Padilla was one of UC San Diego Health’s first COVID-19 patients and spent three weeks at Jacob’s Medical Center, including 11 days on a ventilator.

Source: Councilmember Padilla

September 2, 2022 (San Diego) -- On Tuesday, Councilmember Steve Padilla honored and celebrated the Thornton 2 East Progressive Care Unit (PCU) nursing team at Jacob’s Medical Center at UC San Diego Health for receiving the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. In March of 2020, Councilmember Padilla was the Thornton 2 East nursing team’s first COVID-19 patient and the first elected official in California to test positive for the virus. The nurses of 2 East PCU took care of the Councilmember from the point he was admitted to the hospital to the days after he returned from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after 11 days on a ventilator; he was not expected to survive.