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

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