2022 Annual Report

15 YEARS OF HOPE AND HEALING

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

PARTNERED IN COMMUNITY HEALTH

The mission of the Order of Malta Clinic is furthered through our strong, inclusive, and collaborative community partnerships, most notably with Sutter Health and its Oakland-based hospital provider, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

A Clinic supporter for more than a decade, Sutter Health’s commitment to community health has brought immeasurable benefits to Clinic patients and their families over the years. As our partner in preventative care, Sutter stepped forward with funding to enable extended Clinic hours to help meet increasing demand. Since 2020, the non-profit has also provided mobile mammography services to more than 100 of our uninsured patients at no cost, ensuring access to the latest in life-saving breast cancer screening technology and diagnostics. Through the network’s Operation Access, Sutter Health providers also donate outpatient surgical and specialty care services to Clinic patients requiring more intensive treatment.

And the benefits are mutual. By providing proactive, wrap-around diagnosis and management of chronic health conditions like hypertension and diabetes, the Clinic reduces unnecessary illness by helping patients and their families take control of their health before aggravated medical issues or expensive ER or hospital stays occur. Together, the Order of Malta Clinic and Sutter Health are making life better for thousands of uninsured patients and their families every year, and building healthier communities throughout Alameda County in the process.

The Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center mobile mammography van provides vital screening and early detection services to underserved and uninsured women in the East Bay and beyond. The Order of Malta Clinic is a valued community partner in my family’s mission to improve access to these life-saving mammography technologies so that other families do not have to suffer the loss of a loved one to breast cancer.

PETER READ

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Timothy McInerney, Esq., KM

SECRETARY

Louis M. Meunier, KM

TREASURER

John Hallett, KM

VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

L.J. Michael Lambert, KM

Elizabeth Bernard, Esq., DM

John Christian, Esq., KM – Ex Officio

Sara K. Cumbelich, DM

William J. Cumbelich, KM

Dan L. Field, MD, KM

Bridget McInerney Harris, Esq., DM

Marty Karpiel, MPA, FACHE, FHFMA, KM

Charlotte Kiesel, DM

Michael J. Matly, MD, KM

John Rengel, KM – Ex Officio

Mary M. Rudolph, NP, DM

William F. Sheridan, MD, KM

Kathleen C. Toney, NP, DM

Thomas Wallace, MD, KM

Charles V. Wirth, KM

PG. 4

6

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

A Message from Our President

PG. 8

ABOUT THE CLINIC Mission, Vision, and Legacy

LEADING BY DOING

Dr. Robert J. Stein, KM and the Founding of the Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California

PG. 10

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Expanding our Services, Footprint, and Partnerships

PG. 15

PG. 16

GIVING REPORT

PG. 18

CHAMPIONS GALA

Preparing for the 15th Annual Silver Chalice Awards Dinner

CARING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US

An Interview With John E. McInerney III, President and Chair of the Board, Malteser International Americas

PG. 20

PG. 12

AFI V. AYITEGA

A Profile of Radiance, Confidence, and Grace

PG. 22

PG. 14

FUNDING OVERVIEW

SARA CUMBELICH, DM

The Clinic’s Unsung Hero and AllRound Champion

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: OPERATION ACCESS

An Interview with Marilyn Sanchez, Senior Program Coordinator

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

It’s always a pleasure to assemble this annual report, as it provides an opportunity to reflect on the incredible work undertaken at the Clinic by our dedicated team of volunteer physicians, nurses, and administrative staff. Somehow, they manage to make caring for nearly 5,000 patient visits a year appear easy and seamless, when in reality there are scores of decisions that must be made each day, simple and complex medical issues to diagnose and treat, and trust to be gained from patients and families for whom our Clinic is their lifeline of hope and health.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of officially opening our doors at the Cathedral of Christ the Light. We started by opening our doors once a week and now serve patients five days a week. Today, our services include podiatry, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, and mammography. What my predecessor, John Christian, KM, termed the “Miracle of 21st Street,” is truly that, a miracle that has been made possible through the vision, tenacity, and humanitarian efforts of so many. We owe a profound debt of thanks to the

Diocese of Oakland, and the three Bishops who have helped us steward our mission and progress: Allen Vigneron, Salvatore Cordileone, and Michael Barber. Bishop Barber is our valued partner in the Clinic’s current expansion, which will “help us help more” by providing a larger Clinic environment for patients and staff, and allow us to dramatically increase our patient volume, Clinic hours, and medical services. We are also discussing how to leverage our success by bringing our Clinic’s expertise into new Bay Area communities and evaluating the potential for new clinic sites in the near future.

Fifteen years is a long-time in the life of a community clinic; in fact, national data show that most clinics don’t reach the five-year milestone. Our success can be squarely correlated to the depth of need and the breadth of financial support that enables us to be a truly “free clinic.” Patients are never billed for our services or tests, and we seek no reimbursements. Private donations, grants, and fundraising events cover all our operations, and for most of our medical team, their only renumeration is the satisfaction that comes from improving lives, one patient at a time.

It’s a dangerous proposition to try to thank the scores of individuals who have selflessly given their time, treasure, and talent to make the Clinic what it is today. However, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge our founding board of directors, our current board, the Order of Malta Western Association, and our community health partners, including Sutter Health, John Muir Health, UCSF, Mayo Clinic, Operation Access, InView Imaging, and Quest Diagnostics, who have given generously and embraced our mission: to uphold human dignity and care for people in need.

Most importantly, it is our volunteers that provide the unique care found at the Clinic. Our volunteer physicians, nurses, and therapists never cease to amaze me with their combination of medical expertise and gift of precious time; some, in fact, travel long-distances each week from different parts of the Bay Area to meet with patients. Our

administrative team could work anywhere – but they choose to dedicate themselves to supporting the Order of Malta’s core values of compassion and service to others, just as the Order has done on a global basis for nearly 1,000 years.

The fact that you are reading this message demonstrates that you share in our mission and our values. Thus, I also want to express my appreciation to you for your interest, support, and commitment to improving the lives of our patients, and the general health of our communities. I hope you will continue to “help us help more,” as we build on 15 years of success. With the past as prologue, there is so much great work ahead of us, and so many people who need our care.

With sincerest thanks.

Timothy L. McInerney, KM Oakland, California May 2023

ABOUT THE CLINIC

MISSION, VISION, AND LEGACY

The Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California is a welcoming and inclusive health care clinic located in downtown Oakland, California, adjacent to Cathedral of Christ the Light. Staffed by an all-volunteer team of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals, the Clinic provides free, onsite, and virtual health care services and treatment to more than 5,000 medically uninsured and underserved patients and their families each year.

Marking our 15th anniversary in 2023, the Order of Malta Clinic continues to grow in scope of services, geographic reach, and community impact. We currently serve patients from more than 76 Bay Area cities and as far away as Sacramento, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Clinic has seen a sharp rise in patient volume and an increasing demand for specialty care, especially among individuals who are employed yet remain uninsured. To meet this need, over the last year we have extended telemedicine and virtual services to reach more patients, and have embarked on a physical expansion to substantially increase our footprint that will help us help more.

OUR MISSION

Uphold human dignity and care for people in need.

OUR STORY

The Clinic was first envisioned in 2005 by the Bishop of Oakland, Allen Vigneron and the President of the Western Association of the Order of Malta, Richard Madden. Rising from the Order of Malta’s commitment to practice charity to the sick and the poor, both men saw the opportunity to positively impact the health and well-being of the uninsured and the vulnerable of the Bay Area. In 2008, several devoted Knights and Dames of the Order, under the leadership of the first President of the Clinic Bill McInerney, partnered with the Western Association and the Diocese of Oakland to create the very successful Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California.

OUR MODEL

Our team is comprised of more than 70 volunteer physicians, nurses, and support staff, all committed to delivering high-quality care to those who need it most.

OUR LEGACY

The Order of Malta’s story began more than 900 years ago in 1048 A.D., when a group of hospitaller monks of the Order of St. John were asked to manage and staff a hospital in Jerusalem, caring for pilgrims and travelers of various faiths. That group of monks acted accordingly, and thereby founded the organization presently known as the Order of Malta, a lay order of the Catholic Church which ministers to the sick and the poor of many nations.

Today, we are honored to carry on the Order of Malta’s legacy of service by caring for the Bay Area’s uninsured and underrepresented communities. This includes undocumented families who are wary of seeking medical attention at physician offices or hospitals, as well as patients who do not visit a doctor regularly and/or have received little to no medical attention in recent years. For these individuals, our Clinic is their only source of safe medical care, in an environment of trust and compassion.

SERVICES AND SPECIALTIES

LEADING BY DOING

DR. ROBERT J. STEIN, KM AND THE FOUNDING OF THE ORDER OF MALTA CLINIC OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Dr. Robert J. (Bob) Stein, KM is adamant: he is not the founder of the Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California. He credits that distinction to the two men who enlisted him and a small cadre of other dedicated Order of Malta Members in the Clinic cause more than 20 years ago: The then-Western Association of the Order of Malta President Richard (Dick) Madden and Bishop Allen Vigneron of the Diocese of Oakland.

Modesty aside, over nearly 40 years as an active and committed Order of Malta Member, no one can dispute Bob Stein’s role and impact in the Clinic’s establishment and growth. The 2016 recipient of the Silver Chalice Award, he has made an indelible mark on the Clinic’s success as a founding organizer and former long-time member of the Medical Committee.

Born and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota in a devoted Roman Catholic household, Bob attended college at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and medical school at St. Louis University in Missouri. A residency in anesthesiology at the University of California, San Francisco brought him and his young family to the Bay Area in the 1970s, where fate intervened, and he was first introduced to the Order of Malta.

Bob officially became a Member in 1985 and was invested in 1988. His long-standing commitment to the Order was fueled in part through his and wife Helen Mary’s pilgrimages to Lourdes starting in 2001, and two years later Bob was invited to become part of a small, intensely dedicated group of Members who took up the mantle to build an Order of Malta medical clinic in Oakland to minister to the Bay Area’s sick, poor, and uninsured.

“In 2003 my friend Dick Madden hosted a dinner with Bishop Vigneron and a small group of us to explore what it would take to create a clinic at the Cathedral,” he explains. “Over the next five years, everyone chipped in and took on assignments to make it happen.” Bob went to Los Angeles to tour the small Order of Malta Clinic there, and others among the group also contributed financial resources and shared their respective areas of expertise – in health care, financing, fundraising, architecture, construction, and more – to make the Clinic a reality. The group also designed the service parameters for the new Clinic, most of which remain in place today. A milestone came in 2007, when the group secured annual funding from the Western Association of the Order of Malta to operate the new Clinic. On September 2, 2008, the Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California opened its doors to the first patients.

As awareness of the Clinic has grown, so too has the need for full-service patient care. The Clinic now has 12 volunteer medical specialists on staff and strong partnerships with John Muir and Sutter Health that enable the Clinic to provide a full spectrum of primary and specialty care. And while the retired department chairman of anesthesiology at Mt. Diablo Hospital Medical Center no longer serves on the Clinic Board of Directors, he continues to participate in the peer review process and remains active in discussions

on the Clinic’s future. “The need for our services throughout California only continues to grow,” Bob explains. “Building on our first 15 years, we’re

reach more patients, and considering opening new clinics in San Francisco, San Jose, and even Southern California,” he says. “The single best way to fulfill the Order of Malta mission to care for the sick and the poor is through our medical clinics.”

Dick Madden

Bishop Allen Vigneron

Bill Brusher

Gene Cattolica, MD

Frank Heffernan

Bob Kilmartin

Mark LeClerc, MD

Bob Masi, MD

Bill McInerney

Bob Stein, MD

Malcom Visbal

Tom Greerty

The Original Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California Planning Committee

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

As we celebrate the Clinic’s 15th anniversary, we are mindful that with success comes additional responsibility and accountability to serve more uninsured patients. We also recognize the importance of leveraging and building upon our strong community partnerships to expand the Clinic’s impact and reach. With the support of Bishop Barber and the Diocese of Oakland, the Clinic is expanding its physical footprint to increase capacity, enhance the quality of the existing facility, and serve more than twice the number of patients per year. Thanks to generous donors and supporters like you, we are increasing our reach, impact, and ability to care for those in need.

EXPANSION PLANS MOVE FORWARD

The Clinic serves patients from more than 76 Bay Area cities, and the need is growing every day. To meet increasing demand, the Clinic has added additional specialty services, such

as ophthalmology, diabetic counseling, and psychiatric care, expanded its hours, and is recruiting additional medical specialists and volunteers. More patients and more services mean the Clinic needs additional space – for patients, and the physicians, nurses, and staff who will serve uninsured individuals and families six days a week.

With support from the Diocese of Oakland, along with strategic planning and “sharp pencils” from our Board of Directors, the Clinic is expanding its footprint in downtown Oakland, with a goal of serving more than 12,000 patient visits a year. The additional space has an exponential impact on the number of patients the Clinic can see each day, while providing a better environment, including more privacy, for patients and staff members.

We are excited to announce that the architects are currently finalizing the design and that construction is scheduled to commence December of this year. Come spring 2024, we will be welcoming patients with open arms to our newly expanded, state-of-the-art facility.

$500,000

Expansion has many dimensions, however. That includes increasing access to Clinic services through community partnerships and delivery of care offsite through our mobile vans and community clinics. The ability to reach patients “where they are” is a priority for the Clinic, including evaluating the potential for satellite locations around the Bay Area.

EXPANDING OUR SERVICES, FOOTPRINT, AND PARTNERSHIPS

Expansion Timeline

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND MOBILE SERVICES

CRISTO REY AND LUMEN CHRISTI

In partnership with Cristo Rey and Lumen Christi Academies, the Clinic is providing access to health care to the parents of students – most of whom have no other access to health care. The Clinic’s services are a lifeline to parents – many of whom work multiple jobs to make ends meet. By helping parents thrive, we are creating healthier communities and a pipeline of economic mobility and peace of mind.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Poor footcare and podiatry issues lead to a multitude of health problems – including diabetes and severe infections that can be lifethreatening. Many unhoused individuals spend hours a day on their feet, moving from place to place, often lugging heavy belongings with them. From 2015 to 2020, the Clinic partnered with St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County to offer podiatry care, along with clean shoes and socks, to those in need. The Clinic is meeting people where they are, on the streets of the East Bay, and providing compassionate care to those in tremendous pain and need.

ACCESS TO WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES

SUTTER HEALTH

The Clinic partners with Sutter Health to offer mobile onsite mammography services to patients. The mobile mammography van offers convenient access to patients, and improves early detection and increases positive patient outcomes. Sutter Health is a long-time Clinic partner, and our work together has been integral to expanding the Clinic’s women’s health services.

EVERY WOMAN COUNTS

Every Woman Counts is a program of California’s Department of Health Care Services (HCS), providing free breast and cervical cancer screening services to California’s underserved populations. Building on the success of the Sutter Health mobile mammography van, the Clinic can provide more women with vital screening opportunities, by leveraging the state’s program and communications.

AFI V. AYITEGA

A PROFILE OF RADIANCE, CONFIDENCE, AND GRACE

When Afi Ayitega moved to the Bay Area in 2016 to reunite with her sister, she carried with her a lifetime of neglect of her physical and mental health. Growing up in impoverished conditions in the West African nation of Togo, Afi had never had the benefit of regular medical care and over many years had suffered from multiple heath disorders, including severe hypertension, weight and mobility issues, and debilitating depression that “clouded everything” in her life.

On her arrival in California, recognizing that Afi needed immediate medical attention but didn’t speak English or have medical insurance, her sister brought her to the Order of Malta Clinic for help. There, Afi found a home and the hope, care, and encouragement she needed to take charge of her health and her life.

Afi credits God and the entire Clinic team with empowering her to make the changes necessary to vastly improve both her physical and emotional well-being. With Dr. Samuel Dong, Dr. Vona Lorenzana, and Dr. Thomas Wallace looking after her primary medical needs, Afi collaborated with

Lynn Loar, LCSW, on taking the steps to improve her mental outlook. With her encouragement, Afi took it upon herself to learn to speak English, acquire new computer skills, improve her diet and eating habits, and start exercising. “Mrs. Lynn helped open my mind to all possibilities,” Afi says. “I knew I could do anything with Christ and the Clinic beside me.”

“Afi’s journey with us is unique and inspiring, and her transformation has been remarkable,” notes Clinic Manager Anne Brussok, DM. “When Afi first came to us, she could barely walk. Now, she is a passionate swimmer who is eating well and exercising regularly.” An anonymous Order of Malta donor funds Afi’s membership at the local YMCA, and she is an active member of her local church community.

When an unexpected medical emergency required a multi-day hospital stay, Afi recognized that securing full-coverage medical insurance was important for her future. With the support of her Clinic team, Afi successfully navigated the state’s complicated Medi-Cal application process and was recently approved for full-scope, state-funded insurance coverage, making her eligible to see a permanent primary care provider.

While Afi will no longer have to rely on the Order of Malta Clinic for her medical needs, she plans to visit often and is considering volunteering to share her story with other patients. “The Clinic is like a home to me and I can never say goodbye,” she says. “The care here is awesome, and I am always so happy to see my Order of Malta family. I will forever have many friends here.”

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT OF PROJECTED OPERATING COSTS

FUNDING OVERVIEW

The Clinic is funded entirely through private donations, grants, and fundraising events – a truly “free” medical clinic. Patients are not billed for services, labs, or tests and the Clinic does not receive reimbursement from private insurance or government programs.

$897,646 $765,162 $1,000,000+

GALA | $750,000

14th Annual Gala

GRANTS | $329,000

GIFTS | $567,000

ORDER OF MALTA WESTERN ASSOCIATION | $155,000

The generosity of our donors has enabled the Clinic to be recognized as one of the most effective and impactful local programs in the Order of Malta. It is an honor and a privilege to work with the many creative, committed, and compassionate individuals who make our service possible.

LOUIS MEUNIER, KM Secretary and Board Member

2024 AND BEYOND OPERATING COSTS WITH EXPANDED CLINIC

BUDGETED 2023 OPERATING COSTS

ACTUAL 2022 OPERATING COSTS

2022 FUNDRAISING BREAKDOWN FOR CLINIC OPERATIONS

GIVING REPORT

PARTNERS IN SERVICE

Thanks to long-standing partnerships with some of the Bay Area’s most renowned medical institutions and medical universities, the Clinic is able to source and retain talented volunteers participating in preceptorships, clinical rotations, and residency programs. Thanks to all of our partners in service.

• University of California, San Francisco

• Sonoma State University

• Clarkson College

IN-KIND SUPPORT

We thank our generous partners for providing discounted services, medications, and support for many patients in need. Your support allows us to deliver lifechanging care for free.

• MedShare

• Quest Diagnostics

• UCSF

• Operation Access

• Sutter Health Alta Bates Medical Center

• Inview Imaging

• Mayo Clinic

• John Muir Health

• Kareo

• Samuel Merritt University

• University of San Francisco

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

KALMANOVITZ FOUNDATION

The Kalmanovitz Foundation generously pledged $1 million over the next five years to cover the costs for nursing staff, as the Clinic grows in size and services offered.

GELLERT FOUNDATION

To support the Clinic’s expansion efforts, the Gellert Foundation donated $400,000 for capital costs.

THE WILLIAM G. IRWIN CHARITY FOUNDATION AND WAYNE & GLADYS VALLEY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Both the William G. Irwin Foundation and Wayne & Gladys Valley Foundation have generously pledged $250,000 each to support the expansion campaign.

JOHN MUIR

John Muir has pledged $40,000 to support the Clinic’s efforts to combat diabetes and mental health.

CHAMPIONS GALA

PREPARING FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL SILVER CHALICE AWARDS DINNER

Save the date for the Order of Malta Clinic’s 15th annual Champions Gala! The Silver Chalice Awards Dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco.

Please join us in marking the Clinic’s 15th anniversary and honoring this year’s Silver Chalice Award winners at our flagship fundraiser. This year’s honorees include the late Tom Louderback, an early and influential Clinic champion who helped build a large and long-standing circle of support; and Mike Thomas, CEO of John Muir Health, who is being recognized for his and his company’s commitment to the Clinic’s diabetes and mental health programs. The evening will include a silent and live auction with many oneof-a-kind items, cocktail hour, dinner, raffle, and the awards ceremony.

For information on tickets, tables, and sponsorships, visit orderofmaltaclinic.com/gala or contact Sara Cumbelich at sarakach@gmail.com.

My grandfather instilled in all of us the value of community and passed on his life-long ethos to care for our less fortunate neighbors. His early support and enthusiasm for the Order of Malta Clinic is an important part of his legacy and the catalyst for our family commitment to help carry on his work.

MAX LOUDERBACK

CARING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US

AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN E. MCINERNEY III, PRESIDENT AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD, MALTESER INTERNATIONAL AMERICAS

John McInerney was named president of Malteser International Americas (MIA) in 2021. A Member of the MIA board since 2018, he was invested into the Western Association of the Order of Malta in 2001, served on several Western Association Committees –including Membership, Hospitaller, Investiture, and Development – and was previously a Location Officer in his hometown of San Francisco. Under his leadership, MIA provides long-term assistance to strengthen and improve the health and resiliency of local communities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Here John talks about the Order’s humanitarian work and his commitment to the mission.

How would you characterize your journey of service from your investiture in the Western Association of the Order of Malta in 2001, to your current role as President and Chair of the Board of Malteser International Americas?

The hand of God.

Like all of us, I joined the Order to work side by side with fellow Members serving our Lord’s sick and poor. However, along that path doors opened for me to contribute in other capacities, including on local positions and committees. Those jobs introduced me to many Members and the wide variety of opportunities to serve.

As one example, on the 2015 Lourdes Pilgrimage, a Member introduced me to three of the High Charges; three months later I found myself in Italy gathering information and advising the Receiver on a portion of the Order’s real estate portfolio. During that visit we also met many European Members of the Order, and I learned much about the Order’s patrimonial properties and history. The following March I was in Malta attending the International Hospitaller Conference and Malteser General Assembly where we met and developed relationships with Members from around the world, including those holding positions with Malteser International and MIA. These annual

trips continued and in fall 2018, our past president, Richard Grant, asked me to serve as one of the two appointed Western Association members on the MIA board. General Thomas Wessels, then the MIA president, drafted me to be his vice president and has been a great mentor. I succeeded him two years ago.

How have you and your family been involved in Malteser International relief efforts, both in the Americas and around the world?

About eight years ago Bill Regan, past president of the Western Association and an early director of MIA, gave a presentation on Malteser International’s relief programs in the Americas and around the world. My wife Sally and I were immediately hooked on the incredible humanitarian work these two entities were bringing to the most vulnerable through the professional hands of the Order.

MI and MIA are professionally run and staffed operations of the Order, so initially we were only financial supporters. In my relatively short time in MIA leadership, we have grown from a $3 million per year operation to nearly $20 million per year serving a much larger group of beneficiaries. MIA’s primary goal is the delivery of best-in-class services to an ever expanding group of beneficiaries in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Sally and I have had the privilege to observe first-hand the programs MIA operates, and to meet our beneficiaries and staff.

As MIA president, I also hold a board seat with Malteser International in Cologne and travel to Europe for quarterly Board and planning meetings. In addition to the Americas, MI operations span the Middle East, Africa, Southeast

Asia, and Eastern Europe. Since 2018, MI’s humanitarian development programs and disaster relief operations have doubled in size and scope –– from 60 million Euros a year to 130 million Euros in 2023, with large-scale international relief operations currently underway in Ukraine, Lebanon, and Syria/Turkey.

A key objective of my position is to educate and familiarize our Members with all of the Order’s humanitarian relief efforts. When Members learn about our important work around the world, it is my hope that they are inspired to give and help us do even more.

How can Order of Malta Members help vulnerable individuals affected by crisis, migration, and malnutrition around the world?

Volunteering is a powerful and essential way to give back and part and parcel of the Order’s values-based ethos. One long-serving Bay Area Member, Charlotte Kiesel, has been particularly interested in MIA’s work in Haiti and has made several visits there. However, Members should be aware of the distinction between the charitable work we do as non-professional volunteers in our many locations, and the professional humanitarian work performed by the staff of Malteser

International and MIA according to strict universal standards.

That said, both MI and MIA hope to have international Member volunteer service programs in place by 2025. We are in the process of working through the many logistics, training, and security requirements these onsite volunteer programs will involve.

What else would you like people to know about the work of Malteser International and Malteser International Americas?

Many of our Members are unaware that MIA is the humanitarian relief arm of the three American Associations which are tasked with fulfilling the mandate of the Sovereign Council to provide care for the forgotten and excluded. I would like to see our Members and friends enthusiastically acquaint themselves with the broader activities of the Order and our fabulous work by regularly perusing the posts on the international website: www.orderofmalta.int, and also visiting the two Malteser International sites, www.orderofmaltarelief.org and www.malteserinternational.org. We want Malteser International and Malteser International Americas to be part of our Members DNA!

The Order of Malta call to service is a true McInerney family affair. John and Sally’s son and daughter-in-law now live in France and work with the French Association on its local charitable work, and also serve as Members of Le Hospitalite Notre Dames de Lourdes, with grandson in tow.

SARA CUMBELICH, DM

THE CLINIC’S UNSUNG HERO AND ALL-ROUND CHAMPION

“Tenacious. Creative. Committed. A Doer. Enthusiastic. Passionate. A connector. A perfectionist who always goes the extra mile.”

Those are just a few of the laudatory adjectives that describe Board member and Clinic Brand Ambassador Sara Cumbelich, DM. Sara is the creative catalyst and relationship-builder extraordinaire who has placed the Clinic “on the map” with donors, community partners, and media throughout the Bay Area – and beyond. She’s also the cheerleader for the Clinic’s staff and marketing teams, always looking for new ways to heighten visibility, serve more patients, increase impact, and educate more people about the Clinic’s mission.

Sara’s combination of professional marketing experience, people skills, and an unbridled commitment to the Order’s mission, has taken the Clinic’s reputation, relationships, and operations to new heights, including catapulting the Champions Gala to the successful event it is today, and the critical source of income to fund

expansion, operations, and growth. As Board Chair Tim McInerney notes, “Sara is an incredible example of the power of volunteer leadership and engagement. She is the heart and soul of the Clinic and never stops challenging herself and all of us to do more.”

Founding Board member Dr. Bob Stein, KM, reflects on Sara’s success: “The first Champions Gala in 2009 raised $35,000. In 2013, when Sara first became involved, we netted $115,000. In 2022, under Sara’s leadership, the Clinic raised $750,000 in vital operating support. In the next couple of years we hope to raise $1 million - or more. She has made an enormous and transformational impact.”

Sara recognized early on that the gala, and the Clinic’s success, were tied to increasing visibility and nurturing relationships – skills and perspectives clearly in her wheelhouse. A “Military Brat” who had to adapt to many moves, she spent her youth traveling the globe from France and Germany to Oklahoma, Mississippi, and the Mojave Desert. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where the school’s motto “Learn by Doing” was on display when she

orchestrated a turn-around of the university newspaper.

Sara started her business career in sales at legendary Procter & Gamble before migrating to her true passion, advertising and marketing, including managing global technology accounts at BBDO and J. Walter Thompson. Sara’s husband and fellow Clinic Board member, Bill, notes, “In some ways, the Clinic has become Sara’s second successful career, firmly grounded in her commitment to make people’s lives better.”

Sara’s ability to do just that is illustrated in myriad ways. During the early days of COVID, she orchestrated a 90th birthday party fundraiser for the Clinic’s long-term physician and retired neurologist, Dr. Tom Wallace, combining nascent ZOOM technology with a socially distanced backyard celebration. Not only did the event raise critical and impressive funds, it kept the spirit of the Clinic thriving during the pandemic shutdown, with donors and staff connected and involved.

Sara’s leadership has propelled the Clinic’s marketing and branding in new and powerful directions. She has spearheaded innovative annual reports, created an engaging web presence, embraced social media, and attracted donors and community partners through her listening skills, quiet persistence, and community connections. Podiatry, mobile mammography, and the Clinic’s mobile van (a moving billboard) are examples of her outreach skills and creativity, as is her recent support and fundraising for the Clinic’s expansion efforts.

With Sara’s enthusiasm, charisma and wideranging skills, the Clinic is poised to reach new heights, well beyond the dreams of the founders. Integral to her success – past, present, and future -- is her willingness and ability to assemble great teams of volunteers and outside experts to help realize her vision and goals. Her email signature encapsulates that philosophy, which signs off with a quote from Helen Keller: “Alone We Can Do So Little. Together We Can Do So Much.”

From the entire Clinic community, “Thank you, Sara!”

OPERATION ACCESS

AN INTERVIEW WITH MARILYN SANCHEZ, SENIOR PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Since 2009, Operation Access has partnered with the Order of Malta Clinic to connect patients who need outpatient surgical procedures and diagnostic services with medical professionals in their volunteer network, free of charge.

Tell us about the mission of Operation Access— when and why was the organization founded?

At Operation Access, we link primary care clinics with our volunteer network to match patients in need of care with medical professionals who want to help provide outpatient surgical procedures and diagnostic services free of charge. Thirty years ago, two general surgeons and one hospital administrator at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco identified a gap in health care and decided to bridge that gap to improve people’s health and quality of life. Today we provide timely, planned care so patients do not end up in the emergency room.

How many patients does Operation Access serve each year and what sort of donated services and programs do you provide?

We serve more than 2,000 patients each year. Our most common services include hernia repair, cyst and lipoma removal, cataract and pterygium removal, and colonoscopies. Our specialties include colorectal, ear, nose, throat, dermatology, vision, gastroenterology, gynecology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, urology, and more.

How many community clinics, volunteers, and medical professionals do you work with?

We serve referrals from 142 community clinic sites. In 2022, more than 700 medical professionals donated their time and skills to serve members of their community in partnership with 78 hospitals and ambulatory care centers.

How is the partnership between Operation Access and the Order of Malta Clinic making a difference in the lives of uninsured, low-income, and underserved members of our community?

Working with the Order of Malta Clinic since 2009 has been a pleasure. The kindness displayed by all clinical staff is genuine and sincere. There is nothing this Clinic won’t do for its patient population. Being a resource and partner for the Order of Malta Clinic is very important, and we enjoy serving the patients and working with this team of excellent staff.

Do you have an Order of Malta Clinic patient story that stands out for you?

Mr. Francis is a patient we served for multiple specialties. He and his advocate were lovely, and we were so happy to be able to make his surgeries a success.

Image courtesy of Operation Access

YOUR TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE

The Clinic’s work is made possible because of the generosity of donors and volunteers like you. We appreciate all that you do for our community and the vulnerable patients we serve.

orderofmaltaclinic.com

Mail-in donations are also humbly accepted. Please make checks payable to Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California and mail to:

Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California

C/o Development, Sarah Levin

2121 Harrison Street, #120 Oakland, CA 94612