Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation Appoints New Board Members for Fiscal Year 2022-2023

Five community leaders recently joined the Marian Foundation Board of Directors 

SANTA MARIA, CA – September 1, 2022 – The Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation is honored to continue its excellent leadership tradition by appointing five new board members for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Joining the Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors are Ethel Donati, RN, Edgar Gascon, Aaron Hanke, John Jackson, and Ben Wilkinson, MD.

Ethel Donati is a registered nurse and retiree who provided 43 years of service to the Marian Regional Medical Center. Ethel previously worked in Marian's labor and delivery department and served as the Director of the Managed Care Department. In addition to being a licensed registered nurse, Ethel is also a Minerva Club member and a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

 

Edgar Gascon has more than seven years of experience as a licensed Realtor and most recently, the Principal Broker of his own independent Brokerage, Hacienda Realty. Edgar is also an avid community service volunteer, serving on the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, Serve Santa Maria, and United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County.

 

Aaron Hanke is the owner of Norse Strategies and the Chief of Staff to Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson. As a governmental affairs consultant and a strategic public relations professional, Aaron holds professional expertise in complex regulatory issue areas and entitlements.

 

John Jackson is the CEO of Beachside Produce, a well-established grower, packer, and marketer of fresh produce. Prior to his current CEO position at Beachside Produce, John was a CPA for Coca-Cola Finance Management and the CFA for Apio, Inc. John is an active community volunteer for the Arroyo Grande and Nipomo Little League, the Guadalupe Boys and Girls Club, and a United Way volunteer for the Special Olympics Board.

 

Dr. Ben Wilkinson is a radiation oncologist specializing in the treatment of brain, breast, lung, and prostate cancer, as well as pediatric malignancies. Dr. Wilkinson attended medical school at Texas A&M College of Medicine. He completed his internship year at the University of Maryland, followed by a residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan.

 

"The Marian Foundation Board of Directors is excited to welcome five new members as they are community leaders and have made a commitment to supporting the Marian Foundation and its fundraising efforts,” shares Tim Ritchie, Chair of the Marian Foundation Board of Directors. “In addition to serving as ambassadors to further Marian’s healing mission, each of the five new Marian Foundation Board members obtain a wealth of knowledge and insights from their unique experience that will undoubtedly add to the dynamic board composition we currently have."

The Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation was established in 1982 for the sole purpose of securing philanthropic support for the healing mission of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Penance and Christian Charity in their health care ministry at Marian Regional Medical Center. To view all Marian Foundation Board of Directors, visit www.supportmarianmedical.org/foundation-leaders or to learn more about the Marian Foundation visit www.supportmarianmedical.org.

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About Marian Regional Medical Center

Marian Regional Medical Center is a state-of-the-art, 191-bed medical center located in Santa Maria, California. The modern facility is home to a broad array of services including a level III trauma center, a level III neonatal intensive care unit, a nationally recognized cardiac care center, and boasts the Central Coast’s only Comprehensive Community Cancer Program as recognized by the Commission on Cancer. Marian has been recognized for quality and patient safety and named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades®.

Marian Regional Medical Center together with Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, and French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, comprise Dignity Health Central Coast, a network of hospitals, physicians, and outpatient services including physician offices, ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers, and a full service home health agency. Learn more at dignityhealth.org/marianregional.