Honoring Dr. H. Raj Reddy at Adventist Health’s Heart-to-Heart Gala

On November 1, more than 250 guests gathered for an evening that felt as meaningful as it was celebratory. Adventist Health’s annual Heart-to-Heart Gala brought together families, healthcare leaders, long-time patients, and community supporters for a night centered around one theme: strengthening the future of cardiac care in the Central Valley.

But this year, the event carried a special resonance. In addition to unveiling major plans for the hospital’s expanding cardiac program, the evening honored a physician whose impact has touched thousands of families in the region—Dr. H. Raj Reddy.

As guests arrived, many immediately sought out Dr. Reddy to offer a hug, a handshake, or a memory. It wasn’t unusual to hear someone say, “He treated my father,” or “He was the one who saved my mother.”

For more than three decades, Dr. Reddy has been a steady and compassionate presence in the local medical community. Known for his calm manner and deep dedication to patient care, he built his practice on the belief that good medicine begins with listening. Many of his former patients credit not only his clinical expertise, but also the reassurance he brought during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

His colleagues describe him the same way: humble, thoughtful, and unwavering in his commitment to putting patients first.

Honoring him at this year’s gala felt less like a formal recognition and more like a heartfelt thank-you from an entire community.

While the Heart-to-Heart Gala is always an opportunity to celebrate progress, this year’s event highlighted a transformation already underway at Adventist Health Hanford. As the Central Valley grows, so does the demand for more advanced, immediate cardiac services.

The hospital shared its plans for a major expansion of its cardiac catheterization program—an investment that will have an enormous impact on patient care in the region. The project includes: modernizing the existing Cath Lab, adding a second lab to increase capacity, constructing a new wing designed for three additional Cath Labs, and building a hybrid suite for minimally invasive structural heart procedures. Once complete, the hospital will have five total labs, dramatically reducing wait times and minimizing the need to transfer patients out of the area for specialized heart procedures. For local families, this means something simple but powerful: faster access to life-saving care, closer to home.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came when Dr. Kiran Reddy took the stage. Speaking about his father, he shared stories that painted a picture of not just a skilled physician, but a devoted husband, parent, and mentor.

He described growing up watching his father move through the hospital hallways—often stopping to ask a patient how they were feeling or to reassure a worried family member. Those moments, he said, shaped the way he now practices medicine himself.

To honor his father’s legacy, Dr. Kiran Reddy made a generous contribution to Adventist Health Hanford. His gift will help fund the new hybrid Cath Lab, a modern surgical environment designed for complex structural heart procedures such as TAVR and Watchman implantation.

The tribute was emotional, sincere, and deeply personal. Many guests later remarked that it was one of the most meaningful parts of the entire evening.

Throughout the night, the atmosphere reflected a shared sense of pride and gratitude. Guests enjoyed dinner, music, and heartfelt presentations that honored not only Dr. Reddy, but also the physicians and healthcare professionals who have shaped cardiac care in the region over decades.

It was clear that the gala wasn’t simply about raising funds—it was about acknowledging the people who have given their lives to caring for others. And in that room, Dr. Raj Reddy represented exactly what compassionate cardiac care looks like.

The upcoming expansion at Adventist Health Hanford symbolizes progress, innovation, and a commitment to meeting the community’s growing needs. But it also represents something more personal: a continuation of the values Dr. Reddy has embodied throughout his career.

As the cardiac program moves into its next chapter—more labs, more advanced procedures, more capacity—his influence will continue to shape the kind of care patients receive for years to come.

As the evening concluded, many guests lined up simply to express their appreciation to Dr. Reddy. Some shared memories, others offered congratulations, and several quietly expressed gratitude that his work had impacted their families in ways he may never fully realize.

The Heart-to-Heart Gala celebrated a bright future for cardiac care in the Central Valley. But it also honored the man whose steady dedication helped build the foundation that future stands on.

Dr. Raj Reddy’s legacy is not just in the procedures he performed—it lives in the families he reassured, the colleagues he mentored, and the community he cared for with unwavering heart.