“Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone.”
— Jennifer Aaker, Stanford Marketing Professor
At HASD&IC, we know the power of stories. Every day, our hospitals and community partners live out stories of resilience, healing, and compassion. These stories remind us why we do this work and why it matters so deeply for the patients and families we serve.
Next month, we’ll come together for the 2025 HASD&IC Annual Meeting to reflect on some of the most pressing challenges we face — from financial sustainability and behavioral health to the changing health care landscape in California. These are critical issues, but they are more than policy debates or budget lines. They are the lived experiences of people in our communities.
This year, we’ll explore how storytelling can strengthen our advocacy. Our keynote speaker, poet and entrepreneur Tucker Bryant, will show us how the tools of storytellers can help us think differently, communicate with impact, and inspire action. His message will set the stage for a day of learning, connecting, and imagining what’s possible when we lead with both data and humanity.
The stakes are high. As hospitals prepare for significant Medicaid cuts — $1 trillion nationally over the next decade — policymakers must understand not only the numbers, but also the impact on the people behind them. Stories of patients, families, and communities bring those numbers to life. They are what move decision-makers to act.
I hope you’ll join us for this special gathering — a chance to share stories, strengthen our collective voice, and renew our commitment to improving the lives of those we serve. Together, we can make sure the stories of our communities are heard and remembered where it matters most.