Sophia Pak, MD
Dr. Sophia Pak has dedicated her life to unlocking the mysteries of the human body. As a pathologist she may be “behind the scenes,” but her work is critical to diagnoses and treatment decisions. And while she spends most days peering into a microscope rather than interacting with patients, it’s clear that she is a healer, with a passion for helping others.
It’s no wonder, then, that she found a home at California Hospital, establishing deep roots here professionally and philanthropically. A long-time annual donor, Dr. Pak wanted to give a gift for CHMC’s future, which led her to establish a charitable gift annuity in 2019. This planned gift will provide her with guaranteed fixed payments annually for her lifetime, while also supporting the hospital’s mission.
Where did you first learn the importance of giving back?
“Growing up as the youngest of five siblings in Korea, I remember my mother always cooked extra food to share with visitors, neighbors, and homeless people. She would also cook a special meal for an older frail woman in our neighborhood, and my sister Jenny would deliver it. So I grew up seeing my mother’s kindness and humanity, and learned early on to help and give to others.”
What causes and charities are closest to your heart?
“I support several charities including the American Cancer Society, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Classical KUSC, the LA Philharmonic, and the LA Opera. But these days, I am focusing most on CHMC, because: (1) I love this hospital; (2) I care for its longevity; and (3) one of the most fulfilling aspects of philanthropy is giving hope to our community and our patients, especially those who are underserved, uninsured, and vulnerable. These are the patients CHMC cares for every day, and I am truly privileged and honored to serve here.”
What personal legacy and impact do you hope to have through your giving?
“Now more than ever, in a world where COVID-19 is causing confusion and uncertainty, I strive to be a force for good in my philanthropic action. I hope the care I show has a ripple effect felt by my friends, fellow physicians, and hospital employees. Together we can solve problems that none of us can solve alone.”
Barbara Jury
Barbara Jury’s ties to California Hospital Medical Center span more than six decades. A 1950 graduate and later a faculty member of the California Hospital School of Nursing, Barbara’s career at our hospital included serving as Director of Nursing and the first Risk Manager.
Her life’s history is closely intertwined with CHMC’s past, but the hospital’s future is what inspired her to establish a charitable gift annuity in 2014.
“California Hospital has served this community across many decades, and the hospital’s work today and tomorrow continues this legacy,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of a long line to dedicated caregivers at CHMC, and to support a hospital that continually evolves to take care of each new generation.”
Rosalie Augustson
As a Boy Scout, camp counselor, Los Angeles City lifeguard, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and accomplished U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman who served two tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps, Douglas Arthur Augustson lived to help others. After returning home from Iraq in October 2008, Doug went back to work as an EMT with his “second family” in the J. Thomas McCarthy Center for Emergency Services at California Hospital Medical Center.
Tragically, on June 12, 2009 at only 32 years of age, this incredible young man lost his life in a motorcycle accident. More than 500 people attended his memorial service, spilling out of the 400-seat church. “At the end of the service, I turned around and almost fell down when I saw how many people were there,” remembers Rosalie. “As his mom, I knew he was exceptionally kind and caring, with a heart as big as the outdoors. I never thought so many others felt the same way. He would have been embarrassed. I can hear him saying, ‘Aw, Mom, it’s just my job. I’m just doing my job.’”
Doug was taken too soon from his many loved ones who considered him a son, brother, friend, and role model. But his story doesn’t end there.
To honor the life of her only child—the son she considers her “gift”—in 2010 Rosalie decided to make her own gift, establishing a fund to support CHMC employees seeking to expand and enhance their skills in the field of emergency medicine. Then, in 2016, she chose to augment her gift through a provision in her estate plan, and shared her intentions with the CHMC Foundation.
“This isn’t my gift,” insists Rosalie. “It’s really Doug’s gift. His spirit lives on through the caregivers at California Hospital, and this is my way of honoring who he is. I think he’d be happy to know that he’s still helping people.”