Next week, many of us will gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving — a holiday that not only allows us to pause and express gratitude but also invites us to reflect on the impact of our collective work to uplift our communities.
In two weeks, we’ll come together for the 2025 HASD&IC Annual Meeting — a gathering for hospital leaders, policymakers, and community partners to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing our hospitals and health systems. This annual meeting is not only a valuable opportunity to hear from local leaders and policy experts, but also a chance to gain new insights, find inspiration, and prepare for what lies ahead.
Hospitals across our region continue to witness firsthand the profound impact behavioral health has on the well-being of our communities. The findings in our upcoming behavioral health environmental scans echo what we hear regularly from care providers and community partners: Demand for behavioral health services continues to grow even as workforce shortages, limited treatment availability, bed closures, and care coordination challenges persist.
“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.
This month, during Hunger Awareness Month, we join with our community partners to raise awareness about a growing crisis — access to nutritious food. For some, food is a daily comfort and certainty. For others, it is a source of constant worry, sacrifice, and stress.
“Whenever there would be any … catastrophe that was in the movies or on the air, [my mother] would say, ‘Always look for the helpers. There will always be helpers. … If you look for the helpers, you will know that there’s hope.”
— Fred Rogers
Yesterday marked the release of San Diego County’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Reflecting three years of thoughtful collaboration by hospitals and community partners, this report represents the voices of more than 1,600 community members who spoke candidly about their health, lives, and experiences with a system too often stretched thin.
Last week, the El Centro City Council in Imperial County approved the transfer of El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) to the Imperial Valley Healthcare District (IVHD) — a landmark step toward a stronger, more unified health system for the region.
New survey research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms what many in our region have long known: The Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis poses a serious threat to the health and quality of life of residents in San Diego’s South Region.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou
