For Miriam Smith, supporting Hoag is an expression of gratitude, foresight, and deep belief in what thoughtful investment can make possible.
Miriam Smith moved to Laguna Beach in 1974 to pursue her passion for art. Since that time, Hoag has been her trusted partner in health. Through routine care and more serious moments alike, she and her late husband found reassurance in the compassion, expertise, and continuity Hoag provided. “We were always taken care of,” she shared. “Hoag became a constant—a place we could rely on.”
That trust proved lifesaving when Miriam was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Because she was vigilant about annual check-ups and because Hoag ensures expert screenings, the cancer was detected very early. What followed was intensive treatment, but also something else: perspective.
“I learned that even ten years earlier, the treatment I received didn’t exist,” Miriam said. “That was staggering to realize. Research made the difference between hope and no options.”
That realization ultimately inspired her decision to support the Hoag Family Cancer Institute by creating an endowed research fund in her estate plans. Her planned gift will help fuel clinical trials, advance innovative therapies, and accelerate discoveries that bring new possibilities to patients facing cancer—often at moments when time matters most.
Miriam’s decision was also shaped by seeing philanthropy at work inside the hospital itself. During her care, she learned that many of the advanced technologies supporting patients were made possible by donors. “Knowing I was benefiting from something someone else had made possible—that planted a seed,” she reflected. “I wanted to give back in a way that would help others, just as I had been helped.”
Professionally, Miriam has devoted her career to examining the significance, impact, and enduring legacy of art. A former exhibiting artist, she later established herself as a respected art appraiser and advisor, working with private collectors, corporations, and cultural institutions. Her practice requires rigorous analysis, refined discernment, and a deep understanding of how long-term investment shapes cultural and historical meaning.
She sees a natural parallel between art and medicine. “Progress doesn’t happen by standing still,” she said. “In art, in science, in healthcare—you have to keep moving forward. Research is how that happens.”
Miriam emphasized that the planning process was a positive experience. “I found it empowering,” she said. “It allowed me to be very intentional about where I wanted to make an impact.” She also encourages others not to be intimidated by planned giving and to share their plans openly with the organizations they care about. “It helps them plan, but it also deepens the relationship while you’re still here to enjoy it.”
Today, Miriam speaks with genuine enthusiasm about supporting cancer research at Hoag, not only because of what it means to her, but because of what it will mean for future patients. “What isn’t possible today may be possible tomorrow,” she said. “And that’s incredibly exciting.”
Through her planned gift, Miriam is helping ensure that innovation and discovery remain at the heart of cancer care at Hoag—for generations to come.
To learn more about gift planning at Hoag, please contact Tony Truong, Senior Vice President, Strategic Philanthropy, at (949) 764-1986 or Tony.Truong@hoag.org.
