March 11, 2024

The Texas Medical Center Orchestra (TMCO) celebrates Women’s History Month every year with a special performance and honoree. Texas Children’s President Debbie Sukin was honored during this year’s program at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, which featured performances of Debussy’s “Fêtes from “Nocturnes,” Berlioz’s “Les nuits d’été,” and Charlotte Sohy’s “Symphony in C# Minor Op.10.”

Excerpts from the program notes read: Tonight, in celebration of International Women’s Day, we honor native Houstonian, Dr. Debra Sukin. As president of Texas Children’s Hospital, Dr. Sukin has more than 30 years of health care experience. We honor her today for her compassionate and community-minded activities that make the Texas Medical Center and Houston such a wonderful community in which to live and work.

“It was a tremendous privilege to be recognized as the honoree at this year’s concert…it was a beautiful evening filled with exceptional music,” said Debbie, pictured above with TMCO founder and artistic director Libi Lebel. “Comprising mostly of members from the Texas Medical Center community, including students, residents and physicians, these remarkably talented musicians continue to excel in music while pursuing careers in medicine, healthcare and biomedical sciences.”

The TMCO was founded in 2000 and is one of the few community orchestras with its origin in the health professions. This season, underwritten by Texas Children’s Hospital, TMCO ensembles including members of our One Amazing Team have performed at the Medical Center campus and Baylor College of Medicine to spread joy through music.

Click here to support and learn more about the TMCO, and congratulations to Debbie on her honor!

March 7, 2024

There are many reasons why Texas Children’s is such a special place to work, but the Employee Recognition Celebration is chief among them. After four years, the beloved tradition returned in style on Feb. 27 to honor over 2,500 employees, ranging from 15 to 50+ years of service, for their lasting commitment to Texas Children’s.

Minute Maid Park was bursting with joy, laughter and fun – the concourse was full to the brim with employees and leaders enjoying food and swag bags, playing arcade games and bingo, and posing for the photo booths. But the party was only just beginning.

Linda Aldred, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, took to the stage to honor the outstanding members of our One Amazing Team for their contributions, getting the crowd dancing with a “Can’t Stop the Feeling” video montage featuring Texas Children’s employees. Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Wallace made quite the entrance, riding in on a classic car following the University of Houston band. Together, the two remarked on all we have accomplished together, noting major milestones in Texas Children’s history and our exciting new partnership with the Astros Golf Foundation and PGA TOUR.

Videos of honorees captured moments from their first days at work and their proudest accomplishments along the way. In a historic moment for Texas Children’s, we honored three individuals, Karol Musher, Anita Thompson and Iretta Hunter, who marked an extraordinary 50 years of service, dedicating five decades of their lives to Texas Children’s. Two of our three 50-year honorees, Karol Musher and Anita Thompson, shook hands with distinguished Emeritus Trustee member Jodie Lee Jiles and received bouquets of flowers and endless thanks for dedicating their careers to Texas Children’s.

The program ended with a flashy fireworks display and the celebration continued on the concourse. Take a look at all the fun in the photo gallery below and click here to watch a recap video!

To all our honorees, we thank you for your longstanding commitment to Texas Children’s. You embody our core values and serve our mission nobly, and we are grateful for your devoted service! Please submit your celebration photos, including photos with Mark Wallace and other honorees, by sharing them with HRCommunications@texaschildrens.org.

March 4, 2024

The Texas Children’s Houston Open is around the corner, so don’t miss your chance to get in on the action. We’re honored to be the title sponsor of this celebrated PGA TOUR event, building on its legacy and providing a memorable experience for the city of Houston. Through our partnership with The Astros Golf Foundation, we’re thrilled to be a part of this monumental sporting event, hosting some of the PGA TOUR’s most outstanding players.

For a chance to win free tickets to the tournament, all you need to do is make a hole-in-one! Look for us at the locations below. We’ll be the ones with the putting green, waiting to cheer you on to victory. You have a chance to win a pair (twosome) of tickets for one of the tournament days – March 28-31.

  • Tuesday, March 5 at noon: Medical Center – near Fresh Bistro Café
  • Wednesday, March 6 at noon: West Campus – near cafeteria on the first floor
  • Wednesday, March 6 at 3 p.m.: Specialty Care – Cypress-Fairbanks
  • Thursday, March 7 at 3 p.m.: TCP and TCUC Heights
  • Friday, March 8 at noon: The Woodlands Campus – Main Lobby

If you miss out on winning tickets, Texas Children’s team members and their spouses/significant others are eligible for 20% off the purchase of grounds tickets at the tournament through our partnership with The Astros Golf Foundation.

Visit the Texas Children’s Houston Open SharePoint site for details.

Under a new state law, beginning in 2024, every March 4 in Texas will be observed as COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day. The day was established to honor and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Texans who played crucial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes health care professionals, first responders, essential workers, and those who worked tirelessly to support their communities during these challenging times.

It was just four short years ago that Our One Amazing Team answered the call when the world shut down. Our lights stayed on as they always have and always will. Our team members sacrificed their comfort, safety and time at home with their own families to care for others.

“During a time of loss, fear and confusion, I saw compassion, determination, comradery and a spirit of resilience unlike any other. In every circumstance, you took action and chose to care for those who not only needed Texas Children’s, they needed you,” said CEO Mark A. Wallace in an email to the organization. “Each of you played a role in helping us get through the toughest times and you remain a constant beacon of hope for so many.”

Today we also remember and pay tribute to the thousands of Texans we lost during the pandemic. Our hearts go out to our team members who lost family members, friends and patients.

We express our deepest gratitude to our One Amazing Team for their unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence at all times. Thank you for being the difference in any circumstance.

Grateful mother submitted the following Caught You Caring recognition for Patient Sitter Joneal Condra.

“My name is Patricia and my daughter Joy is a patient. Joneal Condra has been her sitter for the past two days now. Joneal is the best gift that God sent to us to sit with my daughter during this difficult time. He is very caring, compassionate and a truly amazing and phenomenal human being. He uses his time to talk to my daughter like a human being, not just like a diagnosis. He asked about her school, her likes and dislikes and about life in general, to the point that when my daughter had her anxiety issues last night she kept asking for him. She said she only wants to talk to Mr. Joe because only he understands her. This is exactly what happens when one shows love and care for patients they know and remember. Thank you so much for having such a phenomenal human being called Joneal Condra to touch my daughter’s life and make her feel okay during this difficult time for my family. We need more Joneal Condras in the world to make a difference in a kid’s life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”

Caught You Caring

There are countless examples of how team members make an impact every day. Through our Caught You Caring recognition program, anyone (patients, families, colleagues, vendors, volunteers or visitors) can provide a kind word about someone who went the extra mile. Even the smallest act of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Click here to submit a recognition for a colleague. The recipient and their leader will receive an email notification. Since its inception in 2015, there have been more than 40,000 recognitions submitted.