Association News

Association News includes the leadership developments, legislative initiatives and changes, ideas and commentary pertinent to our members. It keeps you ahead of what’s happening and demonstrates the true value of your membership—relationships, representation and advocacy.

Highlights from the 2026 Annual Meeting

Close to 400 Southern California hospital leaders and other professionals came together April 20 to 22 at the Park Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad, for the 2026 HASC Annual Meeting. At a pivotal time in healthcare, the gathering offered crucial support as sessions addressed key issues such as workforce resilience, financial challenges and the uncertain road ahead. […]

Symposium Highlights Regional Threats, Needs and Resources

Event Recap HASC, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and City and County of Los Angeles public safety partners recently held the first of two Health Care Security and Emergency Preparedness Symposiums at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Van Nuys. The May 7 program focused on the growing number of physical and cyber threats facing healthcare organizations […]

HASC Welcomes Pacific Grove Hospital CEO

HASC is pleased to welcome Stefanie Magalong as chief executive officer of Pacific Grove Hospital, a psychiatric and behavioral health facility in Riverside. In her role, Magalong focuses on driving sustainable growth, operational excellence and cultivating a strong, values‑driven organizational culture. She partners closely with leadership teams and key stakeholders to translate strategic vision into […]

Impact Purchasing Conference: Strengthening Hospital Supply Chains and Local Economies

The Impact Purchasing Conference, convened by Communities Lifting Communities (CLC) in Montebello in February, highlighted a key shift for healthcare leaders. Procurement is no longer transactional — it’s central to building resilient, sustainable supply chains and strengthening local economies. The event aligned 80 attendees from hospital systems, public partners and suppliers in advancing impact purchasing […]

A Gathering We Needed

The 2026 HASC Annual Meeting is now behind us, and I’ve been reflecting on what we accomplished together at the Park Hyatt Aviara last month — and how much it meant. To everyone who joined us in Carlsbad, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Whether you traveled from across the HASC region or […]

June 1 to 19: Share Your SOPS Hospital Survey Results

Voluntary data submission for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Surveys on Patient Safety Culture® (SOPS®) Hospital Database will be open June 1 to 19, 2026.  Hospitals that have administered AHRQ’s SOPS Hospital Survey 2.0 any time between July 1, 2024, and June 19, 2026, may submit their most recent data. Participating hospitals […]

HASC Endorses Measure ER to Fund Local Health Services

HASC has joined the coalition Yes on ER, adding to the growing effort supporting Measure ER (formerly the Essential Services Restoration Act). The ballot measure proposes to increase the Los Angeles County sales tax from 9.75% to 10.25% for five years to help fund local health departments and services. Voters will decide whether to pass […]

Addressing the Surgical Tech Shortage: A Better Staffing Solution

For many health care employers, finding enough surgical technologists (STs) has never been more trying. According to a 2022 survey, 83 percent of health care executives named a shortage of surgical techs as a staffing problem. Even when STs can be found, because of low pay, burnout and competitor signing bonuses, there’s no guarantee they’ll […]

New CEO Joins Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital

HASC is pleased to welcome Lara Khouri, who joined Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital as chief executive officer in February. Previously, she was president and chief operating officer of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). In her time at CHLA, Khouri oversaw all strategic, operational and administrative functions. Highlights of her impact include high-water marks for CHLA’s […]

Apply for AHA’s 2027 Foster G. McGaw Prize

Does your organization improve community health and well-being through leadership and community partnerships? The American Hospital Association (AHA) invites you to apply for the 2027 Foster G. McGaw Prize. The prize honors health delivery organizations that demonstrate alignment between community health needs and co-designed programs. Honorees forge effective collaborations with a broad range of community […]