Valley Health Foundation’s chief believes health care is public good

When the Valley Health Foundation was established in 1988, its mission was to support Santa Clara County’s only public hospital.

But in the last 37 years, that health care system has drastically grown as the county has bought up several struggling hospitals. Now, the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare System — the second largest county-owned system in the state — operates four hospitals and 15 clinics. Its flagship hospital — Valley Medical Center — also manages only one of three dual burn and...