Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today appointed Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Administrator Kerry Carmody to the Mayor’s 41-member Homeland Security Advisory Team. Carmody is the only private hospital representative on the diverse team.

“I wake up every day knowing that the people of our city could be impacted by an earthquake, wildfire or terrorist event,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “Our city will be well served and I will sleep better knowing that we are drawing on the best and brightest talent in our city to assist us in developing strategies and advocating for homeland security funding to keep our residents safe.”

The advisors will be organized into working groups and tasked with the following missions:

• Counter-terrorism measures
• Private sector outreach and involvement
• Governmental outreach and involvements
• Evacuation planning
• Emergency preparedness

“I’m proud to be a part of Mayor Villaraigosa’s Homeland Security Team,” Carmody said. “I will use my hospital experience, as well as my passion for healthcare and safety, to help ensure the safety of residents throughout the city and county.” The hospital administrator has a wealth of knowledge and health care experience, having worked for Providence Health System for 33 years in the San Fernando Valley.

Carmody has been administrator of Providence Holy Cross for the past seven years and was recently named the Valley’s “Administrator of the Year” by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.

Providence Holy Cross is recognized as a vital link and asset to the City’s Healthcare Response as well as a leader with disaster preparedness. As one of the busiest private trauma centers and emergency departments in Los Angeles County, we work closely with the Department of Health Services, Sheriffs and Police departments on a daily basis. The Emergency Department treats more than 50,000 patients each year, and another 1,400 trauma patients.

Providence Holy Cross has attained a national reputation for quality including being named to the “America’s Best Hospitals” list by US News and World Report magazine, “Employer of the Year” by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation; and “Best Hospital in the Valley 2005” by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal, among many others.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss, who will co-chair the Advisory Team together with Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security and Public Safety Maurice Suh, welcomed the opportunity to tap into team members’ wealth of knowledge and experience.

“With some of the city’s best and brightest civic leaders, this group brings knowledge and resources to the table that will help improve local capabilities,” Weiss said. “I look forward to working with the outstanding group to identify and address issues in local threat preparedness and emergency response.”

Besides Carmody and Weiss, the advisory board also includes Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department; Carol Meyer, Director, Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency; former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan; Kirk Hyde, American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles; Larry Fetters, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Security Director at LAX; and Ira Reiner, Reiley and Reiner.