CPMC Foundation In Memoriam: Dr. Martin Brotman

Dr. Martin Brotman
June 26, 1939-December 20, 2020

Dr. Brotman inspired generations of medical professionals as a talented physician, visionary leader, and enthusiastic philanthropist. We are deeply saddened by the death of Dr. Martin Brotman, who was so dedicated to CPMC and CPMC Foundation.

Gifts in memory of Dr. Brotman can be made to the “Dr. Martin Brotman Medical Education Fund.” Checks should be made payable to “CPMC Foundation” and include “Dr. Martin Brotman Medical Education Fund at CPMC” on the check or in an accompanying note, to ensure your gift supports the work of this fund. The family can be notified of your gift at your request.

Gifts may be made online. In the Designation dropdown menu, select “Dr. Martin Brotman Medical Education Fund” (near top of list). The Tribute section in the online form should also be completed.

Dr. Brotman Reflects

In 2018, Dr. Brotman shared with CPMC Foundation some thoughts on philanthropy, which we are re-publishing here, followed by his obituary.

“Reflecting back on my day-to-day as CEO, I’m most proud of my relationships with patients, colleagues and co-workers at every level of CPMC and Sutter Health. I have always considered it a privilege to care for the wonderful people who chose me as their physician and CPMC as their hospital.

As a physician and CEO, I took very seriously our obligation to provide state-of-the-art care for the patients who entrusted their health and lives to us. But state-of-the-art care is expensive and it’s a certainty that we could not generate enough revenue to meet the legitimate expectations and needs of our patients. How do you fill the gap? Philanthropy. It’s not charity, it’s a necessity. I never looked upon CPMC as a needy organization, I looked upon it as a worthy organization. Fortunately, many generous people in our community appreciate and value the way CPMC cares both for and about the patient.

Farron and I can’t foresee what the most important opportunities for improving the lives of our patients will be when our legacy gift to CPMC comes to fruition, but we are confident our gift will be used wisely and effectively to move the leading edge of excellent patient care forward. That is our wish for our legacy.”

In Memory of Dr. Martin Brotman

Read the complete obituary on legacy.com.

A resident of Tiburon and San Francisco for 53 years, Martin passed away suddenly, yet peacefully, on December 20, 2020 at age 81.

Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Martin met the love of his life, Farron Stern, at the age of 14 and they married on August 14, 1960. They fell in love with the Bay Area when visiting San Francisco for the first time during their honeymoon. In 1967, they moved to San Francisco where Martin established his gastroenterology and internal medicine practice. Soon after, they split their time between their home in Tiburon and a winter residence in Florida.

Martin received BSc (Medicine) and MD (Honors) degrees from the University of Manitoba, Canada, where he graduated No. 1 in his class, MS (Medicine and Physiology) degree from the University of Minnesota, and DSc (Honorary) degree from the University of Manitoba. He received his post graduate training in internal medicine and gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

In 1986, Dr. Brotman led the development of the Pan Med Medical Office Building at 2100 Webster Street attracting top physicians in San Francisco due to its close access to Pacific Presbyterian Hospital (later known as California Pacific Medical Center). While still maintaining a full medical practice, he was involved in or chaired every important committee and task force of the hospital, including Chief of Gastroenterology and Chairman of the Department of Medicine.

1995, Martin was appointed President & CEO of CPMC. Within a few years Martin's strong management and leadership skills revitalized the institution, and CPMC became the bellwether of the Sutter Health chain. In 2009, Martin became the first CEO of Sutter's West Bay Region (then comprising eight hospitals) and in 2012, Sutter Health's first Senior Vice President for Education, Research & Philanthropy until his semi-retirement in 2015. Martin Brotman was the driving force behind the creation of Sutter's two new hospitals at the Van Ness and Mission Bernal Campuses in San Francisco, both of which opened in 2019.

Family came first for Martin. He was dedicated to any project or task regardless of how large or small; whether it was opening up a new hospital or finding the right bike for one of his grandkids. His greatest joy was the time he spent with his family and 6 grandchildren.

May Martin Brotman's bright light remain in our hearts and may his memory be a blessing.