Pulse

Fall 2015

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H E A RT B E AT S torrancememorial.org PULSE | 41 "YOU NOT ONLY GET TO NETWORK AND MEET NEW PEOPLE, YOU DO THAT WHILE BEER TASTING, HIKING THE HILLS OF PALOS VERDES, OR SOCIALIZING ON THE ROOFTOP AT SHADE HOTEL." M ost networking groups get to- gether for coffee and snacks or drinks and hors d'oeuvres. But Torrance Memorial Medical Center's Young Physicians and Profession- als Alliance (YPPA) takes networking to the next level. Since its founding in 2012, YPPA has hosted parties, beer tastings, hikes, tours of private homes and even speed-networking, where you chat with someone for five min- utes, then move to the next person. is holiday season YPPA is planning a preview party before the annual Holiday Festival, the hospital's largest fundraising event of the year that features more than 30 themed, decorated trees. A Mardi Gras-themed beer-tasting event is also in the works, as is a Western-themed casino night. "We hold some really fun and engaging events," says Heidi Hoffman, MD, a radiologist at Torrance Memorial and one of YPPA's founding physicians. "So you not only get to network and meet new people, you do that while beer tasting, hiking the hills of Palos Verdes, or socializing on the rooop at Shade Hotel." e events get the doctors out of the hospital and introduce them to commu- nity leaders, businessmen, politicians and professionals from across the South Bay. "What I really like is it's a chance to meet other educated, intelligent people to have social connections with. It's through YPPA that I feel like I have a larger connection to the community," says James A. McKinnell, MD, an infectious disease physician at Torrance Memorial who also serves as YPPA's physician co-chair. "A number of friendships have emerged out of YPPA between myself and professionals, and myself and other physicians, too." e professionals in the group get access to doctors they would not otherwise meet, unless they end up in the hospital. "It's a group of physicians you don't find in most networking groups," says Ben Archer, head of Archer Building Group in Redondo Beach. "We do a lot of networking , but we don't come across that many doctors, so it's good to have these connections." Joe Spierer, head architect at Joseph Spierer Architects in Redondo Beach, started attending almost two years ago and now eagerly puts the events on his calen- dar when the save-the-date notices go out. "It's more relaxed and casual than other groups," says Spierer. "Beyond the doctors, it's great to meet other professionals in the South Bay who have the same client base. I've definitely gotten good leads." But YPPA serves more than just net- working. e group's purpose is also to promote Torrance Memorial and commu- nity health. "It's a very social group, but the idea is for people to learn more about this great independent community hospi- tal we have and take pride in our hospital," says Dr. McKinnell. e yearly $500 tax-deductible dues not only pays for the YPPA events, but also funds the DAISY awards given to nurses who exemplify outstanding service and "e Reason Is You" award given to other hospital staff members for outstanding service. Designed for physicians and profes- sionals under 50 years old (but they never check ID at the door), the group is fairly evenly divided male and female. About 40 percent of the members are physicians, 60 percent professionals. YPPA traces its beginnings to 2011 when Dr. Hoffman's father, the late radiologist Richard Hoffman, MD, suggested the hospital Foundation board start such a group. e first few meetings only attracted about a dozen people, but word spread and YPPA now has 91 members. YPPA holds five events per year, about half of which are exclusive to members only. e others are open to non- members who are invited by a member. "We target physicians as well as successful entrepreneurs, professionals and business leaders who believe in what Torrance Memorial stands for and want to support the hospital," says Dr. Hoffman. "We're really putting together a stellar group." Above: James McKinnell, MD, Physician co-chair; Opposite page, clockwise from upper left: James McKinnell, MD; Joe Spierer, Heidi Hoffman, MD, Ben Archer; Colleen Shepard, James McKinnell, MD, Tracy Bercu, MD, Peter Weinstein, Hilary Zachry, Clay Zachry, Professional co-chair.

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