Newswise — John C. Law, a real estate executive with an extensive track record as a community leader, has been elected chairman of the board of Cedars-Sinai Health System. Law has served as vice chair since 2002, and has also served as chair of the Building Committee and Nominating Committee.
Law succeeds Barbara Factor Bentley, who served as Cedars-Sinai board chair since 2002.
In remarks to the board after being elected, Law cited both the major accomplishments of Cedars-Sinai as well as the challenges it faces as a leading health care provider, research center and community partner.
"By every objective measure, Cedars-Sinai is thriving: we are consistently ranked by Los Angeles residents as their most preferred hospital; our nurses have twice been honored with the coveted Magnet award; and our medical researchers are on the forefront of major advances in such areas as cancer, genetics and heart disease," Law said.
"Yet the challenges faced by Cedars-Sinai and health care organizations throughout the state are formidable " decreasing reimbursement from payers, increasing numbers of people without health insurance, and a nationwide shortage of nurses, to name just a few."
"I'm very optimistic about our future," Law said. "We have in Cedars-Sinai a dream which could never be replicated today. Our predecessors built this magnificent institution, and we stand on their shoulders in our efforts to make it bigger, better and stronger."
Law also cited the important role of philanthropy in Cedars-Sinai's success and its future.
"From the building of the original hospital, to the 30 endowed faculty chairs that enrich our academic mission, to the annual successes of our support groups, community philanthropy has been a crucial part of Cedars-Sinai's history, and will be a key element of our future growth," he said.
Among the key recent contributions are a major gift by board member Lynda Oschin to create the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and a donation by David and Suzanne Saperstein for the construction of a new critical care tower, scheduled to open this fall.
A resident of Santa Monica, Law is managing director of Warland Investments, a commercial real estate investment and development firm. In addition to his volunteer leadership at Cedars-Sinai, his community activities include serving on the board of the Los Angeles Free Clinic, president of the Los Angeles County Capital Asset Leasing Commission and as a member of the Los Angeles County Small Craft Harbor Commission. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Macalester College, his alma mater.
One of only four hospitals in California whose nurses have been honored with the prestigious Magnet designation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the Western United States. For 17 consecutive years, it has been named Los Angeles' most preferred hospital for all health needs in an independent survey of area residents. Cedars-Sinai is internationally renowned for its diagnostic and treatment capabilities and its broad spectrum of programs and services, as well as breakthroughs in biomedical research and superlative medical education. It ranks among the top 10 non-university hospitals in the nation for its research activities and was recently fully accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). Additional information is available at www.cedars-sinai.edu.
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