A CELEBRATION THAT’S ALL HEARTS
One of the most delightful men in San Francisco, skilled trauma surgeon Dr. Andre
Campbell, is a faithful attendee of the annual Heroes & Hearts luncheon — the 12th edition of which raised $1.85 million for the foundation to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
And we’re always happy to see him at this event, versus in the corridors of his “office.”
But that office is much, much nicer now: In May, the ribbon was cut and patients moved into the new state-ofthe-art Level 1 trauma center and hospital that also features an extensive S.F. Arts Commission-sourced art collection.
It’s been a productive year for this medical center: In June, voters approved a bond to renovate its former acutecare hospital building that will allow for primary, medical and surgery speciality care.
And just days before this Feb. 16 luncheon at AT&T Ballpark, city leaders celebrated a planned $200 million San Francisco General-UCSF research facility to open on its campus in 2019.
“Last year as ZSFG incoming CEO, Heroes & Hearts was my first introduction to this great community: appreciative, supportive and very welcoming,” said Dr. Susan
Ehrlich to the sold-out crowd of 1,200. “So welcoming, in fact, Mayor Ed Lee mentioned me last year in his remarks and the ‘Beach Blanket Babylon’ cast member included me in her song. I was overcome!”
Organized by lunch cochairs Lisa Hauswirth and
John Noonan, the fete was set in a clear tent on the ballpark’s verdant field and featured a snappy decor updo by designer Stanlee Gatti ;anew ‘Beach Blanket Babylon’ signature song; and an auction of exquisite San Franciscothemed “heartworks” created by 33 local artists
There were revelations, too: Following an entertaining pledge plea by former Mayor
Art Agnos, many thought this devoted public servant should consider a second career as a stand-up comedian.
There were also standing O’s, and a few tears, as guests honored the compassionate, life-saving work of the hospital’s local heroes: Anais
Amaya (health advocates program manager); Jia Min
Cheng (S.F. medical legal aid director to the hospital’s Children Health Center); Dr. Dean
Schillinger (director for health communications for vulnerable populations program) and Dr. Margaret
Knudson (trauma surgeon). Knudson was recognized for her skillful surgery that saved the life of 6-year-old Zachery
Vines. Yet she shared her kudos with her colleagues:
“Trauma is a team sport: Every single person who touched Zachery during his prolonged hospital course contributed to his recovery,” she said. “Including the nurses, the physicians, the therapists and even the cook of our cafeteria who came in, on his
day off, to make Zachery ‘chicken McNuggets.’ ” Supporters of this event are like a team, too, attracting a wide swatch of civic poobahs, including: former Mayors Frank Jordan and Willie Brown; as well as Hearts in S.F. founders Ellen Magnin Newman and Nancy Hellman Bechtle; UCSF Chancellor Dr. Sam Hawgood; San Francisco General Board Chair Judy Guggenhime and her husband, Richard; San Francisco General Board President Connie Shanahan and her husband, Kevin; Hearts lunch co-founder Pam Baer; San Francisco General Foundation CEO Amanda Heier; S.F. Chronicle Publisher Jeff Johnson and Editor-in-Chief Audrey Cooper; Protocol Chief Charlotte Shultz; and SFFD Chief Joanne Hayes-White.
“Like these artworks, which represent what it means to be a part of this great city, ZSFG exemplifies what it means to be a sanctuary city,” noted Mayor Lee. “And Zuckerberg
S.F. General is a sanctuary for everyone.”
For more than 150 years, ZSFG has operated as a “safety net” hospital under the city’s Department of Public Health and serves a population that includes about 80 percent poor, elderly, uninsured and immigrant patients.
But Ehrlich noted that, today, our nation’s health care environment is changing rapidly.
“These changes have the potential to hit our patients
the hardest. But our mission at Zuckerberg San Francisco General is to provide our patients and our community health care with compassion and respect,” she said. “Regardless of income, insurance, immigration status, sexual orientation, religion or national origin.”