Walter R. Hoefflin Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Methodist Hospital, has announced his retirement. Hoefflin has been with the organization for 32 years and was closely involved in the hospital's move to Arcadia.
Olga Budds, 62, an anesthesiologist at Methodist Hospital for 32 years, is now the hospital's first female chief of staff, acting as a liaison between the 425 physicians and the administration.
Methodist Hospital's new Chief Operating Officer, Dennis Lee, said his biggest challenge will be maintaining an already "extremely well-managed hospital."
Dr. Jack Wainschel, one of the few experts in the U.S. on snake and venomous insect bites, resigned from the staff of the Methodist Hospital because the hospital requires him to carry malpractice insurance which he claims is too high.
Dr. Edward Castner won the election to be Chief of Staff at Arcadia Methodist Hospital last fall. However, the election was mired in politics. Charges of disloyalty were made against opposing candidate Dr. Dino Clarizio, according to documents that recently became available.
Arcadia Methodist Hospital's new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will help to eliminate the added risk that may be caused by transferring delicate, premature, or sick babies to another hospital.
John F. Llewellyn and Arne Lalm are the newest appointees to the board of directors of the Methodist Hospital of Southern California. Llewellyn, a Sierra Madre resident, is President of Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries. Kalm, an Arcadia resident, is President of First Arcadia Corp., an investment banking firm.
For years, long-time Arcadia resident Kurt W. Rose designated $50 a year to the Methodist Hospital Foundation. Mr. Rose, who died last year at the age of 91, left $4.2 million to the Methodist Hospital Foundation, the largest individual contribution in the hospital's 95-year history.