2/10/2020
The 25th annual Mardi Gras Food Fest benefitting the Emergency Department
at Methodist Hospital of Southern California will be held at 6 p.m. on
Tuesday, February 25 at Sirona’s Restaurant in Santa Anita Park.
Presented by the Methodist Hospital Foundation, the popular event will
be once again be filled with great fun, prizes, and entertainment.
Mardi Gras will feature gourmet foods from more than 30 of the San Gabriel
Valley’s most popular restaurants, as well as offering libations,
a festive parade, crazy costumes, live music, an exciting silent auction,
and mysterious raffle boxes all for a great cause. The event also includes
dancing to the ’80z All-Stars live band, and the traditional Mardi
Gras parade. More than 900 guests attended last year’s celebration
benefitting the Methodist Hospital Cancer Program.
Funds raised at Mardi Gras this year will be used for the purchase of a
CT Scanner dedicated to serving patients in the hospital’s Emergency
Department, which will enable hospital staff to treat heart and stroke
patients even faster. A computed tomography scan, better known as a CT
scan, is a diagnostic test using powerful X-rays to create detailed pictures
of the inside of your body.
“Our ability to provide state-of-the-art care has earned Methodist
Hospital major recognition from the American Heart Association and the
American Stroke Association as a center of excellence for both cardiac
care and stroke care,” says Hospital President and CEO Dan Ausman.
“We extend sincere thanks and appreciation to all of our donors
for supporting our hospital over the years and we’re hopeful the
community will support us once again at Mardi Gras. We also share our
heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our doctors, nurses and staff for
their dedication to providing high quality, compassionate care to our
patients every day.”
For his 30 years of dedication and service to the hospital and the San
Gabriel Valley community, Emergency Medicine Specialist Jacob Fakoory,
MD, will be honored as the King of Mardi Gras 2020.
“When I was first asked if I wanted to be the King of Mardi Gras,
I just said that I’m not into that sort of thing. It’s just
not me,” Dr. Fakoory says. “But if being the King of Mardi
Gras benefits the ED program, then I’m all for it.”
Though he may not want the fanfare or attention, Dr. Fakoory is an extremely
well-known person in our community. During his three decades with Methodist
Hospital, Dr. Fakoory has treated more than 100,000 patients – enough
to more than fill the Rose Bowl. In fact, it’s equal to the total
number of patients treated in the ED over two full years.
During his 30-year tenure with the hospital which has included serving
as Medical Director since 2006, Dr. Fakoory has seen many changes.
“The designation of Methodist Hospital as a comprehensive stroke
center in 2018 is a huge accomplishment,” he says. Methodist Hospital holds a
Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification from independent rating agency DNV GL and is designated by Los Angeles
County Emergency Medical Services as one of only 18 comprehensive stroke
centers serving the region. The hospital is also designated as a heart
attack (STEMI) receiving center.
“I may be biased but our standards and care are just as good as the
big centers,” Dr. Fakoory says. “Plus it’s such a huge
benefit to people that if you’re having a stroke, we have the steps
in place to quickly assess and treat patients that gives patients an excellent
chance at getting back to a normal life.”
“Everything in an emergency situation is time sensitive,” says
Dr. Fakoory. “With funds raised at Mardi Gras this year for the
purchase of a CT Scanner dedicated to our Emergency Department, we will
save up to 30 minutes when diagnosing patients, enabling us to treat patients
even faster.”
To learn more about Mardi Gras Food Fest, please go to:
www.mardigrasfoodfest.com. For advanced reservations or additional information call Methodist Hospital
Foundation at (626) 898-8888 or email:
mardigras@methodisthospital.org.
Media Contact: Brian Greene, Methodist Hospital
Cell: 626-354-1484
Email: Brian.Greene@methodisthospital.org
Mardi Gras King Jacob Fakoory, MD
From Left: Emergency Medicine specialist Phong X. Ngo, MD, Clinical Supervisor
Vanessa Woo, RN, Emergency Services Executive Director Carlos McCormack
and Emergency Medicine specialist Jacob Fakoory, MD.
Emergency Medicine specialist Jacob Fakoory, MD with Emergency Department
staff members.