Bonnie Quinonez joins Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley to lead rural health clinics

Bonnie Quinonez, a seasoned healthcare leader from Bakersfield who has held a myriad of positions for health systems across the country and locally, has joined the leadership team at Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley, hospital president Jeff Lingerfelt announced this month.

In her new role as director of operations and ancillary services, Quinonez will oversee the rural health clinics in Tehachapi, California City and Mojave, and the laboratory and radiology departments at Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley.

"We're blessed to have somebody with Bonnie's talent, experience and passion for her community here at Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley," Lingerfelt said. "She's an asset to our team, and we're confident she will help elevate the health care experience in our community, just as she has in so many others."

Quinonez got her start in health care at the age of 20 as a medical office assistant at Kaiser Permanente in Bakersfield. She was ambitious even at that time, stepping outside of her regular duties to organize a fundraising drive that operated for 10 years and delivered more than 10,000 hygiene kits to the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter.

She later held a series of roles focusing on cancer care including a network system reorganization of oncology services at Kettering Health Systems' in Ohio. In addition, Bonnie has held a manager position for the John Wayne Cancer Center at Saint John's Health Center, and the Dorothy Schneider Cancer Center in San Mateo. She served as oncology operations manager at Adventist Health Bakersfield between 2011 and 2013 and helped launch the comprehensive AIS Cancer Center.

Quinonez said she's now excited to fulfill her passion of delivering healthcare to underserved populations. The daughter of a single mom whose family had no health insurance growing up and limited access to health care, Quinonez understands the challenges patients in remote areas face.

"California City and Mojave, where our clinics are based, are among the most remote regions in Kern County. I'm heartened to be able to play a role in enhancing the quality of care we deliver to those communities, where they need it the most," Quinonez said.

Quinonez lives in her hometown of Bakersfield with her husband of 30 years. She has two daughters and two grandchildren.

Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Our workforce of 32,900 includes more than 23,600 employees; nearly 5,000 medical staff physicians; and 4,350 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 20 hospitals, more than 260 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 15 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. In addition, the Adventist Health Plan serves patients in Kings County. Visit AdventistHealth.org for more information.