A STAR Bridging Two Departments

September 10, 2025 - Duane Griffin has earned praise from his colleagues and is the latest STAR Award recipient with multiple nominations. Griffin is one of Salinas Valley Health’s first Emergency Department dedicated pharmacists, and is proving the position is valuable for exceptional patient care and a great fit for Griffin. He is a bridge between two important departments in the Medical Center - - the sterile, quiet confines of the pharmacy and the high-stakes hustle and stressful demands of the ER. 

Across every nomination, a theme emerged: Griffin is always there when it counts. As one teammate put it, “He goes above and beyond every time he is here. When we have a code, he’s always right there ready to go.” Another added, “He anticipates what’s needed for critical patients and makes sure nurses have the right medications in their hands at the right time.”

Griffin also received accolades for his calm demeanor, quick action, and positive attitude. It’s no wonder colleagues call him “an absolute asset” and “a pleasure to work with.” The STAR Award is an acronym for Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect and from the pharmacy to the frontlines, one quote summed up the nominations for Griffin: “The ER loves Duane!” 

Griffin, who has been with Pharmacy for nearly three years, accepted the recognition with humility: “It’s nice to be recognized. I like doing my job and enjoy the people in the ER and the pharmacy.”

Other STAR Award nominees this period are Edwin Calica, Nurse Aide in Oncology; Gabriel Munoz, Transport/Prep Aide in Patient Care Resources; Miguel Ruiz, Tech in Environmental Services; Garret Sabado, Nurse Aide in Ortho-Neuro-Spine; Tiffany Torrente, Tech I in Cath Lab; and Merna Yu, Lab Assistant – Lead in Pathology.

Each month, Salinas Valley Health recognizes an outstanding nurse with a DAISY Award (for nurses) and a STAR Award (for all staff). The DAISY Award is an international program that honors nurses for their extraordinary compassion, outstanding clinical skills, and personalized care, established by the DAISY Foundation. The STAR Award is a recognition program created by Salinas Valley Health incorporating the organization’s core values of Support, Teamwork, Accountability, and Respect to highlight staff serving our patients, community, and each other with extraordinary results. Nominations are submitted by patients, visitors, and staff. To learn more about the awards, visit SalinasValleyHealth.com/nomination.

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843