Clovis Community Medical Center’s CEO, Craig S. Castro, was named “Citizen of the Year” and Clovis Community’s Guild was given the “Community Service” award at this year’s Clovis Hall of Fame and Community Awards Gala.

The evening honored Clovis’ finest — those who have shown courage, commitment and leadership in helping shape the city of Clovis. 
 

With Castro at the helm, Clovis Community Medical Center has transformed through a $300 million renovation and expansion. It’s one of the largest development projects in the region’s history, and it has made Clovis Community the only comprehensive hospital in the area with all-private rooms. It’s also the largest expansion investment Community Medical Centers has made since completing the six-story Table Mountain Rancheria Trauma Center at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno in 2007.

Castro’s detailed attention to the patient experience includes beautifully landscaped grounds and patient amenities like room-service style meals, restaurant quality dining, the latest in communication and entertainment technology, as well as the all-private rooms for the patients.
 

For more than three decades, Castro has served in leadership positions in healthcare and won numerous awards for his management plans and programs. He is the chairperson of the Central California Health Information Exchanges, a co-founder of the Central California Society of Information Management and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Clovis Community Medical Center Guild was also recognized for contributing to the lives of Clovis residents through their untiring volunteer efforts at the hospital and philanthropic deeds.

The Guild delivered a huge surprise to Clovis Community’s baby nursery with a $250,000 pledge that will benefit the more than 3,400 babies born in Clovis each year and their families. Clovis resident and Guild president Joyce Morrelli announced the gift at a recent board meeting. This gift raises the Guild to the highest donor recognition level for lifetime giving of well over $1 million. The 40-member volunteer group is now part of the prestigious ‘Leon S. Peters Society,’ the Community network’s highest recognition level.
 

Since its beginnings in 1954, the Guild has volunteered more than 2,500 hours per month and worked on special projects to help the medical center. A gift shop within the hospital is run entirely by the volunteers.  Funds from the gift shop are donated back to the hospital. Over time, the Guild has given thousands of hours and donations to help provide for expansion projects, cardiac catheterization labs, waiting rooms, new televisions for patient rooms and the water fountain that welcomes guests to the new Clovis Community campus entrance.
 

And each year Guild members hand out three $1,500 scholarships to high school seniors from Clovis schools and help with the Kiwanis and Rodeo Association’s golf tournament.
 

Ginny Joslin reported this story. She can be reached at MedWatchToday@CommunityMedical.org.