SALISBURY – Ashton Vazquez, patient care technician in the Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU), has been selected as TidalHealth Peninsula Regional’s June 2024 Sunshine Award recipient for his professionalism, kindness and compassion shown to a patient during a difficult and emotional time.

His nomination, below, was written by a nurse on the unit:

Ashton is a prime example of exactly how a healthcare worker should be. While working, he is constantly on the go and will answer all call bells, regardless if they are going off on another station.

Ashton will often do things for patients before even being asked. On one particular day, we had a patient who was very emotional and was having a hard time after her open-heart surgery. Ashton answered her call bell, saw how distraught she was, and kneeled down in front of the patient. He held her hand and talked to her to comfort and encourage her.

This is just one of the many examples of how amazing Ashton is and how much we love having him as our tech. He is going to make an amazing nurse one day!

Vazquez was honored in a ceremony before his coworkers and presented with fresh flowers, a pin and a certificate recognizing his exceptional devotion to team and patient care.