Salinas Valley Health Celebrating Hospital & Nurses Weeks

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

Salinas Valley Health is celebrating National Nurses and Hospital Weeks with a full schedule of activities for all staff including the announcement of peer nominated 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.

“This annual celebration of our team is always meaningful and this year it takes on special significance,” said Pete Delgado, President/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “Each person in our organization has played a role in our healthcare system’s response to COVID-19. The week of activities is a way to recognize those extraordinary efforts and gives the staff a chance to honor their colleagues as healthcare heroes.”

In a ceremony on the medical center campus, Megan Lopez, RN was named the 2021 Nurse of the Year. Lopez is a diagnostic imaging nurse who joined Salinas Valley Health Medical Center twelve years ago. According to her supervisor, Lopez is a very skilled nurse who assists in delicate procedures that are essential to saving patient lives and is always ready and willing to step up to any challenge.

“I’m honored to receive this award,” says Megan Lopez, RN. “I’m doing the job I’ve been called to do and I’m proud to help create an environment where we offer excellent patient care for our community.”

The Salinas Valley Health 2021 Employee of the Year is licensed clinical social worker Lorena Sanchez, LCSW. Sanchez is a Maternal Child Health Social Worker who joined Salinas Valley Health Medical Center four years ago. Sanchez is incredibly compassionate, providing counseling support to women and their families in our Mother/Baby, Level III NICU and Pediatrics units. Whether she is working with a family who has lost a pregnancy, a teenage mother, or with someone dealing with substance abuse issues, Sanchez is always respectful and supportive of her patients and colleagues.

“I’m speechless! This is such a great honor,” says Lorena Sanchez, LCSW. “I feel like all my colleagues deserve this award specially this last year of COVID-19. My heart goes out to all the families who lost someone to this awful virus.”

Megan Lopez and Lorena Sanchez were selected during an extensive house wide nomination process. Events celebrating the dedication and contributions of Salinas Valley Health employees kicked off Monday May 10^th. In addition to the Nurse and Employee of the Year ceremony, other activities include National Nurses Day Pop Cake deliveries, free cuisine themed meals during the week, inspirational speaker, a gratitude wall, and new this year in the wake of COVID-19, a resiliency fair. National Nurses Week and Hospital Week festivities conclude Friday, May 14^th.