2023

Kaweah Health Starlight Awards

Whether performing surgeries, preparing meals, or cleaning facilities, we believe that every member of our organization is helping to save lives and improve the health and well-being of our communities.

Those named on these pages are this year’s standouts, individuals who have gone above and beyond. They have learned the art of pairing excellence with compassion. They know — care is an emotion that falls short of its true potential until put into action. Please join us in congratulating these very special people, our guiding stars on the journey to World Class.

Employee of the Year

Geraldine White RN, CRRN
Rehabilitation PPS/Quality Improvement Coordinator
Kaweah Health Rehabilitation Hospital

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Outstanding Residents of the Year

Eduardo Amezcua, MD
Matthew Bonn, DO
Yusuf Sherzad, MD
Alex Petrak, MD
Rubani Sidhu, MD

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Partner in Care Award Winners

2 North - Mayra Orozco, CNA
2 South - Vanessa Perez, Nutrition Host
3 North - Marilyn Baxter, CNA
3 South - Jorge Gutierrez, CNA
Broderick Pavilion - Angelica Ramos, EVS
4 North/AHD - Erica Baza, CNA
4 South - Michelle Jackson, HUC
4 Tower - Monica Santos, HUC
3 West - Christina Gomez, CAN
Intensive Care Unit - Claudia Mulvaney, HUC
5 Tower - Christy Griffis, CNA
CVICU - Milah Ryland, CNA
Float Pool - Gina Houston, Staffing Coordinator
Labor and Delivery - Shonya Paredez, Surgical Technician
Mother-Baby - Kiana Guerra, CNA
NICU - Llesenia Ybarra, Unit Secretary
Pediatrics - Silvia Mancillas, RT
Emergency Department - Jaren Thiesen, ED Tech II
Operating Room - Art Escobar, Surgical Technician
CV Services - Carole McKay, Inventory Coord.
ASC/PACU - Guadalupe Medina, CNA
Endoscopy - Christopher Wessel, RT
Mental Health - Jessica Dragt, MHW
Short Stay Rehab - Celina Maldonado, CNA
Rehab - Kathy Lumpkin, CNA
Subacute - Connie Madrid, RT
Visalia Dialysis/CAPD - Rocio Zavala, Social Worker
Hospice - Andrea Frausto, Administrative Assistant
Home Health - Virginia Gonzalez, Administrative Clerk
Private Home Care - Kristian Bates, Homecare Evaluator
Specialty Home Care - Carmen Barajas, HHA
CDMC - Hannah Alvarado, MA
CDMC Infusion Center - Sabrina Pena, Intake & Billing Coordinator
Care Management - Diana Avalos, RN
RHC Exeter - Cristalia Nunez Garces, MA
RHC Lindsay - Cynthia Raya Godinez, MA
RHC Woodlake - Ariana Cruz, MA
RHC Dinuba - Geovanna Carrillo de Delgado, Lead MA
RHC Tulare - Elizabeth Padilla, MA
UCC - Jessica Scoville, MA
Wound Center - Maria Castillo, MA
Radiology - Jessica Rambaud, Imaging Procedure Coordinator

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Lifetime Achievement Award

Lynn Havard-Mirviss, RN, Ed.D - Board Member, Vice President, Board of Directors

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Employee of the Year

Geraldine White, RN, CRRN - Rehabilitation PPS/Quality Improvement Coordinator, Kaweah Health Rehabilitation Hospital

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Outstanding Physicians of the Year

Samuel Matsuo, MD
Ashish Loomba, MD
Lu Zhao, DO
Christian Borberg, MD
Ankita Luthra, MD

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Medical Staff Office Nurses of the Year

Olivia Nelsen, RN
Elsa Guzman, RN
Leah Daugherty, RN
Susie Nunes, RN

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Graduate Medical Education Clinical Team Members of the Year

Heidi Battistoni, RN
Olivia Nelsen, RN
Konnie Vizcaino, MA
Jamiemari Tolentino Bolusan, RN, BSN
Francene Munoz, RN, CMSRN
Elizebeth Dutra, RN, CCRN
Deborah Prieto, LPT

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Patient Safety Heroes of the Year

Brian Hernandez Armenta
Wendy Rodriguez

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Good Catch Awards

Ana Sanchez Pacheco, RN - 4 South
Kathy Wittman, RN - Infection Prevention
Linde Swanson, RN - Clinical Education
Heather Haener, RN - Emergency Department
Monica Wenzinger, RN - Ultrasound
Marisol Davalos, RN - 2 North
Brian Hernandez Armenta - Mental Health - Emergency Department
Wendy Rodriguez – Security
Stephanie Genetti, RN - Nurse Manager, OB
Lori Haun, Laboratory Technician
Fallon Costa, LPT - Emergency Department
Nadia Lopez, Patient Family Services

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2022 Employees of the Month

January - Karina Gonzalez, Charge Nurse - 3 South
February - Michelle Phillips - GME Program Coordinator
March - Lakeia Green - Patient Access Specialist
April - Sonya Fajardo - Certified Nursing Assistant
May - Minerva Aceves, LCSW/LMFT Dialysis
June - Scott Ritchie, Laboratory Section Chief
July - Kim Thompson, Charge Nurse
August - Valarie Domingo - Shipper Receiver - Central Logistics
September - Susanna Ehrsam, RN - 3 North
October - Robert Beckett - Technical Support Analyst
November - Danny Pavlovich - Occupational Therapist OT III
December - Evan Schmidt, RN - Rapid Response Nurse

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Clinical Registered Nurses of the Year

Michelle Vezina-Conley, RN, CMSRN
Linda Schroeder, RN, PCCN
Selene Santoyo, RN
Winfred Lumapas, RN

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Clinical LVN/LPTs of the Year

Lane Wall, LVN
Anastacia Narvaez, LVN
Crystal Hernandez, LVN
Navreet Malhi, LVN

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Service and Leadership Excellence Awards

Judy Romero
Khloe Tijerina
Ryan Smith
April McKee
Jeanette Bishop
Dr. Madeleine Alexeeva
Monica Martinez
Gabriela Hernandez
Michelle Adams
Devon Carter
Kelsie Davis
Liz Wynn
Kirk Mills
Ivan Jara
Megan Goddard
Keith Weaver
Krista Brown
Tiffany Bullock
Bradley Garcia
Savannah Herrera
Alana Unger
Cecelia Cantu
Jag Batth
Doug Leeper

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OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS

Excellence in Nursing Leadership Nominees

Shannon Cauthen, MSN, CCRN-K
Jessica Hearn, BSN, PCCN
Danielle Grimaldi, BSN, CPN
Felicia Vaughn, BSN, RNC-NIC
Melissa Filiponi, BSN, RNC-MNN
Sandra Echeverria, MSN, CMSRN
Saundra Gonzales, BSN, CMSRN, CNML
Andrea Hodgkins, MSN, RN-BC
Cecelia Maldonado, MSN, CMSRN

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Service to Society Winner

Laura Vander Hoek, RN, CMSRN

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Advancing Practice Nominees

Robert Pierce, RN, BSN, VA-BC PICC Team
Gene Magahis, DNP, NP-C Throughput

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Advancing New Knowledge and Innovation Nominees

Melissa Gomez, RN • 4 South

Evan Schmidt, RN, CCRN

Sarah Briggs, NP, Orthopedics