Emeritus physician's estate giving honors family legacy

For Dr. Sharukin Rami “Sam” Yelda, Swedish Covenant Hospital has been an integral part of his family’s life for more than 40 years. He credits the hospital for the success he enjoyed during his 27-year career as an orthopedic surgeon and 10-year tenure as chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Even more, Dr. Yelda is grateful to Swedish Covenant Hospital for his marriage – he met his wife, Beth, at the hospital more than 30 years ago.The Yelda family – Dr. Yelda, his wife Beth, his mother Jeannette, and his sisters Flora and the late Laura (who passed away in 1997) – have established a proud legacy of philanthropy at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Retired since 2000, Dr. Yelda and his family continue to be involved with the hospital as benefactors. Because of the family’s deep connection to the hospital and its mission, they established an incredibly generous trust to provide for Swedish Covenant Hospital’s future.“We don’t have children, so it was important that our estate go to a good place,” Dr. Yelda said. “The hospital was always a priority for us. I worked here, took care of people here, met people here and good bonds were developed with this hospital. We feel at home here. The patients, doctors, employees and nurses are like our extended family.”The Yeldas believe the hospital provides patients with excellent nursing care, cutting-edge technology and a beautiful healing environment. “This is a good hospital giving good medical care to its patients, and I wanted to help expand that,” Dr. Yelda said.To learn more about planned giving, contact the Foundation at (773) 293-5121 or Foundation@schosp.org, or visit the planned giving website.