March 17, 2020

The Rewards and Retention Committee presented this quarter’s Woodlands Shining Star award to, physical therapy ambulatory service representative, Jessica ‘Jessi’ Carcamo, and radiologist, Dr. Marla Sammer.

“To say she is innovative is an understatement,” Kelsi Martinez, child-life specialist, said. “Jessi was a huge part of the success for both our hospital’s Camp For All 2U event, as well as the holiday bike giveaway.”

Carcamo, was nominated by her colleagues for being an invaluable contributor to Texas Children’s One Amazing Team. Known for her bright smile and always positive attitude, Carcamo embodies what it means to embrace freedom, amplify unity, and live compassionately. She goes above and beyond, even when doing things outside of her job description.

“She embraces and completes any goal with enthusiasm and spirit,” Child-Life Specialist Barbara Bledsoe explained. “Overall, Jessi’s genuine outlook that patients and parents are an extension of the hospital family, is what makes her so deserving of this award.”

Sammer was nominated by her peers in Radiology for always giving so much of herself to both her team and patients. When it comes to patients receiving the best and most timely care, x-ray technologist, Robyn Pacheco, explained how Sammer has consistently worked late hours and through lunch to provide patient care.

“She is truly a team player and has the patient’s best interest at heart,” Pacheco said. “Whether it is working with the technologists to help streamline dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), scan protocols or with anesthesia to create a standard operating procedure for using general anesthesia in voiding cyst urethrograms, Dr. Sammer embodies the leading tirelessly core value. She thoroughly educates staff with patience and kindness.”

Dr. Victor Seghers, Radiology Service Chief of Community, says that the one thing that he admires most about Sammer is her ability to regularly pitch in and assist in patient care when others are caught up in other work duties.

Congratulations Jessi and Dr. Sammer and thank you for being the shining stars that you are, and going above and beyond for our patients, families, and co-workers!

March 8, 2020

The Clinical Research Center/Research Resources Office presented the Clinical Research Award for First Quarter 2020 to Farida Lalani, senior assistant manager, Research Resources Office.

This award was established by the Clinical Research Center in collaboration with the Research Resources Office to recognize and honor individual contributions to protecting the best interest of the research subjects and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.

Lalani joined the Research Resources Office with Baylor College of Medicine as a Sr. Research Coordinator in 2013. During this time, she has gained significant experience in pediatric clinical research as she worked with sponsors, CROs and expert physicians on clinical trials in several therapeutic areas such as peanut and milk allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious diseases, surgical pain management, congenital cardiac defects, and diabetes, among many others. She moved into a management role in 2017 and currently oversees the research coordination team along with the RRO nurse manager.

February 24, 2020

On February 18, 494 employees and staff were honored at the 32nd Annual Employee Recognition Celebration, including our very own, Mark Wallace, who celebrated 30 years of leadership as President and CEO of Texas Children’s Hospital.

Veteran employees poured into the Bayou City Event Center just before noon, to celebrate the core of Texas Children’s past, present and future. The event recognized our tenured honorees and award recipients for their continued commitment to the mission of Texas Children’s.

“You are the heart and soul of Texas Children’s,” said Human Resources Senior Vice President Linda Aldred. “We love hosting this event each year to recognize your commitment, your dedicated years of service, and your passion for the people that we serve, and we are here to express our gratitude.”

The ballroom was filled with lavish Disney-inspired decorations signifying Texas Children’s partnership with the Walt Disney Co., and a delectable three-course meal was served. Entertainment included music from Walt Disney’s animated classics and a photo booth for guests to take pictures and mix and mingle.

Texas Children’s Board of Trustees member Willie Alexander and Obstetrics and Gynecologist-in-Chief Dr. Michael A. Belfort delivered inspiring speeches and congratulated each employee for their 15 to 45 years of service. In addition to tenured honorees, the ceremony recognized recipients of the Best of the West, Shining Star, Caught You Caring, Mark A. Wallace Catalyst Leadership, Employee of the Quarter and Super Star awards.

“You embrace the bold vision that Mr. Wallace laid out at Texas Children’s many years ago, and you’ve worked tirelessly ever since to make it happen,” Alexander said. “Regardless of your role, every member of this team is important, and every contribution, big or small, has been and always will be integral to our success.”

Lisa Moos, one of 12 honored for their 40-year milestone anniversary with Texas Children’s, said the organization and her job in Pathology have been a huge part of her life. Throughout her tenure, Moos says she is grateful for the people she works with and the incredible support system at Texas Children’s.

“My 40 years have been amazing, and I plan to stay here for another five years,” Moos said. “It’s so exciting to be part of this celebration and to reconnect with colleagues from across the organization.”

The annual Employee Recognition Celebration was a day to celebrate accomplishments and honor those who have carried out the values and the mission of Texas Children’s to ensure the health care needs of our patients and their families are met. This event was extra special this year as the organization celebrated Mark Wallace’s 30th year at the helm of Texas Children’s Hospital. Wallace joined Texas Children’s on October 4, 1989, becoming the longest serving CEO in the Texas Medical Center.

“This is a special day for all of us and it’s a really special day for me too,” Wallace said. “A lot of feelings are going through my head, my heart and my soul right now as we celebrate 15, 20, 25 years, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years. Our unfolding story of Texas Children’s that you have built, created and sustained, it’s just amazing. This is a special day for everyone here, and I’m so glad that I get to share in it with you today.”

Seven executive leaders were also among the honorees recognized this year:
Jackie Ward, Vice President, 25 Years of Service
Michelle Riley-Brown, Executive Vice President, 20 Years of Service
Sarah Maytum, Vice President, 20 Years of Service
Diane Scardino, Vice President, 20 Years of Service
Mark Mullarkey, Executive Vice President, 15 Years of Service
Bert Gumeringer, Senior Vice President, 15 Years of Service
Amber Tabora, Senior Vice President, 15 Years of Service

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!

February 23, 2020

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
My name is Matthew Rivera and I am a Registered Nurse. My home unit currently resides in the float pool at West Campus. I have been with Texas Children’s Hospital for eight years.

Tell us how you found out you won the Best of the West award.
I was invited to DOB by my leadership team. Once all of the business of the meeting was completed Matt Timmons read aloud a nomination letter that was very profound, in regards to an employee that was to be recognized. To my surprise the person that he was reading about was me. I felt very privileged that someone would take the time out to recognize me.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized by West Campus. This organization has given me opportunities as well as resources to be flexible and to gain skills to provide great bedside care. Let me explain: I have been at West Campus for eight years. During that time both West Campus and I have grown. When we decided to take chemo patients, I was given the opportunity to learn more about hematology patients. As the West Campus expanded its capacity to open the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), I was given the opportunity to train at Medical Center Campus to become a PICU nurse. When I showed interest in learning how to take care of patients on CRRT, Medical Center PICU allowed me the opportunity to learn and take care of these patients. These are just a few of the examples of the growth that I have been afforded being an employee of Texas Children’s. My goal has been to be the best nurse that I can be, and Texas Children’s has done that for me.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s The Best of the West?
For me it starts with a great attitude. There is a poem by Charles Swindoll that I learned growing up. This poem has shaped most of the ways that I approach work as well as life in general. It has always stuck with me that explains the importance of attitude.

Attitude
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.
By Charles R. Swindoll

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
My patients and knowing that I work for a great organization. I have worked a few places and for me Texas Children’s gives us a lot of resources to be able to properly take care of our patients, and I take great pride in that.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
The amount of resources and opportunities that comes with working for one of the best hospitals in the country. Learning from those resources means that you are on the cutting edge of medicine as well as providing some of the best care in the country. Also with Texas Children’s growing at such a fast pace the opportunities to grow are staggering.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
I think that it is great that everyone is considered a leader. To me it means that no matter your title it gives you the freedom to lead, where it is appropriate. My leadership definition is to start with a great attitude as well as a strong work ethic. From there I would say to model the way and lead by example.

Anything else you want to share?
It has been a great honor for me to be nominated for the Best of the West.

February 11, 2020

Dr. David Poplack, director of Global Hematology Oncology Pediatric Excellence (HOPE) at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, was recently honored with the first-ever Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) Childhood Cancer Lifetime Achievement Award.

The ALSF is a non-profit pediatric cancer charitable organization that funds research to bring better treatments and cures to children with cancer, and provides emotional, financial and logistical support to childhood cancer families that makes their challenges more manageable.

“I am very honored to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award,” Poplack said. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised funds to advance innovative research, leading toward cures and improved quality of life for children with cancer.”

Since joining Texas Children’s in 1993, Poplack served as the Director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers for 25 years, growing the program from seven faculty members to nearly 200. As a world recognized leader and mentor in the field, Poplack has made a profound impact on the education of pediatric oncologists. He is Co-Editor of a textbook, The Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology, currently in its 7th edition, which has graced the desks of nearly every pediatric oncologist ever trained, and is the leading textbook in the field of pediatric oncology.

In July 2018, Poplack transitioned his role to serve as the Director of Global HOPE at Texas Children’s. The program is a comprehensive capacity-building program that works to improve pediatric cancer treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has a nearly 90 percent mortality rate for the over 100,000 children who develop cancer each year. Global HOPE has a presence in seven African countries, has trained more than 1,800 local health care professionals and has treated over 8,000 patients since its inception.

In addition to his leadership roles at Texas Children’s, Poplack has been a guiding force for the ALSF research grant program, having served as a longtime member of ALSF’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Click here for more information about Texas Children’s Global HOPE program.

November 5, 2019

Thank you for making Texas Children’s a Best Place to Work in Houston! According to the Houston Business Journal, we rank No. 5 among companies with more than 1,000 employees. Our Catalyst Leadership Award winners and Human Resources team members accepted the Houston Business Journal award on October 31. Read more

October 29, 2019

Robin Haidacher, one of 42 Texas Children’s nurses who received the 2019 Excellence in Nursing Award from the Good Samaritan Foundation, shares what this award means to her and how her colleagues inspire her every day. Read more