In this issue

A Letter from Karli Epstein, Executive Director
As we welcome the vibrant colors and crisp air of fall, we are reminded of the unwavering generosity and commitment of our donors. This year holds special significance for us as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Tahoe Forest Health System. For 75 years, we’ve been dedicated to providing exceptional care to our community, and it’s because of supporters like you that we’ve been able to achieve so much.
In this edition, we are excited to share updates on our recent additions to the hospital, including the first CIARTIC Move in the nation and our new pediatrician, Dr. Carin Eldridge. We invite you to celebrate our 75th anniversary with our Fall Festival and Fun Run and 75th Anniversary Celebration and fundraiser. Many of you may remember Best of Tahoe Chefs, and we are so fortunate to have the chefs returning for our 75th celebration. Each chef will be paired with well-known wineries from California. In this edition, we also provide you with options for planned giving, which makes a huge impact for our Health System. Further, we share with you one of the many incredible programs and services the Center for Health has to offer to our community. Lastly, we ask you to save the date for this year’s #GivingTuesday campaign supporting our Oncology Support Services program.
Your steadfast support has been essential in advancing health care here in the Truckee Tahoe region, ensuring that patients receive the highest level of care close to home. As we reflect on this milestone, we are filled with gratitude and excitement for the future. From cutting-edge diagnostic equipment to innovative health programs, every dollar raised directly impacts the well being of our community. Thank you for being a vital part of our journey, past and present.
In gratitude,
Karli Epstein
Executive Director

CIARTIC Move
Tahoe Forest Health System is excited to announce we are the first hospital in the country to have installed the CIARTIC Move, the latest innovation from Siemens Healthineers. This new technology speeds up and standardizes 2D and 3D imaging during surgery, making the process faster and more consistent for surgeons and operating room teams.
“We are thrilled not only to receive this amazing piece of technology, but to be the first hospital in the U.S. to put it into use,” said Louis Ward, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Tahoe Forest Health System. “We are committed to bringing the most advanced medical devices and treatments to our community, enabling our technologists and surgeons to provide the highest level of patient care.”
The CIARTIC Move is a fully motorized, self-driving C-arm that automates imaging workflows, stores up to 12 positions and imaging settings, and recalls them with the press of a button. This automation saves almost 50% of intraoperative time in spine surgeries and 55% in pelvic surgeries. The system can be controlled remotely by a single user. The mobile C-arm supports complex procedures by making intraoperative imaging faster and easier. The user can fully operate the system remotely via a wireless control, even from within the sterile field.
“Siemens Healthineers is proud to introduce our first self-driving mobile C-arm, which can provide much-needed assistance during complex procedures by automating and accelerating intraoperative imaging workflows to a previously unseen degree,” said April Grandominico, Vice President for Surgical Therapies in the Advanced Therapies business line at Siemens Healthineers, North America.
Learn more about the CIARTIC Move at www.siemens-healthineers.com and about Tahoe Forest Health System at TFHD.com

Welcome a New Pediatrician to TFHS
Tahoe Forest Health System is pleased to announce that Dr. Carin Eldridge has joined their Pediatrics team at Tahoe Forest MultiSpecialty Clinics in Truckee.
Dr. Eldridge specializes in a full spectrum of primary care, from newborn through adolescence. She is specifically interested in adolescent medicine and developmental pediatrics.
Dr. Eldridge attended a combined MD/Master of Public Health program at the University of Arizona. She completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Utah and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Dr. Eldridge’s office is located in the Tahoe Forest Medical Office Building at 10956 Donner Pass Road, Suite 310, Truckee. She is accepting new patients. For appointments, please call (530) 582-6205.

75th Anniversary Fall Festival and Fun Run
Inspired by the idea of gathering together as a community and celebrating the growth of the Tahoe Forest Health System, the 75th Anniversary Fall Festival and Fun Run will highlight and celebrate the community.
Please join us for this community event and fun run at Truckee River Regional Park on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, 11 am – 4 pm. Register for the Fun Run. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, reach out to the TFHS Foundation at [email protected] for more information.

75th Anniversary Celebration
To celebrate our 75th anniversary, we’re excited to bring back some of your favorite chefs from Best of Tahoe Chefs for an unforgettable evening of food, wine, and community spirit! Indulge in delicious appetizers crafted by renowned local chefs, paired with exclusive wines from California. This fundraiser not only showcases culinary excellence but also raises vital funds for Tahoe Forest Health System’s Area of Greatest Need.
Featured chefs:
- Conor Ball, Martis Camp
- Will Burns, Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats
- Douglas Dale, Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique
- Quinten Frye & Michael Murray, Hen of the Woods Catering
- Ben Knox, Russell Coffman & Corey Kelso, Tahoe Forest Hospital
- Pablo Martinez, Drunken Monkey
- Billy McCullough, Dragonfly Eats
- Andrew Shimer, Sylva American Bistro
- David Smith, Tahoe Mountain Club
- Alex Tolger, Mogrog Rotisserie
- Chris Watkins, Six Peaks Grill, Everline
- Scott Yorkey, Private Chef/Catering
Featured wineries:
- Big Basin Vineyards
- VSG Chateaux Potelle
- Easton Wines
- Mauritson Wines
- ONEHOPE Wine
- Pride Mountain Vineyards
- Truckee River Winery
- Winery Sixteen 600
Celebrate 75 years of exceptional health care in our community, while enjoying the best chefs from around the lake. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to support local health care and savor an evening of fine food and wine!
Both General Admission and VIP ticket options are available. Those with VIP tickets are granted early admission to the celebration and an invitation to a special reception with Chef Billy McCullough and Pride Mountain Vineyards from 4-5 pm.
Purchase tickets here. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, reach out to the TFHS Foundation at [email protected] for more information.

Did You Know?
The Center for Health offers many community classes and programs both in Truckee and around the lake. Did you know that the Center organizes a free weekly Mama’s Meet Up: Infant Feeding Support Group at Sierra Community House both in Kings Beach and Truckee? This hands-on breastfeeding support group helps new moms transition into the “fourth trimester” and is provided by registered nurses, international board-certified lactation consultants, and certified lactation educators. Learn more about the programs and services offered through the Center for Health.

Planned Giving
If you are interested in supporting the long-term vision for the hospital, you can make a plan to give a gift to Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation in the future, so we can continue our life-saving services for all of our community members.
There are numerous estate planning techniques available that can maximize your testamentary charitable gifting and mitigate tax exposure. Please consult your tax advisor or estate planner for more information about tax deductions for charitable donations. Meanwhile, you may also review a few of the options available.
A gift can be made by including a provision in your will or trust document. TFHS Foundation receives your gift after your passing, at which time your estate can take the income and estate tax deductions. This can even include donations of real property.
A charitable lead trust would pay TFHS Foundation for a certain number of years, and then the trust principal passes back to you, your family members, and other heirs. It can be an excellent estate planning vehicle of your own assets that you expect will substantially appreciate in value. It can help you keep an asset in the family while enjoying some tax benefits.
A charitable remainder trust is the mirror image of the charitable lead trust. Trust income is payable to you, your family members, or other heirs for a period of years, then the principal would come to TFHS Foundation. A charitable remainder trust can be benefical because it provides you with a stream of current income.
Donors who notify the Foundation of their intent to include TFHS Foundation in their will or trust are established as TFHSF Legacy Partners in Health members. The Foundation would like to thank and recognize (based on donor preference) supporters for their intent to give while they are still living. If you plan to leave a gift to the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation, please contact Karli Epstein, Executive Director, at [email protected], or call (530) 582-4204.
Thank you for your interest in creating a legacy of commitment, which will help us ensure that our community hospital will remain sustainable and strong for generations to come!

Giving Tuesday – December 3rd
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving, created with one simple idea in mind: to encourage people to do good things. It has since grown into a movement that has inspired hundreds of millions of people worldwide to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Supporting organizations and causes that are important to donors has the power to transform communities.
This #GivingTuesday, the TFHS Foundation will be raising money in support of Oncology Support Services at our Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center. The Cancer Center offers a variety of supportive care programs – all at no cost to the patient or their caregiver. 100% of every donation designated to Oncology Support Services goes toward a whole-person approach to cancer care, providing services such as individual counseling, massage therapy, acupuncture, and biofeedback… to list a few! Access to this integrated approach significantly improves quality of life for patients, their families, and caregivers.
We are fortunate to have state-of-the-art, comprehensive cancer care right in our community. We will be sharing more information soon on how you can give a gift this #GivingTuesday in support of Oncology Support Services!

What Our Community is Saying
We are always proud to share some of the positive recognition we receive from patients, honoring the compassionate care provided at Tahoe Forest Health System!
“I hate to say that a hospital experience was the best of my life, but in this instance, I have to. I have never been treated with so much care and compassion. My nurse Todd was so kind and had incredible bedside manner. He was so personable and treated me with respect and kindness. He took the time to understand my issues and advocated for me. ALL of your staff were so incredible! Thank you for making a time of my discomfort and pain a wonderful experience.”
“My past and current experiences at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center have been exemplary – every single doctor, nurse, and administrator have been outstanding. I am currently in remission and have been cancer free for one year. I have the outstanding staff there to thank for my life.”
“The facility is welcoming, open, and bright and absolutely spotless. Everyone was genuinely friendly. The nervousness I was experiencing prior to arrival was quickly calmed the moment I walked in as staff was instantly attentive and informative.”
“Claire Ward was an absolute pleasure throughout my entire appointment. She was incredibly professional and comforting. I am looking forward to my Well-Women exam with her! I have lived in the area for about 5 years and have yet to find a physician that I clicked so well with.”

Get In Touch
Learn more about the Foundation by following the Health System on social media! We post updates weekly.
Instagram Username: tahoeforesthealthsystem
Facebook Page: Tahoe Forest Health System
Twitter Account: TahoeForestHospital
Thank you for your interest in the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation. To learn more about the different ways you can support TFH through philanthropy, visit www.tfhd.com/giving/giving or contact Karli Epstein, Executive Director, at 530-582-4204 or [email protected].
If you are not on our electronic mailing list, sign up to receive our quarterly TFHS Foundation eNewsletter.