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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