Jason Rounds: Happy holidays to everyone! This is Jason Rounds, President and CEO, here to talk to you about unwrapping the magic of holiday traditions. Whatever your tradition, it's a special time of year. The holiday spirit is here in full swing and it's a wonderful thing to share with our patients and each other.

The lights are twinkling on our tree in the Healing Garden following our festive tree lighting ceremony. Provided by our auxiliary, we are proud to display this tree year after year. I think it adds to the sense of joy to the Healing Garden and brings that holiday feel to our hospital, serving as a light of hope to our patients night after night.

Many of our departments and clinics are also wonderfully decorated. It's always amazing to see the creative vitality that our caregivers possess and on full display. I especially look forward to visiting our San Juan Health Partners Pediatric Clinic. They are known for transforming their hallways into a winter wonderland each December.

I also have high expectations for our Inpatient Pediatric Units after seeing some of the incredible artwork and decor that's always changing there. Thank you for putting a smile on the faces of our youngest patients. Our folks in dietary have been gearing up for our annual holiday meal, which will be held Thursday, December 12th. This is a San Juan Regional Medical Center tradition that we look forward to each year. I can't wait to see what they are creating for us this year. I'm grateful for the tradition and the opportunity I and our leaders have to serve you during this special meal. So, be sure to mark your calendars for December 12th.

I know each of you and your families have your own special traditions. With such a culturally rich workforce, I love hearing about them. Here are some traditions from around the world. So, the tradition of the Christmas tree is credited to 16th Century Germany when devout Christians began bringing decorated trees into their homes. Lighted candles were added by Protestant Reformer Martin Luther, who was trying to recreate the scene of stars twinkling brightly among the evergreens. In the Jewish faith, lighting the menorah during Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, is an important tradition. Many families make latkes, which are fried potato pancakes, to commemorate the miracle of the oil in the temple lamps that lasted for eight nights when there was only enough for one. Kwanzaa celebrates African American and Pan-African history, values, family, community, and culture. On the sixth day, December 31st, there is a large feast where traditional foods include black eyed peas for good luck and collard greens for good fortune. Food certainly plays a central role in the Rounds household during this time of year. We traditionally celebrate with friends and family on Christmas Eve with homemade pozole and add tamales on Christmas Day.

I look forward to hearing about some of your traditions over the upcoming days and weeks. One thing that we all share this time of year is the spirit of giving. We see you giving your time, talent, and expertise to your patients, their families, and each other as caregivers. You live sacred trust and team accountability and demonstrate all our core values through your actions, big and small. You've opened your hearts to your fellow caregivers and their families to ensure that they have a special holiday. Our Adopt a Caregiver initiative is in its third year, and it truly is a holiday tradition we are proud of. It's heartwarming to know that the families referred to us will have gifts to help them celebrate, thanks to your generosity.

As your community hospital, we have a long history of giving to meet our community need. It's wonderful to see this legacy live on through your kindness. So, no matter how you celebrate, I wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with joy.

Thank you for caring for our community and taking care of each other. Together, we can bring a little more holiday magic to our community.