March 2026 Honoree
Erin Villareal, BSN, RN
Erin is instrumental in the leadership role she took on my behalf as my patient advocate while in PACU. She asked me the simplest of questions that many in the clinical arena forget to ask because they are so busy with high workloads. ”What do you need, Annie?” It is so simple yet, in my experience, rarely asked. It was so refreshing to feel I had a voice in my own care.
As such, when I told her what I needed, she advocated on my behalf, sharing my needs with the surgeons, and they listened to her and agreed to focus on my needs and approved of Erin’s suggestions. Erin treated me as if I were a valued member of her own family. Compassion should be Erin’s middle name.
As a type one diabetic, Erin is acutely aware and incredibly knowledgeable concerning my autoimmune disease. She has personal experience managing others with this incredibly complex disease and understanding the challenges diabetics face in life as well as during and after surgery. I could see her easily being a valued member of the Diabetes Center and caring for additional patients here at the COH.
She treated me as a person and not just the disease. So many clinical staff members run tests and treat patients by numbers. They forget that in medical school, the most important individual to give information to is the patient and not to get stuck in the weeds, only focusing on test results. Although these are critical for care, the patient must be included in clinical decisions. I always felt Erin was sensitive to this and is a phenomenal nurse.
Integrity is something I demand of anyone in the healthcare industry. I am Vice President of Sales for a Healthcare company and find that it is the cornerstone of any excellent employee. Erin possesses the five core tenets of integrity, often cited as foundational in both academic and professional settings. She showed that she is honest, trustworthy, fair, respectful, and responsible. These pillars ensure ethical behavior, accountability, and the consistent application of moral standards. Erin has all these in spades.
Erin is obviously inclusive in that she took a macro approach to my care….my mind, my body, and my condition…..and state at the time.
In closing, the COH is truly lucky to have Erin Villareal as a staff member, but most importantly, I was lucky to have been cared for by Erin. I highly recommend her for this award and hope she receives the accolades associated with it.
As such, when I told her what I needed, she advocated on my behalf, sharing my needs with the surgeons, and they listened to her and agreed to focus on my needs and approved of Erin’s suggestions. Erin treated me as if I were a valued member of her own family. Compassion should be Erin’s middle name.
As a type one diabetic, Erin is acutely aware and incredibly knowledgeable concerning my autoimmune disease. She has personal experience managing others with this incredibly complex disease and understanding the challenges diabetics face in life as well as during and after surgery. I could see her easily being a valued member of the Diabetes Center and caring for additional patients here at the COH.
She treated me as a person and not just the disease. So many clinical staff members run tests and treat patients by numbers. They forget that in medical school, the most important individual to give information to is the patient and not to get stuck in the weeds, only focusing on test results. Although these are critical for care, the patient must be included in clinical decisions. I always felt Erin was sensitive to this and is a phenomenal nurse.
Integrity is something I demand of anyone in the healthcare industry. I am Vice President of Sales for a Healthcare company and find that it is the cornerstone of any excellent employee. Erin possesses the five core tenets of integrity, often cited as foundational in both academic and professional settings. She showed that she is honest, trustworthy, fair, respectful, and responsible. These pillars ensure ethical behavior, accountability, and the consistent application of moral standards. Erin has all these in spades.
Erin is obviously inclusive in that she took a macro approach to my care….my mind, my body, and my condition…..and state at the time.
In closing, the COH is truly lucky to have Erin Villareal as a staff member, but most importantly, I was lucky to have been cared for by Erin. I highly recommend her for this award and hope she receives the accolades associated with it.
Thank you, Erin, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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