I’m pleased to report that Michael Mainardi was sworn in as our newest board member at the January meeting, replacing Peter Hohorst who did not seek re-election after a decade of outstanding service. Michael, a retired physician is an excellent addition to the board and we welcome him
Michael practiced in San Mateo for 39 years, specializing in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He served as the medical director of an ambulatory surgery center and as president of a single specialty physician group. He also served on the clinical faculty of UCSF for 25 years and retired as Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine.
Michael and his wife, Ricki, have lived in Sonoma full-time since 2013. He currently serves as Chair of the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center board of directors and has served on the Sonoma Valley Hospital Quality Committee, a role he will continue. He is also a board member of the George Ranch Community Association.
I also was sworn in for a four-year second term and am pleased to continue as board chair in the coming year. Other board positions announced for the new term include Jane Hirsch as 1st Vice Chair, Michael Mainardi as 2nd Vice Chair, Sharon Nevins as Treasurer, and Bill Boerum as Secretary. Committee assignments for the coming year include Sharon Nevins as chair of the Finance Committee with me as member; Jane Hirsch as chair of the Quality Committee with Michael Mainardi as member; and I continue as chair of the Governance Committee with Bill Boerum as member.
SNF Task Force
Board member Jane Hirsch reported that the Skilled Nursing Facility Task Force, which she chairs, continues to monitor the new service guidelines implemented in the SNF in October, and plans an interim task force meeting on January 29. She also reported that the task force has sought input from a second team of experts about making the SNF profitable and will report their recommendations at that meeting.
She said the task force plans a second public meeting in February to review findings, with the date to be announced soon, and will provide a full report at the March board meeting.
In other news, CEO Kelly Mather reported that the hospital will soon add UCSF teleneurology services to the Emergency Department, and Dr. Jasper Schmidt has recently assumed the role of Medical Director of Emergency Services.
Cancer Support Sonoma
Terry Adolfo, the new executive director of Cancer Support Sonoma, spoke at the meeting and updated the board on recent developments with this important local service that provides integrated care to cancer patients locally. Cancer Support is the only program in the Sonoma Valley offering complementary therapies to anyone who has (or has had) cancer, from diagnosis throughout treatment and into recovery. Professionals provide a wide-variety of therapies to clients, including: massage, acupuncture, integrative psychotherapy, and naturopathic medicine.
Aldolfo noted that Cancer Support Sonoma was launched in 2015 under a partnership between the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation and The North Bay Cancer Alliance, and funded as a research study,
In October 2017, when the study came to an end, the founders realized that there was significant demand for their services and chose to find a new home and continue to provide services. She reports the organization is making a successful transition to an independent nonprofit organization and is seeking to grow both the services offered and the clients served. You can find more information on Cancer Support Sonoma and its services at their website, cancersupportsonoma.com.
Adolfo noted that organization provided 1,200 total therapy visits last year, offering a sliding scale so that ability to pay does not become an issue for clients.
Our next regular District Board meeting will be held on Thursday, February 7, at 6 pm in the Community Meeting Room, 177 1st St. West in Sonoma. The public is welcome to attend, and public comment is always encouraged.
Sincerely,
Joshua,
Joshua Rymer
Chair of the SVHCD Board of Directors