Murray honored at DSH awards

Dr. Taarna Murray, a Custer High School graduate, was a recipient of the Trauma-Informed Ambassador award, and recognized at the 2024 California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) VIP awards ceremony held in June.
DSH employs approximately 13,000 individuals across its five state hospitals and headquarters Murray was one of 40 DSH employees who received awards. The annual VIP awards highlight employees’ accomplishments, which helps define DSH culture, while prioritizing safety, treatment, responsibility, empowerment, respect and communication in all that we do.
The Trauma-Informed Ambassador Award goes to an employee or team whose work embodies the six principles of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), including safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support,  collaboration and mutuality empowerment, voice and  choice and cultural humility and inclusion.
The award was presented to Dr. Murray by her local hospital’s executive director, who said,  “Dr. Taarna Murray is an enduring member of DSH-Patton’s TIC Committee, working tirelessly to expand trauma-informed practices with patients. Dr. Murray often shares information at hospital events and enthusiastically provides resources, support and consultations to various departments and clinical teams. She advocates for a holistic approach to understanding patients and encourages staff to examine the role trauma may play in a patient’s presentation.
“She has championed the use of sensory modulation to reduce symptoms in patients and staff. Her commitment to easing the impact of trauma expands beyond DSH. She recently coordinated a teddy bear drive for children undergoing stressful medical treatment at Memorial Care Children’s Hospital.”