Two Kaweah Health Physicians Honored by Community Organizations
Two Kaweah Health physicians have recently been recognized with prestigious awards for their outstanding dedication to patients and the communities they serve.
Dr. Cory D. Jaques: American Red Cross 2026 Central Valley Healthcare Hero
Pictured above: Dr. Cory D. Jaques, Rep. Jim Costa, Kaweah Health CEO Marc Mertz
Dr. Cory D. Jaques, a children's psychiatrist at Kaweah Health, was honored with the American Red Cross 2026 Central Valley Healthcare Hero Award for his compassion and dedication in reshaping care for children in crisis across the Central Valley.
Working across emergency departments, inpatient units, and community clinics, Dr. Jaques is known for his careful, deliberate approach — listening, evaluating, and considering the full context of each child before determining a path forward. That approach has earned him the trust of countless families.
"At the end of the day, I get to say, 'Hey, I help kids.' And I go to bed every night knowing I helped a kid today, and there's nothing in this world better than helping children," he said.
Dr. Jaques has been instrumental in establishing Kaweah Health's Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), which provides crisis intervention services for children and youth 21 and under, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — offering families an accessible alternative to the emergency room. Beyond his role as medical director of the CSU, he also serves as program director for Kaweah Health's Graduate Medical Education Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, training the next generation of psychiatrists to serve youth in the region.
Dr. Ryan Howard: Donor Network West Foundation President's Award
Pictured above: Dr. Ryan Howard, center, receives Donor Network West's President's Award from (left) Bubba Paris, Executive Director of the Donor Network West Foundation, and Dr. Janice Whaley, Donor Network West CEO.
Dr. Ryan Howard, who specializes in hospice and palliative medicine at Kaweah Health, received the Donor Network West Foundation's President's Award for his extraordinary leadership in advancing the life-saving mission of organ donation. The President's Award is a prestigious recognition reserved for individuals whose exceptional contributions and transformative impact on organ, eye, and tissue donation merit distinction beyond other award categories.
Palliative care focuses on managing symptoms and stress associated with serious illness, often in conjunction with active treatment, while hospice care provides comfort-focused support for patients with terminal diagnoses. Dr. Howard and the Kaweah Health Hospice and Palliative Care Team are known for ensuring that each patient's voice, values, and wishes remain central during some of the most difficult moments families face.
Dr. Janice Whaley, President and CEO of Donor Network West, praised the team's ability to thoughtfully bridge palliative care with donation discussions, noting that their approach ensures families feel supported, informed, and never rushed — allowing hope and healing to remain present even in profound loss.
“Dr. Howard and the palliative care team have elevated the standard of care at Kaweah Health,” she said. “Their work not only supports families through end-of-life decisions, but also helps transform loss into legacy.”
Dr. Howard was characteristically humble in accepting the honor.
“I humbly accepted the award, but in all honesty the majority of the credit for my success is attributable to the wonderfully capable and compassionate, incredibly dedicated, hospice and palliative medicine team members at Kaweah Health,” he said.