Doctors Hospital Chief Operating Officer Carmen Silva was lauded for her 25 years of service as a nursing supervisor and ultimately moving up into administration.

Three men who worked alongside Silva for many of those years stood beside her in front of an audience of hospital staffers Wednesday gently roasting her for her guidance over the years.

Silva told of her first year at the Manteca facility when her intent was to only stay for a year at the hospital that she felt was too small.  But that one year grew into many more, she said, and she couldn’t think of leaving.  Silva said she felt the administration was looking for a soft and rather meek individual, “but they got me instead.”

Silva has been noted for her strong leadership throughout the years at Doctors.  The three men added that they could attest to that ability that she honed on them.

They noted that while they didn’t all accrue 25 years as she had done, they had collectively put in a total of 48 years under much of her leadership as she waved off many of their memories as to what actually had happened under her watch.

Pins are usually awarded to nurses, medical and clerical staff and receptionists to wear on the uniforms representing their years of service, but this year was different.  They received a variety of electronic gifts instead from tablets to, in one case, an iHome charging station that doubled as a digital stereo radio.

Human resource officer Denise Johnson organized the event and acted as its mistress of ceremonies throughout the more than 40 awards presentations.

Doctors Hospital is unique with its family of professionals’ atmosphere who have continued to operate together as a collective team in meeting their goals throughout the facility in supporting its many patients since 1962.