Adventist Health and Rideout Celebrates Spring 2026 BE Award Recipients, Part 1

The BE award recognizes associates who exemplify Adventist Health "BE" statements (Be Love, Be a Force for Food, Be a Mission Owner, Be Welcoming, Be Curious, Be Brilliant). All Adventist Health and Rideout associates at the hospital, outpatient clinics and skilled nursing facility are eligible for nomination.

BE Award Recipient: Sonia Sharma
Department: Med Surg
Submitted by: Esther Thomas
BE Statement: Be a Force for Good

Esther Thomas: “I would like to formally nominate Sonia, my charge nurse on Sonia at Rideout Hospital for the Be Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership, advocacy, and dedication to both patients and staff. Sonia consistently advocates for patient safety while also ensuring nurses are supported and protected in their roles. She is intentional about making sure staff take their breaks and lunches appropriately and will proactively make phone calls to secure additional staffing when needed. Her ability to anticipate needs and find solutions helps the unit function smoothly, even during high-acuity situations.

When a patient is deteriorating, Sonia is immediately present - offering calm leadership, clinical expertise, and hands on assistance. During a particularly critical situation with one of my patients, she recognized the increasing acuity and actively assisted me in coordinating the transfer to a higher level of care, allowing me to safely manage the rest of my assignment.

Sonia is approachable, communicates clearly, and creates a positive work environment. She consistently offers encouragement, praise, and reassurance, ensuring that staff feel valued and appreciated. Her leadership presence makes a meaningful difference on our unit every day.

Thank you, Sonia, for your hard work, compassion, and unwavering support of both patients and staff. You are truly deserving of this recognition."

BE Award Recipient: Emma Menjivar
Department: Float Pool
Submitted by: Manvir Sidhu
BE Statement: Be Love

Manvir Sidhu: “I am honored to nominate Emma for the BE Award for being a true Force for Good and a shining example of BE Love. Emma has dedicated an extraordinary 32 years of her life to serving the Rideout community, and I have had the privilege of knowing her for the past 15 years. From the moment I first met her in 2014, when she was working as a CNA, it was immediately clear that Emma is someone truly special.

Emma is more than an exceptional CNA—she is the embodiment of compassion, patience, and love. She takes immense pride in her work and provides her patients with care that goes far beyond medical needs. She never rushes through her responsibilities; she listens attentively, comforts those in distress, and responds with genuine empathy. Emma’s care is personal, thoughtful, and filled with a warmth that makes every patient feel valued and safe.

Her spirit of BE Love shines through in everything she does. Emma has an incredible ability to brighten someone’s day with a smile, a kind word, or a reassuring touch. She treats her colleagues and patients alike with respect, understanding, and heartfelt kindness. I have personally benefited from her generosity and support—when I first oriented as a CNA, she guided me patiently and even traded shifts to help me attend school, never once making me feel like I was asking too much. That is the kind of selfless, loving nature she shows every day.

Emma also teaches by example. She demonstrates the true meaning of empathy, going the extra mile to ensure her patients feel heard, safe, and cared for. She notices small details that make a patient’s experience better, from adjusting a pillow just right to patiently listening to concerns, always responding with compassion. Her dedication uplifts everyone around her, inspiring coworkers to provide care with the same love and commitment.

In my 15 years of knowing Emma, I have never seen her complain about work, patients, or challenges. She greets every day with positivity, joy, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Her presence is calming, encouraging, and filled with love—qualities that define both her professional excellence and her personal warmth.

As Emma approaches her well-deserved retirement, it is only fitting that we recognize her for the incredible impact she has had on this community. She has devoted 32 years of her life to serving others with compassion, patience, and love, leaving a lasting legacy that will be remembered long after she retires. Emma doesn’t just provide care—she inspires love, fosters kindness, and demonstrates every day what it means to be a true Force for Good.

Emma embodies the heart and soul of BE Love. She nurtures, uplifts, and spreads positivity to everyone fortunate enough to know her. For her unwavering dedication, selfless spirit, and lifelong commitment to making the lives of others better, she is truly deserving of this recognition."

BE Award Recipient: Julie Arriaga
Department: Case Management
Submitted by: Kaljit Sahota
BE Statement: Be a Mission Owner

Kaljit Sahota: “Julie has made a meaningful impact in a short time through her initiative, collaboration, and strong sense of ownership in patient care. Although newer to our organization, we had the privilege of having Julie consistently assigned to our units for a period of time—something that greatly enhanced continuity and support for our team.

Our patient population often presents with extremes—either requiring minimal support or highly complex care coordination. Despite this variability and historically limited case management presence, Julie quickly adapted and became an integral part of the team. She actively participates in multidisciplinary rounds, even after being told this might not fit into her workflow. Julie found a solution by completing her charting while rounding, ensuring she remained present, engaged, and informed in real time.

Julie consistently follows up not only with nursing staff but also with providers, helping bridge communication and streamline care. She takes initiative to anticipate needs and identify gaps, offering support in areas where staff have grown accustomed to managing independently due to limited resources. Her proactive approach has reminded the team that case management is a valuable partner, and she has been readily available to assist.

Julie exemplifies “Be a Mission Owner” through her accountability, adaptability, and commitment to high-quality patient care. She aligns seamlessly with the standards and expectations of the units, and both nurses and intensivists deeply appreciate her knowledge, responsiveness, and collaborative spirit.

Julie’s dedication and ownership make her highly deserving of recognition.

BE Award Recipient: Joel Vasquez
Department: 3 West
Submitted by: Cherri Bell
BE Statement: Be a Force for Good

Cherri Bell: “I am the Health Services Director in Memory Care and was meeting with a resident’s family regarding her need for a higher level of care after her current hospital admission. The resident’s sister Cherri and daughter Amy both raved about the CNA who had been providing care for the resident and how gentle and kind he had been with her. They stated that he (the CNA) has a family member who resides at The Gardens and I asked if they were referring to Joel as we care for his grandma. The family reported that Joel was doing more than the minimum in caring for their loved one. He sat with her, fed her and was able to make her smile while other staff had been struggling with her being combative. Joel was able to employ his knowledge of dementia care to provide patient centered care for this resident during her admission to AHRO. Not everyone understands the specialized care needs that patients/residents with dementia require, however Joel gets it and was able to make this resident and her family feel peace during his time with her.

BE Award Recipient: Madeline Lovrensky
Department: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Submitted by: Anonymous
BE Statement: Be Love

Anonymous: “Dr. Lovrensky exceptionally demonstrated the Be Statement "Be Love" by offering very gently, caring presence with me during my appointment. I had put off the appointment for a pap test for many years, even though multiple physicians in student health centers and prior clinics had urged me to do it. I had told my PA that I was hesitant to do it due to personal reasons, and when a pap smear order came one day to my surprise, I tried to endure it bravely, and ended up stopping it, in tears. The PA referred me to Dr. Lovrensky to try again; Dr. Lovrensky told me that I could have a support person in the room too. On appointment day, I informed her of my history. She reassured me that she would be very careful and sensitive to my needs and let my husband and another female provider stay in the room with me to help me feel safe, she asked if I wanted to go ahead with the procedure; I agreed. As she proceeded with the test, she often paused to check with me, waited for me to signal that I was okay, and kept coaching me with kind words and what to expect next.

When the procedure was over, she asked me how I was feeling, what I experienced, and if it had matched what she had prepared me for. Even though I had tears running down my face from memories and emotions, I truthfully told her that her support had adequately prepared me and it certainly was not as painful as I had feared. She gave me such a loving squeeze on both my hands and shoulders, gave warm encouragement, she let me know that this was a valuable source of information about my health, and even thanked my husband for being there for me. In subsequent visit, Dr. Lovrensky made me feel so welcome and part of my own health journey by taking that step. I want to recognize her for going the extra mile to acknowledge my fears, take so much extra time to help me build up my courage, continuously check in with me to make sure I was feeling safe and part of the decision-making, and helping to close the appointments with kindness -- very much like helping me de-escalate my emotions. This meant so much to me and I hold her in utmost respect and high regard, I hope many physicians and caregivers can learn from her example how much a touch of loving care can mean in sensitive times."

BE Award Recipient: Sakinah Smith
Department: Patient Access
Submitted by: Stacy Villafranco
BE Statement: Be Brilliant

Stacy Villafranco: “I am proud to nominate Sakinah for the Be Brilliant Award. As our Patient Access Supervisor, Sakinah’s leadership consistently goes above and beyond expectations and has a meaningful, positive impact on both her team and our organization.

Sakinah makes it a priority to build genuine, personal connections with her team. She is deeply invested in their success and is always looking for ways to help each individual grow and improve. One of her greatest strengths is her focus on developing future leaders. She takes the initiative to learn each team member’s unique learning style and creates individualized development plans so they can understand and learn in a way that is most effective and comfortable for them. This thoughtful approach empowers her team and fosters confidence, growth, and engagement.

In addition to supporting her team, Sakinah is equally committed to her own professional growth. She actively seeks opportunities to learn and expand her skill set, often volunteering to take on additional responsibilities. She stepped forward to learn how to teach education classes, demonstrating initiative and a willingness to contribute beyond her role.

Sakinah also enrolled in and successfully completed the Frontline Leadership Class, becoming the very first Sakinah representative to graduate from this program—an outstanding achievement that reflects her dedication, perseverance, and drive to excel. Furthermore, she has volunteered her time and remains actively involved in the Patient Experience Committee, contributing valuable insight and advocating for improvements that enhance patient care.

Sakinah truly exemplifies what it means to “Be Brilliant.” Her leadership, commitment to growth, and passion for developing others set a powerful example and make her exceptionally deserving of this recognition."

BE Award Recipient: Virginia Medina
Department: Perinatal
Submitted by: Dina Webber
BE Statement: Be a Force for Good

Dina Webber: “I am honored to nominate Virginia, for the Adventist Health Leader “Be Award” for Being a Force for Good. She is the kind of leader who doesn’t just lead from an office; she shows up, steps in, and makes a difference when it matters most.

Recently, Virginia came to the Mother-Baby unit to support a mother experiencing frightening symptoms that required transfer off the floor. She showed up for the patient, spoke with her compassionately, and made calls to ensure the mother felt informed and reassured, especially about being separated from her newborn. In a moment of fear and uncertainty, Virginia brought calm, clarity, and comfort.

That same day, only hours later, she rushed from her office in Labor & Delivery, where a patient was on the verge of delivering. Without hesitation, Virginia stepped in to catch the baby. She immediately recognized the need for resuscitation, called for NICU support, and stayed at the bedside, actively assisting until the newborn was stable.

This is who Virginia is every single day. She leads with heart (Be Love), takes ownership (Be a Mission Owner), creates a safe and supportive environment (Be Safe, Be Welcoming), and is always willing to step into the trenches alongside her team. She keeps her promises, expects excellence, and inspires all of us to be better. Virginia doesn’t just meet expectations; she exceeds them in ways that profoundly impact both patients and staff. She truly embodies what it means to “Be a Force for Good,” and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition."