Pharmacy STAR Making an Impact

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

March 11, 2025 – A clinical pharmacist with Salinas Valley Health is the latest recipient of the STAR Award and says she made an intentional step in her career to position herself in an environment of teamwork to have a big impact on patient care.

After graduating from pharmacy school ten years ago, Olga Volozhina spent many years in a community pharmacy setting before joining Salinas Valley Health in November 2022 as an inpatient clinical pharmacist. She made the move to a medical center setting, hoping she would become a vital part of the outstanding care Salinas Valley Health provides patients. The STAR Award, which stands for Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect is one piece of evidence that Olga choose the right path.

“I really wanted to be a part of a broader care team,’ says Olga Volozhina, Salinas Valley Health inpatient clinical pharmacist and STAR Award recipient. “While I’m not at the bedside with patients, I work directly with the nursing, physician and other teams helping our patients. The close relationships we have and shared mission to heal patients is very meaningful and rewarding to me.”

Olga says she especially enjoys the work she does supporting clinical teams in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and it was indeed a nurse in the ICU who nominated Olga for the STAR Award. Sarah Forbes, RN highlighted Olga’s initiative and teamwork in supporting Sarah with a patient who needed immediate medication support. Sarah wrote, “Olga just delved into the situation, offered assistance, pulled the drugs and had them ready every time I called out for help. Sometimes it is these small interventions that help make your day run a little smoother.”

The STAR Award recipient says she knew she was nominated for the honor however was surprised when she walked into the ceremony area for the announcement. “There are just so many amazing people here who do such incredible things every day,” says Olga. “I never really thought I would be selected. I’m shocked and very grateful for the recognition.”

Six other individuals also received STAR Award nominations during the monthly nomination period; Rosalia Madrigal, Administrative Assistant; Joyce Tuazon, Unit Assistant in ONS; Guillermina "Guille" Becerra, Cardiopulmonary Tech Assistant in Cardiology; Esteban Alonso, Head Nutrition Services Aide; Christina Padilla, Concierge in Volunteer Services; and Carol Renn, Comprehensive Cancer Center Program Coordinator at the Susan Bacon Cancer Resource Center.

The STAR award at Salinas Valley Health recognizes exceptional service and is given to non-nursing staff who demonstrate the organization’s STAR values, an acronym for Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect.

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 hospital and online. To learn more about the awards visit svmh.com/nomination.