64 Years and Counting: Memorial Healthcare System Honored as Oldest Member of Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
January 1, 1960 was a Friday, gas was selling for 31 cents a gallon, and Senator John F. Kennedy wasn’t yet a presidential candidate. It was also the day Memorial Healthcare System (MHS) joined the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
Hollywood Chamber Legend Award (Marie Suarez, Peter Powers, Ben Wesley)
More than 64 years later, Memorial is still aligned with its community business organization, and was honored with the chamber’s “Legacy Award” for being its oldest member. Formal recognition took place during a luncheon at the Diplomat Beach Resort.
“The impact Memorial Healthcare System has had on our organization is immeasurable,” said Marie Suarez, executive director of the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. “They’ve provided leadership, spread our mission and vision, and, most importantly, provided high-quality healthcare that helps attract people and businesses to our city.”
Memorial Regional Hospital CEO Peter Powers and Caitlin Stella, CEO at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, are current chamber board members. Former MHS leaders Frank V. Sacco, Zeff Ross, and Douglas Zaren are just a few of the many that have helped shape the chamber in the last six-plus decades. “All those individuals shared their knowledge, facilitated our growth, and shared a common goal of improving our community. The partnership we’ve had with Memorial has been priceless,” said Suarez.
Hollywood Chamber Legend Award (Peter Powers, Jennifer Mossadeghi)
“During most of the time we’ve been serving the health needs of the community in south Broward, the chamber has been equally effective on the economic front,” said K. Scott Wester, president and CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. “We’re equally vested in ensuring the area thrives, and we’ve done it through collaboration and unified actions.”
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Hollywood-based Memorial Healthcare System (www.mhs.net) is a national leader in quality care and patient, physician, and employee satisfaction. Its commitment to deeper caring and smarter health prioritizes a person-centered approach that has delivered safe, positive outcomes for 70 years.
Featuring multi-disciplinary collaboration, research, innovation, and transparency within its many facilities, Memorial is focused on removing barriers, increasing access, and providing equitable care throughout the region. It employs a staff of more than 16,000 and operates six hospitals, numerous primary, urgent, and 24/7 care facilities, medical office buildings, a health specialty center, and nursing home.