(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Ketchikan High School's Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) honored PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center CEO Patrick Branco as their “Guardian Angel” on Monday, October 22.

Branco, who has presented scores of Guardian Angel awards to caregivers at Ketchikan Medical Center, was touched to receive his first Guardian Angel award from this group of students who are so near to his heart. Branco along with Lanetta Lundberg, vice president of culture and people, both act as sponsors for the group, taking an active role in its fundraising and arranging for job shadowing opportunities at the hospital and clinics.

HOSA coach Shawnmarie Carpenter was happy to present Branco with a certificate and Guardian Angel lapel pin saying to the students, “He wants you to be excited about medicine. He wants you to be excited about college. He wants you to be excited about your life.”

HOSA Chapter President Brianna Holman shared a moving statement about how Branco has gone above and beyond the call of duty to walk in partnership with the HOSA team. He and many others at the hospital and around the community helped with fundraising efforts to make sure that each student was able to travel to the state competition in Anchorage.

Branco was visibly moved by the award and kind words and jokingly commented that he had “ulterior motives.” He hopes to see many HOSA students return to our community in the next 10 years to serve at our local medical center.

Source of News: 

PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center
www.peacehealth.org/ketchikan

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