At Texas Children’s, excellence is one of our five HEART values — alongside Humility, Accountability, Respect and Trust — and it is reflected in how we show up for one another every day. Excellence is not an abstract ideal or a single moment of achievement. Excellence is the daily discipline of pursuing the highest standards in patient care, education and research, across every role.
When a team member quietly improves a process that supports families at their most vulnerable, or when someone slows down, listens and restores confidence in a new parent, you see excellence in action. You see it in a nurse’s late nights by the bedside, in a researcher’s tireless work in the lab, in the extra smile that helps a child feel less alone.
That spirit of excellence is reflected in the experiences of three team members who were recently recognized by their peers while working at Texas Children’s — each in a different role, each exemplifying what it means to live our HEART values and embody excellence in their own unique ways.
Quiet Consistency Behind the Scenes: Excellence in IS
For Michael Myers, senior systems analyst at Texas Children’s Hospital, excellence starts with a grounded mindset that keeps him focused on what matters most: it isn’t about perfection, he says — it’s about “showing up every day.” He approaches his work by remembering who is on the other end of every request: children, women, families and the coworkers who are caring for them. Even a small task in a queue can matter immensely to a parent or provider in a critical moment.
That perspective shaped a recent project that made a meaningful difference. Michael partnered with clinical teams to improve a paper-based bereavement process. Utilizing his expertise, Michael developed tools in Epic that brought greater clarity and consistency to a workflow supporting families navigating unimaginable loss. It wasn’t flashy — but it was compassionate, and it mattered.
Peers also recognized how he strengthens the teams around him — creating a more connected, collaborative environment through an evidence-based workshop on communication styles. As Michael demonstrates, excellence isn’t only about what you deliver. It’s about how you deliver it, and it’s also the environment you help create so that your team members can deliver their best work, too.
“Maintaining high standards really comes down to remembering who we’re doing this all for,” says Michael. “Even when I’m miles away, sitting behind a computer, I try to picture the families on the other side of our work. What could seem like a small ticket or task, could be a big deal to a parent or a provider caring for a child. Keeping that perspective makes it easy to give my best as they deserve nothing less.”
A Small Gesture, A Big Lift: Excellence in Pediatric Radiology
In Pediatric Radiology (MRI), Gloria Gomez describes excellence as doing her best work with heart, without needing recognition. A senior technical assistant in Diagnostic Imaging at Texas Children’s, Gloria carries a steady awareness that every patient and family is going through something difficult — and she chooses compassion and a positive attitude as part of her daily commitment.
One day last fall, that commitment fueled a quiet act of kindness. Gloria noticed a patient at the hospital who was there without family, looking noticeably sad on her birthday. Gloria stepped away, went to the gift shop and brought back a teddy bear to cheer the patient up. It worked — and in that moment, excellence looked like noticing what wasn’t said out loud and responding with care.
“Helping to change lives is why I chose to work at Texas Children’s,” says Gloria. “It makes me feel great that I can help others in their time of need.”
Leading With Calm and Care: Excellence on Mother/Baby Unit
Anteria Stewart is a charge nurse in the Mother Baby Unit of Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, and she sees excellence as both a leadership practice and a patient safety commitment: strength paired with genuine compassion. She describes maintaining high standards by treating every mother, baby, family member and teammate with empathy, dignity and respect.
For Anteria, going above and beyond often looks like slowing down. She recalls checking in on a first-time mother who was overwhelmed and struggling with breastfeeding. Understandably, this mother was hesitant to ask for help because the unit was busy. Rather than rushing, Anteria sat with her, listened, validated her feelings and helped with positioning and latching. Later, the mother shared that this calm presence changed her experience and helped her feel less alone.
“Working on a mother baby unit has taught me that true leadership is less about directing others and more about creating an environment where both patients and staff feel supported, safe, valued and heard,” says Anteria. “I’ve also learned that excellence is not a single action. It’s the tone that I set, the standard that I uphold and the example I model. It makes the long hours and hard days feel purposeful because I know I’m contributing to something bigger than myself.”
Excellence as a Shared Commitment
Across these stories, excellence shows up in different ways — process improvement, quiet compassion, steady leadership — but the common thread is commitment to living our HEART values through everyday actions and behaviors. Excellence is not reserved for one role or one department. It is practiced across Texas Children’s through continual dedication, teamwork and care for the whole person: going above and beyond to make a life-changing difference for our patients.
This article is part of an ongoing series highlighting Texas Children’s HEART values—Humility, Excellence, Accountability, Respect and Trust—and the people who bring them to life while working at Texas Children’s.
Where have you seen excellence in action on your team?
Share an example in the comments below of how teammates uphold high standards and support one another in delivering exceptional care.
