Jorge Molina (Microbiologist, Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital) shares his story of his family’s tradition with Carondelet. It all started with his great-grandfather, Juan Montaño, a bricklayer, who helped build the round building used to house tuberculosis patients. Jorge’s grandmother, Mercedes Montaño Espinosa, dreamed of becoming a nurse, a dream that her parents prohibited. That’s where Mercedes’s daughters come in. Yolanda Gabrhel, the oldest daughter, went to S H Kress Practical Nursing School and Pima College, and her first job was at Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital. She graduated from Grand Canyon University, worked with cardiac patients in the CICU and Cath Lab, and later became a clinical supervisor for Cardiovascular services until her retirement. Her sister, Graciela Lowther, Jorge’s mother, also worked at St. Mary’s in the ICU as a ward clerk for just shy of 25 years. The third sister, Christina Garcia, also the mother of Carondelet St. Mary’s Director of Patient Access, Tracy Garcia, started at St. Mary’s as a clerk in the emergency room and later became Materials Manager for the operating room.

Tracy added: My mother and her sisters were all born at St. Mary’s Hospital in the 1950s, and that is where they ended up retiring. Their mother, our grandmother, Mercedes Espinosa, was born at St. Mary’s in 1923. As you can see, our family has a deep and dedicated history with Carondelet, with over a hundred years of service. Jorge, the oldest grandson, was inspired by his family members who were part of Team Carondelet and went to study Microbiology at the University of Arizona. Upon graduating, he began his tenure with Carondelet, which has spanned 32 years. He shared:

"Do what you love. Love what you do. I love microbiology in a clinical setting because I get to have a direct impact on our patients. I can see my effect on them, which matters to me. I’m glad I have had the chance in my career to make a difference in people’s lives."