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Chambers departs SVH board

 

When David Chambers, Ph.D., joined the Sonoma Valley Health Care District board in 2009, the hospital was struggling to survive.

"It's not the same hospital it was two years ago, we're in a much more sound position now," Chambers said. "We've done a lot of really good things."

With that sense of accomplishment, Chambers has resigned his position as treasurer of the board, after being appointed in 2009 to replace former Boardmember Arnie Riebli, and then being elected in 2010. Chambers cited a need to spend more time on his fulltime job as academic dean of the dentistry school at University of the Pacific in San Francisco and editor for the American College of Dentists.

"When I first signed on, I thought I could handle the five hours a month. Well it turned out to be 20 hours a week," he said.

In his resignation letter, Chambers listed the numerous changes he's helped oversee at the hospital, including developing a partnership with the Prima Medical Group and Marin General Hospital, establishing the Board Quality Committee and beginning construction on the new building that will make the hospital seismically compliant by 2015. He also expressed confidence that the leaders at the hospital will continue to help the facility flourish.

"President and CEO Kelly Mather has the experience, is building the team and possesses the enthusiasm to take the hospital where it needs to go," he wrote.

When asked by the Index-Tribune what Chambers was most proud of during his time on the board, he said it was reinvigorating the public's trust in their hospital. When he began, he said, he often heard stories of people who questioned the quality and leadership of the hospital.

"People don't say that now," he said, adding that there is still more work to do. "Public trust is a long, slow process ... But it's the public confidence we've built that I feel best about." 

After Chambers made the announcement last week, the health care district board immediately began its search for a new board member, who will serve out the remainder of Chamber's term until the 2012 election. When a board member resigns, the remaining four board members are charged with selecting a replacement to complete the existing term within 60 days.

The hospital board is accepting applications from interested candidates until 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16, and will be making its final selection during a special meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Applicants must reside in the health care district and should submit a letter of interest listing applicable skills, which must not be longer than two pages, to Vivian Woodall, executive assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, Sonoma Valley Hospital, 347 Andrieux St., Sonoma, CA, 95476.