Adventist Health and Rideout Celebrates Summer 2025 Be Award Recipients

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: Dr. Anton Kurdin
Department: Surgery
Submitted by: Yuri Toche & Spencer James
BE Statement: Be Welcoming, Be a Force for Good

Spencer James: “Dr. Kurdin is very knowledgeable and efficient in the operating room. He goes above and beyond for patients and staff. He is very "welcoming" every morning with acknowledging staff. He is a delight to work with and be around. I appreciate Dr. Kurdin.”

Yuri Toche: “I have been working in the OR for over 18 years. Dr. Kurdin is by far one of the best I have worked with. His professionalism goes far beyond the operating room. Whether it's staying late to ensure a patient is recovering well, mentoring young medical professionals, or contributing to medical research and education, Dr Kurdin demonstrates what it means to be truly dedicated. Patients and colleagues alike speak of Dr. Kurdin with deep respect and gratitude. Known for his kind demeanor, attentive listening, and respectful bedside manner, Dr. Kurdin brings comfort and confidence to every patient interaction. It is rare to find a surgeon who combines exceptional technical skill and such unwavering empathy. Dr. Kurdin embodies everything the Be Award seeks to honor: kindness, expertise, and an enduring commitment to making a difference.”

BE Award Recipient: Jailene Reyes-Emata
Department: Lab
Submitted by: Rogelio Suliva
BE Statement: Be Brilliant

Rogelio Suliva: “Jailene exemplifies the Adventist Health value of "Be Brilliant" through her unwavering dedication, expertise, and proactive contributions to the Blood Bank section of our laboratory. Her commitment to excellence is evident in the countless hours she works beyond her shift, her meticulous work in editing the Lucidoc documentation, and her leadership in improving critical processes such as the MTP protocol and reducing blood product wastage.

Jailene consistently goes above and beyond—taking calls at any hour and offering support whenever it’s needed. Her responsiveness and reliability have made her an indispensable part of our team. She played a pivotal role in the success of our Laboratory Week, and her positive energy, collaborative spirit, and openness to feedback have made her a beloved colleague.

Her brilliance not only elevates the quality of our work but also inspires those around her. We are truly grateful for her contributions and proud to have her as part of our AHRO team.”

BE Award Recipient: Robyn Crabtree
Department: Assisted Living
Submitted by: Brandy Strahl
BE Statement: Be a Force for Good

Brandy Strahl: “Be a Force for Good - Be courageous, Take action!

On Saturday, May 31, Robyn noticed a resident chocking and turning blue, she was brave and quickly took action by administering the Heimlich which dislodged the food. Things like this do not happen often in Assisted Living. We are all proud of Robyn’s quick reaction and proper use of the Heimlich. EMS was called, and the resident was cleared. Robyn should be recognized for courageous heroism. Thank you!”

BE Award Recipient: Sherry Pleasant
Department: 3 East
Submitted by: Manraj Sangha
BE Statement: Be Love

Manraj Sangha: “Be Love/Be Safe- Sherry represents this daily with her actions and the way she treats, staff, co-workers, patients, and patient families. She is always going out of her way to make sure people are cared for. Most importantly, she is empathetic and understanding and always a safe place for us to come to. You can vent she does not judge, and she has some of the best advice.

Be Brilliant- Sherry continues to represent this by always being a source for knowledge. If you need to know anything Sherry usually knows the answer, or she will point you in the right direction.

Be a Mission Owner- Sherry just goes above and beyond and makes our jobs as nurses easier when she is ward clerk. She is quick to respond, will assist in any way possible, and she ensures our orders are accurate by recognizing any duplicates and updating our sheets to have the most accurate and correct information on them.

Be Welcoming- Sherry welcomes everyone. She gets along with everyone. There isn't anybody that has worked with her that can say anything bad about her. She is so pleasant to be around. She is kind, respectful, and approachable.

Be a Force for Good- Sherry does a lot of work in the community outside of the hospital often making snacks for the homeless. She volunteers at her church, and she lives a life of honesty and integrity. They truly do not make them like Sherry! She is an angel on this earth.”

BE Award Recipient: Laura Pendergrass
Department: Nutritional Services
Submitted by: Jasmeen Kaur
BE Statement: Be Love

Jasmeen Kaur: “I am honored to nominate Laura for the BE award in recognition of how beautifully she embodies the BE statements Be Love and Be Welcoming in everything she does. Laura consistently goes above and beyond the regular scope of her role in the cafeteria grill by creating a warm, caring environment for everybody who comes her way.

Laura is more than just the person behind the grill - she is the heart of that space. She greets everyone with genuine smile, speaks with kindness, and treats each person with utmost respect. What sets Laura apart is the love and care she pours into her work. Not only is the food she prepares always delicious, but the experience of receiving it from her is what people remember most. She takes the times to even learn our regular orders, and make each interaction feel personal and uplifting - even on our hardest days.

Laura doesn't just serve meals - she serves moments of connection, comfort and humanity. Her presence makes the cafeteria feel less like workplace and more like a place where we are seen and appreciated and cared for. This kind of love and welcoming spirit cannot be taught-it is something she brings naturally, and it leaves a lasting impact on everyone she meets.

For these reasons and more, Laura is truly deserving of the BE Award. She exemplifies the core values of our organization and remind us all, daily, of the power of kindness, respect, and human connection."

BE Award Recipient: Rebecca (Becky) Cottrell
Department: Cath Lab
Submitted by: L. Pauls (Patient)
BE Statement: Be Love

Patient: “I was laying in my bed, waiting for the doctor to come in to release me. When all of a sudden three doctors came in and said I needed to have an angiogram - it shocked me. I had a split decision to have this done by these doctors; I was very leery. I called my fiancé to see if I should have this procedure and he said yes so, I said OK. I was so scared. They got me together quickly, and then they took me down the stairs and through the halls to the room where this procedure would be done. I cried all the way there I was terrified. The guys explained to me what was going to happen, and it didn't comfort me.

We got in the room, and they got everything set up. I was still crying. They asked me what music I liked. I said Christian music, and they turned on the music. I was still terrified. Then, right before I was to be put under, a nurse bent down and prayed in my ear. That brought me such comfort that I relaxed, and then the procedure continued. Then, I woke up. I am so eternally grateful for that nurse giving me that prayer to have strength to continue with the procedure. Thank you, Becky, so much. I really appreciate it. I think you deserve this award. You'll never know how much this means to me. You were a blessing."

BE Award Recipient: Sandra Gomez
Department: Courtyards
Submitted by: Brandy Strahl
BE Statement: Be a Mission Owner

Brandy Strahl: “Sandra is a Med Tech at The Courtyard. We received the following note from a resident's daughter:

'I would like to compliment Sandra. My mother had a UTI and was very sick. Due to a mix up with pharmacy her medication was not delivered for several days. Sandra was the first to notice her medication was not delivered. Due to her diligence and many phone calls to me, pharmacy and doctor, my mother finally got the medication late Saturday evening. We were able to avoid a hospital visit solely because of Sandra's attention to details and following through. She is an asset and great compliment to your company. She is a great example of excellence in patient care, Respectfully, Lucretia.'

This is a perfect example of how Sandra owns her role as a Med Tech. Her diligence and tenacity is how she inspires health, wholeness, and hope. We are proud to have Sandra on our team, caring for our residents.

BE Award Recipient: Shannon McRobb
Department: Nutritional Services
Submitted by: Sarah Sharp
BE Statement: Be a Force for Good

Sarah Sharp: “I want to nominate Shannon McRobb because he is an amazing leader and always willing to help. Whenever I need catering or setup in the café, Shannon always says “YES” and does his best to make it happen.

Every month, Shannon sets up for the award ceremony before I even get a chance to come help. Whenever I ask for food and drinks for a meeting I’m hosting, he works hard to make sure everything is ready.

Just last week, I had a meeting in Yuba City and Shannon was providing snacks and drinks. I was going to pick them up myself, but Shannon called me and said he had some free time and would deliver the snacks and drinks to Yuba City for me to save me time.

I really enjoy working with Shannon because he’s helpful, kind, and dependable. He deserves this award!”

BE Award Recipient: Dr. Kristopher Langheinrich
Department: Interventional Radiology
Submitted by: Mandy Purewal
BE Statement: Be a Force for Good

Mandy Purewal: “We are honored to nominate Dr. Langheinrich for the BE Award in recognition of his extraordinary dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to patient care.

On the day in question, we were caring for a critically ill young woman suffering from a massive GI bleed. Over the course of several hours, she received more than 40 units of blood products. Her condition was rapidly deteriorating, and she urgently required an interventional radiology procedure to survive. Unfortunately, the physician on call was unable to perform the procedure, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to secure an emergency transfer—hours passed with no facility accepting her.

The situation had become dire. This patient had only a few hours to live without intervention.

That’s when IR called Dr. Langheinrich — who was on vacation at the time. He agreed to come in, cutting his vacation short to save a life. What was anticipated to be a one-hour procedure turned into nearly four grueling hours. Despite the complexity and difficulty, Dr. Langheinrich never gave up. He remained calm, focused, and determined—and the procedure was successful.

There is no doubt: without Dr. Langheinrich that day, this patient would not be alive that day.

Dr. Langheinrich embodies every one of the BE Statements. He truly was a force for good, putting the needs of the patient above his own, demonstrating selflessness, clinical excellence, and an unshakable commitment to doing what’s right. His actions are the very essence of what the BE Award stands for."

BE Award Recipient: Eric Cooper
Department: Cath Lab
Submitted by: Co-worker
BE Statement: Be Brilliant

Co-worker: “Just trying to make casual conversation, I asked my nurse lead how her class went last night. I knew she was in the Frontline Clinical Leader Certification Program and had didactic sessions every Tuesday. She immediately lit up like I’d just asked if she wanted free concert tickets to Walker Hayes.

“Oh, it was amazing!” she exclaimed. “Yesterday was conflict resolution and Eric taught it. He was phenomenal! He covered the five ‘why’s’ and…”

And that was the moment I mentally zoned out. Because I’ve taught plenty of classes, and not once has she described them with such enthusiasm. “Phenomenal”? Really?

She finished her rave review and looked at me, waiting for a response. So, I asked, with a bruised ego, “What made the class so great?”

Her answer? Basically, a TED Talk: “He’s so outgoing. Passionate. Told personal stories. Incredible public speaker. Articulate. Well-spoken.” I half-expected her to say she was starting a fan club.

Trying to recover, I offered a weak jab. “Well, I doubt he teaches other departments that stuff…”

She didn’t miss a beat: “He did! He said he taught conflict resolution to L&D—and that’s not even his department! He said he’d be happy to come teach ours too!”

So now I’m here, writing up Eric ‘s nomination for a Be Award. Not because he’s smart. Not because he’s charming. But because he somehow managed to humble me and teach half the hospital. But in all seriousness, the brilliant part about all this is his willingness to share his knowledge with complete strangers, purely to support their personal growth.

Kudos to you, Eric. And I will no longer be teaching any classes.

BE Award Recipient: Amdeep Kaur
Department: ICU
Submitted by: Jeanie Chung
BE Statement: Be a Force for Good

Jeanie Chung: “I'd like to nominate Amdeep for Be a Force for Good award. The reason she deserves this award is because she advocated for a comfort care patient who was struggling to breathe. The patient was on another unit, and she was covering rapid response that night. As she was performing routine rounds on this unit, she could hear that a patient was struggling to breathe and struggling to be comfortable. She asked about the patient and discovered that the patient was comfort care status and awaiting placement in a hospice program. She spoke with the nurse and the charge nurse to make sure that the patient has the appropriate medications in place to treat her dyspnea and/or pain. She discovered that the patient still had continuous IVFs running (possibly contributing to the dyspnea) and that she still had scheduled medications ordered that did not align with her goals of care. She advocated to the patient's primary RN to ask for more pain medication as the ordered meds were not treating the symptoms. She even contacted the covering physician herself to ensure that the IV Fluids were discontinued and that the scheduled medications, not routinely used for comfort care, were discontinued.

She made it a point to follow up consistently with the patient and her care nurse throughout the night to ensure that the patient's comfort was, in fact, being addressed. She didn't have to do any of this. Her role as a rapid response nurse did not require her to intervene for comfort care patients. But her heart could not just listen to this patient struggling and she was led to intervene. It takes Being a Force for Good to fight for our end-of-life patients. It's all too easy to overlook the care of these patients because of their status. We need to remember not only is saving a life important, but preserving dignity with death is equally important. Amdeep understands this and that is why she deserves this nomination.”