Foundation and Alameda Health System (AHS) supporters raised a record $300,000 at the 23rd Annual Gala on May 4th at the hip Rock Wall Wine Company in Alameda.

The event theme, “Training Tomorrow’s Doctors Today”, saluted AHS’s teaching hospital designation and our residency programs in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Highland Hospital that are affiliated with the University of California San Francisco Medical School and the University of the Pacific, respectively. Every year, hundreds of residents vie for a spot at Highland to learn advanced techniques from our Medical Staff’s teaching faculty. Many of these newly minted physicians settle in our community to practice medicine, and with the shortage of Internal Medicine physicians in the East Bay, that’s good news! Others, particularly our Trauma and Emergency residents, will save lives in cities throughout the country. When a natural or man-made disaster strikes a major city, chances are high that the trauma team includes a physician alum from Highland’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program.

The gala was attended by many longtime corporate and individual supporters, and also quite a number of new contributors. Included in the latter category was our Presenting Sponsor, Traditions Behavioral Health. A number of elected officials attended, as did representatives of Laney College and Alameda Hospital in Alameda, CA, to salute the clinicians and help the Foundation raise funds for the important programs at AHS’s Highland Hospital, John George Psychiatric Hospital, Fairmont Rehabilitation Hospital and three wellness clinics serving patients throughout Alameda County.

Three Health Care Heroes were recognized for their hard work and endless compassion to the communities we serve, as described in their tribute videos.

The Foundation is grateful to its numerous supporters, volunteers, and friends who helped contribute to the evening’s success, and encourages all to enjoy the photo gallery highlighting a memorable evening, and to mark the calendar now for the 24th Annual Gala on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Craneway Pavilion.