Comstock's magazine 0520 - May 2020 | Page 80

CITY OF STOCKTON special promotional section Q: What are the main issues your organization is addressing in Stockton? In the short run, COVID-19 is a big deal (in the health care community), but looking long term, predictors of health in a community are rooted in education and workforce devel- opment. In order to improve those generationally, we need to be working on three major levels: short term, like dealing with an outbreak; medium term, like addressing the diversity of health outcomes and access to health care; and long term, like addressing childhood obesity, diabetes, mental health, education, and workforce and economic development. Q: What developments are you most excited about? Adventist recently took over management of Dameron Hospital, which has served the Stockton community for over 100 years. That means that a network and continuity of care is now available for all citizens of northern San Joaquin Valley under an integrated model that allows us to serve more comprehensively and at lower cost. The creation of Health- Force Partners (which improves health care career pathway opportunities for community residents to increase the supply of skilled workers) will also help students get the right training to enter the health care field. We recently helped 20 incumbent workers (those currently working in health care) get into nursing school at Delta College, which means we’ll have 20 new nurses in 18 months. DANIEL WOLCOTT President Adventist Health Lodi Memorial AVOID TRAFFIC | F R E E D A I LY PA R K I N G | GET RIGHT TO THE GATE Hassle Free Flying FLYSTOCKTON.COM 80 comstocksmag.com | May 2020