Two weeks ago, we came together with colleagues, policymakers, and community partners for the 2025 HASD&IC Annual Meeting. It was an honor to welcome more than 200 attendees and create a space to connect, reflect, and look ahead at the challenges and opportunities facing our hospitals and health systems.
This year’s program featured Supervisor Paloma Aguirre’s powerful presentation on the Tijuana River pollution crisis, expert-led panels on critical issues impacting care delivery, and an inspiring keynote from poet and entrepreneur Tucker Bryant on the power of storytelling. We were also proud to recognize Sen. Steve Padilla (D-18) and Rick Wanne, MA, MFT, director of self-sufficiency services at the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, with our Community Leadership Awards in appreciation of their exceptional leadership and service to our region’s hospitals and communities.
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and attendees for helping make both the meeting and our holiday donation drive a success. Thanks to their generosity, we collected more than 100 items to support regional food banks in San Diego and Imperial counties. This continued commitment to our communities is a reminder that, especially in uncertain times, we are strongest when we show up for one another.
As we close out an incredibly challenging year for hospitals, finding moments to ground ourselves in community has never mattered more. The stories we share — whether from patients, providers, or partners — guide our work and help shape meaningful policy change. In the year ahead, one of our board’s key priorities will be to deepen engagement with elected officials so they fully understand the human impact of their decisions.
On a personal note, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our Director of Operations and Member Relations, Lisa Sontag, who will be retiring later this month after more than 28 years of dedicated service to the association, our board, and our membership. Her commitment, kindness, and steady leadership have strengthened HASD&IC and the communities we serve, and we wish her all the very best in her well-earned retirement.
As the year winds down, I hope each of you finds time to rest and spend time with those who lift you up. While the path forward may be uncertain, we can take comfort in knowing we will face it together.