About Us

The Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation (SVHF) is the philanthropic arm of the Sonoma Valley Hospital and a place where donors can connect their interests with the needs of the hospital and community. The SVHF was established in 1982 by a group of visionary community leaders who wanted to ensure the long-term viability and excellence of the hospital. Since then, the SVHF has raised millions of dollars to support the hospital’s facilities, equipment, programs, and services.

The SVHF organizes various fundraising events and campaigns throughout the year, such as the Women’s Symposium, the Sonoma Valley Hospital Golf Tournament, the Future of Care Campaign, and the Project Pink Breast Health Program. The SVHF also manages several endowment funds and legacy gifts that provide a steady source of income for the hospital. The SVHF works closely with the hospital’s board, leadership, staff, and volunteers to identify the most pressing needs and priorities of the hospital and the community. The SVHF’s mission is to inspire the community to invest in exceptional health care for the Sonoma Valley.

The Sonoma Valley Health Care District is a public agency that owns and operates the Sonoma Valley Hospital, a full-service acute care hospital that serves the residents of the Sonoma Valley. The district was formed in 1946 by a vote of the local citizens who wanted to have a local hospital to provide quality health care to the community. The district is governed by a five-member board of directors who are elected by the voters of the district and serve four-year terms. The board is responsible for setting the policies and direction of the hospital, overseeing its finances and operations, and ensuring its compliance with the state and federal regulations. The board also appoints the hospital’s chief executive officer, who manages the day-to-day operations of the hospital and its staff. The district’s mission is to maintain, improve, and restore the health of everyone in the Sonoma Valley.

Wendy Lee Myatt, Board Chair, a long-time Sonoma Valley resident, recently retired after 17 years at Kaiser Permanente where she held several senior-level positions in information technology and digital health innovation and transformation, including serving as the Senior Vice President of Personal Health Strategy. Prior to that, she was at Bechtel Corporation for 23 years. Myatt has served on the Health Care District’s Finance Committee since May 2021 and on the Board since December 2022. She and her husband, Mike Myatt, have lived in Sonoma for 20 years.

Email: w2_m2@yahoo.com

Denise M Kalos, 1st Vice Chair, is the Northern California Regional Sales Director for Discovery Management Group, a Discovery Senior Living company, and Founder of AFFIRMATIVhealth. Prior to AFFIRMATIVhealth, she was the Vice President, Cognitive Wellbeing Programs for the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, a non-profit research institute. In 2015, Kalos developed the RE:mind immersion program for the Buck Institute (in which Sonoma Valley Hospital participated) in reaction to readership interest in the Buck Institute’s paper published August 2014 entitled “Reversal of Cognitive Decline”. In 2020 she co-authored the book Outsmart Your Brain – The Insider’s Guide to Life-Long Memory

Kalos has volunteered with local non-profit organizations in Sonoma Valley including Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley and CarePartners Initiative. She holds a Master of Science Degree from University of Leicester (UK).

Email: dmkalos@gmail.com

Board of Directors