Salinas Valley Health Celebrates Hospital Week 2026

SALINAS, CA. — Salinas Valley Health is celebrating the people at the heart of the organization’s ability to deliver exceptional care to the community.  The Medical Center campus hosts a series of activities to mark National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week. This year’s western style theme of “Hometown Healthcare” recognizes the system’s 2,200 staff and their deep connection with the patients, families and  community they serve every day.

The highlight of the week is Wednesday’s annual Hospital Week barbecue and awards celebration, bringing together staff from across the organization for an afternoon of appreciation, recognition and community spirit.

“Delivering exceptional healthcare takes a talented and dedicated team,” said Allen Radner, MD, President/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “It is built every day by people who show compassion, teamwork and commitment to caring for our patients and supporting one another. Hospital Week is an opportunity to celebrate our staff and their contributions to our community.”

The Wednesday appreciation event includes the organization’s annual awards ceremony recognizing Employee of the Year, Nurse of the Year, Physician of the Year, outstanding STAR and DAISY teams, and Magnet exemplars whose work reflects excellence across the organization.

Hospital Week activities also include the 2026 Poster Expo, featuring 17 peer-reviewed posters showcasing innovations in quality improvement, evidence-based practice, education, leadership and literature review. The annual showcase highlights the ongoing clinical excellence, research and collaboration taking place throughout Salinas Valley Health.

Staff and visitors are invited to attend the Poster Expo Author Meet-and-Greet on Thursday, May 14, from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Cislini Plaza (CP-4), where attendees can meet poster authors, learn more about the projects and enter for a chance to win prizes.

The annual Hospital Week celebration reflects Salinas Valley Health’s commitment to recognizing the people behind the organization’s mission of delivering safe, compassionate and high-quality care to everyone in the community. Salinas Valley Health is one of the region’s largest employers, receives consecutive “A” grades for patient safety and is a Magnet with Distinction™ organization for nursing excellence - a designation only earned by 1% of hospitals nationwide. 

The 2026 National Nurses and Hospital Week honorees include the following:

Employee of the Year: Valerie Rodriguez

Nurse of the Year: Kristen “Rita” Green-Meadows, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC

Physician Excellence in Service and Professionalism: Kelsey Gray, MD

Exemplar Award – Heal: Ma Margarita “Margie” Valdez, BSN, RN, CCRN

Exemplar Award – Protect: Armin De Galicia, BSN, RN, CMSRN

Exemplar Award – Empower: Jannica Sebastian, MSN, RN, PCCN

Exemplar Award – Teach: Victoria Beasley, MSN, RN, CEN

STAR Award – Support: James “Jim” Woody

STAR Award – Teamwork: Michelle Endris

STAR Award – Accountability: Abhiruchi “Abhi” Mehta, PharmD, MS, MBA

STAR Award – Respect:  Angelica Plascencia, PHR

Team Daisy Award: Education Department

Team STAR Award: Epic Project Team

Employee of the Year Nominees

Melanio Abalos; Marichu Albarote; Derek Ames; Martha Ayon; Elena Bagaloyos; Jasper Boquiren; Joel Braddock; Courtney Burnett; Denise Bustos; Jennifer Ordaz Calderon; Edwin Calica, CAN; Fernando Camarena, CEP; Sonia Camargo, CPhT; Lucy Cardenas; Isaac Castillo; Marina Chavez; Llesenia Coronel

Arnold Faytaren; Kelly Flower, MSN/MHA, RN, CCRN; Angela Galope; Lindsay Gimelli, RCP, RRT

Kiri Golleher, PharmD; Maria “Dolores” Chairez Gonzalez; Duane Griffin, PharmD; Chris Haubert; Luis Hernandez, RCP; Regina Kennedy; Sylvia Krick, RD, CNSC; Myline Laurel, CAN; Yesenia Leon

James Lewis, CEP; Rosalia Madrigal; Janet Marcroft; Estela Lopez Marquez; Angela Martinez Salinas; Jennifer Mase, RCP; Ariel Mendoza; Jocelyn Torres Mendoza, LCSW; Monte Moosjenkins, MSN, RN; Elida Mosqueda; Joy Okafor, RPh; Claudia Otero; Lia Padilla, CCS; Isabel Paredes; Juana Ponce; Timothy Powell

Susana “Susy” Preciado-Soto; Cameron Reynolds; Carmen Rivera, CAN; Mary Serrano; Virgilio Sibaja III

Aida Solorio, MSW; Leticia “Letty” Suarez; Reuben Tayan; Simplicio “Junior” Tualla Jr., CBET; Adam Turbyfill, PharmD; Donald Tyacke; Daisy Vaca, CPhT; Patricia Veliz, CPhT; Olga Volozhina, PharmD, BCPS; Nakeshlon Willis; Adriana Yanez; and Denise Zambrano, CNA

Nurse of the Year Nominees

Meghan Ackerman, BSN, RN, OCN; Eva Baron, BSN, RN; Joylyn Bautista, BSN, RNC-OB; Ann Buco-Aninzo, MSN, RN, CPHQ; Avrie Calabro, RN; Maritess Condalor, BSN, RN; Norma Coyazo, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM; Maria Duarte-Perez, BSN, RN, CEN; Siegrid Evilla, BSN, RN, A-IPC; Rosemarie Fernandez, BSN, RN; Kathryn Franklin, BSN, RN; Aimee Freeman, BSN, RN; Alejandra Garcia, RN; Anna Gonzalez, RN; Rosaisela Gonzalez, BSN, RN; Voltaire “Joseph” Guira, MSN, RN; Catherine “Nichole” Harris, MSN, RN, CCRN;m Jessica Corres Hernandez, BSN, RN; Israel Hester, BSN, RN; Paulina Hill, BSN, RNC-MNN, CLC; Jennifer Hiller, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM; Jennifer “Jenn” Klaus, RN; Hakoh Kosaka, BSN, RN; Kristine Kate Lacanilao, BSN, RN; Lindsey Macbeth-Hymes, RN; Jean Marll, BSN, RN, CCRN; David Martin, BSN, RN, PCCN; Sandra Martinez, RN; Lauren Miller, BSN, RN; Erika Moncayo, RN; Gabriela “Gaby” Morales, BSN, RN, PCCN; Jorge Morga, BSN, RN, CMSRN; Heidi Olguin, RN; Marisa Palado, MSN, RN; Lorelie Pestillos, BSN, RN; Chanthary Pich, BSN, RN, ONCC; Anthony Pollard-Gensberg, BSN, RN; Enrique Ramirez, BSN, RN; Luzviminda “Minda” Ramos, BSN, RN, CCRN; Lizette Rosales, RN; Aerin Rumrill, BSN, RN; Annie Sebolino, MSN, RN, CMSRN; Grace Swarts, RN; Leslie Souza, BSN, RN; Shannon Valdez, RN; Lori Woodfin, CCRN, CFRN, CVRN; and Pamela Yates, RN, CPN

Physician Nominees

Rebecca Abundis, DO; Jaime Gonzalez, MD; Michael Greene, MD; Bernadette Guiroy, MD; Jamila Holloway, MD; Herjap Janda, MD; Kenneth Jones, MD; Bruce Kaufman, DO; Eshan Labroo, MD; Alberto Martinez, MD; Patricia Mayer, MD; Shuaib Mohammad, MD; Kanae Mukai, MD; David Ramos, MD

Nadine M. Semer, MD; Yuji Saito, MD; Michael Sepulveda, MD; Alexandra Shawo, MD; Joshua Tan, DO

Alison Wilson, DO; and Kyle Youngflesh, DO

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843