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Hirsch joins health care district board

  Jane Hirsch brought more than 40 years of hands-on medical experience when she joined the Sonoma Valley Health Care District board on Thursday night. The longtime nurse took the position vacated by Madolyn Agrimonti, who made an unsuccessful bid for a City Council seat in November.

  Hirsch began her career in nursing, working in general medical units along with six years in the surgical department at the UCSF Medical Center.

  She spent nine years as the chief nursing officer at UCSF, where she worked closely with both the medical staff and the hospital administration.

  “You report directly to the chief executive officer,” she explained. “I’ve had broad experience in health care and health care management,” she said.

  For the four years before she retired, Hirsch was a clinical professor emeritus at the UCSF School of Nursing. Between her work as a nurse, teacher and administrator, she hopes to bring a wide breadth of knowledge to the hospital board.

  “I hope that I can be of assistance on the board,” she said. She will have a unique perspective as the only board member with a background in hands-on health care work.

  Hirsch left San Francisco more than a year ago to retire to Sonoma with her husband. She has spent the last year serving on Sonoma Valley Hospital’s Quality Committee, and was asked by a fellow board member to join the Health Care District board.

  “I have always liked to be involved wherever I live,” she said.

  With four seats up for grabs, but an equal number of candidates, there was no election this November for the hospital board. The board now includes Peter Hohorst, Bill Boerum, Sharon Nevins, Kevin Carruth and Hirsch, who are charged with overseeing activities and expenditures at Sonoma Valley Hospitals.

  “I really have a strong interest in quality and safety, and patient and staff satisfaction,” Hirsch said.

In her free time, she and her husband enjoy walking, cooking and reading.