PATRONS SPRING 2021 TORRANCE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION SPRING 2021 SPRING SAM & BHARTI SHETH One Family, Two Generations of Hospital Support 35th Annual Golf Tournament Monday, August 9, 2021 • Palos Verdes Golf Club All proceeds benefit Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute For more information, please call 310-517-4703 www.torrancememorialfoundation.org/golf Board Notes EMPOWERED TO IMPACT ometimes I feel I have made a career of volunteering. Well, maybe a second career. After 12 years in public accounting and finance, I took off that career hat to spend more time with my kids. Before I knew it, the volunteer world came calling and I really found my niche. SI guess I have a knack for organizing people and causes. I especially love fundraising—whether it’s selling high school VIP graduation seats or running a $2 million capital campaign. My volunteer path began 35 years ago and now feels like a blur. I’ve volunteered for many worthwhile philanthropic organizations, serving on several councils and boards and helping strengthen their impact on the communities they serve. A few of my favorites were the Los Angeles County Museum of Art–Costume Council, USC Keck Foundation and Los Angeles Music Center Club 100 (top 100 volunteers in Los Angeles). My highlight was serving as president of the Junior League of Los Angeles, an organization of 1,500 women whose focus is serving women and children at risk. Board Member Ann Zimmerman Around 2004, my volunteer focus became Palos Verdes High School, which was in its second and Gary Zimmerman year of reopening and needed a lot of fundraising. Eventually I crossed paths with Laura Schenasi, fundraiser extraordinaire! We bonded over kids’ events and USC tailgates. It took a few years, but after scaling back on various volunteer affiliations, I joined the Torrance Memorial Foundation board in 2013. As a board member, I have proudly witnessed Torrance Memorial grow and earn many well- deserved accolades and successes. The affiliation with Cedars-Sinai has allowed the hospital to become a premier regional health care facility in the South Bay. With outstanding hospital leadership and countless heroes in the form of superior doctors, nurses and staff, Torrance Memorial is well-positioned to continuously serve our community. This has never been more important and exemplified in its greatest challenge yet: meeting the needs of the COVID-19 global pandemic. While the past year has been challenging, philanthropic heroes big and small have emerged and made a tremendous impact in supporting the hospital. This year’s virtual Holiday Festival “In Spirit” raised $1.1 million. Our fundraising continues, allowing Torrance Memorial to benefit the community with state-of-the-art technological and medical advancements. The 2021 focus “As a board member, I continues in benefitting the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute, where groundbreaking have proudly witnessed treatments are now available for all types of cardiovascular conditions. Torrance Memorial grow I am thankful that my circle, which pushes me to stay informed and educated on issues, also and earn many well- encourages me to step back and disconnect, embrace the positive and be grateful. My husband, deserved accolades and Gary, and I met 40 years ago. We have three wonderful now–adult kids with the bonus of three successes. The affiliation adorable grandkids. It has been an amazing journey. Most of all, I appreciate how we can all strive with Cedars-Sinai has to be heroes with one thought, one gesture, one day at a time doing our part. I am proud and allowed the hospital honored to be an ambassador for Torrance Memorial and to serve on the Foundation board. to become a premier It truly is a privilege. • regional health care facility in the South Bay.” Ann Zimmerman, Board Member SPRING 2021 | PATRONS 3 Board of Directors 2020-2021 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Eric Nakkim, MD Mark Lurie, MD, President Emergency Medicine, Torrance Memorial Medical Director Lundquist Lurie Medical Center Cardiovascular Institute Tom O’Hern Torrance Memorial Medical Center CEO, The Macerich Company A Publication of the Phil Pavesi, Vice President Richard K. Rounsavelle, DDS Torrance Memorial Foundation Retired Executive, TRW General Dentistry W. Gregory Geiger, Treasurer Michael Rouse Principal, Westport Capital Partners, LLC Retired Toyota Executive EDITOR Heidi Hoffman, MD, Secretary Patricia Sacks, MD Julie Taylor Radiology, Torrance Memorial Medical Center Radiology, Retired Medical Director DIRECTOR, MARKETING Joseph Hohm, CPA, JD, Officer The Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Breast COMMUNICATIONS Medical Accounting Service Diagnostic Center Erin Fiorito Patrick Theodora, Officer Sam Sheth PUBLISHER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Senior Executive Vice President, Platinum Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director, Vincent Rios Home Mortgage, Co-Owner DocMagic VerityPoint Michael Zislis, Officer Sam Sim COPY EDITOR Founder and Owner, The Zislis Group President and Owner Laura Watts BOARD MEMBERS Chinese Gourmet Express Christy Abraham Steven F. Spierer, Esq. Community Volunteer Partner, Spierer, Woodward, Corbalis & CONTRIBUTORS John G. Baker Goldberg The Brickstone Companies Russell Varon Michelle Abt Gregory Schill Nadine Bobit Morgan’s Jewelers Lisa Buffington Nancy Sokoler Community Volunteer Ann Zimmerman John Ferrari Steiner Stevan Calvillo, Community Volunteer Robin Heffler Laura Roe Stevens Attorney, Calvillo & Meyer FOUNDATION STAFF Diane Krieger Julie Taylor Paul Campbell Laura Schenasi Retired Technology CEO Executive Vice President Harv Daniels Judith Gassner Board of Directors, SAXA, Inc. Senior Director of Development PHOTOGRAPHERS Thyra J. Endicott, MD and Principal Gifts Michael Neveux Radiation Oncology Sandy VandenBerge Torrance Memorial Medical Center Director of Planned Giving Vincent Rios Alan Goldstein Lisa Takata First Vice President, Financial Advisor Special Events and George Graham Patrons Program Manager President Emeritus, Consultant Sophia Neveu Torrance Memorial Medical Center Development Officer Rick Higgins Margaret Doran Retired Technology Management Professional Jill Golden Song Cho Klein Karen Randazzo Community Volunteer Development Liaisons Connie Lai, Esq. Published by Attorney, Board Chair, Torrance Memorial Medical Center treats Vincent Rios Creative, Inc. vrioscreative.com Ji Ren Primary School, Taiwan all people equally without regard to race, Richard Lucy color, national origin, age, gender or disability. ©2021 Torrance Memorial Medical Center. Commercial Property Investments, President The section 504 coordinator can be reached All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in Crosswind Capital, Inc. at 310-784-4894. If you do not wish to receive whole or in part without written permission W. David McKinnie, III this publication, please contact marketing is prohibited. Consultant, McKinnie Consulting communications at 310-517-4706. Contents IN YOUR COMMUNITY 36 Holiday Festival “In Spirit” Virtual Celebration 38 Holiday Tree Decorating and Heroes Tree 39 Community Engagement Events 40 COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics SUPPORTERS 41 Torrance Memorial gives special thanks to our many supporters. 24 PROGRESS NOTES FUTURE FOCUS 8 Director of behavioral health at 30 Local interior designer Carol Wharton Torrance Memorial, Moe Gelbart, PhD shows her generosity 12 Keeping Torrance Memorial 31 IRA beneficiary designations Breathing Safely 14 Savoring the Journey – Hospice PATRON PROFILES Chaplain Tenzin Kiyosaki offers 24 Sam Sheth shares his family’s story and compassionate care their legacy of patriotism and giving 18 Hunt Cancer Center – One Year Later AMBASSADORS CORNER CLINICAL SPOTLIGHT 28 Melody and Thomas Lowe, MD tell 20 Lundquist Neurosciences Institute their personal connection to Offering leading-edge care to treat a Cancer Care wide range of neurological disorders YPPA PLAY-BY-PLAY EVERY DONATION COUNTS 32 Angela Park Sheldon: mom, wife, 34 Thanksgiving meals, helping tiny babies philanthropist in the NICU, Giving Tuesday, Cami’s Jammies book donation 28 ON THE COVER Sam and Bharti Sheth pictured by the bas relief that memorializes the original site of the hospital. FOLLOW US! PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL NEVEUX TorranceMemorial tmmcmedia @TMHealthSystem torrancememorial SPRING 2021 | PATRONS 5 Calendar CALENDAR OF EVENTS MIRACLE OF LIVING A HEALTHY HEART AT ANY AGE Via Facebook Live at 6:30 p.m.* Virtual Zoom Lecture Sponsored by Information & Questions: 310-784-3707 The Torrance Memorial Integrative Medicine and Wellness Program All lectures will provide a current state of Tuesday, April 27 at 6 p.m. COVID-19 and vaccine distribution updates. Featuring guest lecturer Christopher K. Suhar Medical Director, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine April 15 Coping with Anxiety During the Pandemic Topics to be covered include: June 24 • Review the principles of Importance of Sleep/Disorders integrative medicine and the importance of incorporating this August 26 approach for patient care Cancer Screenings • The main cardiac risk factors for coronary disease and goals for October 28 Dr. Suhar is an integrative reducing these risks. cardiologist with expertise Orthopedics/Spine • Learn how lifestyle factors such in general cardiology and as nutrition, exercise, sleep and integrative medicine. He also November 11 has subspecialty training in stress management are critical Heart/Diabetes echocardiography and nuclear for preventing and reversing cardiology. heart disease. Visit our Torrance Memorial Facebook Page for links to upcoming events.