Page 7 - 2019 annual report

DONOR PROFILE
When Ray Kruger, MD, Chief of Surgical Services, completed his residency training... he was determined to find a coastal community to call home.
POWER OF GIVING
Southcoast Health received 5,175 gifts in 2019 from 1,568 donors. We are grateful to everyone who chose to support the following fundraising initiatives in 2019:
1,568 DONORS
Annual Fund 934
Events 352
Capital Projects 180
Planned Gifts & Endowments 52
Program Support 50
When Ray Kruger, MD, Chief of Surgical Services, completed his residency training at the Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, NH, he was determined to stay in New England and find a coastal community to call home. At the time, Tobey Hospital had just completed a successful capital campaign to expand the emergency department and radiology wing. Impressed with the investment from the community, Dr. Kruger joined Wareham Surgical Associates without hesitation.
“It was important to me to join a hospital that was well supported by the community and whose facility and equipment were state-of-the-art. Tobey offered that opportunity,” said Ray.
That tradition of community support still exists
today. Ray credits the community with helping Tobey remain competitive by continually investing in people, programs, equipment and facilities.
Not long after the dedication of the emergency and radiology wing, Tobey launched a fundraising campaign to create a new suite of operating rooms. With our operating facilities as good as or better than the academic medical centers to our north, we had the opportunity to develop a bariatric surgery program that has now blossomed into a Center of Excellence that has treated over 8,000 patients.
“Once again the community stepped up to improve and expand the facilities and capabilities at Tobey,” said Ray. “Today, the same can be said for the creation of the Lash Heart & Vascular Center
at Charlton. These investments have allowed Southcoast continually to attract the next generation of talented physicians.”
Ray isn’t alone in his praise for Tobey Hospital. His wife, Tracey, has been a respiratory therapist at Tobey for over 20 years.
“At Tobey, I discovered a sense of belonging, and a dedication to teamwork and a common purpose. Everyone is committed to working together,” said Tracey.
During her 20 year career at Tobey, Tracey has found patients want to stay local and not have to travel all the way to Boston. “There’s no reason they need to; they can get great care on the South Coast. Everyone here knows one another. Why wouldn’t you want your care from someone you know, someone who has your very best interest at heart?”
The Krugers have not only spent their careers working at Tobey Hospital and for Southcoast Health, but they’ve also joined their friends and neighbors in investing in the health system’s future.
“There are many reasons for supporting Tobey Hospital and Southcoast Health — the care is more cost-effective, the services more convenient and the outcomes are terrific. But really, we give because we believe strongly in the programs we’ve helped to build,” said Ray. “Local care truly is the very best care.”
“It’s about people supporting the community they live in,” said Tracey.
Ray and Tracey both have had impressive careers at Tobey. Ray was recently appointed Chief of Surgical Services. “It’s truly been an honor to live and work
in this community. Tracey and I will continue to give back to this community we call home.”
“We give because we believe strongly in the programs we’ve helped to build. Local care truly is the very best care.”
Southcoast Health
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2019 Annual Report of Philanthropy 5