I would like to recognize Charlaine Chang, RN, the staff RN in the department of Bariatric Surgery. Charlaine works quietly, persistently, and tirelessly to coordinate the complex care of our patients.

Our patients often have multiple needs and concerns. Some are new patients struggling with obesity who do not know where to get support, and some are patients who have had bariatric surgery who need help coordinating multiple aspects of care, including weight regain, abdominal symptoms, and vitamin deficiencies.

Charlaine knows how to get these patients into the appropriate appointments and classes in a coordinated way that makes optimal use of both patients' and providers' time. She also coordinates the entire region's outside referrals for bariatric surgery to Stanford and UCSF, and helps integrate the patient care across both systems.

Charlaine has been the leader in formalizing workflows and protocols and is a consistent mentor to all the RNs who join our program. She is an incredible asset to our department, and we are incredibly grateful to have her.