Employee Spotlight: Fulfilling Dreams In The Kitchen And On The Court

Fernando Garcia knows that pride, hard work, heart and an infectious attitude go a long way in life. And it’s paying dividends in more ways than one.

Fernando is thrilled to share that the Santa Fe Indian School boys basketball team he helps coach and has invested so much in has landed on a national stage. The Braves were recently invited to compete in the national Section 7 Native Qualifiers basketball tournament in Mesa, Ariz., scheduled for June 9-11.

Only 16 Native American high school teams in the entire country are invited to play in this the prestigious tournament. The invitation will cap off a remarkable 24-6 season that included a top four finish in the state.

“It means the world to me to see my boys get the opportunity and recognition that they deserve,” Fernando said. “They have fought and sacrificed a lot to be able to put themselves in this position. They’ve worked hard, trained hard and now it’s starting to pay off, and it’s definitely amazing to see.”

Fernando is in his seventh season coaching at the school – where he is currently the junior varsity boys head coach and varsity boys assistant.

The Braves players and coaching staff have dedicated this year’s run to former head coach Jason Abeyta and his brother Nathan Abeyta, who were tragically killed in a car accident last spring. Jason Abeyta was the one who reached out to Fernando about possibly joining his coaching staff.

The Abeytas devoted their lives to lifting up others – a cause Fernando also holds close to his heart and rallies behind both at the hospital and on the hardwood.

In addition to enjoying such a historically momentous season on the court, Fernando also recently celebrated his promotion to LAMC’s Director of Nutrition Services. He takes great pride in adding position that to his existing title of Executive Chef.

“I love how my job allows me to be me and it shows in my cooking. I also love interacting with patients, co-workers, and the community,” the native of Española said. “My plans for Nutrition Services are to do our best to go above and beyond for our patients, make sure we do what we can to ensure they have a positive experience, and to be one of the top-notch departments in the hospital.”