The iconic San Francisco City Hall came alive on Thursday night for Hearts in SF 2023, bringing community members, advocates, hospital staff, and a host of local and national public officials together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

Among the guests was Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi who was being honored as this years SFGHF Lifetime Awardee for her unparalleled leadership in advancing equity and access in public health both here in San Francisco and nationwide.

SFGHF CEO Kim Meredith began by highlighting Speaker Pelosi’s legendary and selfless career.

From bringing awareness and resources to the early fight of HIV/AIDS and being a champion of women’s health, and then spearheading the Affordable Care Act, she expanded health coverage and protections for millions of Americans who wouldn’t have had health insurance otherwise – her leadership to health equity is second to none.

Kim Meredith

Followed by a deserving standing ovation after Kim’s introduction, Speaker Emerita Pelosi took the stage and discussed the importance and meaning of health equity. She thanked ZSFG for their dedicated commitment to providing the best care to anyone that walks through their doors, and she reflected on her relationship with ZSFG and what they have done for the city of San Francisco as well as how they set the model for what providing quality health care should look like across the globe.

When we wrote the Right Care Act it was modeled after San Francisco, community based care, community based research, community based prevention and that’s what San Francisco General has always been about, the community.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi

After Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi graciously accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award for her unparalleled advocacy for health equity, the night continued as we honored ZSFG staff and volunteers who exemplify Hero and Heart values, filled the room with Hearts sculptures, and shared our immense gratitude for our city’s public hospital. And then we hit the dance floor for the return of Hearts After Dark!