Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center

Alondra Espitia is a great example of how Virginia Garcia’s Workforce Development program and tuition assistance benefits help us in growing and retaining our valued employees. The middle child of four whose parents immigrated from Zacatecas, Mexico, Alondra was born and raised in the Aloha/Beaverton area. “[My parents’] sacrifices allowed me to be a first-generation college student and [Virginia Garcia’s] tuition assistance allowed me to work and attend school at the same time.” At 16, Alondra began working part time at a retirement home and came to the realization that helping others gave her a sense of purpose. At 18, she began working at Virginia Garcia’s call center. When she learned about the Dental Assisting program being offered, she joined its first cohort. Alondra worked her way up from receptionist to Sterile Technician to DA I and now her current position of DA II at VG’s Beaverton at The Round location. Additionally, she serves as a part-time instructor for the very same PCC program that she attended. Although she is considering future specialization in either Radiology or Hygiene, Alondra is currently enjoying creating a safe and calm environment for patients who fear going to the dentist--so that the fear is changed to a positive view for the rest of their lives. As part of the Oregon Youth Challenge High School program, Alondra mentors a high school student in Bend—providing encouragement (and a great real-life example) of why it is important to remain in school. In her spare time, Alondra has fun with her 6 nephews (and soon-to-be first niece!), brunching (and bowling) with friends, and making bouquets out of Legos.

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth—a powerful reminder of freedom and the ongoing fight for equity. We’re also reflecting on the insightful conversations from our recent Juneteenth event, where we watched "The Black Starts"—a coming-of-age story of eight young Black men from Portland, OR, who travel to Ghana for a two-week leadership expedition led by the non-profit Word is Bond, reconnecting with their ancestral roots for the very first time. At Virginia Garcia, we are committed to providing equitable healthcare and support for all. We are dedicated to ongoing discussions on how to better serve Black communities and all those seeking healthcare. Let’s honor this day by continuing to uplift and empower our community. Together, we can create a healthier, more just future.  ——————————— Hoy celebramos Juneteenth, un poderoso recordatorio de la libertad y la lucha por la igualdad. También estamos reflexionando sobre las conversaciones reveladoras de nuestro reciente evento de Juneteenth, donde vimos "The Black Starts", una historia de maduración de ocho jóvenes afroamericanos de Portland, Oregón, que viajan a Ghana para una expedición de liderazgo de dos semanas dirigida por la organización Word is Bond, reconectando con sus raíces ancestrales por primera vez. En Virginia García, nos comprometemos a proporcionar asistencia médica y apoyo para todos de forma equitativa. Nos dedicamos a seguir reflexionando sobre cómo atender mejor a las comunidades afroamericanas y a todos los que buscan asistencia médica. Hagamos honor a este día y sigamos elevando y empoderando a nuestra comunidad. Juntos podemos crear un futuro más sano y más justo. Link: https://buff.ly/3xqVDrG #Juneteenth #CommunityHealth #HealthEquity #DiecinueveDeJunio #EquidadEnLaSalud

Today, we commemorate and reflect on the life and legacy of Virginia Garcia. Nearly 49 years ago, our community mourned her passing. Her legacy lives on through the dedication of our partners, providers, staff, and community members who continue to serve our mission with love and commitment. ———————————— Hoy conmemoramos y reflexionamos sobre la vida y el legado de Virginia García. Fue hace 49 años cuando nuestra comunidad lamentó su fallecimiento. Su legado vive a través de la dedicación de nuestros compañeros, personal y miembros de la comunidad que continúan desempeñando la misión de la organización con amor y dedicación.

Thanks to the The Oregon Community Foundation Foundation and Congresswoman Bonamici for hosting this critical discussion on Project Turnkey and the importance of caring for our houseless and at risk community. Great job to our Operations Director, Angie Hurley, for representing well.

Thanks to the The Oregon Community Foundation and Congresswoman Bonamici for hosting this critical discussion on Project Turnkey and the importance of caring for our houseless and at risk community. Great job to our Operations Director, Angie Hurley, for representing well.

We are so proud of our Chief People Officer, Rachel Li. Voted Portland's Top HR Leader by the Portland Business Journal, we celebrated her today. Virginia Garcia is lucky to have her as a leader! Congratulations Rachel.

June 1st marks the beginning of Pride Month! Whether through events, discussions, or acts of support, let's show our commitment to creating a world where everyone can live authentically with love, care, and in community. Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈 #pridemonth ———————————— El 1 de junio comienza el Mes del Orgullo. Ya sea a través de eventos, conversaciones o actos de apoyo, mostremos nuestro apoyo a la creación de un mundo en el que todos puedan vivir auténticamente con amor, respeto y en comunidad. ¡Feliz Mes del Orgullo!

Daniela Garcia de Leon is often the first person that visitors to Virginia Garcia’s Administrative offices in Hillsboro see upon their arrival. Her smile and positive energy brightens the atmosphere, even on a rainy, Monday morning! Daniela has worked as the Front Desk Receptionist for over a year and, in addition to greeting and directing visitors, she handles the mail and badging for all employees. After receiving healthcare services at one of the Virginia Garcia clinics, Daniela realized that she wanted to learn more about the organization. When she saw the job opening for the receptionist role, she thought that becoming a staff member would be a great way to accomplish that goal. Daniela is currently enjoying learning additional skills and taking on more responsibilities and looks forward to growing her career here. Both of Daniela's parents and grandparents immigrated from Mexico before she was born. She was raised in the Portland area along with her nine siblings. When she's not working, she loves to explore Oregon and spend time with her family, especially her grandparents, who mean the world to her. We are so grateful to Daniela for keeping the wheels turning and being a great asset to the Virginia Garcia team!

Join the Integrated Community Dental Assisting Program (ICDA) for a 9-month journey to become a skilled Dental Assistant. The program, running from September 2024 to June 2025, includes online coursework and Saturday labs in downtown Portland. Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center covers all program costs and offers employment as a Dental Assistant Apprentice at one of their clinics. Gain hands-on experience, classroom education, and Sterilization Technician training during a paid 40-hour week. After 9 months, you'll be ready to pass state exams and work as a Dental Assistant at Virginia Garcia. Apply now for this amazing opportunity to launch your dental assisting career! Apply: https://lnkd.in/er76JcPJ #DentalAssisting #ICDAProgram #HealthcareEducation

Hillsboro Primary Care Clinic Manager Laura ffitch (the lowercase "f" is the correct spelling from Old English) has always loved helping others and found her way to Virginia Garcia because it allows her to do this on a daily basis. She enjoys finding creative ways to support patients needing a variety of services and especially appreciates that Virginia Garcia "treats the whole person." Born in Cuernavaca of Mexico’s Morelos state, Laura arrived in the US at the age of five and grew up in Vancouver, WA. The importance of her Mexican heritage was highlighted when her parents noticed that Laura and her sister were “forgetting” their Spanish language skills at one point, and they returned to Cuernavaca for 3 years as a result. At the University of Oregon, Laura double-majored in Human Physiology and Psychology, with a minor in Spanish. She had worked for 5 years at a large hospital when a former manager told her about Virginia Garcia and she made the move in 2018 to become a Clinical Team Supervisor at VG's Beaverton clinic. Last year, Laura moved into the PCCM role at the Hillsboro clinic and, in addition to overseeing day-to-day operations there, she strives to make sure that staff enjoys coming to work each day and patients receive the highest quality of care possible. She enjoys coming up with new ideas, community partnerships, and collaborations to better support both staff and patient needs-- and she looks forward to growing and expanding the clinic to best meet all of those needs in the future. When not working, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and two children (ages 6 & 4), hiking, listening to audio books, and going to Jazz and Blues festivals. #cultivate