White House Honors Chief of Rape Treatment Center

Nearly 20 years ago, Gail Abarbanel joined the staff at Santa Monica Hospital as a social worker. Now the director of the Rape Treatment Center for the hospital, she was recently honored by President Bush and Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh at a White House ceremony for her contributions in assisting victims of crime.

Abarbanel said that in her early years at the hospital, there were no established programs to help treat rape victims. She saw a number of rape cases come into the hospital and decided to take action. She started out by making herself available around the clock and initiated a professional counseling program.

In 1974, she founded the Rape Treatment Center to provide services, including forensic examinations, medical treatment and counseling. To meet the growing needs of the Westside, Abarbanel expanded the center’s services. It now provides bilingual/bicultural services to Latinos and helps sexually abused children at Stuart House. “Everything we’ve done (for the center) has come out of working with victims and learning through their experiences,” Abarbanel noted. “The center’s goal are to heal and bring (about) justice.”

When she’s feeling frustrated, Abarbanel channels her energy into new programs. Two years ago, she launched a national campaign against rape on college campuses and published a landmark report recommending policies and programs for colleges to adopt in order to prevent rapes and provide support for victims. As a result, rape victims on campuses across the country now have identified rights and protections.

“The most gratifying thing about (my job) is to be able to do something about rape,” she said. “We’ve made a difference in public attitudes and the treatment that victims receive across the country. But we still have a long way to go with the way the public understands rape.”

Nancy Bell has been elected president of the Westside Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles.

Bell, who served as vice president for the past two years, was installed last month. She is a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Federation Council and is immediate past chair of the business and professional women’s division of the United Jewish Fund.

She is a financial analyst in the investment department of an insurance company.

Eric Goralnick of Beverly Hills recently received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Goralnick, nominated by Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles), will graduate from Beverly Hills High School this year.