A panel of five Orange County health care leaders shared insights into patient care and provider trends facing consumers, families and employers at OCBC's 2022 Health Care Forum held August 4. Moderated by President of City of Hope, Orange County Annette Walker, panelists included President and Chief Executive Officer of MemorialCare Barry Arbuckle, Chief Medical Officer for Providence Southern California Dr. Susan Huang, Vice President, Chief Digital Officer for Hoag Kathy Azeez-Narain, Medical Director and Chief of Staff for Southern California Permanente Medical Group of Orange County Dr. Todd Newton and Chief Strategy Officer for UCI Health Tatyana Popkova. Topics discussed included the role of healthcare benefits in workforce retention, how giving patients a voice in developing programs and services is one way to shape health equity, and how backgrounds outside of healthcare, such as high-tech, are a signal as to how the industry is focusing on innovation. Panelists also agreed that if there was a silver lining to the pandemic it was seeing how the healthcare industry in Orange County came together for one purpose--to serve the community. In terms of collaborating with the Orange County workforce for the purpose of employee retention, panelists encouraged employers to include them--healthcare providers--when building out employee benefits programs. OCBC would like to thank the sponsors of the event--title: City of Hope Orange County, gold: Hoag, Kaiser Permanente, MemorialCare and UCI Health, and silver: The Orange County Register and Providence.

OCBC Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jennifer Ward recently joined local business leaders with the Coalition of California Chambers-Orange County on a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Representatives Lou Correa, Young Kim, Mike Levin and Michelle Steel and leaders from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Tax Reform. The purpose of the visit was to elevate the needs facing Orange County's business community--large and small--as it continues to adapt to challenges such as inflation, rising housing costs, labor shortages and how the private sector can be a partner in solving these issues. To participate in this ongoing conversation, register today for OCBC's Virtual Washington D.C. Advocacy Summit on August 16, 2022.

Cox Charities, the philanthropic foundation of OCBC investor Cox Communications, recently awarded $65,000 in grants to Southern California nonprofits with programs that meet the needs of the community and support K-12 STEM education, conservation and sustainability, and military and veterans. 2022 OC grant recipients include Girls Inc. of Orange County, Ocean Institute, Orange County Rescue Mission, Project 3R, the Shea Center, Speech and Language Development Center and the Wyland Foundation. 

OCBC investor Bank of America has named four Orange County high school students as Student Leaders for its paid summer internship which connects youth to career building opportunities. Launched in 2004, the Student Leaders program annually recognizes juniors and seniors from across the country. OC student honorees will participate in mentor-focused projects with OC United Way and Boys & Girls Club of Central Orange Coast, attend a virtual leadership summit, engage with members of Congress and more. 

Mesa Water District, an OCBC investor, was recently featured in The Orange County Register for its groundwater source, referred to as “redwood tea." The initiative, which has allowed the District to cut its carbon footprint in half, could be an example for other water districts.