Salinas Valley Health Celebrating Hospital & Nurses Week

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

Salinas Valley Health (Salinas Valley Health) is celebrating National Nurses and Hospital Week with a full schedule of activities for all staff including the announcement this week of Nurse and Employee of the Year. Salinas Valley Health honors its dedicated staff serving the community and each other with STAR values. STAR stands for Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect. The theme for this year’s celebration is a Cast of Stars.

“While we celebrate our staff year round, this is a special time of camaraderie and recognition,” says Pete Delgado, President/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “We go all out during National Nurses and Hospital Week to let every team member know how much they are appreciated and to acknowledge the exceptional care they provide our patients and the community.”

Employees at Salinas Valley Health selected Baudelio ‘Alex’ Gonzalez, RN II as the 2017 Nurse of the Year. He is a Staff Nurse II in Oncology who joined the Comprehensive Cancer Center as a Nurse aide in 2006. Gonzalez is known as a patient advocate with extensive knowledge in chemotherapy and a nurse who cares for patients and their families with extraordinary concern, compassion and commitment.

The Salinas Valley Health 2017 Employee of the year is Derek Ames. He is the Healthcare System’s Video Systems Tech in Environmental Services. Every department relies on Ames to make every meeting, presentation and event go as planned. Ames joined Salinas Valley Health in 1996. His colleagues say Ames demonstrates immense dedication and always exceeds expectations with a smile and a sense of humor.

Gonzalez and Ames were selected during an extensive house wide nomination process. Other Salinas Valley Health staff nominated for Nurse of the Year were recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation and include Maya Atkins, RN II, Grace Belna, RN II, Michael Brown, RN II, Armin DeGalicia, RN II, Jovita Dominguez, RN II, Alejandra Garcia, RN II, MaryEllen Goyette, RN II, Anna Mercado, RN, Winona Michael, RN II, Raquel Ramos, RN II and Shannon Valdez, RN II.

Peer nominations for Employee of the Year include Aida Aromin, Husain Asadi, Llesenia Coronel (Garcia), Michelle Fay, Donna Hughes, Monica Jimenez, Corrin Jones, Mike D. Le, Janet Marcroft, Sandra Meza, Jane Pacheco, Gina Perez, Neria Puga, Vermond Tigoy, and Frank Yu. Each received a Certificate of Appreciation.

Events celebrating the dedication and contributions of Salinas Valley Health employees kick off Monday May 8th. In addition to an employee BBQ, there are other activities including National Nurses’ Week Cake Celebration, a yogurt social, wall of appreciation and free neck and shoulder massages. National Nurses Week and Hospital Week festivities conclude Friday, May 12th.