follow your heart

MADERA, Calif. – After nearly two decades of helping young patients feel at home inside Valley Children’s Hospital, Juanita Marquez is retiring in May, closing a chapter defined by comfort, joy and connection. Marquez, who was born and raised in…

Leading Pulmonologist Reflects on 35-Year Journey and Nationally-Ranked Program

March 5, 2026

MADERA, Calif. – When Dr. Sudhakar Reddivalam enters a room to see a patient at Valley Children’s, he’s reminded why he has dedicated more than three decades to pediatric pulmonology. “When you come in here, you see those kids and…

Dr. Edmund To smiles in front of a play structure at Valley Children's Hospital.

From Classroom to Clinic: Former Teacher Finds His Calling in Pediatrics

January 7, 2026

MADERA. Calif. – Dr. Edmund To spent nearly a decade shaping young minds in the classroom. Today, he’s shaping young lives in the exam room and guiding families toward healthier futures. As a pediatric resident at Valley Children’s, Dr. To traded…

Chelsea Harkness stands and smiles inside Valley Children's Hospital in Madera.

Former Valley Children’s Patient Now Leads Innovation Lab to Improve Pediatric Care

December 4, 2025

MADERA, Calif. – Chelsea Harkness grew up walking the halls of Valley Children’s Hospital as a patient battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Today, she’s back in those same hallways – but now she’s leading efforts to innovate and improve care for…

A nurse at Valley Children's looks down at a table as she prepares for a procedure.

One Line at a Time: Leading Vascular Access with Compassion and Ingenuity

October 17, 2025

MADERA, Calif. — The vascular access team at Valley Children’s doesn’t just place lines, they build trust with patients and families — and Erica Guzman sees every patient visit as a chance to make a difference. As a charge nurse…

Valley Children’s OB-GYN Helps Families Stay Local for Complex Pregnancy Care

September 30, 2025

FRESNO, Calif. – In the heart of California’s Central Valley, Dr. Daniel Hernandez and Valley Children’s Healthcare are helping keep families close to home by providing specialized care for mothers with complex pregnancies. “We try to keep Central Valley patients…

IT Expert Uses 3D Printing to Lift Spirits and Improve Pediatric Care

September 16, 2025

MADERA, Calif. — Eric Trunnelle never knows when a keyboard or monitor will fail, but as an IT support specialist with Valley Children’s Healthcare, he’s always ready. Trunnelle is part of the hospital’s boots-on-the-ground troubleshooting team that keeps critical systems…

‘We’ll Fight Together’: From Patient to Caregiver at Valley Children’s Hospital

September 3, 2025

MADERA, Calif. – When Mirella Jimenez tells young cancer patients that they’ll fight together, she means it. A childhood cancer survivor herself, Jimenez now works at Valley Children’s Hospital and uses her story to inspire the next generation of fighters.…

Veteran Nurse Practitioner Reflects on 37 Years of Helping Kids Heal

August 21, 2025

MADERA, Calif. – Some of the children Sharon Vander Plaats once cared for are now in their 50s with kids of their own. It’s a humbling reminder of the impact she’s had over 37 years with Valley Children’s Healthcare –…

Drawing Joy: Nurse Uses Art to Uplift Families and Colleagues in NICU

August 6, 2025

MADERA, Calif. – In the quiet moments between caring for the tiniest patients at Valley Children’s Hospital, Dawn Renwick finds solace in sketching. Whether it’s a piece of equipment or a coworker caught off guard, her drawings offer a creative…