Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation

06/13/2026

06/08/2026

Every month, we receive anonymous patient feedback regarding the care provided by various departments at Marian Regional Medical Center. These comments not only help us continuously improve the quality of our care, but many are so heartfelt and inspiring that they deserve to be shared.

We recently received positive feedback from a patient who specifically recognized two of our registered nurses in Pre-Post Surgery: Violeta and Austin (not shown). The patient commended their attentive and caring demeanor, attributing the smooth surgical process, both pre and post-procedure, to their dedicated efforts!

Thank you, Violeta and Austin!

06/06/2026

Supporting student-athletes means supporting the people who care for them every day!

Before the 2026 FCA High School Football Classic, Marian Regional Medical Center’s Trauma Team partnered with Stacie Ritter of Concussion Navigation Services and Dr. Thomas Rehder, Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialist at Dignity Health, to provide concussion education for high school football coaches from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

By sharing the latest research, response protocols, and recovery resources, we’re helping coaches keep athletes safe and healthy on and off the field. We’re helping build a stronger, safer sports community for our local students!

06/04/2026

Thank you, Congressman Carbajal!

06/03/2026

We're thrilled to share our gratitude to Be Strong You're Loved for their generous donation of distraction bags to Marian Regional Medical Center's Pediatric Unit and Emergency Department!

These bags contain thoughtfully chosen journals, games, and comfort items, offering a much-needed source of joy and encouragement for hospitalized children and teens. Inspired by her own extended hospital stay and recovery journey after Chiari Malformation, founder Juliana Rodriguez created Be Strong You’re Loved to fill an entertainment and distraction gap for young patients.

Since 2020, Juliana and her loved ones have been diligently wrangling donations and meticulously packing these bags to deliver smiles during some of a child's most difficult moments.

“One time, while we were visiting Marian, we watched as a nurse gave one of our gifts to a little boy staying at the hospital. Hearing him express his excitement first hand made me realize how significant these gifts are.” - Juliana Rodriguez

Thank you, Be Strong You're Loved, for the incredible work you do! We are honored to partner in your mission of compassionate care.

05/29/2026

Mission Hope Cancer Center - Santa Maria hosted a special unveiling ceremony recognizing a transformative $250,000 donation from CoastHills Credit Union that helped fund the acquisition of the cancer center's new PET/CT scanner.

"Our hearts at the Marian Regional Medical Center and Mission Hope Cancer Center are overflowing with gratitude as we announce an extraordinary act of generosity from our incredible partners at CoastHills Credit Union,” said Sue Andersen, President and CEO of Marian Regional Medical Center.

The gift not only supports advanced cancer detection and treatment monitoring capabilities but also doubles the center’s daily PET/CT scanning capacity, improving access to life saving diagnostic services for Central Coast residents. During the event, attendees received a first look at the new scanner and the CoastHills Credit Union donor signage, including the official naming of the PET/CT Center Lobby in recognition of the credit union’s generosity and commitment to local healthcare.

Scroll down to watch a short video from our friends at CoastHills Credit Union about the "why" behind this tremendous gift!

05/28/2026

**Day of Hope Announcement**

The Marian Foundation and Mission Hope Cancer Center - Santa Maria are excited to announce that this year’s Day of Hope Ambassador for Santa Maria is Gilbert Rea!

Gilbert’s story is remarkable in many ways. In 2010, after collapsing from extreme fatigue and being rushed to the Emergency Department at Marian Regional Medical Center for what was initially believed to be a heart condition, Gilbert received life-changing news: a diagnosis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). During that hospital stay, he also met Dr. April Kennedy, a physician Gilbert describes today as “a blessing who made me feel like I had someone helping me every step of the way."

For the past 14 years, Gilbert has courageously battled and survived CLL under Dr. Kennedy’s care. Also, he was one of the very first patients seen at Mission Hope Cancer Center when it opened in 2012.

In 2024, however, he faced another difficult challenge with a stomach cancer diagnosis that ultimately required surgical removal. Through every setback, treatment, and recovery, Dr. Kennedy remained a constant source of support.

After navigating the complexities of treating two cancers, Gilbert now celebrates an incredible milestone: he is off medication and officially in remission!

A retired oil field worker and resilient cancer warrior, Gilbert continues to find purpose and connection through a hobby job at his friends’ local business, V Lopez and Sons, where they proudly accommodate his treatment schedule and support his journey. Surrounded by the love of his wife, children, grandchildren, and now even a great-grandchild, Gilbert’s story stands as a powerful testament to perseverance, compassionate care, and the strength of family.

05/25/2026

05/19/2026

We are proud to share an incredible act of generosity from CoastHills Credit Union... a $250,000 gift supporting the acquisition of a new, leading-edge PET/CT scanner at Mission Hope Cancer Center - Santa Maria!

Contributions like this help our cancer center enhance and expand access to health care technologies, strengthening cancer diagnostics for patients throughout our community. CoastHills' gift helps to provide earlier and more precise diagnoses, and greater access to timely, localized care that gets patients the right treatment sooner.

We are sincerely grateful to CoastHills Credit Union for their partnership and commitment to strengthening local health care and supporting the well-being of communities across the Central Coast.

Thank you, CoastHills Credit Union!

05/19/2026

Thank you, CoastHills Credit Union!