All-you-can-eat banana splits. Personalized worship services. Visits by a renowned speaker. The programs produced by and for our employees build some of the strongest teams in health care and help make up the character of Adventist Health.

Spiritual Care Flourishes in the Gold Country

At Sonora Regional Medical Center, Chaplain Bryan Lewis spends time caring for the spiritual health of employees and patients alike. Part of that care includes an annual week of spiritual emphasis, which in recent years has happened on a department-by-department basis.

"We found that for our clinical people, it's hard to get together. With staffing laws in California and the nature of patient care, it was impossible to adjust schedules to a traditional assembly format," said Lewis. So, the assembly traveled. The specialized programs—delivered by administration to individual departments—cater to the needs of the diverse staff.

"People really love it," he added. "The event brings us together as a family and has proven to be a real blessing, not only for individual spirits, but also for work relationships."

International Speaker Brings Community to Events at Southern California Hospital

White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles is dedicated to caring for people—body and soul. WWMC collaborated with local ministries to put together a unique week of spiritual emphasis. Partnering with community spiritual leaders, including international speaker and author Erwin McManus of Mosaic Ministries, WWMC helped creativity meet spirituality with the use of art, music, comedy, prayer and the spoken word.

"Having community volunteers join us in the celebrations was a wonderful blessing," said Nephtaly Valles, senior chaplain at WMMC.

Rural Medical Center Celebrates Hospital Week in Grand Fashion

Though many hospitals across the nation recognize National Hospital Week, none do it quite like Ukiah Valley Medical Center. For one week, each day is commemorated with a treat or treasure, from mountains of cookies and piles of fruit to banana splits and a gourmet breakfast. The point is to recognize employees and physicians for the important work they do all year.

Guest speakers and their spiritual messages make the week extra special. "We bring in charismatic speakers to uplift and inspire our employees," said Jendi Coursey, administrative director of marketing and communications for the Northern California facility. "Our goal is to energize staff and help folks focus on mission."

Beach Town Employees Take Health Care Abroad

The team at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach, Calif., is also mission-focused. During the summer, a group of employees joined a mission project on the island of Roatan, near Honduras. The group paid their own way and spent a week giving physical assessments to children and constructing a medical clinic.

"We gained an appreciation for what we have [in the U.S.]," said a spokesperson for the group. "We all left Roatan feeling extremely blessed and with a passion to continue helping others in need."