Service Excellence Awards
2024 (January - May)
Elizabeth Hollandberry, MD
Jeffery Crenshaw, RN
Mayank Sharma, RN
Famata Longstreth, RN
Samira Adaan, RN
Monica Laus, RN
Maritess Rayrao, LVN
Detention Health
For responding to a medical emergency involving an employee at the Martinez Detention Facility and administering aid immediately. For showing great leadership, determination, and poise during this critical incident. For saving a life!
-Nominated by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office
Araceli Aparicio
Medical Social Worker II
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For being a wonderful person and a hard worker on the Medical Social Worker team. For being independent, capable, and always willing to lend a helping hand to her coworkers when we need her.
-Nominated by Sally Reader
Jena Atencion
Clerk-Experienced Level
Behavioral Health
For offering timely support to the clerical team when assistance is needed. For being a great communicator (verbally and written) and ensuring that no client is overlooked. For being an asset with her attention to detail and willingness to learn and contribute to the clerical team.
-Nominated by Kim Huynh
Nicole Brito
Director, Clinic Services
Public Health
For going above and beyond to ensure a patient with significant barriers to care was able to be seen in their pediatric clinic. For helping the patient move forward in their process to enter a specialized school. For being a true advocate for the community.
-Nominated by Shanda Young
Calvin Calangan, CNA
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For being an excellent example of hard work and dedication. For being a valuable team member whose positivity and commitment is appreciated and does not go unnoticed.
-Nominated by 4A and 4B Units
Deepak Chopra
Institutional Services Worker-Lead
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For being thorough and meticulous when carrying out his rounds as supervisor, attending to our issues and concerns without questioning why. For being dedicated, friendly, respectful, professional and, most importantly, hardworking. For quietly playing a big role in assisting our nurses and ensuring patient satisfaction with our environment. For being a good and responsible lead, always willing to help, and always making us happy to see him in our unit.
-Nominated by Daniel Ani and George Flores
Jessica Collado
Environmental Health Specialist II
Environmental Health
For her extra time, effort and good will, in the office and in the field supporting our clients. For being extremely dedicated to our clients and colleagues alike.
-Nominated by Alma Cruz-Gomez
Irma “Jackie” Contreras
Clerk-Specialist Level
Public Health
For continuously showing up with grace, patience, organization and grit during the entirety of our Epic launch for the medical therapy units for California Children’s Services. For working tirelessly with a multitude of people to organize flowsheets, create charts, run meetings and attend to all our staff’s questions in a timely manner. For traveling between locations, splitting her days to ensure everyone got the support and help they needed, making our transition successful. For translating with our Spanish speaking clients in a way that made them feel comfortable and heard. For doing all this with a smile and laughter.
-Nominated by Michelle Brandt
Arash Darian
Mental Health Clinical Specialist
Behavioral Health
For always going above and beyond to support his team and other staff in the clinic. For consistently going the extra mile to ensure that tasks are completed to perfection. For demonstrating great compassion and dedication towards patients, particularly when they face complications in access to care.
-Nominated by Hala Fattah
Andre Doucette
Information Systems Technician II
Information Technology
For his customer service, experience and exemplary abilities to fix my computer problems. For displaying a calm demeanor and walking me through the new means of logging in to VPN, gaining me access to get back to work while working from home. For continuing to be respectful, reassuring and professional during the several times over the years he has assisted me.
-Nominated by Kathleen Cyr
Andy Gaeth
Storeroom Clerk
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For being a wonderful coworker that the staff on CCRMC 5D Unit (surgery) relies on. For the comfort in knowing that during times of stressful situations when we need immediate supplies, he will find the items we are asking for and deliver them right away. For helping us prevent delays in patient care.
-Nominated by Danielle Lopez
Steven Garcia
Occupational Therapist II
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For going above and beyond the call of duty responding to an employee’s immediate need to have their workstation adjusted. For listening very carefully to understand their issues and engaging them in a brainstorming session with possible options and then following through . For enabling employee to return to work with a fully functional, ergo designed workstation that decreased back strain and increased their productivity.
-Nominated by Soo Han
Karen Glaspie
Health Conductor
Public Health
For always being willing to help our patients whenever we ask. For sharing in the care of our patients, responding quickly and efficiently, we are greatly appreciative.
-Nominated by Sally Reader
Candice Gray
Program Specialist II
Public Health
For stepping into her role as Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health coordinator for Family, Maternal and Child Health programs and immediately getting to work learning processes, brainstorming new solutions, and assisting wherever there is a need. For making herself available to her employees and staff, modeling a great work ethic through her respect of team members, as well as her consistent drive to complete any necessary tasks, solve problems and assist with program projects. For having a positive attitude and encouraging a unified team effort and for all she does to make our programs better.
-Nominated by Chrystie Sargent
Leti Gutierrez
Ambulatory Care Clinic Coordinator
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For helping our dental department improve our workflow and upgrade our equipment so we can provide excellent care. For successfully creating a standardized workflow for ordering supplies and recording in a shared drive for all three dental clinics. For ordering equipment upgrades for all locations.
-Nominated by Olegario Jauregui
Amma Hayes
Mental Health Clinical Specialist-Team Lead
Behavioral Health
For being exceptional as the evidence-based practice lead at Central County’s Children’s Behavioral Health Clinic. For changing the lives of children with her professionalism, kindness, unconditional support and empathy. For providing guidance, kind words and encouragement throughout the trauma service process. For all the time and patience she has shown us throughout our family’s journey of getting better and feeling better, we thank her.
-Nominated by a Client
Dana Hayter
Certified Nursing Assistant
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For consistently delivering the best care to our patients. For always being empathetic, understanding, respectful, and communicating with dignity when working with patients. For being a true gem, going above and beyond in her work.
-Nominated by Maria Panaligan
Kim Huynh
Clerk-Specialist Level
Behavioral Health
For shining in her role, not just by skillfully managing administrative intricacies but also displaying a finesse for making patients feel comfortable and at ease within the clinic. For her knack in problem-solving to ensure smooth clinic operations, all while prioritizing the well-being of both patients and staff. For her dedication to exemplary service and safety truly marking her a pillar of support and efficiency.
-Nominated by Hala Fattah
Virginia Jule-Frost
Mental Health Clinical Specialist
Behavioral Health
For spearheading two teen groups (a process group and a social skills group) at the children’s Behavioral Health clinic in Concord in addition to co-facilitating the multi-family skills group. For passionately energizing fellow staff members to refer their clients to the groups. For going the extra mile in her outreach, coordination, planning and energy used to execute this effort.
-Nominated by Betsy Hanna
Norma Martinez
Medical Social Worker II
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For being an excellent worker and friend for 25 years. For going the extra mile for patients and staff; her work is her vocation. For caring about people, lifting their spirits and lighting up the lives of those who are suffering.
-Nominated by Sue Meltzer
Lucia Melano
Mental Health Clinical Specialist
Behavioral Health
For going above and beyond to meet her clients’ needs with compassion and commitment. For caring about the best outcome for her clients, who showed improvement after only a short time working with her. For being an extraordinary mental health worker and an asset to this county.
-Nominated by Ricardo Torres
Chelsea Miklos
Speech Pathologist
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For going above and beyond by educating and advocating for the safety of the patients we serve. For her dedication as a speech language athologist and expanding services to help patients with dysphagia concerns. For being a great team member and asset to our department.
-Nominated by Jaclyn Tsang
Kareem Mohsen
Environmental Health Specialist II
Environmental Health
For her extra time, effort and good will, in the office and in the field, in supporting our clients with their needs. For being extremely dedicated to our clients and colleagues alike.
-Nominated by Alma Cruz-Gomez
Allison Mongelli
Account Clerk-Advanced Level
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
For going above and beyond, reaching out to assist a coworker when their workload became overwhelming. For providing guidance and advice allowing them to feel less inundated. For being positive and encouraging, working with them and helping them come up with a plan they could follow to get through everything and stay focused.
-Nominated by a Coworker
Vanessa Najar-Ramirez
Community Health Worker II
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For being one of the heartbeats of the Medical Social Services team. For doing so many things behind the scenes, besides serving patients, that often go unnoticed: triaging referrals, supporting clinics and staff, improving processes, and many more. For the support she gives our patients and staff, we thank her.
-Nominated by Sally Reader
Angela Pantera
Clerk-Senior Level
Environmental Health
For being extremely helpful, kind, courteous in answering a customer’s questions and following through by getting back to them in a timely way. For the service excellence given to a brand-new, non-profit organization.
-Nominated by a Customer
Olga Pena
Health Conductor
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For being a fierce advocate for increasing access to medical care for vulnerable patients and for not being afraid to reach out for help when it counts.
-Nominated by Sally Reader
Pittsburg Health Center
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For more than 40 years of exceptional care that I have always received from Contra Costa Health (I enrolled when I was 19). For quickly discovering I had bladder cancer and scheduling a prompt surgery to have the tumor removed. For the care team at the Pittsburg Health Clinic who went above and beyond to make sure I received anti-malaria medication before my trip to Africa, where I have a non-profit organization, ensuring I have a safe trip. For the service Contra Costa Health has consistently provided, standing out as world class, especially when exceptional service is hard to find. For the people who make up the staff who are responsible for the quality care that has given me 60 years of good health. For the genuine human compassion and willingness to do that little extra that gives us patients quality care.
-Nominated by a Client
Regan Riewerts, PHN
Public Health
For always being ready to assist the foster team and our foster youth. For never turning down a challenge and being absolutely flexible on tasks that need to be done. For working in the community with foster clients who are grateful for her input and acceptance, and for navigating the healthcare system for this underserved population. For being a shining, smiling presence in the office, always available and ready to go.
-Nominated by Susanne Polos
Terry Santos
Health Services Timekeeping Technician
Payroll
For stepping up every day for the past two years to assist coworkers with new tasks. For his knowledge and willingness to help at every juncture of our intricate work in Payroll. For his smile and for making our workdays great.
-Nominated by Anonymous
Manolito Sebiano
Institutional Services Aide
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For arriving to our unit supplied with the necessary equipment needed for the role. For answering pages quickly and completing jobs efficiently and safely. For being a hard worker, keeping our unit clean and exhibiting integrity and friendly demeanor.
-Nominated by Tonie Tenorio-Lytle
Vanessa Segovia, PHN
Public Health
Socorro Padilla
Community Health Worker II
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For going above and beyond to educate, in-person (on very short notice and the day before Christmas weekend) residents in a Richmond neighborhood about possible contamination due to a former dry-cleaning business. For sharing important health information, addressing community concerns and building community trust. For being employees who are committed to addressing health equity and environmental justice-Nominated by Erika Jenssen
Gurpreet Singh
Institutional Services Aide
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For always going above and beyond to ensure our patient rooms are clean and up to the standards CCRMC requires. For continually thinking one step ahead for the hospital. For willingly assisting staff, always with a smile.
-Nominated by Anthony Vizcarra
Lachman Singh
Institutional Services Worker-Generalist
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For being a hard worker, always willing to help and go the extra mile. For providing immaculate cleanliness of the unit and breakrooms. For continuing to give 5-star service; it’s obvious when he’s been working in our unit because of the level of cleanliness and our well-stocked supplies!
-Nominated by Tonie Tenorio-Lytle
Tom Ta
Health Services Administrator-Level C
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
For going above and beyond with quick responses and edits for a project. For being kind, thorough and proactive with a last-minute request.
-Nominated by Chelsea Miklos
Kimberly Thai
Health Services System Analyst III
Health, Housing and Homeless Services
For responding with compassion, grace and understanding even under stressful circumstances. For being solution-oriented and always ready to lend a helping hand to her staff and colleagues. For creating a data warehouse that allows us to picture how consumers gain access or enter our homeless system enabling us to see where services begin and where they end. For being a great leader and a dedicated employee to Contra Costa County.
-Nominated by Tammy Stoicich
Marian Wai, PHN
Public Health
For going above and beyond being very supportive and attentive for her patient and the patient’s family member. For handling every call and question promptly, guiding them through every step of the way. For being kind, patient and generous of spirit. For being a stellar human being!
-Nominated by a Client
Lonni Watkins
Senior Health Education Specialist
Public Health
For showing tremendous leadership in her role as a senior health education specialist in the Black Infant Health Program. For her outreach efforts promoting the Black Infant Health Program and bringing awareness to healthcare providers and community agencies about the health disparities and inequities that plague African American birthing people while establishing relationships to connect these clients to prenatal and mental health services and other community resources.
-Nominated by Cynthia Holland
Lonni Watkins
Senior Health Education Specialist
Public Health
For always going above and beyond to find whatever I’m in need of at the time. For her bubbly energy and attitude that stays the same every time I see her. For remaining professional and positive whenever I see her.
-Nominated by a Client
Nichole Boisvert, MD
Erik Gonzalez, MD
Ken Corbin, RN
Janice Billingsley, LVN
Sue Meltzer, Medical Social Worker II
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers
Zachariah Todd
Substance Use Program Supervisor
Behavioral Health
For going above and beyond by connecting as a great team and working at the last-minute assisting and providing excellent patient care.
-Nominated by V. Linder