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2021 Starlight Awards

May 13, 2021

Employee of the Year

Molly Niederreiter

Therapy Manager, Kaweah Health Medical Center


Outstanding Residents of the Year

Outstanding Resident of the Year - Role as a teacher

  • K. Brent Cowan, M.D.

Outstanding Resident of the Year – Professional Collaboration

  • Julia Ruffo, M.D.

Outstanding Resident of the Year – Communication

  • Tiffany Chamberlain, D.O.

Outstanding Resident of the Year – Compassionate Care

  • Chase Thorson, M.D.

Outstanding Resident of the Year – Patient Advocacy

  • Lakai Banks-Dean, M.D.

Outstanding Resident of the Year

  • Chase Thorson, M.D.

Outstanding Physician of the Year

Outstanding Physician of the Year — Role as a Teacher

  • Samuel Matsuo, M.D.

Outstanding Physician of the Year – Professional Collaboration

  • Ahmad Aboaziza, M.D.

Outstanding Physician of the Year – Communication

  • Neelesh Thussu, M.D.

Outstanding Physician of the Year – Compassionate Care

  • Vanessa Concina, M.D.

Outstanding Physician of the Year – Patient Advocacy

  • Stephen Smith, IV, M.D.

Outstanding Physician of the Year – Stephen Smith, IV, M.D.


Partner in Care Award

Partners in Care

2North

  • Krystal Pizano, LVN

2South

  • Jessica Garcia, LVN

3North

  • Jessica Madrigal, CNA

3South

  • Natalie Garza, LVN

3West

  • Favioloa L Navarro, CNA

4North/AHD

  • Khao See, LVN

4South

  • Corina Gaytan, LVN

4Tower

  • Erica Santa Cruz, LVN

5Tower

  • Bradley Garcia, CNA

Broderick Pavilion

  • Angelica Fuentes Ramos, EVS

Float Pool

  • Ashley Rios, CNA

Emergency Department

  • Annette Padilla, LPT

ICU

  • Shara Lange, RT

CVICU

  • Savannah Herrera, HUC

Cardio Vascular Services

  • Carol McKay, CNA

OR

  • Sheila Thomas, Surgical Equipment Tech

ASC/PACU/Endo

  • Allison Haughton, CNA

Case Management

  • Teresa Hernandez, CCS

Home Health

  • Martiene Hickam, PT

Hospice

  • Stephen Bennett, Spiritual Support Counselor

Mental Health

  • Gilberto Salvador, EVS

L&D

  • Mercedes Cortinas, HUC

Mother-Baby

  • Angelica Alvarado, CNA

NICU

  • Maria Suarez, EVS

Pediatrics

  • Maria Ceja, EVS

Transitional Care Services

  • Carole Moore-Wilson, Admin Asst.

Private Home Care

  • Alma Robles, Personal Care Aide

Specialty Home Care

  • Irene Pasillas, LVN

Rehab

  • Sheryl Rivera, CNA

Subacute

  • Kelly Amaya, CNA

Tranport

  • Alissa Barragan, Patient Transport Aide

V-Dialysis/ CAPD

  • Ron Malone, LVN CAPD

Wound Center

  • Ricardo Correa, LVN

KDMF Internal Medicine

  • Cody Bustamante, Security

KDMF Clinical Team

  • Brittney Buckmaster, Admin Asst.

KDMF Pediatrics

  • Adriana Silva, MA

KDMF Family Medicine

  • Marcia Handley, MA Referral Clerk

KDMF Pediatrics

  • Maria Baustista, MA

RHC Exeter

  • Irene Camarillo, Driver

RHC Lindsay

  • Shana Hernandez, MA

RHC Woodlake

  • Diane Garcia, Patient Access

RHC Dinuba

  • Julian Nunez, Office Lead

RHC Tulare

  • Yomayra Porchia, Patient Access

UCC Court

  • Claudia Bonds, LVN

UCC Demaree

  • Monique Rivera, MA

SHWC

  • Irene Taff, Community Care Coordinator

CDMC

  • Margarita Benitez-Baeza, Registrar

Medical Staff Nurses of the Year

Medical Staff Nurses of the Year Finalists:

  • Olivia Vargas, RN, Emergency Department
  • Edward Escobar, RN, Operating Room

Medical Staff Office Nurse of the Year

  • Elsa Guzman, RN, 4North

Excellence in Nursing Leadership Awards

Excellence in Nursing Leadership- Nominees

  • Shawn Elkin, IP Manager
  • Shannon Cauthen, Nurse Manager 5T
  • Kari Knudsen, Director Post-Surgical Care
  • Emma Mozier, Director Medical Surgical Services
  • Keri Noeske, CNO

Excellence in Nursing Leadership Winner

  • Emma Mozier, Director of Medical Surgical Services

Service to Society Award

Service to Society Finalists

  • Kaylee Corbett, Float Pool, Critical Care, Medical-Surgical
  • Jennifer Phelps, NICU, Post-Acute Care

Service to Society Winner

  • Jennifer Phelps, NICU, Post-Acute Care

Advanced Practice Awards

Advanced Practice - Nominees

  • Erin Miller, Clinical Education, Critical Care
  • Brittany Moore, Clinical Education, Medical-Surgical
  • Linda Ellison, Clinical Education, Post-Acute
  • Brittany Moore, Clinical Education, Post-Acute

Advanced Practice Winner

  • Brittany Moore, Clinical Education

Advancing New Knowledge and Innovation Award

Advancing New Knowledge & Innovation - Nominees

  • Jennifer Nicolas, 2South, Critical Care, MCH
  • Daisy Gamboa, 4North, Medical-Surgical, Post-Acute Care

Advancing New Knowledge & Innovation Winner

  • Jennifer Nicolas, 2South

Clinical Nurses of the Year

Clinical Nurse of the Year

  • Karina Gonzalez, 3 South, Med-Surg NPC

Clinical Nurse of the Year

  • Andy Wong, Critical Care NPC

Clinical Nurse of the Year

  • Lynn Byrd, NICU, Maternal Child Health NPC

Clinical Nurse of the Year

  • Nick Ellis, Home Health, Post-Acute & out Patient NPC

Patient Safety Hero of the Year


Patient Safety Hero of the Year

  • Brian Chan, CRNA, OB/GYN

Service Excellence and Inspirational Leaders Awards

Service Excellence and Inspirational Leaders of the Year

VP Chief Strategy Officer - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Thomas H. Hobbs V, Biomedical Technician II

VP Chief Strategy Officer - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Daniel Baker, IT Service Delivery Manager

Kaweah Health Medical Group Chief Executive Officer - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Natalia Reyna, Clinical Care Coordinator

Kaweah Health Medical Group Chief Executive Officer - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Randy Kokka, Director of Laboratory

VP Medical Education - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Dr. Jaclyn Lundberg, Transitional Year GME Resident

VP Medical Education - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Dr. Linda Herman, GME Program Director

VP Chief Information Officer - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Brittany Coggins, PFS Quality Assurance Specialist

VP Chief Information Officer - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Elizabeth Benitez, Patient Accounting Supervisor

VP Cardiac & Surgical Services - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • John Leal, Nurse Manager

VP Cardiac & Surgical Services - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Christine Aleman, Director of Cardiovascular Operations

VP Human Resources - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Hannah Mitchell, Training and Development Coordinator

VP Human Resources - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Linda Hansen, Director of Total Rewards

VP Chief Strategy Officer - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Melissa Withnell, Sr Communications Specialist

VP Chief Strategy Officer - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Suzy Plummer, Director of Internal Audit

VP of Population Health - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Maribel Haro, Clinic Business Office Lead

VP of Population Health - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Sonia Duran-Aguilar, Director of Population Health Management

VP Chief Nursing Officer - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Bailey Riddle, LCSW/LMFT, Patient & Family Services

VP Chief Nursing Officer - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Kathy Wittman, RN-IP Data Coordinator

VP Chief Nursing Officer - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Susan Curtis, Registered Nurse, Labor Delivery

VP Chief Nursing Officer - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Petra Gaytan, Psych Assessment Team Manager

VP Chief Nursing Officer - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Erica Neff, Charge Nurse, M/S CDU-2S

VP Chief Nursing Officer - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Natalie Martinez, Assistant Nurse Manager, ICCU-3W

VP Ancillary & Post Acute Services - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Danny Pavlovich, Occupational Therapist II

VP Ancillary & Post Acute Services - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Emilio Trejo, Weight Room Instructor

VP Ancillary & Post Acute Services - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Clint Brown, OP Pharmacy Manager

VP Ancillary & Post Acute Services - Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Lisa Harrold, Director of Rehab & Skilled Services

Chief Executive Officer - Kaweah Care Excellence in Service

  • Ryan Gates, VP of Population Health

Chief Executive Officer -Inspirational Leader of the Year

  • Keri Noeske, VP Chief Nursing Officer