HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/4/2025 Item 6a, French Hospital Administration
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To:E-mail Council Website; Sue Andersen CA-Santa Maria
Subject:Support for SLOMA expansion
Attachments:Letter of Support for SLOMA expansion - 10-25.pdf
Enclosed please find a letter of support from Sue Andersen, President & CEO of French Hospital
Medical Center.
French Hospital Administration
805-542-6300
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1
U Dignity Heatth.,
1rW French Hospital Medical Center
November 3, 2025
Sue Anderson
President & Chief Executive Officer
French Hospital Medical Center
Mayor Stewart and Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Honorable Councilmembers,
As President and CEO of French Hospital Medical Center, I have the privilege of witnessing every day what
makes San Luis Obispo such a special place to live, work and play. Our community's collective health
depends not only on access to quality medical care, but also on the strength of our social and cultural
connections. For that reason, I write to encourage you to support the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art's
expansion project.
Our community's health is about more than the absence of illness— it's about creating the conditions in
which people can thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. The arts play a critical role in that vision.
Rigorous, peer -reviewed research backs this up. To cite just two examples:
• Research from the World Health Organization reviewing more than 3,000 studies found that arts
engagement can help prevent illness, promote well-being, and improve recovery outcomes across
the lifespan.
A 2024 study in the highly regarded Frontiers in Psychology journal showed that even short-term
participation in arts -based programs led to lasting improvements in mood, coping, and social
connection among participants.
The Museum's expansion will give residents and families more opportunities to experience these benefits —
through accessible programs, creative learning, and shared community spaces that promote belonging and
joy. It is also worth noting that SLOMA's project advances the City's goals for Cultural Vitality, Economic
Resilience, and Inclusion, all of which are deeply tied to community health.
There is another angle that I believe is hugely important: Dynamic arts offerings such as SLOMA's expansion,
and SLO REP's plans for its two new downtown stages, are very helpful in attracting and retaining the kind of
well-rounded employees all SLO businesses need.
For all these reasons, I urge you to support this important partnership with SLOMA. Thank you for your
thoughtful consideration and continued leadership.
Warm regards,
Sue Andersen
President & CEO
French Hospital Medical Center
1911 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA