Executive Director Tiffany Grunwald, MD, FACS, a distinguished reconstructive surgeon, has dedicated her career to improving women’s lives. Leading the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute, Dr. Grunwald has gathered a team of specialized multidisciplinary physicians throughout Saint John’s. Funding allows the institute to attract and recruit prominent physicians as well as nurses who are imperative to growing the team of patient navigators.

An innovative approach to managing care, each patient is partnered with a patient navigator who helps coordinate appointments across specialties, verify insurance, manage any diagnostic and imaging needs as well as alleviate patient-level barriers that may exist, such as social, emotional or economic disparities. Patient navigators are integral to ease the complexities in each patient’s health care journey and tend to her overall wellbeing. The patient navigator also imparts vital education for patients’ health and wellness. Preventative measures that save lives begin with education and awareness about disease symptoms and screenings.

Education also extends to physicians through fellowships including the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship. Saint John’s outstanding surgeons train the next generation of doctors providing them with specialized knowledge and skills to treat cancer and perform novel surgical techniques. Philanthropy supports this fellowship and makes it possible to offer additional ones in the future.

Another important focus at the institute includes medical research, including clinical trials, geared toward women. For example, while cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women, historically women are underrepresented in clinical trials. The gender gap in research negatively effects women’s care due to innate gender differences. Charitable donations fund research to help overcome gender bias so women’s distinct medical needs can be revealed so better therapies and treatments can be developed.

The Women’s Health & Wellness Institute provides personalized, holistic care as patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach with collaborations across other specialties within Saint John’s, upholding a tradition of exceptional and compassionate care. The institute will offer care in a thoughtfully designed, newly constructed building on 7,000 square feet of clinical space. Donors have made it possible to create this caring space on the Saint John’s campus intended to be a tranquil retreat for patients beginning in 2023.

What does it take to transform health care for women? It takes partnership between Saint John’s inspired team together with generous philanthropists to make the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute a valuable resource for women as a one-stop shop for specialized, comprehensive care during puberty, childbearing years, menopause and beyond.

“Our vision for the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute is to establish it as the preferred health care provider in West L.A.”
Michael Ricks, Chief Executive Saint John’s Health Center

Standing, left to right: Dr. Jennifer Linehan, Dr. James Fritzell, Megan Rawlings, Dr. Angela Nishio, Dr. Danelle Fisher, Dr. Carol Nishikubo, Dr. Karla Iacampo
Sitting, left to right: Susanna Lam, Dr. Tiffany Grunwald, Stephanie Ayers, Rebecca Lara, LCSW PMH-C; Dr. Shanthi Gowrinathan, Dr. Janie Grumley
Not pictured: Dr. Parvin Peddi, Dr. Ruth Sorotzkin, Dr. Steve Vasilev

BY WOMEN, FOR WOMEN

Executive Medical Director Tiffany Grunwald, MD, FACS, leads the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute, working with distinguished specialists throughout Saint John’s. As one of the area’s most prominent surgeons, she has dedicated her career to improving the lives of women. Dr. Grunwald strives to close the healthcare gap for women, stating, “I think what happens a lot of times is a woman comes to a specialist for a health concern and everyone pays attention to that, and no one pays attention to other aspects of her health and wellness.”

Dr. Grunwald’s priority is to recruit likeminded physicians, physician-scientists, surgeons and psychologists to lead new clinical programs, including pelvic health, women’s wellness and fourth trimester and integrative health. These programs will join the institute’s already successful programs including breast care, maternity/obstetrics and the neonatal intensive care unit.

In addition, Dr. Grunwald is eager to recruit nurses to fill the position of patient navigator, an essential role to providing seamless integration of care. Patient navigators are vital to the one-stop shop model, managing appointments, providing information and promoting wellbeing. Your donations help Dr. Grunwald attract, hire and retain the medical talent to provide the coordinated care that is the benchmark of the institute.

“The patient navigator pays attention to all the elements of health”
Tiffany Grunwald, MD, Executive Medical Director Women’s Health & Wellness Institute

WELL WOMEN THROUGH EDUCATION

Education is key to creating the awareness that leads to prevention, early detection and improved treatment outcomes for diseases. While women’s health generally brings to mind women-centric care—breast, pelvic, fertility, maternity—that doesn’t include the all-encompassing care a woman requires. The medical team at the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute focuses on comprehensive and integrative care to become a trusted resource and inspire women to seek regular care.

Traditionally, American medicine emphasizes a patient’s disease or illness; however, the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute centers on the whole person. Pairing each patient with a patient navigator—who educates and guides women based on their wellness needs, risks, physical and mental health concerns—empowers women to make informed decisions and removes barriers to access care. Patient navigators also host community education events covering topics such as: cognitive exercises and fitness, women’s heart health, urinary incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome, mindfulness, mental health, meditation, genetics, navigating hormonal changes and other matters of interest.

Training physicians is another area of education requisite for a prominent institute. Through the current Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, today’s pioneering doctors train tomorrow’s surgeons in diverse and comprehensive breast care. Funding for this and additional fellowships at the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute is an investment in the future of medicine. Fellowships provide the training that enables a greater number of physicians to elevate their skillset, practice leading-edge techniques and provide better care to their patients. Supporting fellowships ultimately raises the standard of care for women everywhere.

“We will enhance our commitment to excellence in clinical care with education.”
Michael Ricks, Chief Executive Saint John’s Health Center

WOMEN-CENTRIC RESEARCH

Medical advancements are made possible through research. Numerous clinical trials for breast cancer are currently being conducted at Saint John’s Cancer Institute in conjunction with the Margie Petersen Breast Center. With close proximity to multidisciplinary teams at Saint John’s, the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute is primed to collaborate on a multitude of research projects. Offering clinical trials gives patients access to the latest treatment options.

Research is an integral part of the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute to understand diseases, develop therapies, innovate minimally invasive solutions and discover cures. For example, while cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women, historically women are underrepresented in clinical trials. The gender gap in research negatively effects women’s care due to innate gender differences. Charitable donations fund research to help overcome gender bias so women’s distinct medical needs can be revealed so better therapies and treatments can be developed.

A more recent area of research is integrative medicine that blends conventional medicine with complementary care. The institute is leading the way and currently seeking philanthropic partners for a new comprehensive research study related to women’s health and integrative medicine.

The opportunity to make an impact through philanthropy is greatest through research. As novel findings emerge, therapies and medications evolve to benefit patients locally and around the world.

“Truly addressing women’s health and wellness requires a complete restructuring
and rethinking of how we in the medical profession respond to the biological journey of every woman.”

Tiffany Grunwald, MD, Executive Medical Director Women’s Health & Wellness Institute

HER PLACE FOR CARE

Compassionate, personalized, state-of-the-art care by specialized doctors, concerned nurses and efficient staff is a hallmark of Saint John’s. Whether visiting for a checkup or staying at Saint John’s Health Center for testing or surgery, patients appreciate the superior care they receive. The Women’s Health & Wellness Institute upholds this commitment to excellence in building a thoughtfully designed 7,000 square feet clinical space on the Saint John’s campus. This building will be a dedicated area for women to be treated in a serene setting promoting calm, comfort and healing.

The clinical space will house leading edge equipment for the full spectrum of women’s care including testing, diagnostics, imaging, laser and robotic surgeries and other technologies changing the healthcare landscape. The juxtaposition of a tranquil retreat addressing emotional needs with precision medical equipment delivering topnotch healthcare, ensures women experience the best care for her health and wellbeing.

The Women’s Health & Wellness Institute will be a place for a woman to celebrate and track her pregnancy, to keep up with mammograms and pelvic exams, to find solutions for any menopausal issues and to rely on her patient navigator to guide her through disease or trauma. In addition, access to a multidisciplinary team of doctors allows women to receive all their healthcare at Saint John’s coordinated by their patient navigator for utmost convenience.

Benevolent donors are integral to constructing, equipping and hiring medical personnel and administrators to realize the new building for the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute. This healing space will be a valuable resource for women in your life as well as a tangible reminder of your support.

“The institute is set up to not only carry the patient through the disease process
but also restore her to wellness in the prevention and wellness space.”

Tiffany Grunwald, MD, Executive Medical Director Women’s Health & Wellness Institute

HELP ADVANCE WOMEN’S HEALTH

Philanthropic partners appreciate the importance of recruitment, education, research and clinical care to sustain a premier institute. Please consider how your financial assistance will enhance the care women receive. As stewards of your generosity, the leadership team of the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute works tirelessly to build, maintain and continue advancements for health and wellness. With your generosity, the Women’s Health & Wellness Institute will be the preferred resource for women in our community and continue to transform healthcare.

“There is no way we can have a remarkable, personalized experience
across the age continuum of women without the support of philanthropy.”

Michael Ricks, Chief Executive Saint John’s Health Center