French Hospital Announces New Community Board Members

French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), a member of the Dignity Health system that locally also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and Marian Regional Medical Center, is pleased to announce the addition of four new Community Board members for the 2016-2017 year.

The role of the Community Board is to assure that health services provided at the hospital are medically necessary, of high quality, safe, effective, efficient, and consistent with community standards. The board oversees quality assessment, performance improvement, patient-safety, and management activities of the hospital, and confirms that these activities are consistent with established standards and policies and procedures.

The new Community Board members joining the existing 21 members are:

Peter Oppenheimer: Peter Oppenheimer currently serves on the Board of Directors for Goldman Sachs, where he chairs the Audit Committee, and as Vice Chairman and Chair of the Development Committee on the Foundation Board of Directors for California Polytechnic State University Foundation. Previously, Oppenheimer served as the Senior VP and CFO at Apple Inc. from 2004-2014, and has over 30 years of combined experience as a CFO or controller for major public corporations. 

Lennie Michelson: Lennie Michelson, RN (Retired), currently serves on the Foundation Board. She also serves as Elder and member of Session at First Presbyterian Church, and Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Personnel Committee. Additionally, Michelson serves as Managing Director of the Gary A. and Lennie F. Michelson Family Foundation. Previously, she worked as a High School English teacher, and as owner of an independent insurance agency.

Michelson also volunteers with the San Luis Obispo County Senior Nutrition Program, and is a member of P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization.

Jim Copeland: Jim Copeland served on the FHMC Community Board in numerous roles for ten years from 2004-2014.  As a long-standing supporter of FHMC, Copeland has since returned to the board, where his business and finance experience will be a valuable asset. Copeland has supported such projects as the FHMC Copeland, Forbes and Rossi Cardiac Care Center, and the Copeland Health Education Pavilion, located on the FHMC campus and providing the most innovative learning tools, simulation labs, and expanded conference facilities available to health care professionals as well as community members. In 2014, he was a recipient of the Louis Tedone, M.D. Humanitarian Award for his dedication to the health and well-being of our community. Copeland, a local community leader and life-long resident of San Luis Obispo, is co-owner of Copeland Properties. 

Deborah Wulff: Deborah Wulff, Ed.D., currently serves as Assistant Superintendent/Vice President Academic Affairs for SLO County Community College District, Cuesta College, and as Accreditation Liaison Officer for SLOCCCD, Cuesta College. Previously, Wulff served as the Dean of Academic Affairs for Math, Sciences, Nursing & Allied Health SLOCCCD, Cuesta College from 2008-2012. Additionally, Wulff’s history of community service includes Advisory Board for Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative, Board Member for Cuesta College Foundation, Rotary for SLO Daybreak, Board Member SLO Chamber of Commerce, Board Member SLO Chapter of American Red Cross, Board Member for Authentic Learning, Executive Board Member for Women’s Business Center of California, and Steering Committee Member for Innovations Women’s Health Research at the La Jolla Institute of Molecular Medicine.  

About French Hospital Medical Center

French Hospital Medical Center, located in San Luis Obispo, California, has been named one of the Nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, and is rated among the top hospitals in the nation for cardiac, orthopedic and GI services. French Hospital has achieved prestigious designation as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. The Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center provides the latest innovative cardiac and imaging technology. The hospital is home to the unique Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families. In addition, an expansion and modernization project is underway at French Hospital, including construction of the Copeland Health Education Pavilion, which will provide community access to comprehensive health care education resources free of charge.  French is a Dignity Health Central Coast hospital which also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, CA and St. John’s Pleasant Valley in Camarillo, CA. Dignity Health Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service.  Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.