Breast Ultrasonographer Receives STAR Award

Salinas Valley Health has recognized Holly Lombardi with the STAR Award for her dedication to patients, her compassion and admirable work ethic. Holly is a breast ultrasonographer at our Nancy Ausonio Breast Health Center and exemplifies our Salinas Valley Health STAR values- Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect. She received the STAR Award for the month of March in a surprise ceremony Monday afternoon.

“This is such a surprise! I’m so grateful to receive this award, this means a lot to me,” said Holly Lombardi. “Sometimes our patients are nervous and scared and I do my best to calm their nerves. I treat them like family. I love my patients and my colleagues here at the Nancy Ausonio Breast Health Center.”

Holly joined Salinas Valley Health in May of 2011. This is her first STAR Award nomination submitted by a grateful patient who expressed, “Holly is fabulous! She made the very scary feeling of getting a biopsy melt away. She was professional, knowledgeable and encouraging. We were able to connect on a personal level and laugh together. I felt loved and well cared for.”

“Holly is a remarkable ultrasound technologist who is the perfect example of someone who exemplifies our STAR values. Holly creates a great rapport with her patients, which makes them more comfortable and at ease in an environment that can be very terrifying,” expressed Kim Bonza, Mammography Manager at the Nancy Ausonio Breast Health Center. “Holly is one of the best teammates to have as she never hesitates to help a patient or her fellow colleague when needed. She is one of many Salinas Valley Health employees that make our organization great. Thank you for being so fabulous, Holly!”

Another outstanding employee, Gilbert Najar, a Network Engineer in Information Technology was also nominated for the STAR Award for the month of march. Every month, Salinas Valley Health recognizes two extraordinary employees, one with a DAISY Award (for nurses) and another with a STAR Award (for all staff). Nominations can be submitted by patients, visitors and staff. Nomination forms and drop boxes are located throughout the medical center.