PROFILE
Made to Order Donna L. Schweers brings ideal qualities to her role as Foundation chair. WRITTEN BY NANCY SOKOLER STEINER PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY
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f you could custom order qualities desired in a Foundation chair, they would likely include leadership ability, extensive knowledge of the health care industry, an understanding of human behavior and a sense of humor. These are exactly the qualities that Donna L. Schweers brings to her role as chair of Saint John’s Health Center Foundation. Donna possesses wide-reaching experience gained over a 30-plus-years career in health care consulting and management. Early on, she helped to develop the HMO-managed model of medical groups at Prudential. She progressed to positions with national health care consulting groups Ernst & Whinney and Towers Perrin before launching her own consulting practice. In her various roles, she has worked with hospitals, hospital systems, physicians’ groups, insurance companies and venture capitalists. Her expertise is in strategic planning, mergers and acquistions, and systems organization. Even with her background, Donna would not have predicted her future role at Saint John’s when she moved to Santa Monica from the Bay Area in the early 1990s. She had no firsthand knowledge of the hospital when her friend Su-Z Schneider, a
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SAINT JOHN'S, SUMMER 2016
I can’t think of anyone better suited to chair Saint John’s Foundation than Donna Schweers. She truly epitomizes the Saint John’s culture. With her confidence, efficiency and humor, and a background steeped in the health care industry, we are in good hands with Donna at the helm.” —Donna F. Tuttle member of the Irene Dunne Guild, invited Donna to join the group, which supports Saint John’s through extensive volunteer and fundraising efforts. “What attracted me to the guild was getting to know a group of women of all ages in my area who are engaged and committed to charitable community endeavors,” she says. Through her involvement in the guild, Donna saw firsthand the gem she had in
her own neighborhood. “Saint John’s is a community hospital but with the depth of specialties that attracts first-class researchers and physicians,” she says. “The Health Center competes with teaching institutions, yet maintains a very hightouch environment. Our Catholic roots and mission emphasize caring for the whole person, both body and soul.” Donna was hooked and eventually became president of the guild. She
