DOWNEY – Downey Regional Medical Center and its Foundation are pleased to announce that Sam and Joan Smock, along with the medical staff of DRMC, will be honored at the 2008 Charter Ball scheduled for Oct. 18 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

The Smocks consider Downey their home even though they have recently moved to Long Beach. Thirty years or raising a family in town has a lasting effect. Prior to his retirement, Sam Smock moved up through various management positions with the old and new AT & T. Joan Smock worked in the Downey Unified School District and holds the Teacher of the Year award for 1997. Her love and career focused on teaching kindergarten students in the district where she retired in 1998.

Sam Smock is an active member of the DRMC Corporate Board of Directors and the Hospital Board of Directors. This service began with the formation of the Downey Regional Medical Center Hospital Inc. He is a past chairman of both the Corporate Board and the Hospital Board of Directors.

“The Smocks have been an important part of our family for many years,” said Ken Strople, president and chief executive officer of DRMC. “We’re honored to recognize their gifts of time, talent and commitment to DRMC at this year’s Charter Ball.”

The medical staff of DRMC is comprised of more than 450 physicians who represent a wide range of medical specialties. Many physicians volunteer their time and expertise to serve on medical staff, hospital and foundation boards and committees. Members of the medical staff also contribute generously to the Foundation’s events and programs, such as the Charter Ball.

“The medical staff at Downey has always been a great champion of the hospital but the physicians have been extraordinarily supportive during this very critical turnaround year. The hospital has had some very difficult financial issues to address and the physicians have shown great commitment during this time.

“It is a privilege and an honor to work with these men and women who are not only dedicated to their patients but also to this hospital. Because of their support during this time, we in administration have asked that the medical staff be an honoree this year,” Strople said.

“We are also pleased to recognize the high quality of care they provide to the 100,000-plus community members who rely on Downey Regional for their health care needs each and every year.”

As part of the new emphasis on financial health care for the hospital, this year’s Charter Ball will focus on maximizing its fundraising potential and highlight how funds will be used. Proceeds of this year’s ball will benefit the hospital’s Family Birth Center, which delivers more than 1,500 newborns each year and which also featured a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery for newborns with special needs. Fundraising opportunities will also include a variety of scholarship levels. All those strategies are designed to increase the amount of funds that will be available to the Family Birth Center.

For additional information about this year’s event, including sponsorship opportunities, visit www.drmci.org or www.charterball.org.

**********

Published: August 22, 2008 - Volume 7 - Issue 18