Hospital welcomes new community board
FORT BRAGG » Adventist Health— MendocinoCoast is excited to introduce 13 exceptional leaders in the community as part of its newly established community board. The board will oversee hospital and clinic operations to support the commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care and ensure that the hospital’s programs and innovations address the community’s health andwellness needs.
“We are fortunate to have such a talented group of board members coming from diverse backgrounds. Their connection, experience and knowledge of our community will be invaluable in our path toward improving care and creating a sustainable future for this hospital,” shares Judy Leach, administrator for AHMC.
Under this newstructure, the Adventist Health Mendocino Coast community board will be tasked with making strategic decisions that align with the mission and values of the hospital. The newly appointed hospital board will also establish policy, promote performance improvement and provide for organizational management and planning, ensuring the hospital’s financial health andefficientuseof resources to serve the community.
Meanwhile, the Mendocino Coast Health Care District Board which previously managed the operations of the hospital, will now serve as a facility landlord, managing lease payments from Adventist Health.
“We are blessed to have such high caliber of leaders in our community as part of our board,” says JasonWells, chairmanof theboardfor the three Adventist Health hospitals in Mendocino County. “It’s soessential thatwehave great healthcare on the Coast and we have exciting work ahead tomake sure this hospital thrives for future generations. The board’s leadership and their extensive knowledge in their fields as well as this community will be vital in this work. I look forward to years of collaboration.”
Members of the new hospital governing board include:
• Dr. Zoe Berna: A family medicine physician, Dr. Berna was born and raised on the Coast. After completingher residency, sheworked forSutter for 12years. She returned to the North Coast in 2016 and has been caring for our community ever since at our Adventist Health Medical Office (formerly North Coast FamilyHealth Center).
• Nancy Bennett: A longtermresident and small businessowner on theCoast. She is the co-owner and operator of Cowlick’s Ice Cream and Subway Sandwiches in Fort Bragg and Willits. Bennett has been a small business owner for more than 20 years.
• Dr. Benjamin “Buzz”
Graham: A retired internist who cared for our community for 35 years. Grahamestablished the hospitalist programatMCDHandwas also the hospital’s medical director for many years.
• Jessica Grinberg: Grinberg is a long-term resident and business owner on the coast. She owns Align Orthotics and Prosthetics which provides services throughout the county and beyond. She is also on the Mendocino Unified School District Board and the Mendocino Coast District Hospital Board, where she serves as the president.
• Suzanne Hewitt, FNP: A current facultymember at theMendocino CollegeNursing program, she brings over 39 years of nursing experience to the board. She also cared for patients as a nurse practitioner, including at the North Coast Family Health Center.
• Jim Hurst: Hurst served as the Director of Research