Community Recognizes Outstanding Achievements of Virginia Garcia’s Leaders Araceli Gaytan and Gil Muñoz

May 16, 2012 -- The Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation and Health Center (Virginia Garcia) is proudly celebrating the recognition of our top leaders. This week, Araceli Gaytan, Virginia Garcia’s Chief Financial Officer was named as a nominee for CFO of the year by the Portland Business Journal. Earlier this month, Gil Muñoz received an "OPCA Health Leadership - Health Equities" award for promoting equity in
Washington and Yamhill counties.

Araceli began working at Virginia Garcia in 1987 as an Administrative Assistant and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 1989. She has held that position since, managing the organization’s growth from annual budgets of less than $800,000 to this year’s projected $28.4 million.

“I’m honored to receive this recognition,” said Araceli. “Virginia Garcia is like a family to me and I want to share this honor with everyone who works so hard to provide the best care to those who need it most.”

Gil has worked for Virginia Garcia since 1991 and has been Chief Executive Officer since 2001. During this time, he has stewarded the organization through multiple site expansions, incorporation of electronic medical records, and transformation into a patient-centered health care home.

Under Gil and Araceli’s leadership, Virginia Garcia has grown from serving 7,000 patients at two sites to serving 35,000 patients at four primary care clinics, three dental clinics, two school-based health centers and a mobile outreach clinic. In the fall of this year, Virginia Garcia will cut the ribbon on a new, 35,000-square-foot Wellness Center in Cornelius, which will serve vulnerable Oregonians, provide jobs for community members and anchor Cornelius' Main Street vision.

“Gil and Araceli’s leadership is visionary,” commented Christine Rontal, Executive Director of Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation. “They have championed so much innovation at Virginia Garcia – from implementation of new service delivery models, to adoption of lean process management techniques – all in an effort to ensure high-quality
and efficient care. It’s inspiring.”

For 37 years, Virginia Garcia has been delivering comprehensive and culturally appropriate primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill Counties, with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farmworkers and others facing barriers to receiving health care.

For more information about Virginia Garcia, please visit www.virginiagarcia.org.