Community-driven leadership and commitment to equity guide SFGHF’s support of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital as it celebrates 150 years of service.

The San Francisco General Hospital Foundation (SFGHF) is thrilled to welcome Janis MacKenzie as the Foundation’s new Board Chair. For more than 30 years, MacKenzie has helped organizations and individuals communicate with clarity and authenticity as Founder and CEO of MacKenzie Communications, Inc., a San Francisco-based marketing communications agency.

“I am honored to support Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG)’s vital work as SFGHF Board Chair,” shared MacKenzie. “It has never been more clear that health care is a community good. Our community can only truly thrive when health equity, access, and quality health care for all are centered. This Board is strongly positioned to help the Foundation succeed in its Strategic Plan goals, including raising $250 million over the next five years to support capital and programmatic needs.”

In addition to her new role leading SFGHF’s Board, MacKenzie is deeply involved in the Bay Area business and nonprofit communities. She is a former chair and current Board member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and the Five Buckets Four Shovels Foundation, which provides financial literacy education to underserved communities. She also has served on the Wells Fargo Community Advisory Board, the British-American Business Council of Northern California, and Fort Mason Foundation, among numerous other Board roles.

“Janis is a powerhouse of knowledge, leadership, and experience, with a deep commitment to community,” shared Kim Meredith, CEO of SFGHF. “We are proud to have her leading SFGHF’s board as we continue to accelerate the Foundation’s fundraising during a very important year and as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of ZSFG’s leading role to provide equitable and quality health care for all of San Francisco.”

On August 28, 1872, the City of San Francisco opened the doors to the City and County Hospital at 23rd and Potrero Streets, making an investment in public health that would withstand plagues and earthquakes, population booms, and great inventions. 150 years later, ZSFG still stands, keeping the heart of this city beating strong. Over the next year, SFGHF and its board will be rolling out an awareness campaign and series of events to help recognize and celebrate the hospital’s milestones during these 150 years.

As this new board cycle begins, the Foundation also welcomes four new board members as part of the organization’s strategic growth plan: 

Dr. Elena Fuentes-Afflick, MD, MPH is Professor and Vice Dean for the UCSF School of Medicine at ZSFG and Trauma Center, and Vice Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Medicine. As a pediatrician and epidemiologist, Dr. Fuentes-Afflick has conducted research studies focused on issues of acculturation, immigrant health, and health disparities.

Dr. Maria Ansari MD, FACC is the physician in chief, the chief of staff, and a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco Medical Center, where she oversees the medical group and care delivery across the outpatient and inpatient space in an integrated, multidisciplinary model of care. Her focus has been on process improvement, health equity, medical education and community partnerships.

Indu Navar is the CEO & Founder of EverythingALS. Over the past 20 years, Indu has experience in being Co-founder/CEO of software companies and taking them from launch to commercialization then through successful exits by building strategic partnerships, and through M&A.

Candace A. Sue is head of Academic Relations at Chegg, Inc. In this role, she works to engage and develop relationships with the academic community in order to facilitate partnerships that further online education and academic integrity. Previously, she led communications and marketing at the University of California Office of the President and was a leader at Pfizer Inc.

Learn more about SFGHF’s Board of Directors here.