Hospital marks head’s service at retirement

Madera Community Hospital celebrated nearly four decades of service by assistant vice-president Christine Watts-Johnson at her retirement party June 3.

Christine began her employment with the hospital 37 years ago on March 29, 1979. She began her duties as secretary to the CEO which also included human resource duties for the relatively small staff of employees.

In 1992, the growth in hospital personnel led to the creation of a new Department of Human Resources, and she was elevated to a new position of assistant vice-president and director of human resources.

Since her initial hiring, she has worked for four chief executive officers, and her staff grew to include three additional assistants. The entire hospital staff has grown from 166 to a high point of over 900 employees...