26th Annual Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Tribute Dinner
Nationally Recognized Locally Delivered Built for Outcomes
Partners in Care Foundation pioneered and operationalized the nation’s first Community Care Hub in 2013, establishing a Regional Community Delivery System that unites healthcare and community-based services at scale, a model now adopted and replicated nationwide.
Honoring
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE
President & CEO
Scripps Health
Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Founding Chairman & CEO
Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Beverly Wilshire Hotel
9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
VIP Reception: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Dinner & Program: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
2026 Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Tribute Dinner
We are honored to welcome you this evening as we celebrate Leadership that endures.
Tonight, we recognize two distinguished leaders, Chris Van Gorder, FACHE, and Leonard D. Schaeffer, whose work has shaped healthcare at the highest levels. Each has led with clarity, conviction, and a long view of what it takes to change how care is delivered and how systems work. Their influence reflects not only what they have achieved, but the lasting direction they continue to give our field.
For more than 26 years, this dinner has brought together leaders from across healthcare, public service, and philanthropy to honor those whose work has measurably advanced care and improved lives. It is a moment to reflect on the kind of leadership that builds and drives lasting change.
These same principles guide us at Partners in Care Foundation, as a non-profit entity.
For nearly three decades, Partners has changed how care is delivered across California through our Community Care Hub. We connect the medical system with the community-based organizations that extend the reach of the care team. We help address the everyday drivers of health, such as food, stable housing, transportation, and reliable follow-up care. By coordinating these supports and delivering care in the right place at the right time, we close gaps that medical care alone cannot.
The difference is most visible at moments of transition. When a patient with complex needs returns home from the hospital, we make sure a coordinated set of supports is already in place, rather than a patchwork of disconnected services. We help that person access nutritious food, reconnect with their primary care provider, and link to the services that keep them stable and safe at home. This coordination reduces fragmentation and improves health
Manoj K. Mathew, MD, SFHM Board Chair
June Simmons President & CEO
for the people and communities we serve, with fewer emergency visits, shorter hospital stays, fewer avoidable readmissions, and stronger quality ratings. These results benefit patients first, and they also benefit the health plans, hospitals, and physicians we partner with.
The evidence is now clear enough that the model is scaling rapidly: once a California innovation, The Partners Community Care Hub is now an organized Regional Community Delivery System that has achieved national adoption. Medicare support and major grant investments are accelerating its growth as organizations seek better outcomes at a lower total cost of care.
Today we serve more than 40,000 people each year, and that number continues to grow. Each year we direct over $50 million to the community organizations in our network, reinvesting health care dollars directly into the neighborhoods where people live.
As we look ahead, the need for leadership that endures has never been greater. The ability to navigate complexity, build systems that last, and keep the focus on the health and well-being of individuals and communities is essential to strengthening a fraying safety net. This is work none of us can do alone; we must do it together.
Tonight’s honorees embody that kind of leadership. We are proud to recognize their contributions and grateful for the example they set.
Thank you for being part of this evening.
Manoj K. Mathew, MD, SFHM Board Chair Partners in Care Foundation
June Simmons President & CEO Partners in Care Foundation
2026 Award for Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership
As President and CEO of Scripps Health for the past 25 years, Chris Van Gorder, FACHE, has now successfully led the organization through a quarter of its 100-year history.
Board certified in health care management and an American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Fellow, Van Gorder leads all functions of the San Diego-based integrated health system, including its five acute-care hospital campuses, and more than 30 outpatient and specialty centers, including the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute and the Scripps Cancer Center.
Van Gorder’s path to health care leadership was unconventional. A former police officer injured in the line of duty, his journey began as a hospital patient. Following a complex and lengthy recovery, he secured a job at the hospital where he had received his care, continued his health care management education and rose to new levels of responsibility.
More than 18,000 employees and 3,500 affiliated physicians provide care at Scripps, which has made Fortune magazine’s “100 Best
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE
President & CEO
Scripps Health
Companies to Work For” list for 18 years and was recently recognized again by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top five medium-sized health systems in the nation.
Among his accomplishments, Van Gorder led a financial and cultural turnaround, significantly expanded the Scripps’ integrated health system, established a dyad leadership model where administrators and physicians co-lead health care operations, and created an innovative Model Care program, empowering staff and physicians to continuously redesign patient care.
Van Gorder is also known for his community contributions. He recently retired as Reserve Assistant Sheriff for San Diego County, and last year spearheaded the formation of San Diego’s Hospital Workplace Violence Taskforce, bringing together local law enforcement, the District Attorney’s office, and other San Diego health system leaders to reduce incidents of violence against health care workers. In past years, he also led medical relief missions following Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Click here to read his full biography and interview.
2026 Lifetime Achievement Award
Mr. Schaeffer is the Founding Chairman & CEO of WellPoint (now Elevance Health), which now serves 47 million members and has annualized revenues of $170.2 billion. He is currently the Judge Robert Maclay Widney Chair and Professor at the University of Southern California.
Mr. Schaeffer was Chairman & CEO of WellPoint from 1992 through 2004 and continued to serve as Chairman through 2005. Under his leadership, WellPoint was selected by FORTUNE magazine as America’s “Most Admired Health Care Company” for six consecutive years; named by BusinessWeek as one of the 50 best-performing public companies for three consecutive years; and identified by Forbes magazine as America’s best large health insurance company.
Mr. Schaeffer was selected by BusinessWeek magazine as one of the “Top 25 Managers of the Year” and by Worth magazine as one
Leonard D. Schaeffer Founding Chairman & CEO Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health)
of the “50 Best CEOs in America.”
In the federal government, Mr. Schaeffer served as Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (now CMS) and was responsible for the U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs. He was also the Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget of the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, Mr. Schaeffer was Director of the Bureau of the Budget for the State of Illinois and also served as Chairman of the Illinois Capital Development Board and as Deputy Director for Management, Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.
He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. He is Chair of the USC Health System Board, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Brookings Institution, and a member of the Board of Fellows at Harvard Medical School.
Click here to read his full biography and interview.
to Our 2026 Sponsors
Premier Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
Ruby Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
DO N LE V I N TRUS T & EDNA and TOM GORDON
We regret omission of logos not available at press time.
Gold Sponsors
MedPOINT
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
ACCESS TLC ...aloving choice.
We regret omission of logos not available at press time.
MARTA FERNANDEZ
Jack & Carissa Schlosser
Dr. Eric Strom & Eileen Goodis Strom
Richard & Nancy Flores
Partners in Care Foundation 2026 Board of Directors
Officers
President and Chief Executive Officer
June Simmons
Board Chair
Manoj K. Mathew, MD, SFHM
Chief Executive Officer
MDX Hawaii
Vice Chair
Shawn Sheffield
Chief Strategy Officer
Keck Medicine of USC
Vice Chair
James B. Edwards
Co-Founder, President & Operating Partner
ALT + J Holdings
Treasurer
Edward Kim
Principal
Grok Advisors
Secretary
Amir Desai
President and Chief Growth Officer
HiLabs
Past Board Chair
Jennifer L. Kozakowski
Health Care Executive
Members
Paul Craig, JD
Health Care Consultant
Former Chief Administrative Officer
Keck Medicine of USC
Don Crane, JD
Healthcare Advocacy
Cathi Cunningham Partner
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Seth Ellis
Executive Consultant
MemorialCare Health System
Marta Fernandez, JD Partner
Jeffer Mangels & Mitchell LLP
Amanda J. Flaum
Vice President Community & Social Health Programs
Kaiser Permanente
Poonam Gorakshakar, MD, FSHM
Regional Medical Director
Blue Shield of California
Jennifer Heenan Partner
Spencer Stuart
Gordon M. Johnson
President
KeyGroup
Katherine A. Kirchhoff
Managing Director
Cain Brothers, a division of KeyBanc Capital Markets
Robert W. Lundy, JD Partner
Hooper, Lundy & Bookman PC
Jill Martin
Executive Vice President
Cedars Sinai Medical Network
Adriana Mendoza
Associate Director Advocacy and Community Engagement
AARP California
Rekha Murthy, MD
Healthcare Advocacy
Stephen T. O’Dell President
Badass Productions CO, LLC
Jack Schlosser
Founder & Principal
Desert Vista Advisors
Alexander Strachan, MD, MBA
Chief Medical Officer Northeast Cinqcare
Gerald Sullivan Chairman
G. J. Sullivan Co., Reinsurance
PREMIER LEVEL SPONSORS
PREMIER SPONSOR
Congratulations
to Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Founding Chairman & CEO, Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health) Chairman, USC Health System Board
Keck Medicine of USC is honored to celebrate his visionary leadership and enduring commitment to compassionate, inclusive care across California.
We proudly support the Partners in Care Foundation and its vital work to advance and elevate health care for our communities.
Celebrating Excellence in Transforming Healthcare
The USC Health System Board extends its sincere congratulations to our leader,
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Recipient of the Partners in Care Foundation’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award
We honor his decades of distinguished leadership in American health care and his continued dedication to strengthening its future.
Their exemplary dedication to delivering equitable and patient centered care reflects the highest standards of our profession. We are privileged to support the Partners in Care Foundation and its continued efforts to enhance health care for communities across California.
Honoring a Visionary Leader
Chris D. Van Gorder, FACHE
Vision and Excellence in Health Care Leadership Award
As president and CEO of Scripps Health for the past 26 years, Chris Van Gorder has successfully led the organization through a quarter of its 100-year history.
His leadership has driven a financial and cultural turnaround, expanded the integrated health system, advanced physician-administrator collaboration and inspired innovation in patient care.
A dedicated community servant, he has also served as a reserve assistant sheriff, launched San Diego’s Hospital Workplace Violence Task Force and led medical relief missions in times of crisis.
His vision continues to advance health care and improve lives—now and for years to come.
2026 Tribute Dinner Committee
Chair
Shawn Sheffield
Chief Strategy Officer
Keck Medicine of USC
Members
Sajid Ahmed
Chief Executive Officer
WISE Healthcare
Amir Desai
President and Chief Growth Officer
HiLabs
Amanda Flaum
Vice President Community & Social Health Programs
Kaiser Permanente
Jennifer Heenan
Partner
Spencer Stuart
Jill Martin
Executive Vice President, Cedars-Sinai Medical Network
Manoj K. Mathew, MD, SFHM
Chief Executive Officer
MDX Hawaii
Jack Schlosser
Founder & Principal
Desert Vista Advisors
Gerald Sullivan
Chairman
G. J. Sullivan Co., Reinsurance
Steve Valentine
President
Valentine Health Advisers
Partner
Guidehouse Consulting
Paul S. Viviano
President & Chief Executive Officer
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
2026 Honorary Tribute Co-Chairs
Jeff Bowman Fire Chief San Diego
Thomas M. Priselac
President and Chief Executive Officer Emeritus
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System
2026 Honorary Tribute Committee
Barry Arbuckle, PhD Chief Executive Officer MemorialCare
Ron Brookmeyer, PhD
Dean & Distinguished Professor of Biostatistics
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Jan Caldwell Special Agent (Retired) Federal Bureau of Investigation
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Southern California and Hawaii
Don Goldman
President & Chief Executive Officer Intelligent Solutions
Thomas D. Gordon Chairman of the Board DSL Construction Corporation
Retired Executive Vice-President Cedars-Sinai Medical Network
William D. Gore Sheriff (Retired) San Diego County
Rod B. Hanners Chief Executive Officer Keck Medicine of USC
Sachin Jain, MD, MBA Chief Executive Officer SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan
Robert Margolis, MD Former Managing Partner (Retired) Chief Executive Officer Emeritus Healthcare Partners
Thomas Mone
Chief Executive Officer (Retired)
OneLegacy
Rick Pollack
President & Chief Executive Officer
American Hospital Association
Jack Schlosser
Founder & Principal Desert Vista Advisors
Elliot Scott Principal EAS Investments
Steven D. Shapiro, MD
Senior Vice President for Health Affairs
USC Health
Peter Slavin, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Arthur M. Southam, MD, MBA, MPH Board of Directors
SCAN Health Plan and Foundation Easterseals Southern California
Johnese Spisso, MPA President
UCLA Health
Chief Executive Officer UCLA Hospital System
Associate Vice Chancellor UCLA Health Sciences
Julie Sprengel
President & Chief Executive Officer
CommonSpirit Health California Region
Gustavo Valdespino
President & Chief Executive Officer Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Paul S. Viviano
President & Chief Executive Officer
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Pioneering and Operationalizing the Community Care Hub
A Regional Community Delivery System for whole-person care, uniting healthcare and community-based services at scale.
For more than 28 years, Partners in Care Foundation has worked alongside health plans, hospital systems, and public agencies to address the complex needs of the populations they serve.
Building on that experience, Partners pioneered and operationalized the nation’s first Community Care Hub model more than a decade ago, establishing a Regional Community Delivery System that integrates healthcare and community-based services at scale.
Today, this model aligns community-based services with reimbursable Medi-Cal, Medicare, and dual-eligible pathways, creating sustainable infrastructure that improves outcomes and reduces avoidable utilization.
Trusted by Leading Healthcare Organizations:
Operationalizing Community-Based Infrastructure for Value-Based Care
Healthcare organizations are increasingly expected to improve outcomes beyond clinical care.
That work requires more than referrals or individual community contracts. It requires infrastructure, accountability, and sustained engagement built to operate at scale.
Partners built that infrastructure.
Through the Partners Community Care Hub, healthcare organizations gain:
• A coordinated, statewide network designed to meet individuals where they are, without geographic limitation
• Closed-loop care coordination with in-home and bedside engagement ensuring individuals are supported through enrollment, navigation, and ongoing care
• Hands-on support for complex populations including Medi-Cal redeterminations, program applications, continuity of coverage, and member/patient advocacy
• Centralized infrastructure that removes administrative and operational burden including contracting, billing operations, compliance, quality oversight, training, IT, and data reporting
DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSORS
PARTNERS COMMUNITY CARE HUB
REGIONAL COMMUNITY DELIVERY SYSTEM
Uniting healthcare and community-based services at scale
DIAMOND SPONSOR
Celebrating Healthcare Leadership
At McKinsey & Company, we partner with healthcare leaders to scale innovations that improve access, affordability, and outcomes for patients and communities.
We are proud to support the Partners in Care Foundation and congratulate this year’s honorees.
DIAMOND SPONSOR
McKinsey & Company proudly honors
Chris Van Gorder, for leadership rooted in service and for strengthening Scripps Health’s role in caring for communities.
Leonard D. Schaeffer, for building healthcare institutions that improve lives at scale, advancing education, and championing philanthropy.
Scan to listen to the McKinsey on Healthcare podcast and hear how leaders are shaping the future of care
Inside Our Second Annual Board Field Day THE POWER OF SHOWING UP
There are moments when the work becomes undeniable, when it moves beyond strategy and into something deeply human.
Because behind every acronym in healthcare, ECM, MSSP, HCBA, there is a person. A family. A story.
Our second Annual Board Field Day was one of those moments. For the second year, our Board stepped beyond the boardroom and into people’s homes, experiencing firsthand the realities individuals face while navigating a system that was never designed to be simple.
Throughout the day, one truth surfaced again and again: vulnerability compounds. Without the right support, everything becomes harder to manage and harder to sustain.
In one visit, a participant was living in a garage behind a family home without heating
or air conditioning, creating unsafe living conditions that made it harder to heal and recover. While healthcare programs provide essential services and support, they are not designed to address urgent needs like a heating or air conditioning unit.
As one board member shared, “Being in the home reveals what clinical visits cannot, the everyday barriers people face.”
Through Partners’ Urgent Needs Fund, donor support helped fill that gap, creating safer conditions that support health, healing, and dignity.
That reality surfaced throughout the day in tangible ways. Through the generosity of MEND, one of our Hub partners, Board members and staff delivered a large bag of food to each participant visited, helping meet immediate needs with dignity and care.
As one board member shared, “Being in the home reveals what clinical visits cannot, the everyday barriers people face.”
We are grateful to our Board for showing up fully, and to the Partners in Care Foundation teams whose work brings this impact to life every day, and to the donors whose partnership helps extend care, dignity, and support beyond what systems alone can provide.
Partners in Care Foundation 2026 Board of Councilors
Co-Chairs
Lloyd Bookman, JD
Founding Partner
Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC
Robert W. Lundy, Jr., JD Founding Partner
Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC
Members
Barry Arbuckle, PhD
President & Chief Executive Officer MemorialCare Health System
Elaine Batchlor, MD, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
MLK Community Healthcare & MLK Community Hospital
Kathleen Brown, JD Partner
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Carmela Coyle
President & Chief Executive Officer California Hospital Association
Donald Crane, JD Healthcare Advocacy
Cástulo de la Rocha
President & Chief Executive Officer
AltaMed Health Services Corporation
Lloyd H. Dean
Chief Executive Officer Emeritus
Dignity Health and CommonSpirit Health
Diana Dooley Retired
David Feinberg, MD, MBA
Chairman
Oracle Health
George Halvorson Chair & Chief Executive Officer Institute for InterGroup Understanding
Rod Hochman, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer Providence St. Joseph Health
Thomas Jackiewicz, MPH President University of Chicago Medical Center
Sachin H. Jain, MD, MBA, FACP
President & Chief Executive Officer SCAN Group & SCAN Health Plan
Howard Kahn President Good Hope Medical Foundation California
Francine Kaufman, MD Chief Medical Officer Senseonics
Hyong (Ken) Kim, MD Chief Executive Officer Giatros Health
Robert Margolis, MD Chief Executive Officer Emeritus HealthCare Partners
J. Mario Molina, MD Board Chair & Co-Founder United States of Care
Richard Norling Senior Fellow Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Thomas M. Priselac
President & Chief Executive Officer Emeritus Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System
Robert K. Ross, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer Emeritus
The California Endowment
Martha Santana-Chin
Chief Executive Officer
L.A. Care Health Plan
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Founding Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
WellPoint (now Elevance Health)
Arthur M. Southam, MD, MBA, MPH Board of Directors
Easterseals Southern California
Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA
President
UCLA Health, Chief Executive Officer
UCLA Hospital System, Associate Vice Chancellor
UCLA Health Sciences
Gustavo Valdespino
President & Chief Executive Officer
Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Steve Valentine
President
Valentine Health Advisers
Partner Guidehouse Consulting
Chris D. Van Gorder, FACHE
President & Chief Executive Officer
Scripps Health
Paul S. Viviano
President & Chief Executive Officer
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
James R. West System President & Chief Executive Officer
PIH Health
In Memoriam
C. Duane Dauner
Special Adviser, Former President/ Chief Executive Officer
California Hospital Association
Yoshi Honkawa Consultant
Cedars-Sinai
Leeba Lessin
President Emeritus CareMore
James E. Ludlam, JD Of Counsel
Musick, Peeler & Garrett
Allen Mathies, MD
Chief Executive Officer & President Emeritus
Huntington Hospital
Paul Torrens, MD, MPH
Professor Emeritus
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Robert Tranquada, MD
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California
Aarete
Access TLC
Partners in Care Sincerely Thanks Our
Supporters $5,000 and above
Adventist Health
Afya & HubMD
Sajid & Elizabeth Ahmed
Akido
AltaMed Health Services
Alvarez & Marsal
American Hospital Association
Anonymous
Archstone Foundation
Barry Berger
Blue Shield Promise
BluePath Health
Cain Brothers, a division of KeyBanc Capital Markets
CalGrows
California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
California Health and Human Services (CalHHS)
California Wellness Foundation
Care Partners
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Chivaroli & Associates
County of Los Angeles Aging and Disabilities Department
Cathi Cunningham
Deloitte
Department of Health Care Service
Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
Amir Desai
Desert Vista Advisors
Dignity Health and CommonSpirit Health
Emanate Health
Episcopal Communities & Services
Marta Fernandez, JD
FindHelp
Amanda J. Flaum
Richard & Nancy Flores
G.J. Sullivan Co Reinsurance
Gaudineer Family
Eileen Goodis Strom and Dr. Eric Strom
Poonam Gorakshakar, MD, FSHM
Edna & Tom Gordon and the Don Levin Trust
Frances Hanckel, Sc.D.
Health Care LA, IPA
Health Net
Jennifer Heenan
Joan Herman and Richard Rasiej
HiLabs
Hooper, Lundy & Bookman
Hutton Parker Foundation
Isaacson, Miller
Jeffer Mangels & Mitchell LLP
Jewish Community Foundation
Gordon M. Johnson & Barbara Schnell
Kaiser Permanente
Keck Medicine of USC
Keck School of Medicine of USC
KeyBank National Association
KeyGroup
Katherine A. Kirchhoff
Care Foundation 2025/2026 Supporters
L.A. Care Health Plan
Los Angeles City Department of Aging (LADOA)
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors - 2nd District, Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell
Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services (LANES)
Los Angeles Water & Power Employee Association, Inc.
Robert W. Lundy, JD and Randi Lundy
Marciniak Family
Margaret A. Cargill Foundation
Jill Martin
Manoj K. Mathew, MD, SFHM
McDermott Will & Schulte LLP
McKinsey & Company
MDX Hawaii
MedPOINT Management
MedZed
MemorialCare
Molina Healthcare
Rekha Murthy, MD
National Council on Aging’s Center for Benefits Access (NCOA)
NCOA ACL Innovation Lab
North Bristol Partners LLC
Stephen T. O’Dell
Preferred IPA of California
PwC
Ruby Family Foundation
Wendy & Ken* Ruby
SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Jack & Carissa Schlosser
Scripps Health
Sharp HealthCare
Shawn Sheffield
John M. Simmons
June Simmons and Jody Dunn
Spencer Stuart
Michael L. Steinberg, MD and Eve Kurtin*
Gerald & Wendy Sullivan
The Ahmanson Foundation
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
UCB, Inc.
UCLA Health
University of Southern California, USC Schaeffer Institute
USAging
Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Whittier Trust
We salute the founding members of The Partners in Legacy Society:
Michael* and Lourdes* Collins
Paul Craig, JD & Mary Jo Webb
Richard & Nancy Flores
Genevieve Goetz
Frances Hanckel, Sc.D.
Leeba Lessin*
June Simmons & Jody Dunn
Gerald & Wendy Sullivan
*In Memoriam
RUBY LEVEL SPONSORS
AltaMed is proud to support Partners
in Care Foundation
At AltaMed, we are on a mission to eliminate disparities in health care access and outcomes by providing superior quality health and human services through an integrated world-class delivery ststem for Latino, multi-ethnic and underserved communities in Southern California.
At AltaMed, we are committed to providing quality health care and community services to help families live healthier lives.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees:
Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award
Chris Van Gorder President and CEO
Scripps Health
Lifetime Achievement Award FOLLOW US
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Founding Chairman & CEO
Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health)
The American Hospital Association congratulates the Partners in Care 2026 Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award Honoree
President and CEO, Scripps Health. A former police officer whose unconventional health care journey began as a hospital patient, he has powered innovative redesign in patient care, steered organizational financial and cultural turnaround, headed efforts to reduce violence against health care workers, and is distinguished for his community contributions including leading medical relief missions following natural disasters.
Congratulations to both of the 2026 honorees
Hospitals are always there, ready to care.
Cornerstones of their communities, hospitals’ blue-and-white “H” sign represents hope, healing and commitment to serving patients and communities as the backbone of our nation’s health care system.
RUBY SPONSOR
Groundbreaking Science, Life-Changing Care
Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Neuroscience
Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award Past Honorees
2025
Cástulo de la Rocha
Cástulo de la Rocha was honored as President and CEO of AltaMed Health Services Corporation. He is a beloved trailblazer in community health. Under his visionary leadership, AltaMed has transformed from a storefront barrio clinic in East Los Angeles into the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in California, and among the top five in the nation.
2024
Gustavo Valdespino
With over 40 years of hospital management experience, Gustavo Valdespino was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Valley Presbyterian Hospital in September 2009 where he has provided transforming results. Prior to joining Valley Presbyterian Hospital, his roles included Senior Vice President of Operations for Tenet Health Corporation’s Southern California region, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent Medical Center and CEO of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County.
2023
Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA
Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA was honored as President of UCLA Health, CEO of UCLA Hospital System, and Associate Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences. Spisso joined UCLA in 2016 and is responsible for all aspects of the health system and the regional outreach strategy in the local, state, national and international programs.
2022
Arthur M. Southam, MD
Arthur M. Southam, MD was honored as Executive Vice President Health Plan Operations and Chief Growth Officer of Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Southam joined Kaiser Permanente in 2001 and had national responsibility for Health Plan marketing, sales, service, and administrative activities that supported growth and care.
2021
Paul S. Viviano
Paul S. Viviano was honored as President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). As a major healthcare leader and prominent advocate of child health, Mr. Viviano joined CHLA in 2015 and serves as a member of its Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.
2019
Elaine Batchlor, MD, MPH
Elaine Batchlor, MD, MPH, was honored as the CEO of MLK Community Healthcare, a CMS 5-star-rated hospital and health system that provides quality care to 1.3 million residents of the medically underserved community of South Los Angeles. Dr. Batchlor has devoted her career to reducing health disparities and expanding healthcare quality and access for the most vulnerable.
2018
Diana S. Dooley
Diana S. Dooley was honored as the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency by Governor Jerry Brown at the beginning of his term in 2011. She used federal law, together with state legislative and administrative actions, to make improvements in the quality of healthcare delivery.
2017
Rod Hochman, MD
Rod Hochman, MD, was honored as President and CEO of Providence. Dr. Hochman is responsible for leading the seven-state health system, ensuring access to high-quality, compassionate care is available in each of the communities Providence serves.
2016
Don Crane, JD
Don Crane was honored as President and CEO of America’s Physician Groups (APG), the nation’s only professional association exclusively representing capitated, coordinated care organizations. Under Mr. Crane’s leadership, APG became a leading voice in federal and California advocacy.
2015
Robert Margolis, MD
Robert Margolis, MD, was honored as Co-Chairman of the Board, DaVita HealthCare Partners and CEO Emeritus of HealthCare Partners, LLC. Dr. Margolis is a much sought-after spokesperson because of his vast experience in integrated delivery systems and physician practice management.
2014
Leeba Lessin
In Memoriam
Leeba Lessin was honored for her role as Senior Vice President of WellPoint and President of its affiliated Medicare businesses, serving more than two million members through Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug Plans.
2013
Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D.
Barry Arbuckle, PhD was honored as President and CEO of MemorialCare, a leading Southern California non-profit integrated healthcare system with over 200 sites of care. Under Dr. Arbuckle’s leadership, MemorialCare has experienced unprecedented growth and financial performance.
2012
David T. Feinberg, MD, MBA
Dr. Feinberg was honored as President of UCLA Health System. Dr. David Feinberg oversaw all aspects of the prestigious operation, including Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, and UCLA Medical, Santa Monica.
2011
Howard A. Kahn
Howard Kahn was honored as the CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest public health plan in America. Mr. Kahn has served in leadership positions creating initiatives, coalitions, and policies.
2010
Lloyd A. Bookman, JD
Lloyd A. Bookman, JD was honored as Co-founder and Managing Partner of Hooper, Lundy and Bookman, PC. Mr. Bookman represents healthcare providers in complex regulatory, reimbursement, and transactional matters.
2010
Robert W. Lundy, Jr., JD
Robert W. Lundy, Jr., JD was honored as Co-founder and Managing Partner of Hooper, Lundy and Bookman, PC, the largest law firm in the country dedicated solely to the representation of healthcare providers and suppliers.
2009
Richard A. Norling
Richard A. Norling was honored because of his work as a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
2008
George C. Halvorson
George C. Halvorson was honored as Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. Mr. Halvorson headed the nation’s largest non-profit health plan and hospital system, serving more than 9 million members and generating about $50 billion in annual revenue.
2007
Lloyd H. Dean
Lloyd H. Dean was honored for his work as President and CEO of CommonSpirit Health (formerly known as Dignity Health and Catholic Healthcare West), an integrated not-for-profit healthcare system in three western states.
2006
Francine Kaufman, MD
Francine Kaufman, MD was honored as a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine and the Annenberg School of Communications at USC..
2005
Thomas M. Priselac
Thomas M. Priselac was honored as President and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System. Mr. Priselac is an author and invited speaker on a variety of contemporary issues facing the healthcare field today.
2004
C. Duane Dauner
In Memoriam
C. Duane Dauner was honored as President and CEO of the California Hospital Association. A nationally known leader on health issues, Duane helped California lead the nation in innovative care delivery, quality improvement, and payment programs.
2003
Robert E. Tranquada, MD
In Memoriam
Robert E. Tranquada, MD was honored for his leadership that initiated and shaped many healthcare organizations. He served on many local and national healthcare charities, higher education, and civic boards, and authored numerous medical and policy articles.
2002
James E. Ludlam, JD
In Memoriam
Mr. Ludlam was honored and recognized as one of the founders of healthcare law who helped shape California’s healthcare environment.
2001
Yoshi Honkawa In Memoriam
Mr. Honkawa was honored for his many years as Vice President, Government and Industry Relations, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, following a long and distinguished career in healthcare administration.
2000
Dr. Allen Mathies In Memoriam and Weta Mathies
The Mathies Award was named in honor of this couple’s distinguished careers and Dr. Mathies’ remarkable leadership of the Visiting Nurse Association of Los Angeles (VNA-LA) and the founding Board of Partners in Care Foundation.
Champion for Health Award Past Honorees
2024
Martha Santana-Chin
With an 11-year tenure at Health Net, a Centene company, Martha Santana-Chin takes pride in her first-hand understanding of the struggles faced by low-income communities. She has consistently been at the forefront of healthcare innovation, playing pivotal leadership roles in every stage of California’s managed care journey focused on service low-income populations. Most recently she has addressed the whole-person care by integrating medical, behavioral, and social sciences.
2022
Sachin H. Jain, MD
Sachin H. Jain, MD was honored as President and CEO of SCAN Group and Health Plan, where he is charged with leading the organization’s growth, diversification, and emerging efforts to reduce healthcare disparities. Under Dr. Jain’s leadership, SCAN’s revenues topped $3.4B and the organization now serves 220,000 patients.
2014
James R. West
James R. West was honored as the President and CEO of PIH Health, an integrated delivery system comprised of two hospitals, 22 medical offices, home health services, a medical foundation, and an independent physician association.
2011
Molina Family & Molina Family Healthcare, Inc.
Molina Healthcare began in 1980 as a small medical clinic in Long Beach, California. As an emergency room (ER) physician, C. David Molina, MD saw the need for an alternative to going to the ER.
continued
2010
Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong was honored as a physician, surgeon, and scientist. He pioneered treatments for both diabetes and cancer, publishing over 100 scientific papers, and holds 50 US patents on groundbreaking advancements across a myriad of fields.
2006
Kathleen Brown
Kathleen Brown was honored as the former Treasurer of the State of California and Board member of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Lifetime Achievement Award Past Honorees
2025
Thomas M. Priselac
Thomas M. Priselac was honored as President and CEO Emeritus of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Health System. An advocate for improving quality and access in health care throughout his career, Mr. Priselac developed strategic and operational innovations to foster high-quality, safe and efficient care for patients. Under his leadership, Cedars-Sinai earned an international reputation for quality care, community service, research and education while evolving from a community hospital to a major health system to better serve the people of the Los Angeles region and beyond.
2023
Robert K. Ross, MD
Robert K. Ross, MD, was honored as President and CEO of The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation established in 1996. During his tenure, Dr. Ross provided leadership in supporting the vision of underserved communities and grassroots leaders for a healthier California and a healthier America.
2021
Paul Torrens, MD, MPH
In Memoriam
Paul Torrens, MD, was honored as Professor Emeritus of Health Policy and Management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (FSPH), and as Founder of the Paul Torrens Health Forum at UCLA. In his more than 40 years at FSPH, Dr. Torrens patiently guided, mentored and advised generations of students, helping shape many distinguished careers in public health.
2018
C. Duane Dauner
In Memoriam
C. Duane Dauner was honored for his more than 50-year career in the healthcare field as a visionary and widely respected national leader who was dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all Americans.
PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSOR
We offer our sincere congratulations to this year’s distinguished honorees
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE
Recipient of the Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award and Leonard D. Schaeffer
Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award And to the Partners in Care Foundation for nearly three decades of profound commitment to improving the lives of patients and their families.
We are inspired by the wide reach of your compassionate service and wish you continued success.
With gratitude, Edna & Tom Gordon
PLATINUM SPONSOR
Caring is Our Calling.
MemorialCare congratulates this year’s honorees for their commitment to excellence, and for their dedication to transforming health care. We are inspired to show that same commitment across all our locations.
• Chris Van Gorder, FACHE, President and CEO, Scripps Health Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award
• Leonard D. Schaeffer, Foundation Chairman and CEO, Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health) Lifetime Achievement Award
Par tners
The in Legac ySociety
Par tners The in Legac ySociety
Par tners The in Legac ySociety
A lasting legacy is measured not only by what we build in our lifetime, but by what continues because of it.
The Partners in Legacy Society honors individuals who have chosen to invest in the future of Partners in Care Foundation through a planned gift or estate commitment. These extraordinary commitments help sustain and strengthen the work of improving care, advancing independence, and addressing the real-life needs that shape health and well-being.
For nearly three decades, Partners has helped transform how care is delivered beyond clinical settings, building bridges between healthcare and community, reducing avoidable hospitalizations, and helping thousands of individuals remain safe and supported at home. Legacy gifts help ensure that work continues for generations to come.
If you would like to learn how to include Partners in your estate plans or create a lasting legacy of care, please contact Karen Schneider, Vice President of Development, at kschneider@picf.org
CREATE YOUR LEGACY
To learn how you can include Partners in your estate plans and create a lasting impact, please contact:
Karen Schneider Vice President of Development Kschneider@picf.org
Founding Members
Founding Members HONORING THE
OF THE PA R TNERS IN LEGA CY SO CI ET Y
OF THE PA R TNERS IN LEGA CY SO CI ET Y
Craig, JD & Mary Jo Webb
Jody Dunn & June Simmons
Wendy & Gerald Sullivan
*In Memoriam: Michael & Lourdes Collins and Leeba Lessin
A LEGACY THAT LASTS GENERATIONS
Your commitment today helps ensure that individuals and families have the care, support, and opportunity they need to live healthier, more stable lives—now and for years to come.
Paul
Richard & Nancy Flores Frances Hanckel, Sc.D.
Donor Spotlight: A Life of Leadership and Legacy Richard and Nancy Flores The Partners in Legacy Society Members
Richard and Nancy Flores bring a lifetime of curiosity, compassion, and global perspective to their philanthropy.
Since 2016, they have called MonteCedro, an Episcopal Community Services retirement community in the foothills of Altadena, home. Prior to that, Richard’s career in the high-tech industry took them across the United States and abroad, including extended time in Germany and Japan. Those experiences shaped a broad understanding of aging, community, and the importance of supporting older adults with dignity and care.
That perspective, paired with a deeply held belief in giving back, has guided their philanthropic journey. They are intentional in supporting organizations that align with their values, particularly those working to improve quality of life for older adults and their families.
Their connection to Partners in Care Foundation began several years ago, when they attended a salon at the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena,
hosted by founding Partners’ Board Member and MonteCedro Board Member Allen Mathies, MD (In Memoriam). A presentation by June Simmons and Dr. Scott Kaiser introduced them to the breadth and impact of Partners’ work, helping individuals, especially older adults, remain safely and independently in their homes and communities. The mission resonated immediately.
Living within a continuum of care community has only deepened their awareness of the challenges many older adults face. They have witnessed firsthand the realities of declining independence and the profound effects of loneliness and social isolation. For Richard and Nancy, it is essential that organizations like Partners continue addressing these issues through fall prevention, chronic disease management, and whole-person approaches to physical and mental health. Richard is particularly passionate about Partners’ leadership in tackling social isolation, recognizing it as one of the most pressing yet under-addressed issues in aging today.
In alignment with their long-term vision, Richard and Nancy established a charitable remainder unitrust—an investment in both their future and the causes they care about most.
As their connection to Partners grew, they chose to name Partners as a beneficiary of the trust, while also continuing their annual support. They are especially interested in ensuring that their legacy helps expand educational opportunities for social workers and community care professionals, those on the front lines of service.
As founding members of The Partners in Legacy Society, Richard and Nancy exemplify what it means to lead with purpose and foresight.
Their generosity reflects not only a commitment to Partners, but a belief in building stronger, healthier communities for generations to come. Partners is deeply grateful for Richard and Nancy’s enduring support, advocacy, and thoughtful philanthropy.
GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS
Afya and HubMD are honored to support Partners in Care Foundation and congratulate the 2026 honorees: Chris Van Gorder, FACHE and Leonard D. Schaeffer
[Re]imagining Healthcare
Focused On Underserved/Vulnerable Communities
Blue Shield Promise Health Plan is proud to sponsor the Partners in Care Foundation's 26th Annual Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Tribute Dinner
CONGRATULATIONS TO TONIGHT'S HONOREES FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP IN HEALTHCARE
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE &
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Building healthy communities together.
Dignity Health is a proud supporter of the Partners in Care Foundation.
Congratulations to the Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership 2026 honorees!
Thank you to the distinguished recipientsChris Van Gorder, FACHE, Scripps Health, and Leonard D. Schaeffer, Wellpoint (now Elevance Health), for leading with integrity and purpose.
GOLD SPONSOR
We proudly support Partners in Care Foundation And Congratulate the 2026 recipients of
The Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE President and CEO, Scripps Health &
The Lifetime Achievement Award
Leonard D. Schaeffer Founding Chairman & CEO Wellpoint (Elevance Health)
Thank you for your innovative programs to deliver quality community-based care and for your leadership in forming health policy and public service to strengthen the system that shapes healthcare delivery and institutional performance.
Recipient
Recipient
UCLA Health proudly supports
Partners In Care
Foundation
and congratulates the
Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award recipients
Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award
Partners in Care Foundation Leading to Advance Value-Based Care and Promote Whole Person Health
For more than four years, the Partnership to Align Social Care— now the Partnership to Align Community Care (Partnership)—has been a leading cross-sector collaborative, co-designing sustainable solutions to advance Community Care Hubs (CCHs) as a preferred delivery system for coordinated, person-centered care. Partners in Care Foundation President & CEO, June Simmons, has served as Co-Chair of this innovative coalition since its inception in 2022. Under her leadership, the Partnership has developed and disseminated learning collaboratives, resources, and educational events, and stakeholder engagement opportunities engaging thousands of health and community care stakeholders and hundreds of cross-sector leaders and subject matter experts.
In 2026, the Partnership launched a new name, a new look, and a renewed commitment to growing a learning, sharing, and cross-sector change collaborative dedicated to advancing and scaling sustainable community care delivery systems leveraging community care hubs (CCHs) to promote whole-person health. This refined focus on building a dedicated learning, sharing, and change collaborative aims to support communities across the country that are pursuing CCHs to coordinate networks of community-based organizations that partner with healthcare entities to address upstream drivers of health.
The Partnership’s next chapter is dedicated to bringing stakeholders together to co-design best practices and tools that support collaboration among healthcare organizations, CCHs, and community care networks— aligning with federal efforts that recognize CCHs as key to coordinated community care.
Moving forward, the Partnership’s work will focus on:
• Building awareness: Increasing formal support of the CCH model by government, philanthropic, and healthcare partners, evidenced by public commitments, aligned funding strategies, referral relationships or integration into policy and procurement frameworks.
• CCH Maturity Advancement: Accelerating the adoption of core CCH functions, aligning service standards, and testing shared measures to strengthen cross-sector collaboration.
• CCH Network Readiness: Increasing the readiness of community-based organizations (CBOs) to become contracted CCH Network partners.
• Clinical Integration: Expanding billing and coding pathways and advancing alternative payment arrangements to support CCH-delivered services.
To learn more, the Partnership invites you to explore their new website: www.partnership2acc.org
No Wrong Door Access Across Medi-Cal
and Medicare and Dual-Eligible Populations
Built and refined through decades of serving Medi-Cal populations in partnership with healthcare and community-based organizations, Partners in Care Foundation now supports Medicare, D-SNP, and CICM through coordinated community-based care and aligned reimbursement pathways.
Operational Infrastructure Across Medicare & D-SNP Models
Community Care Hub – Network Management & Operations
A Regional Community Delivery System managing community partners, referrals, compliance, reporting and billing infrastructure while preserving plan clinical authority.
Engagement & Navigation
Culturally and linguistically meaningful outreach and navigation, including HRA completion, upstream risk identification and connection to ECM and CICM pathways.
Care Transitions
Evidence-based interventions reducing 30-day readmissions and strengthening cross-setting support.
Enhanced Care Management Services (Non-Clinical)
Full non-clinical ECM scope including assessment, interdisciplinary coordination, HRSN identification and stabilization support.
California Integrated Care Management (CICM) Services
Non-clinical CICM functions aligned with DHCS guidance and CMS Model of Care requirements.
Medication-related harm remains one of the most preventable drivers of hospital readmissions, contributing to 22% of readmissions after discharge and placing older adults at heightened risk during care transitions.
This year, Partners in Care Foundation launched the next generation of HomeMeds: an AI-Enhanced mobile platform designed to accelerate medication review, strengthen data accuracy, and identify medication-related risks faster across home-based and community care settings.
Trusted by more than 80 program sites across 19 states, HomeMeds is used by health systems, universities, provider networks, and community-based organizations nationwide.
Embedded into in-home assessments, HomeMeds helps identify medication safety risks before they escalate into emergency visits, hospital readmissions, or preventable harm.
As healthcare continues to shift toward prevention, value-based care, and whole-person accountability, medication safety remains one of the clearest opportunities to improve outcomes while reducing avoidable utilization.
SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE
is proud to support Partners in Care Foundation and congratulates the 26th Annual Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Tribute Dinner Honorees
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE President & CEO, Scripps Health and
Leonard D. Schaeffer Founding Chairman & CEO, Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health)
Founded in 1986, MDX is the largest IPA in the state and manages MA lives in full risk contracts by partnering with a coordinated network of over 600 PCPs, thousands of specialists and local hospital systems in the state of Hawai’i.
Manoj K. Mathew,
MD CEO, MDX Hawaii
Ion Baroi, MBA COO, MDX Hawaii
www.mdxhawaii.com
A National Workforce Training Platform for CHWs and Frontline Teams
Today’s healthcare system is under pressure from workforce shortages and the growing need for care that extends beyond traditional clinical settings. To meet this moment, organizations need a new kind of workforce—people who understand their communities and can build trust where it matters most . At Partners in Care Foundation, we’re meeting the moment with a training solution designed to strengthen care where it begins—in the community.
Our Workforce Development Training Center offers a practical, scalable way for health organizations to enhance their Community Health Worker (CHW) teams. CHWs extend the reach of healthcare by helping individuals access food, transportation, housing, and other essential community-based services that influence health outcomes.
550+
CHWs Trained Nationally
Building the workforce that strengthens communities and improves outcomes
Whether you’re expanding Enhanced Care Management, launching Community Support services, or filling urgent workforce gaps, Partners is your go-to resource to build and train the team you need.
Let’s build a stronger care system—together. TrainingSupport@picf.org
Partners’ CHW training program is designed for real-world readiness:
Aligned with California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) standards and national CHW competencies
Delivered fully online in both English and Spanish, expanding access to workforce training nationwide
Streamlined for completion in 7 weeks
Backed by personalized coaching and progress tracking
Includes supervisor and advanced training modules focused on traumainformed engagement strategies for complex and hard-to-reach populations
BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS
kkirchhoff@cainbrothers.com
We congratulate Chris Van Gorder, FACHE President & CEO, Scripps Health on being the recipient of the Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award. It is our pleasure to support Leonard D. Schaeffer Founding Chairman & CEO Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health) on being the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you for your compassion, dedication, and contributions to health care.
www.deloitte.com
BRONZE SPONSOR
Emanate Health proudly supports Partners in Care Foundation and congratulates the 2026 honorees:
in
Award
Congratulations!
Your Community. Your Hospitals. Your Doctors. Bringing Care Closer to Home.
Emanate Health is a nonprofit health care system serving a million people in the San Gabriel Valley.
Emanate Health congratulates Dr. Claudia Muñoz on being named to the 2024 list of Women of Influence in Health Care. Dr. Muñoz is among our team of dedicated, highly-skilled physicians who lead the charge in providing world-class care to the San Gabriel Valley region. Our top-tier physicians provide inspiring stewardship in living our mission to help patients keep well in body, mind and spirit by providing quality care in a safe and compassionate environment. Your Community. Your Hospitals. Your Doctors. Bringing Care Closer to Home. Learn more at EmanateHealth.org or Follow us for our
BRONZE SPONSOR
We are proud to support Partners in Care Foundation and the important work it is doing to combat loneliness and social isolation in older adults
We congratulate this year’s honorees Chris Van Gorder, FACHE
President & CEO
Scripps Health Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award and Leonard D. Schaeffer
Founding Chairman & CEO
Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health) Lifetime Achievement Award
And recognize them for their exceptional leadership in advancing healthcare and expanding access for communities everywhere.
Richard and Nancy Flores
Leonard Schaeffer’s legacy reflects enduring institution‐building, advancing national healthcare through principled public service, disciplined leadership, and a lifelong devotion to large‐scale benefit. Deep gratitude accompanies our recognition of his distinguished contributions to the collective health and wellbeing of our nation.
Premier executive search services serving healthcare, higher education, and civic institutions that sustain a vital democracy
To this year’s Vision and Excellence in Healthcare Award Honoree
Chris
Van Gorder, FACHE
President & CEO Scripps Health
And to Leonard D. Schaeffer
Founding Chairman & CEO Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health)
2026 Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree
Wishing you continued success from everyone at Partners in Care Foundation and KeyGroup.
Gordon Johnson KeyGroup and
BRONZE SPONSOR
Congratulations to this year’s Partners in Care Foundation honorees, Chris Van Gorder, FACHE, recipient of the 2026 Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award, and Leonard D. Schaeffer, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
We are privileged to support these distinguished leaders whose contributions have revolutionized the way care is provided to our families and friends
Warmest wishes,
Jack Schlosser Founder & Principal Desert Vista Advisors
Spencer Stuart congratulates this year’s Partners in Care Foundation honorees for the work they are doing to transform
www.spencerstuart.com
Congratulations to this year’s honorees
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE and Leonard D. Schaeffer for their outstanding leadership in healthcare
And a special thank you to Partners in Care Foundation for improving health outcomes by bridging healthcare and communitybased services - empowering people to live safely, heal fully, and thrive.
Dr. Eric A. Strom and Eileen Goodis Strom
There is always more to be done
Our commitment to improving the lives of people with severe diseases runs deep. Our work doesn’t stop when we close the lab door or analyse the last sample. Always looking for the next discovery, the next innovation – now and into the future.
We are proud to salute the Partners in Care Foundation recipients:
Chris Van Gorder Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award
Leonard D. Schaeffer Lifetime Achievement Award
Your contributions and commitment to the community are truly commendable. Thank you for your longtime dedication and for making a difference.
Celebrating Leadership That Transforms Care
Congratulations to Christopher D. Van Gorder, FACHE, whose unwavering commitment to patient-centered healthcare has set a standard for excellence across our profession. We proudly salute his remarkable leadership and contributions to advancing health.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the University of Southern California
Warmest congratulations to
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Founding Chairman & CEO
Wellpoint (Now Elevance Health)
2026 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Suzanne Nora Johnson
Smart In Your World
ArentFox Schiff proudly supports Partners in Care Foundation at their 26th Annual Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Tribute Dinner.
Proud to Support
PARTNERS IN CARE
Congratulations to Chris Van Gorder and our dear friend Leonard Schaeffer for your exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of so many in our community.
This recognition of your Lifetime Achievement Award is long overdue. I have always been awed by your relentless efforts to advance health care for all.
John Kusmiersky
Together with Partners in Care, we're doing the shared work that strengthens our community — because when dignity leads the way, lasting change becomes possible. Leonard,
As biopharmaceutical researchers keep searching for breakthrough cures they don’t have to look far for inspiration.
In this new era of medicine, where breakthroughs are transforming prevention and treatment options, PhRMA is committed to fixing America’s health care system the right way.
www.PhRMA.org/BetterWay
~ Mahatma Gandhi
Rokos Group is proud to salute this year’s Partners in Care Foundation Honorees for their unwavering excellence in Healthcare Leadership and outstanding contributions to the community.
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE
Recipient of the Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award
Leonard D. Schaeffer
Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award
“I got the sense from both of my parents that to have a meaningful life, you have to help other people.”
-Leonard Schaeffer
From being the son of a pharmacist and social worker to running Medicare and Medicaid at age 31, and then building one of the largest health benefits companies in the nation
We salute your enduring commitment to healthcare policy, public service and educating the next generation of leaders to serve with integrity and a strong sense of social responsibility.
Tom Jackiewicz, President University of
Chicago Health System
Chris Van Gorder, FACHE President & CEO,
Partners in Care Foundation
thanks for being a solution to seniors
Comfort Paradise Home Care Agency www.comfortparadisehc.com 323-844-0707
Providing unparalleled in-home care services that enrich the lives of our clients and their families.
Leonard, you have made an indelible mark on our world and on me as a leader. Your life is an example of how one person can make an outsized impact. We will all continue to benefit from your contributions to healthcare, public policy and your investment in future leaders for generations to come.
It was the privilege of a lifetime to work alongside you building Keck Medicine of USC. Here are a few things I learned at your elbow:
• Start on time and end on time.
• “I’m not going to tell you how to run your railroad,” followed by advice on how to run the railroad
• “Fight like hell”
Thank you for your generous mentorship.
Stacy Bratcher SVP & Chief Legal Officer
27th Annual Vision & Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Tribute Dinner
We look forward to gathering again to recognize leadership whose impact continues to shape healthcare
