2026 World Class Employee of the Month
Employee of the Month
April 2026
Levi Vieira
Imaging Tech III
Levi exemplifies Kaweah Health's mission through his unwavering positivity and exceptional service as an Imaging Tech III. From his early days on the transfer team to his current role, Levi has maintained the same caring attitude that makes him stand out — greeting everyone with a genuine smile regardless of the time of day.
What truly sets Levi apart is his willingness to go beyond his assigned duties. After completing his radiology role during endoscopy procedures, he consistently helps transfer patients to the OR table and back to bed, always asking what else the team needs. This proactive approach is remarkably rare and deeply appreciated by colleagues.
Levi's calm demeanor and wonderful rapport with staff create a reassuring environment that helps put patients at ease. His professional consistency over the years demonstrates genuine dedication to both his team and those in his care, embodying the collaborative spirit Kaweah Health values.
March 2026
Karen Hydeman
Medical Business Office Assistant
Karen is truly the backbone of the Medical Business Office, consistently demonstrating remarkable dedication and exceptional work quality. Her attention to detail is unmatched, and even while managing a full workload short-staffed, she maintains high performance without complaint.
What sets Karen apart is her genuine compassion for patients. She takes time to ensure they understand every detail about their appointments, creating memorable experiences that patients recognize and appreciate. Her warm, professional approach embodies Kaweah Health's patient-centered care.
Karen's calm perspective and listening ear make her an invaluable resource for colleagues working through challenges. She handles every administrative task with accuracy and speed, approaching obstacles with a reassuring can-do attitude that steadies the entire team.
Karen's consistency, positivity, and unwavering work ethic inspire everyone around her. Her dedication truly exemplifies Kaweah Health’s core values.
February 2026
Maggie Teran
CNA Skilled Nursing Short Stay
Maggie Teran, CNA, exemplifies exceptional dedication and compassionate care as a certified nursing assistant at Short Stay Rehab. With seven years of service, she consistently leads with integrity, working without bias while helping anyone in need. Her approachable nature makes her a trusted resource for colleagues seeking guidance, and her patience with patients reflects the very best of Kaweah Health's mission.
Maggie's excellence is evident in the frequent Kaweah Care recognition she receives from peers who value her helpfulness and reliability. As a preceptor to new hires, she shares her knowledge generously, setting the standard for future staff. She actively participates in meetings, offering constructive feedback to improve patient care and workflow.
Her organizational skills and proactive approach ensure every patient's needs are met with meticulous attention. Maggie embodies Kaweah Health's core values.
January 2026
Donna Barker
Charge Posting Specialist
For 38 years, Donna has embodied the heart of Kaweah Health's mission through unwavering dedication, compassion, and excellence. As a Charge Posting Specialist, her work often happens behind the scenes, yet it's vital to the financial strength of our Emergency Department and Urgent Care clinics. She continuously identifies and resolves issues that could lead to revenue leakage, taking full ownership to ensure workflows run smoothly and efficiently.
Donna's colleagues rely on her as the go-to expert for all Charge Posting functions, and she approaches every challenge with professionalism and grace. What truly sets Donna apart is her kindness and generosity — whether she's helping a coworker navigate a complex task, mentoring someone new, or ending every email with "Have a wonderful day," she makes everyone feel valued and supported.
Donna brings warmth and humanity to everything she does, modeling the compassionate culture we strive to provide. Her 38-year legacy of service, knowledge, and passion truly exemplifies Kaweah Health's core values.
December 2025
Cynthia Brito
Patient Access Specialist
Cynthia Brito exemplifies unwavering dedication and exceptional patient advocacy as a Patient Access team member. With 11 years of service, Cynthia masterfully navigates the complex world of surgical authorizations, ensuring patients receive timely, uninterrupted care.
Her recent efforts showcase her extraordinary commitment: when a patient faced multiple obstacles securing approval for a pregnancy-preserving procedure, Cynthia made countless calls to the patient, case workers, and insurance companies, advocating tirelessly until authorization was secured. This life-changing intervention is just one example of how she puts patients first every single day.
Beyond her clinical excellence, Cynthia is truly the heart of the team. Known affectionately as "Team Mom," she coordinates celebrations and keeps the office running smoothly. Her warm relationships with peers, clinical teams, and surgeon offices create a collaborative environment where everyone feels valued.
Though humble about her behind-the-scenes work, Cynthia's patient-centered approach makes her invaluable to Kaweah Health's mission.
November 2025
Rosario Ayala Reyes
Medical Assistant Kaweah Health Sequoia Regional Cancer Center
Rosario Ayala Reyes exemplifies exceptional dedication and compassionate care as a Medical Assistant at Kaweah Health Sequoia Regional Cancer Center. Her unwavering professionalism and positive attitude consistently elevate both patient experiences and team morale.
Rosario's versatility shines through diverse roles—interpreter, patient advocate, scheduler, and phlebotomist — performing each with seamless excellence. Her calm, empathetic demeanor puts patients at ease, with many expressing how genuinely cared for they felt under her watch. Providers consistently praise her reliability, efficiency, and ability to anticipate needs.
Beyond clinical excellence, Rosario demonstrates remarkable leadership through selfless teamwork. She readily assists colleagues during staffing shortages and maintains composure during challenging situations. Working with oncology patients requires exceptional emotional strength — Rosario handles this demanding role with grace. Her commitment truly embodies Kaweah Health's mission and values.
October 2025
Matilde Saldivar
Environmental Services Lead
Matilde Saldivar exemplifies unwavering dedication and exceptional service to Kaweah Health. With 27 years of experience, Matilde demonstrates remarkable commitment to excellence and patient safety while mentoring her team with genuine passion.
Her vigilance and proactive problem-solving recently prevented potential harm to residents. When identifying a critical safety concern, Matilde immediately demonstrated the issue in detail, sparking collaborative action across leadership, infection prevention, EVS, and education. The resulting process improvements continue protecting patients today, showcasing her keen attention to detail and understanding that every role contributes to the greater mission.
Beyond safety excellence, Matilde's leadership shines through innovative solutions like implementing a bi-weekly supply ordering system that keeps operations within budget. Her consistently positive attitude, effective communication, and willingness to share knowledge inspire those around her. Matilde's steadfast commitment truly embodies Kaweah Health's mission and values.
September 2025
Breane Tankersley, RN
Kaweah Health Home Health
Breane Tankersley, RN exemplifies unwavering dedication and exceptional service to Kaweah Health. As a registered nurse with 26 years of experience, all here at Kaweah Health, Breane has demonstrated remarkable loyalty and professional growth, transitioning from the rehab hospital to home health while consistently delivering outstanding patient care.
Her commitment extends far beyond regular duties. Recently, a family invited Breane to their loved one's funeral, crediting her compassionate visits as bringing joy during difficult times. The same family specifically requested her services again, a testament to her exceptional care quality and personal attention.
Breane proactively builds meaningful patient relationships, earning frequent mentions in satisfaction surveys and appreciation calls. Her reliability and clinical excellence are unmatched, consistently going above and beyond while maintaining compassionate interactions. Breane's steadfast commitment to exceptional nursing care truly embodies Kaweah Health's mission and values.
August 2025
Benny Alva
Construction Technician/Locksmith
Benny Alva exemplifies unwavering dedication and exceptional service to Kaweah Health. As our sole locksmith since January 2020, Benny has saved the organization significant costs by handling complex security and access control issues in-house, reducing reliance on external contractors while ensuring a safe environment for staff, patients, and families.
His commitment extends far beyond regular duties. Recently, Benny arrived two hours early at 5:00 AM for a scheduled project, then worked until 12:30 AM addressing urgent loading dock issues. His reliability and problem-solving skills are unmatched, consistently responding to critical needs while maintaining a positive attitude.
Benny proactively identifies issues, ensures timely resolution, and takes on multiple cost-saving projects while seeking additional training opportunities. His compassionate interactions with all departments and steadfast commitment to doing things right the first time truly embody Kaweah Health's mission and values.
July 2025
Wendy Parsons, RN
Charge Nurse, Medical/Surgical 3 North
Wendy Parsons, RN, exemplifies Kaweah Health's mission through her exceptional nursing leadership and unwavering commitment to patient care. With more than 21 years of dedicated service, she has become the cornerstone of clinical excellence on 3North and beyond.
Her compassionate approach extends to both patients and colleagues, ensuring Mental Health Workers receive necessary breaks while maintaining patient care. Wendy's expertise transcends unit boundaries — she willingly assists the ER with complex wounds and ostomies, while serving as charge nurse across multiple units when needed.
Known as Eagle Eye by leadership, Wendy consistently identifies clinical orders that don’t make sense for a bedside nurse and suggests fixes that make them more practical.
Wendy's commitment to continuous learning drives her to research policies and collaborate with clinical educators, house supervisors, and nurse leaders. She embraces feedback with remarkable self-reflection, understanding that nursing excellence requires lifelong growth.
Through her mentorship of new staff and willingness to precept across the post-surgical division, Wendy embodies Kaweah Cares values.
June 2025
Alberto Pena
Kaweah Kids Head Teacher
Alberto Pena embodies our mission of excellence as Kaweah Kids Learning Center's lead teacher. Since joining Kaweah Health in 2011, he has demonstrated unwavering dedication to creating transformative educational experiences for the children in his care.
Alberto's commitment to nurturing development is evident in his proactive approach to education. He extends beyond simply providing care — creating an environment where children feel safe, valued, and encouraged. His expertise in individualized attention has produced remarkable results, with parents noting significant improvements in their children's speech and comprehension within just weeks of enrollment.
Alberto's most notable strength lies in his authentic dedication to each child's success. He thoughtfully plans his classroom environment with kindergarten readiness in mind, ensuring every child receives the support they need to build confidence both socially and academically.
His proactive leadership extends beyond the classroom—when Alberto sees something that needs attention, he addresses it immediately, exemplifying the teamwork that makes Kaweah Kids exceptional.