Irvine Residents Honored with Saddleback Medical Center Foundation Scholarships
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center employees were awarded more than $44,000 in donor-funded scholarships, including two Irvine residents. L-R, MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center CEO Marcia Manker, scholarship recipient and guest speaker Christian Dela Rosa of Irvine, scholarship donor Bill Stephens, and Saddleback Medical Center Foundation President Christy Ward. Dela Rosa is a previous and current scholarship award winner earning his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Photo credit MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Foundation
Two proud Irvinites, Christian Dela Rosa and Kristen Lan, were among the fifteen MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center employees who received scholarships to further their education at the 47th annual Saddleback Medical Center Foundation (SMCF) Scholarship Awards Ceremony. The foundation awarded a total of $44,100 to employees pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, with the aim of supporting their professional development.
Dela Rosa, a recipient of the Bill Stephens Nursing Scholarship, delivered a speech during the ceremony. He shared his journey from serving 12 years in the Marine Corps, including tours in Iraq, to transitioning into a career in nursing. Currently working as a clinical educator in Emergency Services at Saddleback Medical Center, Dela Rosa is also pursuing his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. He credited the generosity of the foundation’s donors, especially Bill Stephens, for helping him reach his educational and career goals.
“I am deeply grateful for the donors whose generosity has supported me not once, but twice, through these scholarships,” said Dela Rosa.
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center CEO Marcia Manker with Kristen Lan of Irvine, the Gary and Mary Damsker Healthcare Endowed Scholarship recipient. Photo credit MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center
Kristen Lan, another Irvine resident and a recipient of the Gary and Mary Damsker Endowed Healthcare Scholarship, works in Saddleback’s Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Lan, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), was recognized for her dedication to patient care and her commitment to furthering her expertise in healthcare.
The scholarships, which are funded through donations to the SMCF, aim to enhance the level of care at Saddleback Medical Center by supporting the professional growth of its employees. CEO Marcia Manker emphasized the importance of these educational opportunities, stating, “Thanks to our donors’ investments, we can support Saddleback employees in achieving their educational goals and enhance the level of expertise at Saddleback.”
With a focus on developing leadership skills and increasing expertise in critical care areas, the SMCF scholarships play a pivotal role in helping employees like Dela Rosa and Lan achieve their academic goals, all while contributing to Saddleback Medical Center’s high standards of patient care.
In total, over $1.3 million has been awarded through the foundation’s scholarship program, reinforcing Saddleback’s commitment to providing top-tier healthcare in South Orange County.