FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - This week's healthcare hero is Lupe Vargas, a program manager at Community’s Special Services Department. She’s also a finalist for this year’s RN of the Year. Vargas is a seasoned professional who has been at Community since 2007 and has been working with patients living with HIV and AIDS since 2014. Click here for more MedWatch Today Click here for Community Medical Centers' homepage “We see patients who are newly diagnosed,” Vargas said. “Some come in very, very ill and we see them progress in their health trajectory. And that I think that is the greatest satisfaction of working here and interacting with patients. You get to grow with them in here and the recovery." “The patients love Lupe. Love,” said Dr. Erica Kasper, medical director for the Special Services Clinic at Community Regional. “She treats everyone with the same level of care and compassion. They look forward to talking to her. They see her as their number-one advocate. Her relationship with them is very, very, very unique." It's Vargas' extra attention to detail, her ability to work with different personality types and finding ways to treat each patient and co-worker uniquely that stands out to her colleagues. “Lupe is very dedicated to what she does. She is an excellent clinician. She's an excellent leader. And she is an excellent mentor,” Dr. Kasper adds. “She overall really cares about the patients she takes care of, as well as her employees. It shows in everything that she does.” While Vargas is honored to be nominated for RN of the Year, she remains quite humble about the recognition. “I don't like to be the center of a spotlight,” Vargas said. But Dr. Kasper says the accolades are long overdue. "I am very happy she has finally been acknowledged for the work she does and how wonderful she is. She will never ask you to acknowledge her. She would prefer not to be in the limelight, but that's what makes her so special. She's down to earth and so humble.”