David Harders: UCSD Medical Center.

Dave Harders serves the Respiratory Care department as a Development Tech and is responsible for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of technology utilized by respiratory therapists in treating patients, including University of California, San Diego Medical Center's life support systems.

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Harders' compassion is extended to co-workers who experience the stress of working with critically ill patients and, at times, have crises of their own. He selflessly and tirelessly gives of himself without being asked and has a positive, "can-do" attitude about everything.

In 2007, the Respiratory Care department adopted a family with five children. Harders bought a miniature kitchen made of wood for the children, pieced it together and painted it. He later delivered the gift, along with other gifts collected by the department to the family's home, making a lasting impression of kindness on the family and his co-workers.

Harders has worked as a Development Technician for UCSD Medical Center for the past 30 years and has received 33 letters of appreciation during that time, the first coming in 1977 for assisting with staffing issues.

His mechanical ability goes beyond finding ways to repair the $2 million in medical equipment inventory at UCSD Medical Center, saving the company $60,000 to $70,000 each year by repairing equipment on-site and on time.

Harders saved the center $40,000 over a five year period aider he came up with a resourceful and ingenious way to repair damaged flow sensors. By placing the sensors in boiling distilled water, he was able to salvage 90 percent of the damaged sensors.

Years ago, Harders built a parade float for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in San Diego, representing UCSD Medical Center for three years until its retirement.