Spring 2025 TFHS Foundation News

As we welcome the New Year, Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation has had a wonderful start to 2025. Winter in Truckee has been beautiful, with snow-covered peaks and crisp mountain air reminding us of the strength and resilience of our community. Just as the seasons transition from winter to spring, bringing renewal and growth, we are inspired by the continued generosity of our donors. Your support fuels new opportunities, helping us adapt to the evolving healthcare needs of our region and ensuring that exceptional care remains accessible for the Tahoe Truckee community.

In this issue, you’ll find exciting updates, including an introduction to our new CEO, a Doctors’ Day update, and the updated pediatric clinic schedule. We’re also sharing information about gifts of real estate, celebrating recent OB awards, and offering a heartfelt thank you to former board member, Trinkie, for her invaluable service.

On a personal note, I recently changed my last name, so you may notice this reflected in our communications and resources moving forward. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to enhancing local healthcare — your generosity makes all the difference.

In gratitude,

Karli Bunnell
Executive Director

The Tahoe Forest Hospital District (TFHD) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Anna M. Roth, RN, MS, MPH, has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Tahoe Forest Health System (TFHS) and started with the health system on Monday, March 10, 2025. The selection of Ms. Roth comes after an extensive, months-long search following the departure of former CEO, Harry Weis, in June.

Ms. Roth comes to TFHS from Contra Costa Health, where she served as CEO for the past fifteen years. In that position, she addressed the spectrum of issues that shaped the health of Contra Costa County’s one million residents, with special attention to its most vulnerable populations. During her tenure, she played a key role in one of the largest integrated health systems within county government, overseeing unprecedented growth of a $3 billion health system.

At Contra Costa Health, Ms. Roth was responsible for strategy, planning, and operational oversight of the county’s medical center and 11 clinics. Her areas of responsibility included behavioral and physical healthcare, a managed care organization, a local public health department, county homeless services, the county emergency medical services (EMS) system, hazardous materials, and environmental health.

Ms. Roth holds a master’s degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and a Master of Public Health from Harvard University. She is a registered nurse with over 30 years of healthcare experience and an Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Quality Improvement Fellow. Additionally, Ms. Roth has served on a variety of nonprofit boards and has been actively engaged in shaping policy initiatives that drive meaningful advancement in healthcare access.

The TFHD Board of Directors extends its appreciation to Louis Ward for serving as interim CEO and expresses gratitude for his dedication and leadership during this transition.

National Doctors’ Day is celebrated annually on March 30th. This day honors the dedication and contributions of physicians to their communities and healthcare.

We thank you for helping us celebrate our incredible physicians with over 500 custom Doctors’ Day Gratitude Grams delivered! If you missed the chance to purchase a Gratitude Gram, you can still show your appreciation by making a gift in honor of your provider through our Grateful Patient Program. Your gratitude means the world to our dedicated doctors, and we’re so thankful for your support!

Tahoe Forest Health System is pleased to announce an important operational update at our Pediatric clinic as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing patient care and accessibility. Beginning February 1, 2025, we will pilot a new schedule that includes operating one Saturday per month to better meet the needs of our community.

The pilot program, running from February 1 to May 17, 2025, is designed to evaluate how expanded weekend access may benefit patients and families while ensuring optimal clinic operations and staff well-being.

Key details of the pilot program:

• Start date: February 1, 2025
• End date: May 17, 2025
• Saturday hours: Open one Saturday per month, 8:00 am-5:00 pm:
  • April 19, 2025
  • May 17, 2025
• Weekday hours: Will remain as they currently are, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

We understand that changes like this may raise questions. For more information or assistance, please contact Tahoe Forest Pediatrics at (530) 587-3523 or visit us online at TFHD.com/pediatrics.

Did you know? You can donate real estate, such as a family home, undeveloped land, or rental property, to a non-profit organization, which can offer fair market value income tax deductions and potentially eliminate capital gains taxes.

In late 2024, the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation received its first-ever real estate donation through a trust. After a valuable learning experience, the property was sold, resulting in an incredible $1.12M gift—one of the largest contributions the Foundation has received in recent years.

If you’re interested in exploring how a real estate gift can benefit you, as well as the community, contact the TFHS Foundation at [email protected].

Tahoe Forest Health System is proud to announce that it has been recognized with three prestigious Women’s Choice Awards for 2025, reflecting its unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care and clinical excellence. The hospital has been honored in the following categories:

• America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience: Out of 957 hospitals in the small hospital size category, Tahoe Forest Hospital ranks #39, placing it in the top 100 hospitals nationwide for patient experience, a testament to its dedication to providing outstanding care and ensuring patient satisfaction.
• Top 1% in Obstetrics: The hospital’s obstetric services have been recognized for excellence, placing it in the top 1% of hospitals offering obstetrics nationwide out of 4,675 hospitals. This accolade underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality care for mothers and newborns.
• Top 3% in Emergency Care: Tahoe Forest Hospital’s emergency department has been acknowledged for its exceptional performance, ranking in the top 3 percent of hospitals offering emergency care services nationwide out of 4,675 hospitals. This award highlights the hospital’s dedication to delivering timely and effective emergency medical services.

These awards are based on rigorous criteria, including patient satisfaction, clinical performance, and accreditations, ensuring that recognized hospitals meet the highest standards in healthcare.

“At Tahoe Forest Hospital our incredible staff remains dedicated to delivering an exceptional experience for our patients and their families at every step of their care journey,” said Louis Ward, Interim CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System. “These awards highlight our unwavering commitment to excellence and patient-centered care in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe. We are deeply grateful to our community for trusting us with their health and well-being.”

The Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care at Tahoe Forest Hospital offers state-of-the-art facilities designed for the safety and comfort of new moms and families. Featuring private birthing and postpartum suites—each with a Jacuzzi™ tub—plus telemetry monitors for mobility during labor, the center ensures a supportive birthing experience. With a nationally recognized Baby-Friendly certification since 2010, it provides expert obstetrical and gynecological care, breastfeeding support, and a nurturing environment that fosters mother-infant bonding from the very first moments.

The Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation launched the Patient Care Enhancement Program using proceeds from the Gift Tree, previously run by the Foundation. This program aims to allocate funds to departments within the health system for mission-critical capital equipment that enhances patient care but may not be included in the department’s budget. The first request approved by the TFHSF Board of Directors funded the purchase of a blanket warmer for the Urgent Care clinic at the ski resort. Pictured here is Palisades patroller Ivan and his dog Bracket, comforting a patient with special needs, who is enjoying a warm blanket. We’re thrilled to see how this purchase is positively impacting patient care.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Trinkie Watson for her dedicated service on the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation’s Board of Directors. Trinkie has been a longtime supporter of the Foundation, serving on various committees and completing multiple terms on the Board. Most recently, she served for six years, continuing her legacy of leadership and commitment to advancing our mission to provide exceptional healthcare to the Tahoe-Truckee community. From guiding key fundraising initiatives to supporting strategic growth, her contributions have left a lasting impact on our health system and the lives of those we serve. We are thrilled to have Trinkie serve on our newly formed Emeritus Committee that will consist of previous board members, employees, and community members who were highly involved in the health system over the years.

Thank you for your dedication and thoughtful service — you will always be a valued part of the TFHS Foundation family.

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!

“My radiology tech and Briner front desk clerk were outstanding, answered all questions and help me get reports to my doctors. I learned a lot from both of them. This is absolutely my favorite department at TFH.”

“ALL of the Orthopedics staff was first rate. Truly excellent. This is what medical care should be like everywhere.”

“All the infusion nurses are friendly, understanding, well-trained and clearly have my best interests at heart. It’s wonderful that they know my name when I come in and are very informed about what else is going on in my life.”

“I loved how quick and efficient I was able to get further testing and the results at Gateway Lab. I felt very heard and taken care of during my appointment.”

“I cannot say enough great things about the staff and facility. It’s the second time I’ve gone to the Tahoe City Urgent Care and both times my care has been absolutely outstanding!”

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].

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