Joel Hernandez Laguna Sworn In As Salinas Valley Health Board Member

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

Joel Hernandez Laguna is a newly seated member of the Board of Directors for Salinas Valley Health. Hernandez Laguna is a Salinas resident and a registered voter in the Hospital District’s Zone 5.

“Joel brings a great deal of experience, diversity and passion to the board,” said Pete Delgado, Salinas Valley Health President/CEO. “He has spent nearly a decade helping to educate and empower people of color, specifically as it relates to preventing chronic diseases impacting our community.”

Hernandez Laguna has a long history of volunteerism and community leadership, which includes helping to build the early framework for the East Salinas Building Healthy Communities Initiative. He has worked with the Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) since 2012, including the last five years as Lead Organizer at CCA, overseeing all of Center’s housing, health and youth programs.

“I grew up in a farm-working family in East Salinas,” said Joel Hernandez Laguna, Salinas Valley Health Board Member. “Access to quality healthcare is very important and I’m proud to join an organization that serves a diverse background of patients with exceptional safety and quality. That is especially important during this current COVID-19 pandemic.”

In 2018, Hernandez Laguna was appointed to the City of Salinas Planning Commission and returned to Hartnell Community College to earn his Associate of Science degree in Business Administration. He plans to pursue his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration at California State University Monterey Bay.

Hernandez Laguna lives in Salinas with his wife and two daughters, both born at Salinas Valley Health Medical Center. Hernandez Laguna fills the vacancy left by the sudden and tragic death in May of Dr. Norm Nelson.

Hernandez Laguna will represent District Zone 5 through 2022. In his spare time, Hernandez Laguna enjoys spending time with his family, serving his local parish, reading, hiking and traveling.