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These four prominent community leaders have long been associated with Cottage and numerous other not-for-profit local organizations. Dr. MacDougall, who retired in 2002 after 21 years at the helm of Santa Barbara City College, served on the Cottage board for 10 years, chairing the group during the merger talks with Santa Ynez Valley and Goleta Valley hospitals. Mr. Jackson, owner of the Alisal Guest Ranch and a member of the Cottage board of directors from 1973 to 1999, is also a past chair of the voluntary board. Lady Ridley-Tree, an active community philanthropist, has for some time been a generous supporter of hospital activities and projects. Mr. Towbes, chairman of The Towbes Group and Montecito Bank & Trust, first joined the hospital board in 1981, where he continues to serve, and has twice been elected chair of the 19-member voluntary group.
Cottage President and CEO Ron Werft expressed gratitude for this level of leadership. "We are extremely fortunate," he said, "to have these outstanding individuals join us in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild and strengthen our healthcare resources for the entire Central Coast and Santa Ynez Valley. They are long-standing friends and supporters of Cottage, sharing our dedication to excellence, quality care and cost-effective healthcare delivery. We are confident that the communities we serve will rally to their leadership."
Joining the Campaign for Cottage Health System Cabinet are these community members:
- J. Robert Andrews, attorney and CHS Board member
- Dr. Steven Barkley, medical director of CHS's NICU
- Les Charles, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Jelinda DeVorzon, Santa Barbara philanthropist
- Reece Duca, investor and former CHS Board member
- Fred Gluck, investor and CHS Board member
- Perri Harcourt, active community volunteer
- Dr. Joseph Ilvento, cardiac specialist
- Gerd Jordano, active community volunteer and former CHS Board member
- Layla Khashoggi, active community volunteer
- Robert T. Knight, retired executive and past chair of the CHS Board
- Dr. Jeffrey Kupperman, pulmonologist and CHS Board member
- Steve Lyons, investor and community philanthropist
- John R. Mackall, attorney and former CHS Board chair and current member
- Gretchen Milligan, community volunteer
- Robert Nourse, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Kathy Odell, CEO of Inogen
- Joanne Rapp, long-time community volunteer and CHS Board member
- Alex Rodriguez, president of the Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Marshall Rose, executive director of the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization and CHS Board chair
- Dr. Nicholas Vincent, retired opthalmologist and CHS Board member
Originally founded in 1888 as a single 25-bed hospital located on the outskirts of the growing Santa Barbara community, the not-for-profit Cottage Health System today includes the original flagship Santa Barbara facility and its associated Cottage Children's Hospital, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. In addition, Cottage Health System works collaboratively with other health and community benefit organizations throughout the region to ensure the comprehensive and well coordinated provision of healthcare services. With long-standing philanthropic support, Cottage Health System has developed into the most comprehensive healthcare system between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
Hospital leaders across the country agree that philanthropy plays an increasingly important role in today's healthcare environment. Werft cited drastic cutbacks in government support for the treatment of poor and underinsured people and for graduate medical education programs, all of which jeopardize the future of quality health care. He pointed out that hospital revenues have been eroded by changes in healthcare reimbursement, and that the bond market often shifts in ways that make it a less desirable avenue for financing capital projects. As a result, the traditional responsibilities of a not-for-profit healthcare system-providing advanced and compassionate medical care, maintaining access to health care for those in need, training the next generation of caregivers, and advancing medical science through research-are increasingly and primarily made possible through the generosity of donors.
Cottage Health System will be seeking support from the greater Central and South Coast, the Santa Ynez Valley and beyond to continue to distinguish itself as a leader in the critical areas of healthcare provision, new knowledge and treatment, and community service and partnership.
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* (By the end of 2007, the projected cost had risen to $700+ million) |
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