Hoag

12/23/2025

What does “not-for-profit” really mean in health care?

At Hoag, it means reinvesting the resources generated through care back into the infrastructure and the communities we serve, not distributing them to shareholders. That reinvestment strengthens technology, expands access, and allows Hoag to respond nimbly to the evolving needs of Orange County.

As Hoag President & CEO Robert Braithwaite shares, success isn’t measured by ROI — it’s measured by return to health.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.com//podcasts

12/22/2025

The holidays are a time for cozy candles, twinkling lights and festive decorations. But all that holiday cheer can also bring unexpected safety risks into your home if you are not careful.

As you celebrate, keep your family safe and help avoid an unexpected visit to Urgent Care or the Emergency Department with these simple tips:

🧡 Never leave candles burning unattended�
🧡 Unplug lights and heaters when they are not in use�
🧡 Keep wrapping paper out of the fireplace�
🧡 Use the correct lights indoors and outdoors�
🧡 Test smoke detectors and replace batteries as needed�
🧡 Keep trees away from heat sources and water real trees daily

A few small precautions can help protect your home and keep your holidays healthy and safe for everyone.

12/19/2025

The holidays are a time of joy and celebration but they can also bring stress from family dynamics, financial pressures, crowded stores, and busy schedules. 🎄

Hoag Wellness Consultant Anusha Wijeyakumar reminds us that mindfulness can help you find calm and balance no matter where you are or what you are doing. Taking just five minutes to reconnect with your breath can quiet the inner chatter, ground you in the present, and help you enjoy the season more fully.

Here is a simple holiday mindfulness practice you can do anytime, anywhere:�
1️⃣ Place your right hand on your abdomen and your left hand on your heart�
2️⃣ Take three deep intentional breaths, noticing your belly expand and contract�
3️⃣ Bring your attention to the present moment. You do not need to close your eyes or step away from your activities

You can practice this morning, midday, and evening or whenever holiday stress starts to creep in. Even a few minutes can make a meaningful difference in your mood, focus, and overall wellbeing.

Mindfulness is not about giving up the things you love. Laugh at those funny videos, scroll through social media, or enjoy a holiday playlist but remember to take moments for yourself. Your mind and body will thank you.

Learn more about Hoag’s meditation, mindfulness, and wellness programs at
https://www.hoag.org/hoag-for-her

12/17/2025

Flu season arrives every year, but that doesn’t mean you should take it lightly.

The flu can cause serious illness, hospitalization and even death, especially for children, older adults and people with chronic conditions. The good news? A simple flu shot can make a big difference.

💉 The flu vaccine is updated each year to protect against evolving strains and can reduce the risk of illness by up to 60%.�

💉 Your Hoag primary care physician is your partner in prevention, helping you stay healthy through the holidays and beyond.

Don’t wait until symptoms strike. Protect yourself and those around you.�

➡️ Get your flu shot at any Hoag Urgent Care, flu shot clinic, or by scheduling with your Hoag primary care provider.

12/15/2025

What a joyful way to kick off the holiday season! ✨

This week, our Hoag family came together to celebrate with laughter, good food, and shared gratitude for one another.

The annual Hoag Holiday Celebration is a reminder of what makes this place so special — our incredible team members who bring compassion, excellence, and innovation to every patient, every day.

12/12/2025

What happens when you ask the moms of San Clemente what they want from their healthcare experience? You build a space that feels warm, welcoming and unmistakably theirs.

In Episode 1 of Take Me to Hoag, CEO Robert Braithwaite shares how San Clemente families shaped everything from the look and feel of the space to the services offered — creating a calm, coastal, spa-like environment that reflects what this community truly wants and needs.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.com//podcasts

12/12/2025

Where extraordinary beginnings are the standard. 🧡

Hoag has once again been named a Best Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, a recognition that reflects what truly matters: safe, compassionate, family-centered care for every mother and baby.

With the highest number of baby deliveries in California, Hoag continues to set the standard for exceptional, evidence-based maternity care, from Newport Beach to Irvine and throughout our growing communities.

“Our team works together every day to ensure women feel informed, supported, and confident throughout pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood,” says Allyson Brooks, M.D., Ginny Ueberroth Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair, Hoag Women’s Health Institute.

From obstetricians and certified nurse midwives to neonatology and maternal-fetal medicine experts, this honor reflects the passion, expertise and heart behind every birth story.

To the families who trust us with life’s most meaningful moments: thank you.�
To the teams who make this excellence possible: this honor is yours.

Learn more at hoag.org/maternity.

12/11/2025

For years, Dan lived with back pain so severe it stole the simple joys of life — playing with his grandchildren, standing without discomfort, and adventuring with his wife. When he came to Hoag Spine Institute and met Dr. Ozgur, he found something he hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.

Today, after a successful spine surgery, Dan is not only walking, he’s thriving. Back on the pickleball courts, stronger and more confident than ever, he even challenged Dr. Ozgur to a match.

Watch how Dan’s journey at Hoag helped him reclaim his health, his freedom, and his joy.

After years of living with debilitating back pain that limited his ability to walk, stand, and enjoy time with his grandchildren, Dan finally found hope at H...

12/08/2025

Hot flashes waking you up in the middle of the night? Mood swings making you question your own brain? Your period acting… weird? You might be in perimenopause, the transition leading up to menopause when your hormone levels start to fluctuate.

During this stage, you might notice changes like:�
→ Hot flashes and night sweats�
→ Trouble sleeping or constant fatigue�
→ Mood swings, brain fog, or forgetfulness�
→ Weight gain or irregular periods�
→ Vaginal dryness or urinary leaks

Then, once it’s been 12 months since your last period, you’ve officially entered menopause, a natural stage marking the end of your reproductive years. While symptoms like hot flashes may lessen, other health priorities come into focus, including:�
→ Protecting bone strength�
→ Supporting heart health�
→ Navigating changes in sexual health and intimacy�
→ Managing urinary or pelvic symptoms

The takeaway? These changes are real, common, and treatable. You don’t have to wait until symptoms get worse to get help. With the right care, you can feel like yourself again, and thrive through every phase.

To better understand your stage and explore the care and support available to help you thrive through every phase, visit: https://stg.hoag.org/conditions/menopause/

12/05/2025

Protecting your heart looks different at every stage of life, and every decade offers a new opportunity to strengthen it.

Dr. Kevin Kheder, interventional cardiologist at Hoag’s Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute, shares how to care for your heart from your 20s through your 70s and beyond.

❤️In your 20s: Build a strong foundation with regular exercise, nutritious foods, and your first cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure screenings.�

❤️ In your 30s: Manage stress. It’s not just about mental health, it’s about heart health too.�

❤️ In your 40s: Know your numbers. Keep track of your cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose.�

❤️ In your 50s: Don’t dismiss fatigue, indigestion or jaw pain. These could be early warning signs.�

❤️ In your 60s: Focus on managing existing conditions like hypertension or diabetes to prevent complications.�

❤️ In your 70s and beyond: Prioritize quality of life by maintaining independence, strength and overall wellbeing.

“Small, consistent actions, from routine screenings to stress management, can make a big difference in your long-term heart health,” says Dr. Kheder.

No matter your age, it’s never too early or too late to take care of your heart.�Learn more or schedule a heart screening at Hoag.org/Heart.

12/04/2025

Hoag is proud to be the first health system in the United States to bring the Histolog® Scanner to prostate cancer surgery. This groundbreaking technology gives surgeons real-time, microscopic insight during the procedure, helping them remove cancer with greater precision and protect vital functions.

What does this mean for patients?
- Fewer repeat procedures
- More men eligible for nerve-sparing techniques
- Better preservation of urinary and sexual function
- Greater confidence in recovery

Dr. Jeffrey Bassett, who recently shared Hoag’s early results at an international conference, calls the scanner a “game-changer.” Dr. Robert Torrey adds that it can reduce the risk of recurrence and improve quality of life for men facing prostate cancer.

This is one of several advanced technologies that philanthropy has helped bring to Hoag, alongside the ViewRay MRIdian®, da Vinci Single Port robotic systems and Focal One HIFU. Together, they are transforming prostate cancer treatment for our community.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.hoag.org/press-room/hoag-introduces-breakthrough-technology-to-improve-precision-and-outcomes-in-prostate-cancer-surgery/

12/02/2025

Resumes get you in, but passion and heart decide if you belong.

In Episode 1 of Take Me to Hoag, Hoag CEO Robert Braithwaite talks about what really matters when hiring physicians: cultural fit, collaboration, and a deep commitment to patient care. The CV is just the ticket – what comes through in their stories and actions is what makes the difference.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.com//podcasts