Skip to Main Content

French Hospital Foundation Honors Dr. Gilbert Stork

Posted in:
The French Hospital Medical Center Foundation (FHMC) honored Dr. Gilbert H. Stork, Ph.D., at the Eleventh Annual Celebration of Caring Gala on August 20, 2016 for his outstanding devotion to education, leadership, and philanthropy.

He received the Louis Tedone, M.D., Humanitarian Award, an honor established in 2006, to recognize the remarkable contributions of those who dedicate themselves to improving the health and well-being of their communities. 

Dr. Stork has dedicated his life to community service and education. As a California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo alumnus, he began his career as a physical education instructor at Cuesta Community College and has continued/ to serve there for 49 years. Dr. Stork is currently the President/Superintendent of Cuesta Community College and serves on the board of directors for several community and state organizations, including the Economic Vitality Corporation and the California Community College Athletic Association. 

This year’s gala raised more than $400,000 in support of the Copeland Health Education Pavilion and the Breast Cancer Prevention Fund. The record-high amount of donations is due to the generosity of its sponsors, contributors, and 460 attendees. In addition to the many generous local sponsors, the French Hospital Medical Center Medical Staff is proud to be the main Event Sponsor for the gala year after year. 

“We are astonished by the outpouring of support,” says FHMC President and CEO Alan Iftiniuk.  “The unprecedented amount raised at the annual Celebration of Caring Gala shows the true generosity of our community and will help us continue to provide compassionate, high-quality health care to our community.”

The majority of the proceeds from this year’s gala will benefit the newly-completed Copeland Health Education Pavilion located on French Hospital Medical Center’s campus in San Luis Obispo, CA. This stunning center houses significant medical education facilities, health-related research projects with our academic partner, Cal Poly and  several classrooms for health education classes, events and seminars. 

More than $86,000 from the gala will go to a special Breast Cancer Prevention Fund providing mammography screenings and diagnostic testing for patients who are low-income, underinsured, uninsured, or unable to afford out-of-pocket expenses. This fund has served over 800 women since its inception in 2011.

It’s not too late to donate and help us meet the growing needs of our community. Find out more about the French Hospital Medical Center Foundation.   

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 the new Copeland Health Education Pavilion, which provides the 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.

Publish date: 

Tuesday, September 06, 2016