Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center celebrated the professionals who have dedicated their careers to improving the health of others during National Hospital Week. Dozens of hospital employees were honored at the annual Service Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 7. Among them, Joyce Amador was recognized for 50 years of service to Tenet Healthcare and its predecessor companies. The Santa Maria resident spent the first 37 years of her career at the former Valley Community Hospital in Santa Maria and has been employed at Sierra Vista since 1999.
Left to right: Candy Markwith, Joyce Amador and Cathy Fraser.
Amador is one of five full-time and one part-time Tenet employees nationally with 50 or more years of service among Tenet’s 67,000 employees. She started out as an aid on the medical floor and worked in nearly every department including ICU, OB, the nursery and ER before becoming a surgical tech. She then switched over to sterile processing and for a time was materials director at Valley Hospital. Since joining Sierra Vista, she has worked in the material management department.
Sierra Vista Chief Executive Office, Candace “Candy” Markwith, was also recognized for her dedication to the healthcare industry. She has been with Tenet Healthcare for 35 years and recently announced her intention to retire as CEO at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center effective September 15, 2013. Markwith started her career as a weekend shift pharmacist at Twin Cities Community Hospital and quickly rose to leadership positions. During her tenure at Sierra Vista the hospital has earned numerous quality and service designations and awards including becoming San Luis Obispo County’s first-ever officially designated Trauma Center.
Cathy Fraser, senior vice president of human resources for Tenet Healthcare, traveled from Dallas to congratulate both Candy & Joyce on their years of service to Tenet Healthcare.