We've already shown a peek of this year's stunning crop of art hearts set to pop up around the city, but it's time to meet the heroes that serve as inspiration behind these noted works of public art. The 10th annual Heroes & Hearts campaign, a city-wide art installation and fundraiser, has raised more than $11.5 million over the past decade for the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. As an integral part of the campaign, the art hearts are auctioned off to benefit the foundation at a luncheon in honor of (you guessed it!) three local heroes. This year's award recipients are a particularly dedicated bunch, with life missions ranging from stopping HIV to caring for our elders to ensuring that all infants start out life healthy and thriving.
Learn about each of this year’s heroes below, then purchase your tickets to the luncheon and Hearts After Dark gala at AT&T Park.
Can't Stop, Won't Stop
When the AIDS epidemic emerged in the 1980s, Dr. Diane Havlir was just starting her career as a physician in training in San Francisco. She's been caring for HIV patients ever since. Amassing 25 years of clinical resarch in HIV and co-infections, Dr. Havlir co-founded the "Getting to Zero" consortium, which harnesses collective impact to help prevent and treat all HIV in SF. She has also advanced all the way to the role of chief of the HIV/AIDS Division and Positive Health Program at The General.
No Elder Left Behind
Through his passion for caring for vulnerable populations and commitment to healthcare and quality improvement, Dr. Edgar Pierluissi is a living example of the difference that care can make. As the founding medical director of the Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit at The General in 2007, Dr. Pierluissi has helped it grow to care for over 1,200 people each year. Dr. Pierluissi continues to work to improve and expand this model and to teach his peers about the ACE care model, which, with his assistance, has been replicated in hospitals throughout the country.
Patron Saint of Infants
As a board-certified lactation consultant and the project manager for The General’s Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, Registered Nurse Maya Vasquez’s dedication helped The General achieve baby-friendly certification in 2007. Vasquez has dedicated her career to promoting breast-feeding and training others on lactation support practices, ensuring that people from all socioeconomic backgrounds have an equal chance at a healthy life from day one. Her work SF General become one of the highest performing hospitals for delivery and new-born care. She was instrumental in getting the New York Times to endorse The General as “the safest place in California to have a baby."
The 2015 Heroes & Hearts Luncheon is on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at AT&T Park. Tickets range from $300 (for a single seat) to $5,000 (for event sponsorship). Purchase yours online or call 415-206-4478.
