2023 Winter Saint Francis Foundation Newsletter

Partnerships, & Compassion

Dear Friends,

As we look back on another remarkable year, I am filled with immense gratitude and excitement for the incredible journey we’ve shared together at Saint Francis Foundation Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our success, and it is my pleasure to reflect on the transformative impact we’ve achieved

This fiscal year, your remarkable generosity has empowered us to contribute a total of $3 5 million in grants to Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and the surrounding community Whether it be for state-of-the-art hospital equipment, innovative programs, or bolstering our ties with local community partners, your invaluable contributions have been instrumental in creating a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of those we are privileged to serve

Your continued partnership is crucial as we embark on new initiatives, face evolving challenges, and strive to reach even greater heights We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and are confident that, with your support, we can build on our successes and create a lasting legacy of positive change

In closing, I want to express my deepest appreciation for your trust, commitment, and partnership.

Together, we are not only changing lives but shaping a better future for our community

With Gratitude, President Saint Francis Foundation

In this newsletter you can expect:

A Heartfelt Story of Recovery Mental Health Conversations A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Care Spotlight on Grants A Note of Thanks

Fayer, featuring notable speakers such as Kate Smith, President of Saint Francis Foundation; Dennis Smith, Director of the Behavioral Health Unit at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital; Senator Scott Wiener; and San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Raphael Mandelman. This conversation underscored the significance of Mental Health Day, emphasizing the need for compassion, understanding, and collaborative efforts in tackling mental health challenges The key

Care This pioneering event served as a platform for the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and research, fostering collaboration and relationships among professionals The Foundation anticipates continued success and impact in the years ahead as the Gen I Symposium contributes to enhancing patient outcomes and shaping innovative approaches in the field.

Joe Marasco's Miracle: A Heartfelt Recovery

Joe Marasco's life changed dramatically when he received a life-saving heart transplant just days before Christmas in 2017 Thanks to the exceptional care from Dr. Wan Chi and her team at Saint Francis, Joe made a remarkable recovery

"Everyone told me the first year wouldn't be easy, but thanks to the folks at Saint Francis, I got the best head start on that process you could possibly imagine," says Joe Marasco

Highlighting the importance of selfadvocacy, Joe praises the dedicated team at Saint Francis for their unwavering support Dr Wan Chi, Joe's physician, expresses gratitude for being part of Joe's recovery This touching narrative reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of expert medical care

SPOTLIGHT ON GRANTS

of-the-art MRI a significant milestone made possible by the steadfast support of our community The ribbon-cutting ceremony, marked a moment of achievement and progress in healthcare innovation This advanced technology not only symbolizes a major step forward for our hospital but also ensures our technicians are equipped with the latest tools for optimal patient care

Curry Senior Center’s newly constructed Tech and Wellness Hub+ location is a safe place for older adults to gain further selfsufficiency by imparting new technology skills and providing focused programs to improve mental and physical health

Special guest speaker, Ashton Kotwal, MD, Assistant Professor o Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at UCSF, provided highlights of current research and solutions to alleviate the impact o social isolation in older adults

We are thrilled to share that in May, thanks to the generous support of donors, we had the honor of providing breakfast and lunch to the remarkable staff at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital The contributions made it possible to express our gratitude to the hardworking and compassionate healthcare professionals during Hospital Week. The commitment to our cause from our donors enables us to celebrate moments like these, recognizing the incredible impact made by the dedicated staff at the hospital We hope you take pride in supporting their unwavering commitment to health and well-being

During a pleasant afternoon at Boeddeker Park in the Tenderloin district, we had the privilege of donating a van to Code Tenderloin for use as their new Night Navigator

Passenger vehicle. Mayor Breed led a straightforward ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark this occasion

Hyde Street Community Services (HSCS) and Saint Francis Memorial Hospital have partnered to create the "Hospital Liaison Program," providing essential support to patients in emergent inpatient psychiatric care Through this initiative, patients receive clothing, a phone, food, and crucially, a followup appointment with HSCS outpatient clinic The program aims to establish a personal connection, ensuring patient well-being and ongoing communication after leaving hospital care To date, the program has successfully referred 150 patients, further demonstrating its impact and potential for broader implementation

We're delighted to announce that thanks to the generous support of a dedicated foundation, Saint Francis Foundation is funding a capital project aimed at fostering a compassionate and supportive atmosphere within Saint Francis Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department. This involves the establishment of two new Comfort Rooms, designed to enhance the experience for patients, particularly those undergoing mental and behavioral health crises The goals include updating triage and emergency response protocols to cater specifically to behavioral health patients, thereby improving overall care and reducing the incidence of staff injuries related to behavioral health crises Once completed, this will enable the Emergency Department to effectively care for behavioral health patients in a distinct, secure treatment area within the hospital facility

A Note of Thanks

Dear Friends at the Saint Francis Foundation,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for sending me to Fenway’s Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health conference a few weeks back I’ve been hearing about Fenway’s clinical model for years and after a weekend spent witnessing their healthcare system in action, my mind is whirring with ideas and options and incredible perspective My sense of how the Gender Institute could look, and whom we can serve, feels more expansive and informed after hearing so many Fenway patients speak to the ways that their integrated, comprehensive care has transformed their health And it goes beyond health, right? Because building systems that patients can trust and rely upon has reparative effects that go beyond health outcomes and impact their self-esteem, their sense of safety, their relationships and sense of their own potential.

The whole plane ride home, I thought about our growing program, who might join us next and who may need us most And when I returned to the hospital, I saw it with fresh eyes: the nurses excited to share their ideas for improving care, the surprising number of camera-shy colleagues who volunteered to film for TDOR, Champions recruiting new Champions during my absence. We have something so special here, and support from the Foundation makes it possible to keep growing it And this conference gave me a chance to grow, too, as a practitioner - when so much of my work here is education, it’s invigorating to attend events where I can educate myself and learn from others on similar journeys I can’t wait to share my new knowledge and restored passion with all my colleagues and appreciate you all for this amazing opportunity

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,

D Hilton

Thank you for reading!

155 Sansome St, Ste 500 San Francisco, CA 94104