Desert Messenger

14 www.DesertMessenger.com January 19, 2022 Zafer Genc is new Hospital CEO EXPERT SERVICE ON: Refrigerators • Furnaces • Roof A/C • Water Heaters • Electrical LP • Fresh Water • Plumbing • Inverters • Solar HARRY'S R.V. REPAIR Harry Rice BLM APPROVED! 225-253-6581 Parker, AZ - Zafer Genc to Succeed Kevin Brown as La Paz Regional Hospital CEO. Cheryl Montijo, Chairperson of La Paz Regional Hospital, announced the promotion of Zafer Genc, PharmD, MBA, to Chief Executive Offi cer. "Dr. Genc has shown a remark- able knowledge of our hospital and has been involved in all aspects of its operations. As a local resident, he is committed to our mission and vision, and works with hospital and community providers to promote health and wellness," she said. "In his previous position as Pharmacy Director, Dr. Genc was a clinical consultant to physicians for medi- cation and pharmacological thera- pies, and actively involved with CO- VID treatment protocols." Dr. Genc has been a Parker resi- dent since 1997, graduating from Parker High School. He received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from South College School of Pharmacy in Ten- nessee, and his Masters in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. He joined the staff at La Paz Regional in 2015 as Director of Pharmacy and Infu- sion Services. In addition, he joined the faculty of Grand Canyon Univer- sity in 2018 as an adjunct instructor for the online Advanced Pharma- cology class for nurse practitioners students. He was a past commit- tee member of PAACE and served as a member of the Town of Parker Parks and Recreation Board from 2017-2020. He has two children. Kevin Brown, CEO, resigned in December to pursue other career options. During his tenure, 2015 to 2021, the hospital grew with the addition of the outpatient building that houses River Health Clinic, Urgent Care, and the outpatient Laboratory. The hospital got a face- lift with new fl oors, walls and beds. He worked to upgrade the hospital utilities and upgrading the HVAC system is in process. He was re- sponsible for the hospital's COVID response, having almost two years of staffi ng, supply and reporting is- sues related to the pandemic. "Kevin has done an outstanding job during a monumentally tough time in healthcare, and he has our appreciation and gratitude," noted Ms. Montijo. "We are thankful that Kevin has agreed to stay on for three months during the transition." Dr. Genc assumed the position on January 1. His fi rst months will be spent working with hospital provid- ers and staff on improvement pro- cesses, preparing for the hospital's triennial accreditation survey, and recruitment of critical staff. Scholarship Fundraiser, Evening Meal, Auction & Entertainment Quartzsite Roadrunner's Gem & Mineral Club and the Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA) invites you to our Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at 5pm Tuesday, February 1st at the QIA, 235 Iron- wood Ave., Quartzsite, Az. The purpose of this Fundraiser is to raise money for local high school seniors so they have fi nancial help to attend college or trade school. We have been able to help several students each year thanks to the community for their support. This year we are expecting around 8 ap- plications. This will be a night that you will enjoy with Louise Rhinevault's fa- mous spaghetti and homemade desserts! There will be a $10 donation at the door which entitles you to a de- licious meal, silent auction, raffl e drawings and great music by the Jade Street Band, formerly the Rock'T Band. You all know that's a good night of music and dancing! If you have items to donate for the raffl e or silent auction please drop them off at the Rock Club offi ce and designate that it's for Scholar- ship Fundraiser. You can also bring them to the QIA the day of the fund- raiser by 2pm. Please join us and together we can make this a successful year for help- ing our students. Below is a letter from one of our previous recipients who also plans to speak at our fundraiser. "From the desk of Gary Rhine- vault :Don't forget, when you write date, it is now 2022. I didn't get used to 2021, oh well. On a more se- rious note, all of you are aware our club has a scholarship program that is more active than ever before. We will be voting soon on a change to the scholarship section of our by- laws. To that end, I have included a letter that we received from one of our scholarship recipients that pretty much says it all. 04/22/2021 To whom it may con- cern, I would like to say thank you for the continued support the Gem and Mineral Club has given me for my education. Not only is your scholar- ship a great help for my fi nances but it reminds me that I have many in- dividuals who support me and want me to fi nish my education. It gives me continued motivation to pursue my dreams and achieve my goals. I am currently in my last week of my fourth semester of nursing school. I am still set to graduate in December of this year with my Bachelors of Nursing Science. Despite challenges with COVID I have gained plenty of experience in school thus far. I have been in the operating room, medical-surgi- cal fl oor, ICU, NICU, rehabilitation centers, crisis response centers, pe- diatric fl oor, labor and delivery, and even the county detention center. This next semester is my precep- torship where I gain more indepen- dence and work closely with a nurse wherever I may be placed. It means a lot that a club such as the Gem Na Mineral Club supports the stu- dents in Quartzsite and surround- ing areas. I refl ect back on how I felt before leaving for college and remember the fear that I had for the future. Some of this fear was allevi- ated by the support I gained from the club and its members. Words simply cannot describe how grate- ful I am. Once again thank you! Best Regards, Jasmine Tinoco Hope to see you there! Gem & Mineral Club updates DEADLINE DEADLINE : WED. WED. FEB FEB 4 TH TH TH for for edition edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com

• Cover