by Jon Moskin
Julian Davis was a distinguished physician whose 50-year career included roles as Associate Chief of Medicine at Mount Zion Hospital, a faculty member at the UCSF School of Medicine, and the founder of a thriving medical practice. His dedication earned him deep admiration and respect within the medical community and in the hearts of those who knew him, including his family.
“He cared deeply about all people, especially older people. He always demanded that they have the very highest quality of care. He was known for demanding a very high quality of care, and would never settle for anything less.”
– Jerry Levine, former CEO of SFCJL
So, it was no surprise that his son would follow in his professional footsteps and pursue a medical career. But Jim’s connection to his father’s legacy goes beyond the professional realm. Both father and son served as board presidents of the SFCJL (formally known as The Jewish Home), and Jim remains a devoted supporter and active board member today. For the Davis family, caring for the aging is more than a vocation—it’s a legacy that Jim continues to honor with deep commitment.
“This is truly a life-affirming place that enables people to heal and to lead full and rich lives,” Jim said. “I mean, physically, we have a beautiful campus, but there is also a sense of spirituality and a focus on compassionate care intrinsic to the traditions of Judaism… So, it’s not only life-affirming for the residents, it’s life-affirming for the board, the volunteers, and for me.”
“What you keep is what you give to others.”
– Dr. Jim Davis
His 40-plus years of involvement with the Campus as a volunteer, board member, and physician have provided Jim with the ability to see it through the perspective of a clinician but also through a historical lens. He has seen it evolve beyond just the name change. “When I first got involved all those years ago, we were just an assisted living and a nursing home,” Jim said. “But then about 20 years ago, we started providing post-acute care for people coming out of the hospital, which has been a really valuable service. And today we provide a range of services, including everything from nursing home care to our dementia unit to our psychiatric unit to assisted living… So, now we truly cater to the complete spectrum of needs of seniors as they age. And that can allow them to gracefully age in place on the same campus, whatever their needs may be.”
Despite Jim’s enthusiastic support of the Campus , he is clearminded about the challenges it faces, particularly economic. “The funding of nursing homes and senior care facilities is incredibly challenged right now,” Jim said, noting his concern that current levels of government subsidization for Medicaid may be imperiled. However, he said, he remains optimistic in large part because of the leadership of CEO Dr. Adrienne Green, and our community’s steadfast philanthropic commitment to the well-being of our residents. “I think the goal for us as a board is to get people onto the Campus. I mean, if you come to one of our events and see how wonderful they are and how they embrace our residents, you’ll walk away feeling really good that you’re engaged. I think that’s our challenge. And of course, especially with the cutbacks in government funding, philanthropy is key to the future of our organization. Without active philanthropy, our challenges are magnified dramatically.”
Ultimately, Jim and his wife, Claire, also a physician, support the Campus not only because doing so comports with their values and their family’s legacy, but because they look at it as a privilege. “This has been an incredible gift to us,” he said. “And it has truly enriched our lives.”
Please consider supporting our work or schedule a tour of Frank Residences online or call 415.687.2930.
