Sandra Hernández, M.D., Honored as Woman of the Year by Women Health Care Executives

On June 20th, the Bay Area Women Health Care Executives honored San Francisco Foundation CEO, Sandra Hernández, M.D., as Healthcare Executive Woman of the Year. Dr. Hernández was recognized for her outstanding and ongoing leadership and her impact in the region and nationally. In addition to leading the community foundation of the Bay Area, her tenure as Director of Public Health for the City and County of San Francisco was highlighted, including her groundbreaking development of Treatment on Demand, AIDS/HIV advocacy and care, mental health issues, and health access policy. Her recent role as co-chair of Mayor Newsom’s Universal Healthcare Council and its plan to care for San Francisco's 82,000 uninsured adults (Healthy San Francisco) was also lauded. Below is the Hopi Elders’ poem Dr. Hernández shared during her acceptance speech.

HOPI ELDERS' POEM
You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
You must go back and tell the people that this is the hour.

Here are the things that must be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Do the children want what they see in you?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
Does your life grow corn?
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourselves for the leader.

This could be a good time.
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore,
They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore,
push off toward the middle of the river,
keep our eyes open,
and our heads above the water.
See who is there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the Lone Wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we have been waiting for.