LONG BEACH, California — Rob Gunsalus has been named the President of the Long Beach Medical Center Foundation. The Foundation has supported the hospital for more than 55 years raising between $7-15 million annually. The 501(c)(3) is led by a 26-member Board of Directors.
In the role of overseeing the philanthropic foundation, Gunsalus will serve as the development strategist overseeing fundraising activities, serve as the liaison between hospital administration and the Foundation board of directors, and provide oversight for the development and implementation of strategy to strengthen and grow fundraising support. Fundraising support can come from estate planning, grants, major gifts, and charitable contributions from employers and community members all to support programmatic growth as well as physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers.
“We are thrilled to have Rob join our senior leadership team,” says John Bishop, chief executive officer, Long Beach Medical Center. “Many of our programs are not reimbursed at a level that enables long-term growth. Fundraising is one way that we can support these underfunded programs to ensure that these programs are available to our community.”
Gunsalus comes to the Foundations with more than 30 years of experience in development. Prior to his new role, Gunsalus served as vice president for university relations and advancement, and President of the California State University Northridge Foundation, where he served one of the nation's largest and most diverse universities by leading all external relations activities and select strategic programs. He led the university’s highest-level volunteer board and oversaw management of the endowment and all philanthropic assets, which totaled more than $250 million. Prior to that, Gunsalus served as Vice President for University Relations at Santa Clara University.
“I’m delighted to become a part of the Long Beach community,” says Gunsalus. “I’ve committed my career to serving others by helping great institutions expand and accelerate their mission, so it is an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to support this amazing hospital and the extraordinary work it does for the greater Long Beach community. Our goal is to make a significant and long-term positive impact for our patients and the health of the broader community we serve.”
About MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center:
MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center has been providing the community with compassionate, quality health care for more than 100 years. While leading in specialized care, research and education, Long Beach Medical Center uses the most advanced health care technologies – it is the only hospital in L.A. County with the innovative ExactechGPS® and ExcelsiusGPS® surgical systems. Long Beach Medical Center is ranked no. 7 in the Los Angeles Metro Area by U.S. News & World Report and has earned Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. With leading centers for cancer, heart, rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurology and trauma, physicians and surrounding hospitals continually refer to its accredited programs. For more information, visit memorialcare.org/LongBeach.