REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 21, 2024
FROM
WILLIAM L. GILBERT, Director, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
SUBJECT
Title
Nomination of Janice Rutherford to the California University of Science and Medicine Board of Trustees
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve nomination of Janice Rutherford to the California University of Science and Medicine Board of Trustees.
(Presenter: William L. Gilbert, Director, 580-6150)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the nomination of Janice Rutherford to the California University of Science and Medicine Board of Trustees has no financial impact.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of this item will nominate former Board Supervisor Janice Rutherford for appointment to the California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) Board of Trustees.
On March 7, 2017 (Item No.24), the Board of Supervisors approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between San Bernardino County (County) and CUSM, with a term of April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2037, relating to the County’s support and collaboration with CUSM for the development of a medical school adjacent to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC). Under the MOU, the County agreed to provide funding to CUSM for five years in recognition of the positive impact the school would have on the residents of the County and the public purpose of the school. The MOU also provided that CUSM’s medical students would be given preference in medical student rotation slots at ARMC, and that if such preference resulted in the displacement of students from other medical schools, which in turn resulted in a reduction of financial support from other medical schools, CUSM would make up the difference in lost revenue to ARMC through a yearly payment.
On September 12, 2023 (Item No. 12), the Board of Supervisors approved a Mitigation Agreement with CUSM for a term of September 12, 2023 through March 31, 2037. Under the Mitigation Agreement, instead of CUSM making the yearly payments to ARMC under the MOU for lost revenue resulting from a reduction of financial support from other medical schools, CUSM agreed to provide other in-kind contributions to support ARMC, including, but not limited to the use of their simulation center and providing grant support. Under the Mitigation Agreement, CUSM also agreed to take all necessary and appropriate action so that for the term of the Mitigation Agreement, the County and Prime Healthcare Foundation (Prime Healthcare) would jointly nominate an individual for appointment to the CUSM Board of Trustees, subject to approval by the full CUSM Board of Trustees.
Approval of this item will formally nominate, on behalf of the County, Janice Rutherford for appointment to the CUSM Board, subject to approval by Prime Healthcare and the full CUSM Board of Trustees. Once the nomination is approved by Prime Healthcare and the full CUSM Board of Trustees, she will serve as a member of the CUSM Board of Trustees for a term of three years.
Janice Rutherford has over three decades of experience working with state and local government. She completed three terms on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, focusing on governance reform, infrastructure projects and recovery from the 2015 terrorist attack. She also served two years as a member of the CUSM Board of Trustees. Prior to that, she was on the Fontana City Council for ten years and served on the Board of Directors for both the League of California Cities and California Association of Counties. For eight years, she represented the inland area on the Governing Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, working on Technology, Mobile Source, Stationary Source, Local Government & Business, and Environmental Justice committees. She earned her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in Political Science from the University of California Riverside, where she was recognized as an Undergraduate Research Scholar. She also holds a master’s degree in American Politics from Claremont Graduate University where she pursued doctoral work in public policy and economics. She has a passion for education and was instrumental to the establishment of a “Youth Council” for young students interesting in advancing their education in public service and healthcare.
ARMC recommends the appointment of Janice Rutherford due to her extensive background in community service, experience and knowledge of the needs of San Bernardino County through her many years of public service.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Charles Phan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 23, 2024; ARMC Finance (Chen Wu, Finance and Budget Officer, 580-3165) on April 29, 2024; Finance (Jenny Wang, Administrative Analyst, 387-5423) on May 1, 2024; County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer 387-5423 on May 2, 2024.