Local Mission Hospital Employee Gets Service Award

Mission Hospital recently presented its annual Values in Action awards to honor those who best exemplify its values of dignity, excellence, justice and service.

Veronica Sanchez, 34, a Laguna Niguel resident, was presented with the Service Award for her work as an education representative, professional education at both campuses of Mission Hospital. According to hospital officials, Sanchez is known for her genuine smile and "a wonderful way of balancing several requests at once, while treating each encounter as sacred."

According to colleagues, Sanchez always maintains a positive outlook no matter how stressful things are. They cite her quick responsiveness and calm demeanor.

For the 2011 Values in Action awards, Mission Hospital received 1,055 nominations from 639 individuals across the hospital’s many departments.

Laguna Niguel Patch: How do you feel about receiving the award?

Veronica Sanchez: I feel honored and blessed.

Patch: Tell us about your work at the hospital.

Sanchez: I have worked for Mission for 13 years. My daughter Kayla was 6 weeks old when I started working here. I worked in another department prior to education. I have been with education for six years. As a an education representative, I work the front desk. I am in charge of the room reservations for the conference center and for the rooms at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach. I answer phones, help people when they walk in the office, and database entry. I help with audiovisual, I support my manager and the educators the best I can.

Patch: Any hobbies? What do you do in your spare time?

Sanchez: My daughters are my hobby. My spare time is spent with my family at the soccer field. My husband and girls both play soccer.

Patch: Tell us about your family.

Sanchez: I have been married to my husband, Leo, for 18 years. We have two beautiful daughters: Samantha, 16 and Kayla, 13. I have one sister who is younger than me, and my mom, whom I dearly love. Then we have my husband’s family, who never want to leave my house. My co-workers call my house Hotel Sanchez. I love it.

Patch: What are your future goals?

Sanchez: My goals are to get my daughters through high school and then college. Once we achieve that goal, I would like to go back to school. I love my job, but I would be a greater asset if I learned more. I am a fast learner.