Former Community board member trusts new CEO to repair damage to reputation | Opinion
I have always believed that access to health care for everyone in the Valley is a fundamental right. Guided by that conviction, I’ve dedicated much of my life to expanding health care access, not just for those who can afford it, but for all. I served on the Community Health System board of directors, including several years as chairman and vice chairman.
In recent years, I have grown increasingly disappointed with the direction of the hospital. To be candid, I’ve been deeply frustrated — even angry — with several decisions made in key areas. I have expressed these concerns directly to board members, as well as to both former and current chief executive officers.
There is simply no justification for our Valley’s safety-net hospital to be in its current state. None. This hospital belongs to the community it serves. Its mission must be to provide accessible, inclusive health care for all, not to function as an exclusive club.
Specifically, the downtown medical center must be modernized, upgraded and brought up to seismic safety standards. It is the cornerstone of medical care for the entire Valley. While it may have been more convenient to build a new campus elsewhere, convenience has never defined the spirit of the Valley’s people. We tackle challenges head-on — because this community deserves nothing less. We know hard work.
We have worked hard all of our lives; hard work is part of our DNA. The hospital needs to do the hard work and modernize the downtown towers. Simply put, if I, at 90 years old, can take the downtown Rowell Building, constructed around 1917, and transform it into what it is today, then surely the best and brightest minds at Community Health can find a way to upgrade the towers that serve as the heart of the hospital. Stay focused on downtown. That’s where the commitment is needed most.
Furthermore, it is never too much to emphasize the tremendous asset we have in the Level 1 Trauma Center designation. It is the only one between Los Angeles and Sacramento recognized by the American College of Surgeons. There is no feeling like the helplessness than when a loved one is injured or is experiencing a medical condition in the middle of the night and needs a neurosurgeon, vascular surgery or head-and neck-surgery.
With all due respect to the other excellent health-care facilities in our region, Community Regional Medical Center holds a unique and vital role — it is the place people turn to when there is nowhere else to go. Its Level 1 trauma designation is not just a title; it is a critical asset that benefits every one of us. That’s why I am deeply concerned that recent missteps by the hospital could put this designation — and many other outstanding aspects of the institution — at risk. We cannot afford that.
On the other hand, I want to point out that the appointment of Craig Wagoner as CEO is profoundly a good decision. I have known Craig for many years. I’ve expressed my dissatisfaction with the direction of the hospital to him. This hospital is responsible for one of the highest callings of mankind, which is the health care for the people who call the Valley home.
In short, I see Craig as the steady hand — the rudder that can realign the hospital’s direction and correct its course. Quietly, thoughtfully and with purpose, I believe he will address the issues that have frustrated so many of us. We can choose to remain solely critical, or we can begin the hard but necessary work of restoring this vital institution to the community it serves.
To be clear, neither Craig nor anyone at the hospital asked me to write this. I was simply moved to do so while reflecting on this deeply important institution during a quiet drive. Community Regional is essential to the future of this Valley — not just for today, but for the next 50 years. I know Craig. I’ve seen him navigate difficult challenges. He understands what’s right, and more importantly, he has the courage to act on it.
As Sen. Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events.” Craig is doing just that. His efforts may be one small ripple, but one that brings hope and creates lasting impact.
It is time to begin the process of healing and helping him to rebuild this tremendous institution that has been so good to many of us. The hospital has been less than perfect in the recent years, but I have always advocated for a second chance.
As I now sit in the stands when it comes to this institution and not on the field, I simply ask everyone to join me in supporting Craig in rebuilding Community Regional Medical Center.
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM.