In his lifetime, Leonard Parker Pool dramatically improved access to quality health care for the people of the Lehigh Valley. His direction continues to challenge us to improve health and quality of life for the citizens of the region to this day. As Mr. Pool's stewards, the Pool Trustees are committed to the vision as articulated by our founder through the Trust's mission "to serve as a resource that enables Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) to be a superior regional hospital and to improve the health of the citizens of the region it serves." Since the inception of the Trust, the Trustees have granted more than $115,000,000 to that purpose.

We greatly value our partnership with the Board and Administration of Lehigh Valley Health Network in this important work. After 17 years at the helm, Dr. Elliot J. Sussman, Pool Professor of Health Systems Management, stepped down as CEO of LVHN in November 2010. We wish him success in his future endeavors. As we do so, we welcome Dr. Ronald W. Swinfard as CEO of Lehigh Valley Health Network. We have worked closely with Dr. Swinfard in his role as Chief Medical Officer at LVHN, and we look forward to our continued productive relationship.

In 2010, the Trust awarded nine major grants totaling $8,359,867. These are exciting programs that help develop leadership and capacity at Lehigh Valley Health Network, and link research, best practices, and lifelong learning and education to improvement of health. Congratulations to all the recipients of these grants. We look forward to learning from them and celebrating their success.

Many have described the genius of Leonard Pool's leadership as the ability to cling steadfastly to the vision of what he was trying to achieve, while simultaneously remaining open and flexible to all possible methods of achieving the goal. The continuing work of the Trust remains true to Leonard Pool's vision: to preserve the core values of the Health Care Trust while remaining open to processes of change and innovation. This "both/and" is articulated in our strategic alignment with LVHN: "...the resources of the Trust will be utilized by LVHN to have a dramatic, demonstrable, and sustained impact on the health of the citizens of the Lehigh Valley and will utilize Pool funds as 'risk capital,' identify and develop evidence-based methods to improve health status of the Valley, involve key parties that will facilitate programmatic success, and address racial and ethnic disparities."

These are challenging times for guardians of the health of a community, including our strategic partners at LVHN. Even with LVHN as a superior regional hospital and an outstanding community asset, we recognize that no one institution, hospital, government agency, or educational institution alone can address the health and health care of the Lehigh Valley. Strong interdisciplinary relationships can improve efficiency and effectiveness. Creating opportunities for inter-institutional cooperation to improve the health and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley is necessary and important work.

Mr. Pool put a limited life on his Trust. Accordingly, the Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust will expire in 2025. The Pool Trustees invite you to imagine that, by that closing year, the Lehigh Valley is the healthiest community in America. What needs to be done to turn that imagining into reality?

John P. Jones III
Chairman

Edward F. Meehan
Executive Director