OnCenter

THE LEGACY OF CRAIG LEACH

After nearly 40 years, “It Feels Like Family”

the CEO

It has been my honor to serve Torrance Memorial for almost 40 years. It is with mixed emotions that I look forward to my October retirement date. This hospital and all of you have been a significant part of my life. I will absolutely miss the people and the relationships that have made this journey the most rewarding professional experience anyone could ever hope for.

I will miss my weekly rounding on the floors and throughout the organization. The most humbling part of my week is observing the hard work and commitment exhibited by all of you. I appreciate what you do. I appreciate how you do it. And I appreciate the family we have become.

As I think about the future of Torrance Memorial, I know it is bright. Our strong culture is the foundation for patient excellence, high achievement and consistent growth.

Thank you for these many years, and all my best to each of you as you continue to serve our South Bay community.

With much gratitude and a little mist in my eyes,

On the Cover

Editor

Julie Taylor

Executive Director

Marketing

Erin Fiorito

Publisher, Creative Director

Vincent Rios

Copy Editor Laura Watts

Contributors

Danielle Boujikian

Lisa Buffington

Melani Morose Edelstein

John Ferrari

Diane Krieger

Nancy Sokoler Steiner

Photographers

Siri Berting

Peter Cooper

Deidre Davidson

Philicia Endelman

Michael Neveux

Vincent Rios

Craig Leach

CEO, Torrance Memorial Medical Center

©2023

All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. It has not been designed to replace a physician’s medical assessment and medical judgment. Always consult first with your physician regarding anything related to your personal health.

From

Behind-the-scenes look at the photography shoot for the cover of OnCenter.

Photographed by Vincent Rios

U.S. News & World Report

Prestigious awards are earned, and Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been recognized as a Best Hospital for 2023–2024 for the 12th year by U.S. News & World Report. This year we moved up the rankings to the 9th-highest ranking hospital in California for overall hospital quality and to 4th in the Los Angeles and Orange County regions.

This year, we are again nationally ranked in diabetes and endocrinology and high performing in seven specialties including urology this year. We also rank high performing in 15 of 21 conditions and procedures areas.

Ranking in the top 3% shows we are delivering on our vision to provide patient-centered care with the highest level of quality and service to the community. It means we are honoring our promise to deliver our core values of Service, Excellence, Knowledge, Stability and Community.

High Performing in seven specialties and ranked nationally in diabetes and endocrinology

• Diabetes endocrinology — ranking #41 in the nation

• Cardiology, heart & vascular surgery

• Gastroenterology & GI surgery

• Geriatrics

• Neurology/neurosurgery

• Orthopedics

• Pulmonology & lung surgery

• Urology (new)

High Performing in 15 of 21 conditions/procedures

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Colon cancer surgery

• Diabetes

• Heart attack

• Heart bypass surgery

• Heart failure

• Hip fracture

• Hip replacement

• Kidney failure

• Leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma

• Lung cancer surgery

• Pneumonia

• Prostate cancer surgery

• Stroke

• TAVR (New)

Academic Consortium Global Integrated Health Network

Torrance Memorial Medical Center has joined over 75 of the world’s most recognized academic medical centers and health systems as a new Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health member. For integrative medicine professionals and students, the Academic Consortium is the world’s most comprehensive community for advancing the practice of whole health care, with leading expertise in research, clinical care and education.

Membership with the Academic Consortium will help Torrance Memorial continue to expand our integrative medicine program. It will also connect us with other institutions working toward the same goal and encourage knowledgesharing, networking and best practices.

JC Gold Seal of Approval for Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification

After rigorous onsite reviews, Torrance Memorial has again earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

Newsweek 2023

Recognized by Newsweek as part of its World’s Best Hospitals 2023 list, Torrance Memorial Medical Center ranked 223rd in the world, 40th best hospital in the nation and 10th best in California.

Newsweek’s America’s Best Cancer Center Hospitals 2023

Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been recognized as part of Newsweek’s inaugural list of America’s Best Cancer Hospitals 2023. This award provides patients and family members with comprehensive resources for making informed decisions about cancer care. We are honored and proud of this accomplishment.

Newsweek and Statista provided underlying data analysis based on three data sources: nationwide online survey, hospital quality metrics and results from patient surveys. Based on the analysis results, Torrance Memorial is recognized as America’s Best Cancer Hospitals 2023, reinforcing our reputation of expert care and excellence in providing benchmark-leading care services for cancer patients. The award list was announced on June 28, 2023 and is currently available on the Newsweek website.

South Bay’s Best

We are honored that readers of the Daily Breeze and The Beach Reporter have once again voted Torrance Memorial Medical Center as the BEST hospital in the South Bay. Readers also voted us BEST: Cancer Treatment Center, Urgent Care, Knee Center, Physical Therapy Center, Nutrition Services, Workplace and Medical and Hospital Groups.

We were also voted FAVORITE: Local Outpatient Pharmacy, Gift/Boutique Shop and Medical Supply Store.

VOTED BEST:

• Hospital

• Cancer Treatment Center – Hunt Cancer Center

• Urgent Care Facility – Torrance Memorial Urgent Care

• Knee Center

• Physical Therapy Center

• Nutrition Services

• Workplace

• Hospital Group – Torrance Memorial Physician

Network Primary Care/IPA

• Medical Group – Torrance Memorial Physician Network/IPA

VOTED FAVORITE:

• Medical Supply Store – HealthLinks

• Local Pharmacy – Torrance Memorial

Outpatient Pharmacy

• Gift/Boutique Shop – Torrance Memorial Gift Shop

American Heart Association – Get with the Guidelines Awards 2023

Torrance Memorial Medical Center has received five American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Thank you to our physicians, nurses and staff who have worked to close the gaps separating patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Our commitment to quality patient care is our #1 priority, and we are proud to be recognized for Gold Plus performance in Heart Failure, Stoke and STEMI Receiving, Gold in Resuscitation and NSTEMI.

Social Scene

Posts curated by Danielle Boujikian

Maternal Health Joint Commission Designation

Torrance Memorial has been designated as a Level III maternal care verified facility by The Joint Commission, the first facility in California to receive this new national designation in recognition of its capability to care for more complex maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications and fetal conditions. Congratulations to our Maternal Child teams for this outstanding achievement!

Black History Month

In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we highlight individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership at Torrance Memorial. Meet Elaine Hume-Dawson, who started her career at Torrance Memorial in 2007 as a primary RN in PACU and is currently the clinical directory of recovery. She has been an integral leader in these units and fosters staff-led initiatives, resulting in numerous performance improvement projects.

New Lung Screening ION Technology

Congratulations to our Torrance Memorial lung cancer team on a successful first robotic-assisted navigation lung biopsy Ion case. Our program is the first to bring this innovative platform to the South Bay area! We are excited and hopeful for the positive impact Ion will make in diagnosing early-stage lung cancer for our patients and community. @intuitivesurgical

Lyle’s Birthday Celebration

It’s no fun being stuck in the hospital on your birthday, but our pediatrics team made sure Lyle and his family got to celebrate his special day. Happy 6th birthday to Lyle!

Sending a big shout-out to our 4West PCU team! The American Association of Critical Care Nurses recognized the 4W Progressive Care Unit at Torrance Memorial with the Gold-Level Beacon Award for Excellence, marking a significant milestone for exceptional patient care and achieving a healthy work environment. @exceptionalnurses ��

Women’s History Month

Jared Sydney Torrance had a grand vision for a community hospital. Unfortunately, he never saw the fruits of his efforts, as he died in 1921. However, his wife, Helena Childs Torrance, worked tirelessly to make his dream a reality by purchasing property on Engracia Avenue to build a state-of-the-art, nonprofit hospital for the city. The opening of the 32-bed Jared Sydney Torrance Memorial Hospital was attended by more than 3,000 people in the spring of 1925. Helena was responsible for sustaining the hospital during its first decade of financial challenges. She donated needed medical supplies and equipment during the Great Depression and left a generous bequest in her will. Helena carried on her husband’s vision of a modern hospital for Torrance. She was also a progressive thinker and required 50% of the board of directors must always be women. Today, this promise still holds! Helena was a powerhouse female. We honor her dedication to the city’s health and wellness.

#womenempoweringwomen

#InternationalWomensHistoryMonth

#InternationalWomensDay

Gladys Solis – Burn Survivor Story

Torrance Memorial staff and physicians bid a heartfelt farewell to Gladys Solis, a burn unit patient for three months. Torrance Memorial’s burn team has been amazed by Gladys’ recovery and wanted to celebrate her fighting spirit and tenacity with a small celebration upon her discharge from the hospital.

4West AACN Beacon Award

Ice Cream Social – Hospital Week

With our annual Ice Cream Social during Hospital Week, we had a wonderful time celebrating #TeamTorranceMemorial and honoring their hard work every day. We appreciate you all!

#HospitalWeek ��

Relay for Life of Torrance

Our teams at Torrance Memorial and our friends at Cedars-Sinai came together to support and celebrate survivors, caregivers and anyone whose life has been affected by cancer. Thank you for helping us continue to fight cancer on all fronts. @americancancersociety

37th Annual Torrance Memorial Golf Tournament

The 37th annual Torrance Memorial Golf Tournament, sponsored by City National Bank, was held at Palos Verdes Golf Club on Monday, June 5. All proceeds from the sold-out event support the emergency department expansion. Golfers started the day with a stampede miracle putt. After playing 18 holes in the scramble-format tournament, golfers returned to the clubhouse for a silent auction, reception and awards ceremony after play. A special thank-you goes to the many sponsors and participants. ��

Lomita Health For All Ages Fair

Team Torrance Memorial participated in the Lomita Chamber Health for All Ages fair. Our maternity, lab, nutrition and integrative medicine teams and Torrance Memorial IPA members represented Torrance Memorial and provided education and screenings to the Lomita community. Our pet visitation volunteers greeted guests, and staff hosted two Doc Talks with our pharmacy team and health educator. Thank you to the Lomita Chamber for a successful event highlighting health and wellness for Lomita residents of all ages.

Skechers Tour de Pier

Our staff, physicians, board members and friends at Cedars-Sinai participated in the Skechers Tour de Pier in Manhattan Beach to help raise funds for the cancer community. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the cause! @tourdepier ��

National Cancer Survivors Day

We celebrated our cancer survivors with a Festival of Life in honor of Cancer Survivors Day. Our oncology team offered guests several health and wellness activities, such as succulent planting, nutrition resources, raffle prizes, resource booths, music and a demonstration of our new ION technology for lung screenings. #CelebrateLife

Daisy Award Brunch for Nurses Week

Past and present winners of the Daisy Award were honored at the annual brunch held at the Hoffman Health Conference Center. Nurses were treated to a special comedy performance provided by the Comedy & Magic Club, and Daisy Foundation cofounder Bonnie Barnes spoke words of encouragement remotely. Thank you to our sponsors, guest speakers, nursing leadership council and incredible nurses who exemplify excellent nursing care at Torrance Memorial. #NursesWeek

Garden Week

Cheers to a fabulous night of fun with succulent planting! The staff enjoyed every moment of Green Therapy and commented it was their first-time planting anything. They were so energized, they wanted to start making it a hobby! #GardenWeek ��

Liz Korkis Memorial Fund & Happiest Baby SNOO Donation

Liz Korkis, a dedicated Torrance Memorial Medical Center nurse, lost her battle with cancer but continues to make a difference through the Liz Korkis Memorial Fund (LKMF). Primarily focused on assisting nurses with their educational debt, LKMF recently expanded its reach by providing a helping hand to the nurses in the Torrance Memorial Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

On May 1, LKMF donated two state-of-the-art SNOOs to the Torrance Memorial NICU. These smart bassinets, designed by Harvey Karp, MD, of Happiest Baby, provide comfort and safety to infants, helping them sleep better and reducing the risk of SIDS/SUID. Torrance Memorial is grateful for this generous gift, which will enhance its care of the tiniest patients. Liz’s family, friends, Torrance Memorial staff and Dr. Karp were present for the donation and ribbon-cutting ceremony. #TMMC #HappiestBaby #NewbornCare #SNOOs

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we highlight one of our inspiring AAPI leaders, Anthony Chen, MD, a family medicine physician with Torrance Memorial Physician Network. Dr. Chen is proud of his heritage and how it has shaped the person he is today.

WEHO Pride Parade/Pride Month

What an incredible day of love, celebration and unity at the Pride Parade! Torrance Memorial partnered with CedarsSinai and marched in the 2023 WEHO Pride Parade to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Thank you to everyone who joined us! #PrideMonth ��

Follow Us on Social

TMU CLASSES are now held in person.

For more information contact elaine.mcrae@tmmc.com or ext 75704

De-Escalation Techniques

September 19 9 a.m. to noon

Conference Room C

Managing Your Emotions

September 26

9 a.m. to noon

Conference Room B

Developing Resilience

November 14

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Auditorium

How to be Happy in Challenging Times

November 14

4 to 7 p.m.

Auditorium

The Power of Trust

November 15

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hoffman Conference Center

Rooms 1 & 2

Educational Series & lectures

Leadership Fundamentals (Series)

Every Thursday of the month for 4 weeks

September 7–28

9 a.m. to noon

Conference Room C

Medical Spanish (Series)

Meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 6 weeks

September 12 – October 19

4:30 to 6 p.m.

Conference Room C

2024 Manager Certificate Program (Series)

Meets every other Tuesday

February 6 – July 9

9 a.m. to noon

Auditorium

Diversity Conversations

2nd Tuesday of the month

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Held via Zoom

Health & Wellness Lecture Series for Torrance

Memorial Staff

This lecture series was developed based on the need to help employees navigate life during and post-pandemic. Health care professionals provide meaningful, hour-long discussions to educate, provide compassion, and promote health and wellness.

Visit the TMU website for a current listing of upcoming LIVE lectures.

Recorded TMU topics include:

• Restoring the Healer: Insights and Skills for Releasing and Returning to Balance

• Secondary Trauma and Ways to Cope

• Returning with Resilience

• Compassion Fatigue: Maximize Wellness and Satisfaction in the Workplace

The Legacy of Craig Leach

After nearly 40 years, Craig Leach is walking into the sunset.

Written by Diane Krieger | Photographed by Michael Neveux

On Halloween, one week after his 68th birthday, Torrance Memorial’s beloved CEO officially steps down. There will be few dry eyes— least of all Craig Leach’s own—as he leaves the West Tower executive suite for the last time.

The following morning, Leach plans to sleep in—which will seem strange because it will be a Wednesday. (Usually he’s in the hospital parking lot by no later than 7 a.m.) Upon rising, he will take a swim at a nearby pool—which will feel different because he normally doesn’t swim on weekdays. After his mile-long aquatic workout, Leach will refuel with some peanut butter toast and a tall glass of milk—the same breakfast he’s eaten since early childhood.

As idyllic as this all sounds, Leach has no illusions it will be easy to move on with his life in retirement. “His identity is so wrapped up in Torrance Memorial,” says his wife of 45 years, Judy Leach. “He has given his heart and soul to that place and the people who work there.”

She shares his affection for the hospital. “It feels like family. Everybody’s so warm and comfortable,” says the retired nurse. For many years, she worked for cardiology director Ben Rosin, MD, in the basement of the old tower and used to grab lunch with her husband at the cafeteria.

Leach rarely talked about work at home—“he’s good at compartmentalizing,” his wife says—but the wheels were always spinning. “So absolutely,” Judy says, “I think it’s going to be hard for him to let go.”

Craig hadn’t planned to spend a lifetime in health care administration, let alone at a single hospital. In hindsight though, it’s

clear he was tailor-made for the job. The digital revolution in health care, the 2008 financial crisis, the advent of the Affordable Care Act and a once-in-a-century pandemic all happened on his watch. Yet he leaves behind a record of stunning expansion and surging excellence.

A Record of Excellence

The data points are eye-popping: a five-fold increase in staff; the doubling of hospital-owned land; two new patient towers on the main campus; many community-based ambulatory care centers sprinkled across the South Bay; $350 million in philanthropy; and a trailblazing partnership with the Cedars-Sinai health system.

“Craig has built a formidable organization,” says Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai. The two men earned each other’s respect over decades of serving together on the boards of the California Hospital Association and the Hospital Association of Southern California. Their longtime friendship and mutual trust eased the way for the innovative “affiliation” structure that will help ensure Torrance Memorial is around 100 years from now—still thriving and serving the South Bay’s evolving needs.

Taking it Easy

Leach says he’ll stay involved with Torrance Memorial in retirement, continuing to serve on the board of trustees, which should bring him on campus every so often. His newfound leisure time will be spent “goofing around and playing some golf” with old friends from high school. He’ll swim more. (He played water polo through high school and college.)

He wants to see more of the grandkids.

(There are seven, plus two on the way— soon to be delivered at Torrance Memorial, of course.)

“I would love to pick them up at school or take them to the beach while they’re still young enough to like having me around,” Leach says, smiling. He also wants time to travel the world and hike the scenic bluffs of their beloved Palos Verdes community with his energetic wife. Buddies since high school, their friendship blossomed into romance during college, and they were married on Leach’s 23rd birthday. They’ll celebrate their 45th anniversary in October.

A Look Back

A native son of the South Bay, Leach grew up in the Hollywood Riviera and went to St. Lawrence Martyr Grade School, then Bishop Montgomery High School. His dad, Dave, was a Redondo Union High School science teacher for 30 years. His mom, June, stayed home with their five kids.

When Leach joined Torrance Memorial in 1984, he was seven years out of college. A CPA with an accounting degree from Loyola Marymount University, he’d gone to work for Deloitte in Downtown Los Angeles. Fortuitously, some early assignments had him auditing hospital clients. Leach was intrigued and wanted to dig deeper, so he accepted a comptroller job with Centinela Hospital in Inglewood. Three years later, he moved to Torrance Memorial as director of finance. And never left.

Sally Eberhard remembers those early days fondly. “We kind of grew up together,” says the retired Torrance Memorial administrator, whose career overlapped with Leach’s for 35 years. Mentored by their boss, Ray Rahn, “We learned the

ropes and had a lot of fun building and expanding the hospital,” she says.

Torrance Memorial had roughly 1,000 employees when Leach and Eberhard arrived on the scene. The campus was just three buildings. After skating on thin ice in the 1970s, the hospital’s books were balanced by the mid-’80s but looked shaky again when the California legislature mandated significant seismic upgrades following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Three other South Bay hospitals closed, which left the community’s health care infrastructure on precarious footing.

“We had to expand rapidly,” says Eberhard. “But we needed funds, we needed land, we needed architects. Above all, we needed to recruit and integrate more staff and physicians to meet the community need. Luckily, we had the right team in place.”

Eberhard, whose title was senior vice president when she retired in 2020, worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Leach to make it happen. She now lives in Colorado but has stayed close to the hospital, currently serving on the 100th anniversary committee.

By pushing for bold, some might say prescient changes at the right moment, Leach laid the foundation for Torrance Memorial’s present-day stability and excellence. He was promoted to senior vice president in 1996, then chief operating officer in 2001.

Eberhard found herself reporting to her former teammate, “and that was great with me,” she recalls. “I thrived because of it.”

Their relationship didn’t change one iota. “I never really viewed Sally as reporting to me,” Leach says. “We continued to learn from each other and mentor each other.”

An Emphasis on Teamwork

One of Leach’s chief virtues as chief executive is a complete lack of vanity. “Craig hires great people and lets them do their job. He doesn’t micromanage,” says Laura Schenasi, longtime executive vice president of the Torrance Memorial Foundation.

Nor does he take credit for the achieve-

ments of others. Leach readily acknowledges the walloping $350 million accumulated due to fundraising during his watch “has been 1% me and 99% Laura’s team, the Foundation board and community generosity. I’m just a bit player in that whole process.”

Speaking of uncommon virtues in CEOs, “the icing on the cake,” according to Eberhard, is Leach’s uncompromising loyalty. As an up-and-coming executive of a booming regional hospital, he could easily have moved up and out. “Craig was highly recruitable,” Eberhard says, and headhunters were surely calling. “But it was always clear he wasn’t going anywhere. He grew up in this community, and his values were devoted to building the best hospital system he could imagine for the South Bay,” she says.

Back in 2005, when outgoing CEO George Graham tapped Leach as his successor, people who knew him well, like David Chan, MD, had worried Leach was “too genuinely nice” for the job. “The amazing thing is that Craig’s personality never changed,” says the respected oncologist.

He didn’t run meetings like a typical CEO. He went around the table asking for everyone’s input, then assembled a strategically honed consensus position. What impressed physicians the most is how Leach consistently delivered what he promised: “It created incredible trust,” Chan says.

A string of creative gambits by Leach— hiring a chief medical officer in 2009, establishing the Torrance Memorial Physician Network while also acquiring Torrance Memorial IPA in 2012—cemented that trust.

It helped that Leach was so accessible. “Physicians could always walk down to Craig’s office. It was never ‘I’m busy now, call me to set up an appointment.’ He would get up, come out and shake your hand, and ask what’s going on,” says Chan, who worked closely with Leach in developing a first-class cancer program and was later part of the negotiating team responsible for the landmark Cedars-Sinai affiliation deal.

Greg Geiger, who chairs the board of

trustees, hears glowing reports of Torrance Memorial’s “collaborative” culture often. “Our medical providers view the administration and senior leadership as their advocates and their supporters,” he says, “and from what I can tell, that’s very rare.”

A Fearless Leader

Tami Ramsey knows all about feeling supported. A physical therapist who’s worked at Torrance Memorial for 26 years, she remembers the day she learned most outpatient services were shutting down due to COVID-19. “My stomach just sank,” she recalls. “Fear of losing my job was the first thing that came into my brain.”

Leach lost no time allaying such fears. (According to Schenasi, he has never laid off a single employee—not even during the 2008 financial crisis.) His rapid response to pandemic-related workforce disruptions was a voluntary “labor pool” system. As a result, Ramsey and everyone else in her shuttered PT department earned full pay during months of forced downtime.

“I helped with the pharmacy and in central supply,” she recalls. “I was taking temperatures in the parking lot and at the front entrance.”

Ramsey describes other “beautiful” accommodations Leach put in place during the pandemic crisis: an emergency store in the West Tower cafeteria where bone-weary hospital workers could stock up on hard-to-find supplies like hand sanitizer and toilet paper; hotel reimbursements for staff reluctant to go home for fear of infecting loved ones; an on-site child care center run by the Torrance YMCA where employees could drop off their kids when day care programs closed and schools moved to remote learning.

“That was all because Craig cared so much!” Ramsey says. “He is passionate about Torrance Memorial. He’s devoted, he’s authentic, he’s got integrity. He treats us like family. He’s just a superior human being. And his dedication to excellence of care trickles down. I am so grateful to be part of the Torrance Memorial culture Craig has cultivated.”

Ramsey knows the CEO fairly well, mostly from early morning chats while walking from the parking lot to the West Tower. They usually pull in at the same time—just before 7 a.m. She once asked him why he arrived so early and was floored by his answer. He said it was to make sure night shift workers felt seen and heard.

Leach famously makes hospital rounds two mornings a week, checking in with all the physicians, nurses, housekeepers and volunteers on duty. Starting early brings him face-to-face with employees he would otherwise never see.

And as everyone knows, once Leach meets someone, he never forgets their name. He calls this skill “a blessing.” Making connections, walking around the hospital, getting to know people, hearing about their lives—“it’s the best part of my job, to be honest,” he says.

That attitude has profound downstream effects. “Craig’s leadership has made everybody better. The doctors are better, the administration is better. As a team, we’re all better,” Chan says.

Nurses are better too. Administration cleared the path for Torrance Memorial to win national Magnet accreditation in 2012 and greenlighted the competitive Graduate Nursing Residency Program that has seen retention rates improve in a time of dire nursing shortages across America.

Admirers point to a long list of qualities that make Leach an extraordinary leader: brilliant intellect, financial wizardry, uncanny strategic vision, great communication skills and an ability to drill down on details while seeing the big picture. Many also mention more basic character virtues: empathy, integrity, authenticity and humility.

“There is nothing fake about Craig. Nothing. He’s a genuine, humble person. A unicorn,” says Judy.

The Humble Unicorn Chan has a funny anecdote about Leach’s humble-unicorn brand. It always irked him to see the CEO sipping his Lipton tea from a Styrofoam cup at high-stakes meetings. One day Chan presented Leach

with an elegant Japanese teacup. The delicate porcelain cup went to every meeting thereafter—but so did the Lipton tea bag.

That seeming mismatch captures the essence of Craig Leach: an unpretentious yellow label dangling from an exquisite, one-of-a-kind vessel. Every year since then, Chan has presented a new Japanese teacup to Leach, who immediately adopts it for daily use. Leach also happily accepts the used golf balls that fall on Chan’s lawn from a nearby country club.

Over the years, Leach’s warmhearted and unceremonious leadership style became the template for Torrance Memorial’s distinctive “feels-like-family” culture. Schenasi remembers interviewing with Leach for the foundation directorship—the high-impact job she’s held for 22 years now.

“My children were young then, and I told Craig it was important for me to have flexibility,” she recalls. Leach didn’t miss a beat. He told Schenasi he’d spent the better part of a decade coaching all three of his sons’ baseball and soccer teams and had rarely missed a game. That made a

big impression.

Though Leach poured his lifeblood into the hospital, family clearly came first. “I never felt I was married to Torrance Memorial,” says Judy. Together they raised three fine sons who are giving them a brood of beloved grandchildren.

As he heads toward the exit, Leach can honestly reflect on a life well lived. He knows he’s leaving Torrance Memorial in good hands, having hand-picked his successor, Keith Hobbs, and an outstanding senior leadership team.

Asked to name his proudest professional achievements, Leach mentions the Cedars-Sinai affiliation; the opening of the Lundquist Tower; the creation of Torrance Memorial’s physician enterprise; and the build-out of the Hunt Cancer Center and the El Segundo medical office building.

Above all, however, he prizes the “feels-like-family culture” that is the hallmark of Torrance Memorial. “That’s not something that just happens,” he says. “It’s something people create together. And I feel very good about that.” •

The Leach Family Front, L to R: Mackenzie, Ashlyn, Emmy, Paul, Sophia, Ryder, Brynlee, Daniel Back: Nina, Tyler, Taryn, David, Judy, Craig, Kristen

Photo by Deidre Davidson

Dear Craig,

Written by Julie Taylor

We asked friends, colleagues and employees to share their sentiments, gratitude and well wishes with CEO Craig Leach as he embarks on his journey into retirement. His impact on Torrance Memorial Medical Center and the legacy of leadership he leaves behind will long be remembered. Cheers to a well-deserved rest, mornings with peanut butter toast, good health and a future filled with endless possibilities.

Congratulations, Craig! Your dedication for 40 years at Torrance Memorial is truly remarkable. Your unwavering commitment to excellence and compassion has touched countless lives. Thank you for making a difference and investing your time in me personally! Wishing you a well-deserved retirement filled with joy and fulfillment.

Keith Hobbs, president, Torrance Memorial

For more than 40 years we have been friends who negotiated, and I always felt we were sitting on the same side of the table. I remember when it took us less than one minute to negotiate an important contract and another negotiation was finalized on a paper napkin. I’ve always felt we thought alike, and the only difference was I might forget some of the details … but you never did and still don’t. Congratulations, my friend.

Mitch Parver, MD

Decisive, compassionate, tireless, visionary and strategic, Craig’s the GOAT of CEOs. He’s got a mind like a computer and a heart as big as the Lundquist Tower. His leadership has made Torrance Memorial a top medical center because he’s tops himself. He’s leaving us all saying, “What a guy!”

Mark Lurie, MD, retired codirector, Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute

There are few people I both revere and like as much as Craig Leach! Craig is a world-class health care leader and a stellar human—equally warm, gracious and wickedly smart. Thank you, Craig, for being a galvanizing leader, inspiration and friend. With gratitude and admiration.

Heidi Hoffman, MD

Thank you for creating an incredible place where physicians can practice world-class care. After 40 years of wisdom and guidance, what are we going to do? Alas, the anxiety of separation will turn into separation anxiety, but you have empowered us with the ability to carry on your vision.

I am grateful for your superpower and the primacy you place on non-zero-sum solutions for the medical staff and the hospital, transforming Torrance Memorial into a worldclass medical center. Your wisdom, integrity and humility have served as an inspiration for countless physicians and staff. Thank you for the confidence you’ve had in me.

Zachary Gray, MD, vice president, medical staff affairs

—Vinh Cam, MD

Your impact on our hospital is immeasurable. Your considerable management skills, and even more importantly your honorable character and admirable values, are reflected throughout the hospital. It has been an honor to work with you. We wish you much happiness and excellent health in your retirement!

Jeanette Oka, MD, and Patrick Donley, MD

As you bid farewell to your remarkable journey as CEO of Torrance Memorial, we celebrate your exemplary professional accomplishments and your unwavering dedication to the people of this community, your friends, your lovely wife, children and grandchildren. You have embodied the importance of service and leave an indelible mark on your beloved South Bay. Congratulations!

Craig has led with thoughtful but bold decisions, guided by community goals and driven by visionary strategies. His substantive results are so many, but his biggest legacy will be how his dedication and integrity will inspire us all to continue great work here at Torrance Memorial for decades to come.

Heidi Assigal, senior vice president, Torrance Health Association

Oren Zaidel, MD Craig leaves a legacy of excellence, value in people, trust and integrity in how we partner in business and deliver care, values for quality and safety, and much more. I am fortunate to have learned from him and wish him enjoyment in his retirement with the same passion he has brought to Torrance Memorial.

It’s been my great privilege to practice at Torrance Memorial with you at the helm. Your leadership and vision have guided the highest-quality programs and the incredible Lundquist Tower, creating a hospital system that routinely ranks at the top locally and nationally. Yet you’ve never forgotten it’s the people that matter. From patients and families to hospital staff and physicians, thank you and congratulations on a truly remarkable career.

Melanie Friedlander, MD

What a privilege it has been working for Craig for 22 years! It has been an honor to see firsthand just how much he appreciates every employee and cares so deeply for our community. To say this is a well-deserved retirement is an understatement. Congratulations, Craig.

Heather Burt, executive administrative assistant

Derek Berz, senior vice president, COO

After decades of compassionate leadership, I am saddened as our esteemed leader, Craig Leach, bids farewell. Under his guidance, Torrance Memorial thrived, setting new benchmarks in the quality of patient care, technological advancements and community engagement. His legacy of excellence and visionary strategies will guide us long into the future. Thank you.

Thomas Simko, MD

Craig’s retirement from Torrance Memorial marks a legacy of unwavering dedication and commitment to patient care that has shaped our future. Experiencing Craig’s character in full bloom, he is often heard saying, “We’ll do whatever it takes to make Torrance Memorial the right place for you and our patients.”

Congratulations and be well, my friend.

Hugo Hool, MD

You have always been a creative problem-solver, an empathetic leader and an inspiration. You have truly made an impact on me and my professional growth, and I’ve enjoyed working alongside you. Everyone who has worked with you will miss you, but we are excited for you to begin your much-deserved new journey. Congratulations!

Ingrid Cobb, vice president, human resources/assistant general counsel

Craig is simply amazing. His devotion to this organization for 40 years was a true gift to each employee, medical staff and the community. Although we are moved to tears to see him leave us, his retirement is so very well deserved. We must always remember, “There’s no crying in baseball.” So Very Grateful.

Linda Dobie, vice president, legal affairs

Thank you for making such an impact on my life. I have learned so much while working together over the years, including your famous line: “We are not going to solve this here.” Wishing you many happy, healthy days of joy in your retirement!

Shanna Hall, vice president, nursing

Words do not adequately convey my gratitude to you for the wonderful example you set of what a leader should be. Your integrity, consistency, humility, approachability, friendliness, always putting people first have been the hallmark of that example. Thank you for the great opportunity to work for you and Torrance Memorial!

Bill Larson, senior vice president, finance, CFO

You have played a role in leading Torrance Memorial into an era of unprecedented success. You have also played a vital role in my personal career and have taught me many lessons I will utilize not only in my work but my life as well. I wish you every happiness in your retirement.

Chris Bacon, director, employee health services

There is win-win. There is win-lose. Craig taught me win-no lose. Whenever physicians needed help, Craig helped even if there was no clear benefit to Torrance Memorial. The accumulated goodwill is the reason the hospital’s alignment with the medical staff is the envy of other hospitals.

John McNamara, MD, CMO

Craig’s retirement is a sobering reminder that at some point, everyone “rides off into the sunset.” His “salt of the earth” approach, charismatic leadership and navigating us through difficult times in health care have shaped our culture and shifted the trajectory of our organization. I am forever grateful and honored to serve as a member of his leadership team.

Bernie Reid, vice president, information technology, CIO

Accepting the offer to come to Torrance Memorial and work for you was the best career decision of my health care career! Under your leadership, Torrance Memorial gained national recognition, served our community well and we achieved some great wins! Enjoy your next chapter. You’ll be missed, but your teachings will continue to guide our team.

Chris Rogers, senior vice president, THIPA administration

As we say farewell to an exceptional leader, we are thankful for all you’ve done to ensure this community has access to some of the best health care in the country, and for ensuring Torrance Memorial will be a beacon of prosperity for many years to come. I truly believe Craig Leach is one of the best CEOs in the country, and it has been an honor to serve under his leadership.

Heather Shay, vice president, clinical quality

What a remarkable legacy you have created at Torrance Memorial. I am honored to have worked and learned from your amazing leadership style, which consistently strives to deliver fairness. Thank you for seeing something in me that I could contribute. I am forever grateful.

Mary Wright, senior vice president, CNO

A common emotion felt in many Torrance Memorial videos is of family and special people who take care of each other. It’s a culture Craig has cultivated, with friendly greetings to every employee (usually by name—amazing!). Thank you for making Torrance Memorial such a great place. Congratulations, and enjoy your retirement.

Tracy Mullan, director, rehab services

Congratulations on your retirement! Torrance Memorial has been blessed to have you as our CEO for many years. You treat everyone with such respect and make all feel valued, especially as you round throughout the hospital. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to making the hospital what it is today. You will be missed more than you know!

Danielle Cosgrove, RN, home health and hospice

As a Torrance Memorial board member, I have respected Craig’s leadership, support for staff and employees, and his genuineness. Although he will be sorely missed, the time has come to focus on himself and his family and let the weight of the past 40 years transition to another. All the best.

Sherry Kramer, Continental Development Corporation

As we bid farewell to Craig, I reflect on the countless lives he has touched, the legacies he has shaped, and the enduring imprint he leaves on our hearts. Craig’s commitment to serving others has extended far beyond his role as CEO, making him an inspiration to us all. Congratulations!

Donna Duperron, president and CEO, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce

Lunchtime will never be the same. For 16 years I have been greeted with a warm “hello” by Sir Craig as he pays for his large soup (lentil is his favorite). He is the nicest CEO ever and remembers all the employees by name. I love him because he makes the day brighter, and I will miss him so much.

Emma Fe Menchavez, WT food services cashier

When I think of Craig, his great leadership comes to mind and how he courageously led and supported our hospital system through the pandemic. Thank you, Craig, for all you have done to position Torrance Memorial for continued success. Saying we will miss you is an understatement, but I am happy you will be able to spend time with all your grandchildren. Wishing you all the best!

Lani Walker, accounting director, Torrance Health Association

We couldn’t have asked for a more exceptional leader and partner in our philanthropic endeavors in support of Torrance Memorial! It has been a fantastic experience being thought collaborators with you throughout this amazing journey; you have made our ROI infinite. We wish you and your entire family the absolute best in the years ahead and look forward to continuing to work together for the benefit of Torrance Memorial.

Melanie and Richard Lundquist, philanthropists

As a new grad in 2005, a tall gentleman breezed by the ICU floor and said hello to me by name. When I found out it was our CEO, Craig Leach, I was embarrassed not knowing who he was and elated that he knew who I was! Thank you for making me feel valued and special.

Sean Yokoe, RN, director, progressive care services

The legend you leave behind will always be remembered! You are so genuine, and in my heart I hold dear every interaction we have had. You always took the time to ask how my kids were and made me feel important and appreciated. Thank you for your devotion to every Torrance Memorial employee.

Lyndie Bernard, RN, patient flow supervisor

You have always led by example, and motivated people to do their best not by demand, but by igniting their desire to follow behind you. The community of patients, doctors and staff owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude. May you enjoy and treasure every day with your family and friends. You have earned it.

Moe Gelbart, PhD, director, behavioral health

Wishing you joy and personal fulfillment in your retirement. It has been a personal and professional highlight to partner with you in support of your vision to provide the highest-quality, affordable care to those living in the South Bay. Take great satisfaction and pride in improving a magnitude of lives during your career.

Tom Priselac, president and CEO, Cedars-Sinai Health System

You have successfully led Torrance Memorial from a community hospital to a first-class regional medical center. Your accomplishments are astonishing: expanding the hospital campus and fostering a culture of kindness and respect that supports patients, staff and the community. It has been a privilege to serve on the board of directors. Congratulations, and best wishes to you and Judy.

Pat Theodora and Ellen Theodora, executive committee, board member

ATimeline Career

Craig D. Leach has served Torrance Memorial for nearly four decades as director of finance, senior vice president of finance in 1996, vice president, chief operating officer in 2001, and president and chief executive officer in 2005 until present. Under his leadership, we’ve seen the campus grow exponentially starting with the Breast Diagnostic Center, Hoffman Health Conference Center, West Tower, many community-based ambulatory care centers in the South Bay, McMillian Medical Building, Specialty Center, Lundquist Tower, Hunt Cancer Center and most recently the El Segundo Multispecialty Offices and Urgent Care. Craig was also the driving force in developing the creation of the Torrance Memorial Physician Network and establishing the affiliation with Cedars-Sinai in 2018. His vision, dedication and legacy leave a lasting imprint on the hospital, community and future generations.

2001

Torrance Memorial purchases the Cigna building at 3333 Skypark and converts it to medical space to expand ambulatory medical services.

2002 McMillen Medical Building opens for expanded chemical dependency program.

2003 Thelma McMillen Center opens.

2005 Torrance Memorial celebrates 75th anniversary.

2007 Emergency department completes expansion.

2009 Torrance Memorial hires first ever chief medical officer, John McNamara, MD.

2012 Torrance Hospital IPA (THIPA), now known as Torrance Memorial IPA (TMIPA), is established.

2001

Craig becomes executive vice president/ COO.

2002 Skypark Imaging Center opens (CT scanner, PET/ CT ultrasound capacity).

2002 West Tower construction begins.

2004 West Tower is occupied.

2005 George Graham retires, and Craig becomes president/CEO.

2008 Lemkin Oncology and Palliative Care Pavilion opens; five new surgical suites open.

2012

Torrance Memorial Physician Network is established.

2012 Torrance Memorial is awarded Nursing Magnet Hospital for the first time (a five-year process).

1983 North Wing opens.

1984

Craig joins Torrance Memorial as director of the finance department. He reported to Ray Rahn, who was the senior vice president of finance at the time. Ray was then promoted to COO in 1992 and remained executive vice president/COO until his retirement in 2001.

1993

Torrance Memorial becomes a “Top 100 Hospital” for the first time.

1994 TCU (Transitional Care Unit) opens.

1996

Craig becomes senior vice president of finance.

1997

Torrance Memorial goes fully digitized with implementation of Cerner.

1984 First Festival of the Trees is held.

1986

Torrance Memorial’s Breast Diagnostic Center opens.

1986 Hoffman Health Conference Center is inaugurated.

1993

Torrance Memorial purchases the building (then owned by Hughes Aircraft) at 3275 Skypark Drive, which eventually became the Polak Imaging and Breast Diagnostic Center.

1996 Carson medical offices open (expanding ambulatory care options).

1997

Manhattan Beach medical offices open (further expanding ambulatory care options).

2012 Torrance Memorial Specialty Center opens.

2014 Torrance Memorial officially takes on the name Torrance Memorial Health System.

2018 Cedars-Sinai affiliation is established.

2019 Hunt Cancer Center opens.

2020

2014 Lundquist Tower opens.

2014 New stateof-the-art Radiation/ Oncology Center opens.

2017 Lundquist Neuroscience Institute and Lundquist Orthopedic Institute are initiated.

2021 Torrance Memorial is now one of the largest four hospitals in L.A. County.

2023

Craig announces retirement will be October 31.

2019 Torrance Memorial receives first-time full Comprehensive Stroke Center accreditation.

2020 Leads Torrance Memorial through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

2022

El Segundo Multispecialty Building & Urgent Care opens.

Moving Forward

The CARE + Justice Committee continues its efforts and welcomes Torrance Memorial’s new director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner

Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s Committee for the Advancement of Respect, Equity and Justice (CARE + Justice) has continued to evolve since its founding two years ago. Today cochairs Julie Sim, MD, and Andrew Lee, PhD, director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), are building upon efforts initiated by the group under original cochairs Nicole Alexander-Spencer, MD, and Debby Kelley, vice president of ancillary/ support services.

Dr. Sim, who is also the co-clinical director of the Breast Diagnostic Center, became cochair of CARE + Justice in the summer of 2022. “I want to see our hospital grow in terms of this space, and I wanted to be a part of that change,” she says about her original decision to participate as well as her willingness to assume the cochair position.

The committee consists of about 20 members representing physicians, leadership and staff from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Torrance Memorial University (TMU) director Elaine McRae has served on CARE + Justice since its inception.

“We have two subcommittees,” she explains. “One addresses workforce and education while the other looks at parities and communities.”

CARE + Justice has instituted a range of new programs and initiatives within those two frameworks. The group adopted a new Unconscious Bias training focusing on health care. All staff have undergone the mandatory training, which will be repeated this year.

TMU has added a variety of workshops, including Lunch and Learns, focusing on recognizing and appreciating differences. Topics have included cultural sensitivity, managing the generations (differences in communication styles among age groups), and creating an affirming space for your LGBTQIA+ patients. Diversity Conversations takes place on the second Tuesday of each month to offer a private, confidential setting where participants can discuss issues, ask questions or seek emotional support.

McRae notes that she, along with Claire Coignard, community health director, and Erin Fiorito, marketing and communication executive direc-

tor, meet monthly with Dr. Lee to support DEI and CARE + Justice initiatives and integrate them throughout the hospital.

Torrance Memorial celebrates diverse groups through participation in Black History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander History Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Pride Month and Women’s History Month. Activities include highlighting employees and/or historical figures through various channels. Throughout the year, the hospital’s director of food services features foods from different cultures.

In addition to the programs geared toward hospital personnel, Torrance Memorial has instituted programs to benefit the greater community. A community health worker in the Carson medical office helps primarily low-income patients access resources ranging from government benefits to food pantries and health education classes. As a member of the community herself, she can communicate and reach out effectively.

Participation in Cherished Futures aims to improve experiences and outcomes for Black maternity patients and their babies. And as part of the goal of improving food sufficiency in targeted geographic areas, Torrance Memorial holds an annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day food drive. This year saw almost 4,000 pounds of donations, surpassing last year’s total by more than 700 pounds.

Demonstrating Commitment

Dr. Lee joined Torrance Memorial Medical Center in November 2022. With a doctorate in psychology and a master's in health care administration, he has held DEI and talent management leadership positions in a variety of health care organizations and settings, most recently at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

“What drew me to the opportunity at Torrance Memorial is the leadership, vision and people,” says Dr. Lee. “Torrance Memorial is known around the region and the country for high-quality care and service with equity, compassion and kindness. And thanks to the existence and previous efforts of CARE + Justice, I don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Rather, I can build upon the successes and what we have already accomplished.”

Dr. Lee aims to use data to guide efforts and identify areas of need. This includes quantitative data, such as information derived from the community health needs assessment and clinical outcomes, as well as qualitative data gleaned from interviews and focus groups.

“This information guides us on areas to prioritize with our own strategic approach and programs or through partnering with other organizations,” he says.

He notes South Bay demographics have changed over the past decade. “We want to make sure we’re keeping up and understanding the cultural needs of our patients so we can have the best health outcomes for all our patients.”

Dr. Lee honors CEO Craig Leach and President Keith Hobbs for their commitment to DEI and health equity. “If you don’t have the support coming from the top, you can only reach a certain level. That commitment and leadership mean it is built into the fabric of our organization.”

Mary Wright, RN, MSN, CENP, senior vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer, serves as one of the executive team representatives on CARE + Justice. She says participation has given committee members an opportunity to see things through a different lens.

For example, when data on breast cancer showed women of color are diagnosed at later stages, “we recognized there are some issues in our own backyard that need to be addressed,” she says. In fact, one of the Care + Justice goals involves improving screening rates for breast, colon and lung cancers.

Dr. Sim is proud of what Torrance Memorial has accomplished while looking forward to doing even more. “Larger hospitals like Cedars-Sinai, with whom we’re affiliated, have multiple staff involved in the DEI space and health equity. Here at Torrance, we didn’t have anything, so we were starting from scratch,” she says. “Our first two years were more inwardly focused, concentrating on employees and staff. With that facet now built out, I look forward to focusing more outwardly on the community. We want to make sure we reach out to all those who need to be reached.” •

Celebrating Diversity Month

In June, Torrance Memorial celebrated Diversity Month, honoring the diversity of the world around us and affirming the importance of recognizing and understanding our differences while honoring the common essence of humanity.

“Diversity is understanding, accepting and appreciating those who are different and similar to me," says Andrew Lee, PhD, director of diversity, equity and inclusion and talent management.

ADD YOUR VOICE

Dr. Lee invites all who are interested in joining the CARE + Justice Committee to contact him at Andrew. Lee@tmmc.com for an application. “The more people who are engaged, the greater impact we can make on our patients and the communities we serve,” he says.

Specialty Institute Focus

Lundquist Orthopedic Institute

Message from the co-management leadership orthopedic team: At the Torrance Memorial Lundquist Orthopedic Institute, our team prides itself on providing comprehensive orthopedic care close to home for residents of the South Bay. We offer everything from diagnostics and nonsurgical care to complex surgeries and rehabilitation.

As one of the largest orthopedic programs in Los Angeles County, our breadth of services and outstanding outcomes have resulted in numerous recognitions, including The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification and Core Spine Surgery Certification, as well as highperforming designations for orthopedics, knee replacement and hip replacement by U.S. News

& World Report

By using the latest minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques and technology—and incorporating innovative presurgical optimization, pain management and recovery strategies—our program

provides highly reliable, standardized orthopedic care with an enhanced patient experience and optimal surgical results. These innovative surgical techniques also enable us to reduce blood loss during the orthopedic procedures we perform, limiting the need for blood products, lowering the risk of complications and speeding up recovery times for patients. Although there are many options for orthopedic care in Los Angeles County, patients in the South Bay need to look no further than Torrance Memorial Medical Center for comprehensive, highquality orthopedic care.

The Lundquist Orthopedic Institute leadership team

Photographed above left to right: John Andrawis, MD; Don Sanders, MD; Randolph O’Hara, MD; Donald Striplin, MD; Todd Shrader, MD. Not pictured: Kenneth Park, MD; Derek Berz, MHA, CMAC, FACHE, senior vice president and chief administrative officer Shanna Hall, MBA, BSN, RN, NEABC®, vice president of nursing

Experience Matters – Torrance Memorial Medical Center has the second largest orthopedic program in Los Angeles County.

• 4,966 orthopedic procedures completed at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in 2022

• 697 spine procedures

• 792 arthroscopy procedures

• 363 shoulder, wrist, elbow, hand and finger procedures (not including open reduction and internal fixation procedures or arthroscopic procedures)

• 191 foot, toe and ankle procedures (not including open reduction and internal fixation procedures or arthroscopic procedures)

• 456 open reduction and internal fixation procedures

• 1,569 hip and knee procedures (totals, partials and revisions)

• 198 tendon and ligament procedures, 389 emergent hip fracture cases, 311 general cases

Treatments and Therapies by the Numbers

Bloodless Surgeries

Our surgeons use innovative techniques to reduce blood loss and the need for blood products whenever possible, lowering the risk of complications, reducing recovery time for patients and providing a safe surgical option for patients who do not wish to receive blood products.

• .62% of elective total joint patients needed a blood transfusion

• Fewer blood transfusions are needed compared to patients of other hospitals

• 3.18% of elective spine patients needed blood transfusion

Same-day Discharge Home

Home is the best place to heal. Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s surgeons have developed standardized criteria to discharge joint replacement and reconstruction patients home safely, promoting healing and the best surgical outcomes.

• 24% increase in same-day discharge home since 2019

• 95.3% of elective total joint patients were discharged home

• 91.2% of elective spine patients were discharged home

Early Postoperative Ambulation

Our goal for our elective procedures is for patients to walk on the same day of their procedures. Early ambulation improves surgical outcomes and reduces complications.

• 91.7% of elective total joint patients walked on the day of surgery

52.15% of elective spine patients walked on the day of surgery

Awards and Recognition

Pain Management

Torrance Memorial Medical

Center’s orthopedic specialists and anesthesiologists use standardized multimodal pain management strategies, including advanced techniques like nerve blocks and spinal cord stimulators, to reduce narcotic use while effectively reducing postoperative pain.

Patients who recorded “no pain” to “mild pain” (after one year):

• 75.9% total knee replacements

• 83.3% total hip replacements

• 94.7% required spinal or regional anesthesia

• 5.3% only required general anesthesia

Expertise, Subspecialties and Care

The team at the Lundquist Orthopedic Institute is the South Bay’s leader in excellent and comprehensive orthopedic care.

• General orthopedics

• Imaging and diagnostics

• Nonsurgical treatments

• Physical therapy and rehabilitation

• Joint replacement

• Neck, spine and back conditions

• Hand and wrist

• Foot and ankle

• Trauma and fractures

• Sports medicine

• Arthroscopy

• Robotic surgery

• Pain management

• Preoperative care — optimization, education, rehabilitation

• Postoperative care — check in calls, decreased readmissions

For detailed information by specialty, please visit TorranceMemorial.org/medical-services/orthopedics.

The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification. Torrance Memorial Medical Center has demonstrated continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s rigorous performance standards.

2023–2024 U.S. News and World Report

High Performing Hospital

• Orthopedics

• Knee Replacement

• Hip Replacement

• Hip Fracture

Blue Distinction Center – Blue Shield

• Knee and Hip Replacement

• Spine Surgeries

Torrance Memorial in Motion

Facilities projects keep pace with state regulatory requirements.

Written by John Ferrari

Hospitals hold a special place in our mental maps of our surroundings, notes Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s director of design and construction, Connie Senner. They are places of treatment and healing, but also places of refuge, safe havens. Especially after a disruption to the normal order of our lives—whether that’s a personal crisis or a region-wide earthquake—people find their way to a hospital.

Hospitals can’t close either. Whether they’re recovering from a disaster or upgrading their facilities, they must continue to care for patients. Because of the special, lifesaving services they provide, hospital buildings are held to higher state regulatory standards than other structures.

To ensure the medical center’s facilities meet the needs of the community now and decades into the future, Torrance Memorial’s medical, executive and facilities staff look ahead five years, 10 years and beyond. To call the planning process complex only

hints at the factors that must be balanced.

“We forecast needs based on end-of-life projections for equipment, what’s happening in the community and state regulatory requirements,” Senner explains. “Our master plan goes out beyond 2030. My job is to make sure we have the right team assembled for each project. That includes architects; structural, electrical, mechanical and civil engineers; plus a construction management team and general contractor.”

Recent projects include a new state-ofthe-art patient tower, opened in 2014; a new cancer treatment center; updates to existing buildings; and Cedars-Sinai’s acquisition of two buildings adjacent to the Torrance Memorial campus to increase access to primary and specialty care. Torrance Memorial has almost 30 active building projects, ranging from department refurbishments to equipment replacement and upgrades to larger projects such as an expansion of the emergency department, currently in the planning and design stages.

In earthquake-prone California, seismic considerations play a role in every project. State Senate Bill 1953, enacted after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, required all hospitals in the state to remain structurally sound during an earthquake by 2020. Almost all hospitals in the state—including Torrance Memorial—have met that deadline. The bill also set a 2030 deadline for hospitals to be reasonably capable of providing all services after an earthquake.

“So we’re not just talking about the structure itself, but also all of the utilities: fire systems, water and sewage lines, oxygen, mechanical systems and ductwork. All of that has anchorage elements to keep it in place,” Senner explains. “Some furniture and equipment have to be seismically bolted to the structure too. We want to be sure tall file cabinets, for example, don’t fall over. The hospital has invested a lot to ensure seismic compliance. We’ve been working on seismic improvements for 20 years, and we’re on track to meet the 2030 goal.”

“Torrance Memorial is way ahead of the curve,” agrees structural engineer Roger Young, president of Solid Rock Structural Solutions, Inc. Young, who advises hospitals statewide, has worked with Torrance Memorial on the hospital’s major projects for over two decades.

“Over the past 20 years we have systematically gone over each building," he says. "My team looks at how critical departments will withstand a major earthquake—that’s what Torrance Memorial is taking care of. They’ve had the foresight to include seismic retrofits in various remodels. Other centers may not have had the capital to do so.”

“All hospitals want to meet the 2030 requirements,” explains Torrance Memorial President Keith

”A hospital runs 24/7, 365 days a year. We’re always on the ready.”

—President Keith Hobbs

Hobbs. “The challenge for most hospitals in California is, do they have the capital? Torrance Memorial’s financial performance has allowed us to address the requirements.”

Another state law, AB 1882, requires hospitals to post notices of each building’s structural and nonstructural performance category—similar to the health grades restaurants post. “Hospitals in general are designed to higher seismic requirements,” says Young. “Most buildings at Torrance Memorial meet or exceed those requirements, and even the few that don’t would perform better than office buildings or apartment buildings. Even buildings that don’t currently meet the highest requirements are not a threat

to life safety, and ongoing projects will potentially upgrade their seismic performance as well. Hospitals in California are required to perform better during and after an earthquake, and they are designed to do so.”

“I have an inside view of the work that has been done at Torrance Memorial,” says Senner, “and I can say when an earthquake occurs, this is where I want to be. Hands down, the hospital.”

“We understand our responsibility to the community,” adds Hobbs. “A hospital runs 24/7, 365 days a year. We’re always on the ready, and the hospital and all our facilities are built to support us as we care for those who come through our doors.” •

Emergency Department Expansion Project

Torrance Memorial is always in motion, with dozens of facilities projects in the design and execution pipeline. Many of those projects are driven by the needs of the local population.

“All hospitals are required to complete a community needs assessment every three years and put in place a strategy responding to that,” explains President Keith Hobbs. To address the need to increase access to high-quality health care, Torrance Memorial is embarking on a major expansion of the emergency department (ED), with groundbreaking expected later this year.

“We are known for exceptional patient care, and over the years our reputation has led to an increase in the number of patients coming to our emergency department," says Hobbs. "The new two-story facility will not only double the size of the ED, but it will also allow us to continue our mission of providing high-quality comprehensive emergency care.”

“We are proud to know patients prefer to come to our department,” says Gretchen Lent, MD, medical director of the emergency department. “Part of the increase in our patient volume is a growing and aging community, but I think a major contributor to our increase is the word has gotten out about the care Torrance Memorial provides. About 10% of our ED patients come by ambulance; the rest drive themselves. We have patients drive past several other EDs to come to ours.”

Torrance Memorial has up to 10 physicians and physician assistants on duty at any time to meet the demand for ED services. Those caregivers, says Dr. Lent, are the department’s most im-

portant resource. “We really care,” she explains. “We care about our patients, and we care about our community.”

Torrance Memorial also provides specialized services not available at every hospital. It is an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics as well as a comprehensive stroke center, STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) receiving center and regional burn center. The ED team is actively collaborating with other specialties to deliver the most advanced treatments for pulmonary embolism, cardiogenic shock and sepsis management, as well as the initiation of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and targeted temperature management for patients with cardiac arrest. The ED is also working to earn a geriatric center of excellence certification.

The expansion, scheduled for completion in 2026, will give the ED 15,000 square feet of space on the first floor, with 54 beds, and 15,500 square feet on the second floor, with 48 beds. The renovation, incorporating best practices in emergency care delivery, will also increase the efficiency of the department’s workflow, which translates to improved care.

Dr. Lent says that the most exciting aspect of the expansion is “it will allow us to provide patients with the very best care in a cutting-edge, comfortable, private space designed for their needs. Our team of top-notch doctors is exceptionally trained and ready to wholeheartedly help every person who comes through our doors. This is what we show up to do every day, and our new department will allow us to keeping doing that!” •

“We are proud to know patients prefer to come to our department.”

—Gretchen Lent, MD, medical director of the emergency department

Treating Pulmonary Embolisms

Reversing the problem, better outcomes

Written by John Ferrari

Photographed by Philicia Endelman

When patients arrive at Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s emergency department, they have this working in their favor: The staff knows time is critical.

Younger patients in serious distress, with no obvious trauma or comorbidities, often have one of two conditions, says emergency physician Richard Bracken, DO: a vascular catastrophe such as a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism (PE). That’s why he rushed to the ambulance bay with a portable ultrasound machine when Aziz Wanis arrived the afternoon of New Year’s Eve last year.

“When he came in to the hospital, he was pale, confused and young,” Dr. Bracken recalls. “It was obvious he was very sick. Ultrasound is the fastest way to determine what’s going on. You can quickly look at the heart, the lungs and the vascular system.”

Wanis, 43, had woken up that morning feeling fine. Although it was Saturday, he had planned to go to work. So he went downstairs, leaving his wife asleep. That’s when the day took a turn for the worse. He fell, knocking himself unconscious. He hadn’t eaten the night before and attributed his fall to low blood sugar levels.

“Going up the stairs to go back to bed was like climbing a mountain,” Wanis remembers. He tried to rest, but when his wife checked on him a while later, the sheets were drenched with sweat, and he was breathing hard.

“Every time I breathed out, I made a loud snoring sound,” he says. “When I breathed, I could feel my spirit coming out.” His wife, Amira Wanis, called 911 and he was rushed to Torrance Memorial.

By now it was more than five hours since his fall. Whatever was wrong with Wanis, there was no time to waste. The ultrasound gave Dr. Bracken a

Celebrating a reunion with the expert team of physicians who quickly diagnosed, responded and treated a life-threatening PE: Dr. Richard Bracken, Aziz Wanis, Dr. George So, Dr. Gretchen Lent

good idea of the problem. “The right ventricle was very enlarged,” he says, “typical in patients with a massive pulmonary embolism.”

That’s when Wanis, now near death, had something else working in his favor: Torrance Memorial’s focus on treating pulmonary embolisms. A PE is a blood clot that stops the flow of blood to an artery in the lungs.

The hospital is working toward its certification as a PE Center of Excellence—the first hospital on the West Coast to do so. As part of that goal, Torrance Memorial is creating a pulmonary embolism response team (PERT), a group of medical staff across departments trained to quickly and in coordination diagnose, respond to and treat PE cases. Although the PERT is still being developed, Dr. Bracken’s reflex actions underscore the importance of quick action.

“When you have someone that sick, it’s all kind of simultaneous,” he explains. “I’m helping nurses get him ready for the CT scanner, ordering blood clot-busting drugs from the pharmacy. During the CAT scan, I’m calling the interventional radiologist, asking for a review of the CAT scan images immediately. We try to decrease any delay in care as much as possible. It was on the order of half an hour to 45 minutes from the time Mr. Wanis hit the door to get him to interventional radiology and surgery.”

While Dr. Bracken coordinated with the hospital’s departments, ED medical director Gretchen Lent, MD, was in charge of Wanis’ initial treatment. “His

vital signs were OK; that’s why we had time to order the blood clot-busting medication, CT scan and everything else,” she says. “With a young, healthy man, PE is more likely than a heart attack or stroke. As soon as we had our suspicions, we called to bring in an interventionist.”

The interventional radiologist (IR) was George So, MD, who remembers the case well. “We want every single PE case to be like that case,” he says. “Everyone involved acted like a PERT team. That organization, just training for it, allowed for a very, very quick response. With a PERT, we know exactly who is doing what. There’s coordination between the ED physicians, technologists and nursing staff, and the IR team that includes radiologists, nursing staff, anesthesiologists and the IR physicians.”

The preliminary PE diagnosis was confirmed by a CT pulmonary angiogram study. “That’s an advanced scan to detect PE in the lungs,” Dr. So explains. “We have AI-driven software that pre-scans the images to detect anomalies like blood clots and alert the radiologist to them. It’s another way we save time.”

This is where Wanis had one more factor working in his favor: Torrance Memorial recently started using PE aspiration devices. These are essentially sophisticated catheters used to perform aspiration (suction) thrombectomies; that is, they remove blood clots causing PEs in minimally invasive procedures.

“We usually insert the catheter into a vein in the groin, guide it through the right heart to the pulmonary arteries, remove the clot and filter the patient’s blood to be returned to the body,” Dr. So explains. “It typically takes about an hour.”

These devices are a game changer in the treatment of PEs, Dr. So says, adding an option in addition to the use of the clot-busting drug tPA (tissue plasminogen activator). “tPA takes about two days to work,” says Dr. So. “The medication saves lives, but it’s high risk. There can be serious side effects: bleeding in the brain or stomach. Using the new aspiration devices, the patient can avoid those side effects.”

The devices are also a generation ahead of older mechanical thrombectomy devices. Traditional thrombectomies (blood clot removals) involve the loss of a significant amount of blood along with the clot material. The new devices filter the patient’s blood so it can be returned to the body.

The end result? “Patients don’t have to go to the ICU and can be discharged as soon as the next day,” Dr. So says. “It’s a paradigm shift in how we think about PE, completely changing how we treat this condition.”

That’s important, he shares. “PEs are one of the deadliest conditions that can happen, not just to the elderly but very young people too. They’re usually caused by a blood clot traveling from the leg to an artery supplying blood flow to the lungs, so blood and oxygen cannot get to the lungs. Blood cannot be oxygenated, causing internal suffocation. If patients with PE aren’t diagnosed quickly and treated accurately, there’s a very high mortality rate.”

Unlike tPA treatment for PE, the effects of an aspiration thrombectomy are immediate. “The patient’s oxygen levels go up, his heart rate goes down and he can breathe easier,” Dr. So says. “It’s gratifying to treat this type of condition. You can see the reversal right away.”

Earning the PERT Consortium’s PE Center of Excellence certification will mean Torrance Memorial has achieved high standards in every aspect of PE care. “To qualify, they track all parameters of treatment and outcomes at the hospital,” Dr. So says. “It’s the pinnacle of PERT success.”

For Aziz and Amira Wanis, success is Aziz continuing with his life as before. While he is now on blood-thinning medication to prevent any additional clots, he says he is back to normal life. “I’m very grateful to the doctors and everyone at the hospital. They took care of everything.” •

Husband and father Aziz Wanis with Mark (10), Amira and Mina (14)

Minimally invasive PE aspiration devices are used to remove blots clots.

Walk Your Way to Wellness

Written by Melani Morose Edelstein

Photographed by Siri Berting

Human beings were born to walk. Bodies are designed to move, and walking is an ancient and basic form of exercise that can provide a gateway to healthy living. It is also a key to happiness and well-being. Walking can reduce stress and the risk of disease and can help people live longer.

Thanks to the two newly created Wellness Walking Paths on the Torrance Memorial Medical Center campus, taking a walk is even easier. The addition of the pair of ½-mile walking paths gives employees,

patients, visitors and community members an exciting opportunity to take a stroll.

Shanna Hall, RN, vice president of nursing at Torrance Memorial. was the executive sponsor of the project endorsing these healthy walking paths. “We were looking at the well-being and emotional support of our staff. Through collaboration with the Leadership Education and Wellness Council, we spoke to people interested in staff wellness and recognition and found a shining star in Kristen Hung,” explains Hall.

Kristen Hung is a Torrance Memorial registered dietitian. She says the idea came from personal experience with an on-campus walking path early in her career. Each morning Hung and her colleagues met to walk during their 10-minute breaks.

“These walks were always a highlight of my day. A few moments to connect with my colleagues, step away from work stress and reset,” says Hung, who had the vision for bringing an on-campus walking path to the Torrance Memorial campus.

The new Wellness Walking Paths

are part of the hospital’s ongoing focus on supporting staff.

Elaine McRae, director of Torrance Memorial University, says during the pandemic, hospital staff enjoyed lectures, meditation, sound baths, and other emotional and mental health footholds. The walking paths are another way to offer support.

“We want to continue to partner with employees to have their good ideas become reality. It’s part of our culture,” she explains.

And it’s not just the hospital staff who benefits. Anyone with health insurance through Torrance Memorial can take advantage of the Vitality wellness program.

“You get rewarded with points for doing healthy things like cleaning your teeth or visiting your primary care doctor. Those points can be turned into bucks you can cash in for gift cards. So we are incorporating these Wellness Walking Paths into Vitality,” says McRae. “For steps acquired on the path, it’s easy to click the QR codes on the signs to get points for your walk. We think it’s a very generous and motivating program, so naturally we are tying the two together.”

Along the Wellness Walking Paths, wayfinding signs encourage walkers to keep moving and serve as inspirational tools to let them know how far they have progressed. The signs feature motivational quotes like “You are one walk away from a better mood,” “Health happens one step at a time,” and “Life is like walking, you take one step at a time.”

“As a dietitian, I believe we need to make the healthy choice easy. If we cut the fruit, people will eat it. If we create a walking path, people will walk it. In 10 minutes before work, 10 minutes at break time and 10 minutes after work, people can

get 30 minutes of daily exercise,” Hung says passionately.

Creating the Wellness Walking Path would not have been possible without the passionate leadership of Hall, Hung and McRae, who agree this small change to Torrance Memorial has the potential to make an enormous impact.

The paths will benefit employees who want to get outside; visitors looking for calm amid a medical crisis; managers holding a walking meeting to break up the hours of sitting; and community members who might be inspired by the signage. The new Torrance Memorial Wellness Walking Paths will serve as a place of healing and wellness long into the future. •

Interdisciplinary committee members worked closely together to help plan and the walking paths. They are pictured from left to right:

Nicholas Cox (manager of construction projects and refurbishment), Elaine McRae (director of TMU), Shanna Hall (VP nursing and executive sponsor of the project), Judith Gerber (garden program coordinator), Erin Fiorito (executive director of marketing/communications and health education), Kristen Hung, RDN (walking path idea creator), Johanna Johnson-Gilman (director of food and nutrition services), Connie Senner (director of design and construction), Melissa O’Malley (supervisor of facilities and operations), Danielle Boujikian (digital marketing manager).

Shanna Hall recruited an interdisciplinary committee to help plan and develop the walking paths. This committee consisted of Kristen Hung, along with Johanna JohnsonGilman (director of food and nutrition services), Melissa O’Malley (supervisor of facilities and operations), Danielle Boujikian (digital marketing manager) and Judith Gerber (garden program coordinator). This team worked closely with Connie Senner (director of design and construction), Nicholas Cox (manager of construction projects and refurbishment) and Erin Fiorito (executive director of marketing/communications and health education) to make the Wellness Walking Paths a reality.

Shanna Hall recruited an interdisciplinary committee to help plan and develop the walking paths. This committee consisted of Kristen Hung, along with Johanna JohnsonGilman (director of food and nutrition services), Melissa O’Malley (supervisor of facilities and operations), Danielle Boujikian (digital marketing manager) and Judith Gerber (garden program coordinator). This team worked closely with Connie Senner (director of design and construction), Nicholas Cox (manager of construction projects and refurbishment) and Erin Fiorito (executive director of marketing/communications and health education) to make the Wellness Walking Paths a reality.

Interdisciplinary committee members take a walk.

Scan QR code for Walking Path Map

Tribute

Celebrating Years of Dedicated Service

After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Torrance Memorial employees happily gathered to celebrate their years of dedicated service at the Employee Service luncheon and ceremony held at the Torrance Marriott on July 21.

The annual Employee Service Awards honors those celebrating five or more years of service. This year, Torrance Memorial celebrated five employees for hitting the 45-year service mark at the medical center and two who celebrated 40 years of service. In memoriam, we also honored members of our Torrance Memorial family who are no longer among us.

Your loyalty and service are deeply appreciated, and we congratulate you on reaching this milestone and look forward to many more. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees.

Zenaida Poquiz – 17 years Olivia Arcala – 17 years

Cora Castilla – 13 years

Dawn Golding – 11 years Lydia Haskell – 11 years

In Memoriam

Employee Service Awards 2023

Back: Allan Rutenberg, Noel Le, Craig Leach, Rick Borromeo, Joshua Elliot-Molina, Michael Pack Jr., Edilberto

Back:

Front: Bernie Reid, Shanna Hall, Ingrid Cobb

Back: Heidi Assigal, Mary Wright, Elaine McRae, Craig Leach, John McNamara MD, Derek Berz

Marianne Hagiya, Yna Gonzales

Leny Catamisan, Wendy Pangindian, Yolanda Gonzalez

Christine Mendez, Mei Tsai, Tammy Ginder, Craig Leach, Steve Thompson, Julie Tran, Sue-ann Nouchi

Front: Yna Gonzales, Marianne Hagiya, Dennis Kikuno, Michaela Marin

Back: Linda Dobie, Carrie Kikuno, Chris Bacon, Craig Leach, Lynn Jagger

Allan Rutenberg, Bill Salva, Rodell Ybalio, Wayne Holman

Michael Polendey, Alan Blaisdell, Alicia Kikkert, Yumi Yoshida, Amson Cruz, David Vo

Front: Kelly Lee, Rodell Ybalio, Lucia Marron

Apo

Kent Amano, Barbara Gibson, Jen Sequeira, Cathy Sarcona

Front: Joyce Quilala, Rhodessa Delirio, Catherine Fernandez

Erika Bizarron, Rina Mizokami, Marilette Gabriel, Mike Ramirez, Richel Mamansag, Mary Chee, Michelle Padre, Faye Arriedo

Photographed by Deidre Davidson

3330 Lomita Blvd. Torrance, CA 90505 310-325-9110

www.TorranceMemorial.org

OUR EXPERT TEAM HAS ONCE AGAIN RANKED FIRST AMONG SOUTH BAY HOSPITALS BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT. Combined with Newsweek rankings, Torrance Memorial places in the top 1% in the nation, further solidifying our position as the number ONE hospital in the South Bay. Torrance Memorial’s quality results and rankings far exceed any other hospital in the community. Learn more at TMGetTheFacts.org

#1

Ranked Hospital in the South Bay

Ranked

#4

in the L.A./O.C. Region

- U.S. News & World Report

Ranked #9 in California

- U.S. News & World Report