Salinas Valley Health Radiology Technician Receives STAR Award

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

Salinas Valley Health has recognized Juan Aguirre with the STAR Award for the compassionate care and service he provides patients. Aguirre is a Radiology Technologist who exemplifies the Salinas Valley Health STAR values- Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect. He received the STAR Award in a special ceremony at the medical center and will be recognized by the publicly elected Board of Directors during the boards May meeting.

“This award means a lot to me,” says Juan Aguirre, Radiology Technologist. “As a child I had to have x-rays taken at a medical center. The x-ray technician was very friendly and compassionate and that experience inspired me to pursue a career in health care. I’m so lucky I get to do this every day with the team I work with, we’re family.”

Aguirre joined Salinas Valley Health in June of 1999 as a Radiology Tech I for Diagnostic Imaging. Two years later he went on to work as a Special Procedures Technician for Diagnostic Imaging. Since 2013, Aguirre has been working in the same department as a Radiology Technologist III.

“Juan is an outstanding radiology technologist,” says Gina Ramirez, Director Imaging Services. “He always goes out of his way to provide comfort to our patients. He treats them like family. We are grateful to have Juan on our dedicated team”.

The mother of a two-year-old boy who needed x-rays on his foot nominated Aguirre for the STAR Award for the exceptional care he provided to her little boy. This mother expressed, “Juan was warm, caring and extremely professional. Not only did he have to do his job with my kid screaming in his ear but he was also training a student. It made all the difference in a stressful situation.”

Several outstanding employees received STAR nominations including Derek Ames, Vanessa Calderon, Stephanie Cody and David Martinez. Every month, Salinas Valley Health recognizes an outstanding employee with a STAR Award (for all staff) or a DAISY Award (for nurses). Nomination forms and drop boxes are located throughout the medical center. To learn more about the awards visit Nurse Recognition | Salinas Valley Health or STAR Award | Monterey County Health System (SalinasValleyHealth.com).