Scripps Celebrates Major Milestone
Scripps celebrates major milestone
We Built it for You
Scripps President and CEO Chris Van Gorder and member of the Scripps Health Board of Trustees officially mark the opening of the North Tower at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
On June 1, Scripps celebrated a major milestone: the opening of the North Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Community leaders, employees, physicians and donors attended the grand opening of the state-of-the-art eight-story, 420,000-square-foot structure that’s been eight years in the making.
“The opening of the North Tower marks Scripps Health’s latest investment in its century-long commitment to providing patient-centered care to the community while fostering innovative collaboration among our exceptional physicians, nurses and hospital employees,” says Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and CEO. “It’s a leading-edge medical resource, and it will be a place of healing for generations to come.”
The new tower is home to a dedicated women’s services center with birthing suites and a postpartum floor, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, 96 private medical-surgical rooms, and inpatient services for cancer, orthopedics, neurology, stroke, spine and trauma care.
Donors who supported the construction of the new hospital tower were treated to a Spring Social and a special preview of the building.
“We’re going to be here for a long time, meaning we’re also here for good,” says Van Gorder. “If it were not for our donors and supporters from this community, we wouldn’t be here.”
“We’re going to be here for a long time, meaning we’re also here for good. If it were not for our donors and supporters from this community, we wouldn’t be here.” — Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health president and CEO
Spring Social
In addition to the ribbon cutting, Scripps Health Foundation hosted a Spring Social, offering donors who supported the North Tower a special preview of the building, including spaces named in their honor.
The event featured a welcome toast in the William W. and Barbara Smith Cafeteria, followed by updates from Scripps leadership. Donors also had the opportunity to tour the new facility ahead of its official opening.
Celebration Highlights
SCRIPPS HEALTH BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS: Elliot Scott, Dick Bigelow, Board Vice-Chair Don Goldman, Jeff Bowman, Scripps President and CEO Chris Van Gorder, Robert Buell, Bill Gore, Jan Caldwell, Board Chair Kevin Hamilton and John Boyer pictured at a grand opening celebration for the opening of the North Tower at Scripps La Jolla, one of the latest examples of Scripps’ continued growth to serve the community. BOARD MEMBERS NOT PICTURED: Nikki Clay, Shireen Matthews, Honorable Irma Gonzalez, Ted Thomas, Gene Barduson and Dick Vortmann.
Employees at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla have been working behind the scenes in preparation for the opening, including Jeremy Wansor, RN, Jessi Giebel, RN, Jill Platt, RN, Diana Serpa Crowley, RN, Megan Blaire, RN, Laura Seelicke, RN, and Kim Roberts, RN.
Hospital leadership, including Melanie Gawlik, RN, Jessi Giebel, RN, Jill Platt, RN, Chief Operations Executive Lynn DeGuzman, RN, Adele Barrack and Cindy Steckel, RN, celebrate the opening of the new hospital tower.
Leaders of Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Chief Operating Officer Charles Davis, MD, Chief Medical Officer Gail Knight, MD, Rady Children’s President and CEO Patrick Frias, MD, Medical Director of Rady Children’s Scripps La Jolla NICU Jane O’Donnell, MD, join Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and CEO, in a special ribbon cutting for the opening of the new neonatal intensive care unit in the North Tower, continuing the valued partnership between the two San Diego health care leaders.
Past Board of Trustee, John Warner and his wife, Margie, were honored to support the principal nurse station serving neurology and orthopedic patients.
Barbara Smith’s legacy of support to Scripps Health spans more than 30 years. Her late husband, who served on hospital boards during and after his career, is remembered in the William W. and Barbara Smith Cafeteria.
The Glick Family lovingly remembered Allen Glick within the observation unit. Kathy Glick is a dedicated member of the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla Advisory Council and the family has supported Scripps for many years.
Nancy Crandall and Stephen Wall are recognized on the mother-baby unit’s nurse station.
Retired obstetrician, KB Lim, MD, and his wife, Linda, generously supported the conference dining room in the new cafeteria.
This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.
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