HMC Foundation Trustees June Kunimoto and Dr. Hoon Park at the front entrance of the River Cottage. (Photo courtesy of HMCF)

MEDIA RELEASE

Want to help bring doctors to Hilo? Repair the River Cottage and they will come!

Hilo Medical Center Foundation (HMCF) has launched a fundraising campaign to repair the hospital’s River Cottage to house medical students and residents rotating at the residency program, the hospital and community physicians offices.

The River Cottage (also referred to as the old Administrator’s Cottage) is approximately 4,000 square-feet and was built in the 1950’s and is a Type II (wood) constructed building.

The cottage is located above the hospital, overlooking the Wailuku River. Until recently the cottage had been used to house residents and students doing their clinical rotations at the hospital and throughout the community.

The Foundation is looking for help to repair the River Cottage in the following areas:

* Removing the existing roof and replacing it with new roofing
* Repairing the eaves in the garage area and back corner of the house and any structural damage that may be discovered when the roof is removed
* Painting the interior and exterior of the cottage

“By repairing the River Cottage, we will be ensuring medical students and new doctors have a positive experience in Hilo,” said Lori Rogers, Executive Director of the Hilo Medical Center Foundation.

“We are calling on local businesses and our community for help with this project in providing materials or committing to a generous contribution between $1,000 and $10,000. This project is very much in line with our mission to support the hospital and benefit our community,” Rogers said.

“As one of the community physicians who welcomes medical students and residents into my practice, I can attest that these future doctors greatly benefit from a unique rural medicine experience in Hilo,” said Dr. Lynda Dolan, HMCF Trustee and HMC’s long-term care hospitalist. “Providing them an inviting and comfortable place to stay during their rotations is good way to attract them to work in Hilo.”

The Foundation has enlisted a contractor to do the roof and repairs to the cottage, community service organizations and other businesses to help with the interior and exterior painting.

For more information, contact Lori Rogers at 935-2957 or lrogers@hhsc.org.

A view of the River Cottage’s backyard and screened-in porch. (Photo courtesy of HMCF)

(Photo courtesy of HMCF)

(Photo courtesy of HMCF)