2025 My SoCal Hospital Heroes Awards Gala
GIUSEPPINA (JO) D’AMBROSIO SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL Hospitality and Environmental Services Director, Hospitality and Environmental Services
The results for 2024: • 3,667 nights of accommodations provided • 85% monthly occupancy • 1,650+ requests received in 2024 • Estimated $1.5 million in hotel cost savings annually for families
I am honored to nominate Giuseppina (Jo) D’Ambrosio for the Hospital Hero Award. Jo is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse who transforms the patient and family experience. Her leadership at Cottage Health has elevated everything from infection prevention to emotional support for families, sustainability practices, emergency response and more.
The suites serve primarily the families and loved ones of Neonatal ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU and critical care patients. The emotional impact cannot be overstated, and grateful family members have this to say: • “My husband and I are 77 years old, and there’s no way I could have driven roundtrip from Lompoc every day. Thank you so very, very much for making it possible to stay near him every day.” • “During a scary time of the unknown with our son being in the NICU, we couldn’t be more grateful for having the opportunity to stay here.” • “Thank you so much for making this hospital stay with my mom so much easier. I was able to focus on her and get the rest I needed to advocate and support us both.” • “Excellent in all ways! I have an enormous amount of gratitude for the hospitality team and the Cottage Foundation for having this facility and letting me stay. Thank you!”
One of Jo’s most compassionate and transformational achievements is the operational leadership of Cottage Family Suites (CFS). Originally known as The Little Cottages—no-cost, furnished accommodations for families with loved ones in critical care—Jo reimagined the program from the ground up. Drawing from her background at The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, she infused hospitality-level care into health care support. She led the expansion to the new Cottage Family Suites, a beautifully restored, fully donor-funded 12-suite building close to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Under Jo’s leadership of the Cottage Family Suites, she: • Partnered on construction, fundraising and design • Created staffing workflows using existing resources • Engaged departments internally to drive occupancy and awareness • Continually evolves services based on guest feedback
Beyond the Cottage Family Suites, Jo oversees Cottage’s Hospitality and Environmental Services (EVS) departments, leading 151 employees. She built a concierge program that serves over 1,000 guests 22