foot
space, is filled to the brim with
furniture, home goods, clothing,
jewelry, and more — making each
visit a joy for the treasure hunter.
While prices at the Collection
are always reasonable, shoppers
here may still sometimes walk
away with much more than they
bargained for. “There were these
funny lanterns that were sitting
on our workbench for months,” recalls Linda Stephens, manager of
the Huntington Collection. “They
were bronze, missing their glass
cylinders, splattered with some
paint. They weren’t very prepossessing, but I just had a hunch
about them,” she says. Linda
researched the design for months
without success. Then one day,
she was browsing through a
book at a local antique store, and
there they were: Gustav Stickley
lanterns, a rare prize. (The owner
of the antique store immediately
offered to buy them for $1,500.)
Babs Stewart, estate manager for the Collection, speaks
of similar experiences. One
donor called about a glass statue
she would like to donate. It was
later a surprise when the item
turned out to be a Lalique worth
approximately $2,500.
Linda says she understands
the thrill of bargain-hunting at the
Collection: “That’s the fun part,
when you’re digging through a box
of bric-a-brac and you find that
one thing — a Tiffany inkwell, a
Miriam Haskell necklace…”
“The work here — and the
shopping — is fabulously interesting, because it changes every
single day,” adds Babs. “And we’re
doing real community service by
supporting Huntington Hospital.
I think that’s the satisfying part,”
she adds. “You know you’re making a difference.”
Fall Food &
Wine Festival
Each year, the Fall Food & Wine Festival raises
funds toward Huntington Memorial Hospital’s
Center for Trauma Care, the San Gabriel
Valley’s only trauma center.
Members of the 2011 Fall Food & Wine
Committee were (standing, from left)
Michele Thompson, Todd Sandburg,
Sherri Taylor, John Haglund, Caroline
Birnie, Lauralyn Derringer, Jane
Glover, Nick Salata, Brian Birnie,
Ave Bortz, Lindburgh McPherson,
Cathy Simms, Anne Irvine, Trish
Callaghan, Lee Mothershead, Debbie
Dendrinos, Jamie Simpson, Will
Bortz, Margie Lowe-Francis, and
Theresé Mothershead; (seated, from
left) Wendy Senour, Doug Senour,
Linda Barker (event co-chair), Garrett
Bell (event co-chair), Tom Glover,
Dottie Juett, Greg Thompson, and
Janet Mayeda; and (not pictured)
Matt Coleman, Cheryl Conway, Lynn
De Groot, Kris Giordano, Art Marin,
Adam Martin, Dave Mullen, Brittany
Thompson, and Trude Tsujimoto.
Helping Ensure Access to Trauma Care
O n Oc t o b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 1 , Hun-
tington Memorial Hospital and
Parkway Grill teamed up once
again to host the 27th annual Fall
Food & Wine Festival, in support
of trauma care at the hospital.
Each year, the festival features
samplings of the best cuisine and
wine the West Coast has to offer.
It has raised more than $2 million
toward our Center for Trauma Care
since its inception in 1984. The
hospital’s Center for Trauma Care
provides critical care for patients with
life-threatening internal injuries.
C h A t e au Pa s a d e n a . The 2011
Fall Food & Wine Festival — held
on the grounds between Parkway
Grill and Arroyo Chop House in
Pasadena — had a vintage French
countryside theme. Wrought-iron
benches, wine barrels, wooden
swings and bistro tables lent a feeling of rustic romanticism.
Huntington Hospital’s Fall
Food & Wine Committee worked
tirelessly to plan the details of the
festival. Last year’s event co-chairs,
Garrett Bell and Linda Barker,
returned to the helm again this
year. Their committee also included
Arroyo Chop House’s new manager,
Matt Coleman, who had the key
responsibility of procuring wines for
the event.
L o ca l a n d l o y a l . More than
80 wineries and approximately 35
restaurants helped make this year's
festival a success. Participating
restaurants included Parkway Grill,
Arroyo Chop House, Cheval Blanc
Bistro, Smitty’s Grill, Herb Alpert’s
Vibrato Grill & Jazz, Chaya Downtown, Gale’s Restaurant, Church
& State Bistro, Mijares Mexican
Restaurant, and others. Wineries and
beverage purveyors in attendance
included Rombauer, Frank Family
Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards,
Silver Oak Cellars, Pushback Winery,
Wild Horse Vineyards, Orin Swift
Cellars, Jordan Winery, Justin,
Maddalena, Krome Vodka and more.
Many wineries and restaurants were
returning partners. Huntington Hospital is grateful for their loyal support.
Bob and Gregg Smith, owners
of the Smith Brothers Restaurant
Corporation, have been critical
partners in the festival’s success
since its inception in 1984. Their
company, which operates some of
the Los Angeles area’s most prestigious restaurants — Arroyo Chop
House, Parkway Grill, Cheval Blanc
Bistro, Smitty’s Grill, and Cafe 140
South — once again contributed the
use of their facilities for the event.
The Smith brothers also again helped
with event planning, sharing their
significant experience and expertise
in the food and wine industries.
In 2011, for the first time, the
festival encompassed a special early
opening for VIP Patrons: Donors of
$5,000 or more had the opportunity
to enter one hour prior to general
admission, enjoying a first taste of the
evening’s scrumptious satisfactions.
Later, 11-member band Soulville entertained the more than 1,500 guests
with an energetic live performance.
Fall Food & Wine Festival attendees had the opportunity to
sample fine foods, taste truly wonderful wines, and support a great
cause. Our taste buds are already
eager for next year’s festival.
Advocate | 57
Flintridge
La Cañada Guild
Save the date for the next
Children’s Horse Show,
April 27-29, 2012.
Members of the Flintridge La Cañada Guild
present a check representing funds raised
through their 2011 Children’s Horse Show, to
Huntington Memorial Hospital President and
CEO Steve Ralph and hospital staff. Pictured,
from left, are Liane Ward, member, Flintridge
La Cañada Guild; Lauren Oakes, horse show
co-chair, Flintridge La Cañada Guild; Karen
Knudsen, RN, manager, emergency services;
Stanley Kalter, MD, medical director, emergency services; Kris Korkunis, horse show
co-chair, Flintridge La Cañada Guild; Steve
Ralph; Jeanette Abundis, RN, executive director, emergency and trauma services; Jenna
Harkins, member, Flintridge La Cañada
Guild; and Stephanie Sepulveda, member,
Flintridge La Cañada Guild.
Carrying on a Tradition of Service
Lau r e n S h e n is 2011 president of
Huntington Memorial Hospital’s Flintridge
La Cañada Guild. In this role, she says, she
is conscious of “carrying the torch” — of
continuing a tradition of philanthropic
engagement established by prior generations
of women in her community. “Many of our
members grew up in La Cañada,” she says,
“and many of our moms were deeply involved
in the community, in volunteering, and in
various hospital-related causes. Today,” she
adds, “a new generation of members is volunteering — right alongside longtime members
who really serve as an inspiration to us. We
feel a responsibility to our community, to the
hospital and to the guild to keep the tradition
of volunteerism alive.”
A c o mmu n i t y e x p e r i e n c e . Lauren
was introduced to the Flintridge La Cañada
Guild in 2005, through a friend who was
already a member. She attended high school
in La Cañada with others who had gone on to
become members. “A lot of us were familiar
with the work of Huntington Hospital just
because of its presence in our community,” she
explains. “We had visited the hospital for the
birth of children, for visits to the emergency
room, et cetera.”
58 | Fall 2 011
Lauren’s own two young children were
both born at the hospital, she notes. And she
developed a strong appreciation for the work
of the Emergency & Trauma Center — supported by the Flintridge La Cañada Guild
— during a visit following the birth of her
youngest child. “I was treated by Dr. Kalter
[medical director, emergency services, at
Huntington Hospital]. He put me at ease,
made me feel comfortable and provided wonderful care,” she says.
C o mm i t m e n t f o r g o o d . Lauren’s role
in the Flintridge La Cañada Guild has evolved
over the course of her involvement. Following
a year as a provisional member, she served for
three years as treasurer of the group. In this
role, she had a number of significant responsibilities related to the guild’s primary fundraiser
— its annual Children’s Horse Show.
“Every year, the members of our Horse
Show Committee do an amazing job putting
on the show," she says. "What’s great to see,
too, is the commitment of the riders and the
families. They come back to participate year
after year.” In addition, Lauren says, “Our
members understand the importance of
Huntington Hospital and have a long-term
commitment to the cause.”
Lauren Shen
The Flintridge La Cañada
Guild has been actively
raising funds, helping to
meet a variety of facilities
and equipment needs at
Huntington Hospital, over
many years. Most recently,
the group has directed the
proceeds of its fundraising
efforts toward expansion of
our Emergency & Trauma
Center. For additional
details regarding the
guild’s 2012 Children’s
Horse Show, visit www.
childrenshorseshow.org.
H.E.A.R.T.
H.E.A.R.T. donors are helping to
promote superior cardiac care for
San Gabriel Valley residents.
William Young helped found
Heart Education Association for
Rehabilitation and Treatment
(H.E.A.R.T.) following cardiac
surgery at Huntington Memorial
Hospital nearly two decades
ago. Today, the group — through
which Bill is a generous donor
— provides important support,
with a particular emphasis
on the hospital’s cardiac
rehabilitation program.
William D. Young: Leading by Example
I n 1 9 9 3 , William D. Young had triple
bypass surgery at Huntington Memorial
Hospital. And “it was a lifesaving move,”
he says. His surgery also led him to become involved with Huntington Hospital
in other ways — including participation
in our cardiac rehabilitation program.
There, he and several other participants
discussed the need for donor involvement focused on cardiac care at the
hospital. “We were in the cardiac rehab
room at the hospital pedaling away on
our exercise bikes,” Bill recalls, “and
when we saw a need for new equipment,
a bigger room, and other upgrades, we
wondered what we could do to make cardiac care at Huntington Hospital even
better for future patients.”
Bill and his new exercise friends
founded Heart Education Association for Rehabilitation and Treatment
(H.E.A.R.T.). More than 15 years later,
the group continues to provide support
for cardiac care at the hospital, with a focus on our physician-supervised cardiac
rehabilitation program. Bill himself has
been a regular, generous donor.
Im p r o v e m e n t s i n ca r e . Recently, funds raised by H.E.A.R.T. also helped
the hospital upgrade bedside monitors in
the outpatient cardiac recovery unit. The
new monitoring technology acquired
with H.E.A.R.T. support provides care
staff with enhanced access to patients’
health-status information, following
minimally invasive cardiac procedures.
Many patients are now able to return
home without an overnight stay.
H.E.A.R.T. also funds high-quality
exercise equipment and educational
materials for the cardiac rehabilitation
program, promoting heart health.
A l i f e ’ s w o r k . Bill is no stranger
to the concept of making life better
for others. While conducting research
for his master’s thesis at California
State University, Los Angeles, he began
studying treatment programs for blind
and developmentally disabled adults in
state-run hospitals — and recognized a
need for change.
Working initially with just two patients, Bill helped them transition from
a state hospital into the community.
He eventually developed a specialized
curriculum to help other multi-disabled
adults transition from institutional to
community-based care, and in 1977, he
founded CLIMB (Center for Living Independence for the Multi-handicapped
Blind). The organization provides “a
safe, secure environment in which blind
and disabled adults can live and achieve
a degree of independence,” says Bill. He
continues to operate CLIMB and its
subsidiary nonprofit organization.
Ra r e e x c e l l e n c e . Given his
professional experience, Bill recognizes the importance of both quality
and a compassionate approach. He
notes that patients feel grateful for the
opportunity to receive care at Huntington Hospital, thanks to such qualities.
“Huntington Hospital isn’t just a place
you go,” he says. “It’s a place you pick —
for its history, culture, tradition. For its
excellent care.”
Advocate | 59
National Charity League
Juniors of San Marino
Join the NCL Juniors at their
2012 gala, The Enchanted Forest,
on March 17.
National Charity League
Juniors of San Marino
board members include,
from left, Georgina
Maechling, publicity chair;
Diana David, social cochair; Ren Leftwich, social
co-chair; Maria Robl,
second vice president,
benefit; and Karla Khoury,
president.
Support with Lifesaving Impact
F o r t h e p a s t 1 7 y e a r s , National Char-
ity League Juniors of San Marino has been
deeply committed to supporting women’s and
children’s services at Huntington Memorial
Hospital. The group has raised more than
$1.5 million in support of the hospital’s neonatal and pediatric intensive care units (NICU
and PICU, respectively).
Proceeds from the group’s 2011 fundraising efforts have helped the hospital acquire
high-frequency jet ventilators for the NICU.
These new ventilators help fragile infants with
underdeveloped lungs to receive adequate
oxygen during the early weeks of life.
H e l p i n g t h e m o s t f r ag i l e p at i e n t s .
NCL Juniors’ support will further enhance
care for infants like Aimee and Jason Gibbs’
twins, Kaleb and Kennedie. Prior to the twins’
birth, Aimee had been hospitalized for eight
weeks and Kaleb and Kennedie were born only
28 weeks into her pregnancy. Kaleb required
breathing assistance from a ventilator over
five weeks.
“Honestly, I don’t know where we’d be
without Huntington Hospital,” Aimee says.
“I’m still very emotional about the care we
received there. The nurses and doctors are incredible. I will always have a place in my heart
for them,” she adds. “We’ve become family.”
Within the hospital’s NICU, neonatologists are available around the clock. The unit’s
staff also includes respiratory therapists,
60 | Fall 2011
neonatology nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, dietitians and anesthesiologists,
among other skilled caregivers. These experts
provide a full range of neonatal intensive care,
including everything from treatment of infection to complex surgical interventions. The
hospital is unique in the San Gabriel Valley
in offering extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, nitric oxide treatment and certain
other advanced — and lifesaving — aspects of
neonatal care.
W i d e n i n g t h e c i r c l e o f s u p p o r t.
In addition to supporting such direct care, NCL
Juniors has also provided philanthropic assistance to Parent Connection, a program that
engages prior NICU parents — and in which
Aimee Gibbs now participates. Parent Connection volunteers bring coffee and cookies to
families whose children are currently receiving
care in the unit. They also host a monthly pizza
night, and organize scrap-booking classes,
baby showers and other activities, for these
families. They listen, share their experiences,
talk on the phone, lend a shoulder to cry on,
and more. “The program is a great way of
making a difference to NICU families, and
volunteering is also very healing,” says Aimee.
She says she cannot thank NCL Juniors
and others who support the various aspects of
the NICU’s work enough: “There are not words
for how grateful I am,” she says. “It saved my
kids’ lives!”
On March 17, 2012,
NCL Juniors will host
their annual gala, The
Enchanted Forest, at
The Jonathan Club in
downtown Los Angeles.
Funds raised will go
directly toward the
purchase of needed
equipment for our NICU
and PICU. Complete
details regarding the
event are available
online, at www.
ncljrsofsanmarino.org.
San Marino
Guild
The next Celebrity Series begins
on February 12, 2012, with a
presentation by Elliott Engel, PhD.
Members of the San Marino Guild presented a check
to Huntington Memorial Hospital on October 4, 2011.
Proceeds from the group’s recent fundraising efforts
were designated toward women’s and children’s
services at the hospital. Pictured, from left, are Jean
Maines, manager, children’s services; Zohreh Shafai,
manager, obstetrical services; Gloria SanchezRico, executive director, children’s services; Jane
Haderlein, senior vice president, philanthropy and
public affairs; Alicia Ferramola, telephone chair, San
Marino Guild; and Nancy Logg, first vice president,
San Marino Guild.
Supporting Patient
Care and Comfort
O n N o v e mb e r 4 , 2 0 1 1 , the San Marino Guild
celebrated its 60th anniversary with a dinner for
its members at Beckham Grill in Pasadena. Since
its founding in 1951, the guild has raised more than
$1.7 million to help enhance services for mothers,
newborns and children of all ages at Huntington
Memorial Hospital.
In 2011, support generated by the guild’s activities helped create a virtual tour of the hospital’s
labor and delivery and maternity departments. It is
also enhancing patient comfort within Huntington
Hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) via
acquisition of new glider rocking chairs for the unit.
These new chairs represent an important benefit
for parents who must remain at bedside for extended periods during their child’s hospitalization.
The Carlson family, whose daughter Tara has
been treated in our PICU several times since she
was born in 2007, purchased the first glider rocking
chair for the unit. Tara’s parents, Kathie and Jim,
solicited funds for the chair in lieu of gifts for Tara’s
second birthday. When members of the San Marino
Guild became aware of the need, they determined to
help address it. “We thought it would be very useful
for mothers with babies in the PICU to be able to
rock them,” says guild president Mimi Gerhardt.
Celebrity Series
To raise funds, the San Marino Guild organizes entertaining and
educational events throughout the year. The Celebrity Series is the
group’s signature fundraising vehicle. In 2012, the series begins on
February 12, with a presentation called “Happy 200th Birthday,
Charles Dickens,” by famed literary scholar Elliott Engel, PhD,
who is participating for his 19th season. It continues on March 18,
2012, with a lecture entitled “Touched By an Angel’s Inspiration,”
by Martha Williamson. The executive producer of the long-running television drama “Touched By an Angel” will share humorous
behind-the-scenes anecdotes during her positive and uplifting
talk. These events will be held at the San Marino Center. For
further details and ticket purchase, please call (626) 441-1465 or
(626) 793‑1333, or email the guild at sanmarinocelebrityseries@
gmail.com.
Other upcoming San Marino Guild fundraising events
include the guild’s first fashion show, “Dazzling Designs,” presented by Margie’s of San Marino. The show will take place April
19, 2012, at the San Gabriel Country Club. Then, on May 12, 2012,
the guild will host a performance of the play “A Woman of Independent Means,” at the Fremont Theatre in South Pasadena.
(Local actress Lissa Layng stars in this award-winning, oneperson show.) This Mother’s Day weekend event will also feature
an afternoon tea. Mark your calendars and plan to participate in
these fun events, supporting women’s and children’s services at
Huntington Hospital.
Advocate | 61
Women’s
Auxiliary
On December 5, the Women’s
Auxiliary will host its annual
Christmas Tree Sale at
Huntington Memorial Hospital.
From left, Kathy Kobayashi,
and Linda Stephens,
Huntington Collection
manager, at a Women’s
Auxiliary event.
Help for Those with Nowhere Else to Turn
she felt she had nowhere to turn. Then she
learned about Huntington Ambulatory Care
Center (the Dispensary).
Now, Sumalee receives the medications
she needs from the Dispensary, thanks to
funding from the Women’s Auxiliary.
Sophia Herrera , social worker, at Huntington
Ambulatory Care Center (the Dispensary), spoke at
a recent Women’s Auxiliary event.
C o n t r i bu t i o n s from the Women’s
Auxiliary provide medications to lowincome patients at Huntington Memorial
Hospital who could not otherwise afford
them. Sumalee (name changed to protect
patient confidentiality), who is chronically
ill and has been unable to work for nearly
two years, is a perfect example of the patients who are directly touched by generous
Women’s Auxiliary support.
Sumalee was diagnosed with ovarian
cancer in 2008. Sadly, she then had a severe
reaction to her course of chemotherapy.
When she became too ill to work, she was
forced to leave her job of many years with
a shipping and logistics company. By late
2010, her insurance benefits had run out and
62 | Fall 2011
L i k e fam i ly. Saying goodbye to family and friends, Sumalee left her native
Thailand 20 years ago. (She moved to Los
Angeles to study for a master’s degree.) Even
after all these years, however, there are some
aspects of Thai tradition that she continues
to uphold. “It’s part of my Thai upbringing:
You never want to ask for help,” she explains.
“You want to work, to have insurance, and
you don’t want people to know if you’re
struggling. But then, when you have nothing
and someone offers to help — you’re just
so grateful,” she adds. “Now I feel like the
Dispensary is family to me.”
Sophia Herrera, the Dispensary’s
social worker, underscores the benefits of
Women’s Auxiliary support for patients like
Sumalee. “She’s one of the most honest and
humble people I’ve ever met,” says Sophia.
“She’s worked hard all her life, and now that
she’s having difficulties, I’m glad that the
Women’s Auxiliary is able to help her.”
Notes Sumalee, “One day, if I get better and can make money again, I want to
give back to the hospital. They help people
like me, who just need a little lift during a
tough time.”
On October 29, the Women’s
Auxiliary hosted a boutique
shopping event at the home
of its president, Diane
Martin. The event offered a
variety of fine merchandise.
On November 10, a second
boutique was held at Fancy
That on Mission Street
in San Marino. A third
shopping event was held
on November 15 at two
adjacent specialty shops,
Savor the Flavor and Leonora
Moss, in Sierra Madre. All
three events represented a
wonderful opportunity to
shop for holiday gift items.
On December 5, the auxiliary
will hold its annual Christmas
Tree Sale at Huntington
Hospital. Trees, wreaths,
ornaments and other holiday
items will be available for
purchase. Proceeds from the
auxiliary’s events will support
the Dispensary, helping to
provide potentially lifesaving
medications for patients
in need.
S. Robert and Denise
Zeilstra Gift Shop
Find the perfect gift for every occasion
at Huntington Memorial Hospital’s gift
shop, centrally located in the hospital’s
main lobby.
Everything You Need and More!
Hu n t i n g to n M e m o r i a l H o s p i ta l’ s
S. Robert and Denise Zeilstra Gift Shop
is far from a typical hospital gift shop.
Staffed by knowledgeable and friendly
hospital employees, aided by a rotating
roster of more than 100 volunteers, the
store offers a wide selection of designer
jewelry, gourmet food, seasonal gifts and
treats — and much more. In addition to
pursuing its mission of providing excellent customer service to patients, staff
and visitors, it also provides an area of
respite in stressful circumstances.
In this issue of Advocate, we answer
some of the questions you might have
about the S. Robert and Denise Zeilstra
Gift Shop. If you need further information, please call (626) 397-5257.
Q:Does the gift shop carry
greeting cards?
A:You will find a broad line of cards
from several major greeting-card
companies here. So, whether you’re
celebrating the birth of a new baby,
sending get-well greetings, conveying sympathy, or wishing someone
a happy birthday, you will almost
certainly find just what you need.
Q:Can I get anything to eat at the
gift shop?
A:The gift shop’s array of edible goods
includes See’s Candies, as well as
other brands of bagged candies, candy
bars, chewing gum, mints, and nostalgia candies, and a selection of trail
mix and popcorn. On the last Friday
of every month, you can also purchase
cupcakes from Dots Cupcakes here.
Q:My friends just had a baby. Will I be
able to find the right gift to welcome
the latest addition to their family?
A:The gift shop carries an outstanding
selection of baby items — including
clothing, toys, blankets and more —
as well as gifts appropriate for new
parents and grandparents.
Q:I would like to order flowers for a patient in the hospital through the gift
shop. Can I do this?
A:Attractive floral items are available and we can arrange for delivery
within the hospital. If you would
prefer to call in your order, staff will
be pleased to describe available items
so you can make the best choice.
Q:I’m looking for a gift for a friend’s
birthday (or anniversary, or other
special occasion). What might I find
that would be appropriate?
A:The gift shop offers high-quality
gifts suitable for all occasions in life.
These include jewelry, handbags,
accessories from Brighton® and
other high-end designers, elegant
home décor and so on. Our many
return customers also look forward to the store’s festive holiday
displays and seasonal merchandise. And all who shop here have
the satisfaction of knowing their
purchases are helping support medical care at Huntington Hospital.
Q:What are the gift shop’s hours of
operation?
A:The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, and from
noon to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Q:Oh, and I have to ask…. Why do the
women working in the gift shop wear
pink uniforms?
A:Huntington Hospital is grateful for
the involvement of our dedicated and
hard-working gift shop volunteers,
whose uniforms help identify them as
a resource: Volunteers have extensive
knowledge of gift shop offerings and
experience in the hospital setting.
They help make the gift shop a
welcoming place for visitors, and are
always happy to lend a friendly ear.
Advocate | 63
H
Dear Friends:
untington Memorial Hospital is truly grateful to all those
who have partnered with us in ensuring the strength of our services, even
in such challenging times. As the need for emergency and trauma care
services in our region has grown steadily, for example, members of our community have partnered with Huntington Hospital to ensure we can address
the growing need. Their support resulted in the successful completion of
our $80-million campaign to expand the hospital’s Emergency & Trauma
Center. This state-of-the-art facility will be a very visible symbol of our
community’s common vision and foresight. And I am proud of what we have
accomplished in partnership with you.
It is also with the help of local philanthropic partners that the hospital
has achieved Magnet® recognition for our outstanding nursing program…
that we have been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the
American College of Radiology…and that we have achieved recognition by
The Joint Commission for our total-joint-replacement program.
These are just a few examples of the excellence made possible with your
help. And, as part of our commitment to ongoing quality improvement, we are continuously identifying ways in which
we can further enhance care for you and your loved ones.
Such sustained excellence is only possible thanks to
community support. And so I encourage you to join us as
we continue raising the bar for medical care in our region.
Thank you in advance for your generous involvement.
Stephen A. Ralph
President and CEO
64 | Fall 2011
For more information, please visit us at
www.huntingtonhospital.com
President and CEO
Stephen A. Ralph
Senior Vice President, Philanthropy and Public Affairs
Jane Haderlein
Huntington Memorial
Hospital is committed
to improving the
environment. Advocate
has been printed entirely
on Forest Stewardship
Council‑certified paper.
FSC certification ensures
that the paper used contains
fibers from well-managed
and responsibly harvested
forests that adhere to
strict environmental and
socioeconomic standards.
We are proud to make this
significant move to help
our environment.
Office of Philanthropy
Lynn De Groot, Director of Development
Cathi Chadwell, Executive Director of Public Affairs
Jack Brickson, Director of Planned Giving
Sally Hinckley, Director of Major Gifts
Lia Peterson Miller, Director of Annual Giving
Eileen Neuwirth, Director of Donor Relations
Tracy Smith, Director of Major Gifts
Editor
Eileen Neuwirth
Writer/Editor
Thurlow/Associates
Principal Photography
Christopher Grisanti Photography
Wally Skalij
Design
Terry D. Griest
Printing
Impress Communications
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Huntington Memorial Hospital
Office of Philanthropy
100 West California Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91105
PAID
Pasadena, CA
Permit No. 100
www.huntingtonhospital.com
Board of Directors
James F. Rothenberg, Chairman
Investing in Quality Care.
The importance of your support.
Your contribution to Huntington Memorial Hospital
can make a lifesaving difference, touching the lives of
thousands of individuals…infants, children, adults of
all ages. Perhaps nowhere else in our community can
philanthropy reach so many people in such important
ways. Please, help safeguard high‑quality healthcare for
you and your loved ones, with a gift today. Thank you.
Louise Henry Bryson
Michelle Quinones Chino
R-lene Mijares deLang
Kalman Edelman, MD
Charles Elachi, PhD
Reed Gardiner
Armando L. Gonzalez, FAIA
Winston Gooden, PhD
R. William Johnston, Ex Officio
Steven G. Katz, MD
David Kirchheimer
Ellen Lee
Harvey Lenkin, Vice Chairman
Allen W. Mathies, Jr., MD, President Emeritus
Lois S. Matthews, Secretary
Paul L.H. Ouyang, Treasurer
Kathy Podley
Carmen A. Puliafito, MD
Stephen A. Ralph, President & CEO
Charles F. Sharp, MD
John C. Siciliano
Rosemary B. Simmons, Director Emeritus
Jaynie Studenmund
K. Edmund Tse, MD, Ex Officio
Robert Y. Yu