At the center of Texas Children’s HEART values is Accountability. It’s present in the moments when someone follows through, speaks up, stays late to make sure a detail is right or steps in so a teammate isn’t carrying the load alone. Accountability is how we show up for one another so we can show up for patients and families.
Across Texas Children’s, accountability looks different depending on role and setting, but it’s always rooted in ownership, follow-through and shared responsibility. Recently, four team members were recognized by their peers for modeling accountability in ways that strengthen teams and support patient-centered care every day.
Owning Outcomes Behind the Scenes
For Laura Leija, academic coordinator in Cardiovascular Surgery, accountability means thinking beyond tasks and taking responsibility for outcomes that support clinicians, trainees and, ultimately, patients.
“Moving into this role has really shifted how I view accountability and impact,” Leija said. “I’m now responsible for developing timelines, tracking outcomes and making decisions that carry real weight.”
That perspective came into focus while she was coordinating a visa application for an incoming clinical instructor. During the process, Laura noticed changes to licensure requirements that affected eligibility for the role. By catching the update early and raising concerns, she worked with leadership to establish a new approach that now supports both current and future instructors.
“I try to approach my role with the question, ‘How can I make their day easier?’” she said. “Everything we do ultimately supports patient care.”
Colleagues describe Laura as steady, detail-oriented and proactive — someone whose behind-the-scenes accountability helps keep complex systems moving smoothly.
Leading With Responsibility and Standards
For Theresa “Terri” Wright, nursing manager in Austin, accountability is inseparable from leadership and presence. Over the course of her career at Texas Children’s, Terri spent time at West Campus, helped open The Woodlands campus in 2017 and later moved to Austin, where she was part of the hospital campus launch in 2024.
“Accountability means taking ownership of outcomes and ensuring patient safety and quality of care remain the priority,” Wright said. “It also means holding myself to the same standards I expect of my team.”
Terri makes a point to be visible on the unit each weekday, reinforcing expectations and staying connected to frontline practice. She acknowledges that accountability sometimes requires difficult conversations, especially when safety or standards are involved, but believes clarity and consistency ultimately support teams.
“When people understand the ‘why’ behind decisions, they’re more engaged and better positioned to move forward together,” she said.
Peers describe Terri as a calm, steady leader who balances empathy with clear expectations — modeling accountability through action.
Speaking Up to Strengthen Systems
For clinical dietitian Evan Sattem, accountability often begins with paying close attention to how processes work and where they can be improved.
“When a patient asks for help or has a difficult question, doing the right thing means finding the answer and seeing it through,” Sattem said. “It’s about making sure they’re connected to the support they need.”
During a pilot project, Evan identified workflow gaps affecting coordination around specialty nutrition needs. Rather than stopping at an immediate fix, he worked across teams to understand root causes, raised concerns early and helped strengthen processes to better support patients and families.
“Our leaders regularly solicit feedback and genuinely listen,” he said. “That makes it easier to speak up and work together to improve care.”
Colleagues note that Evan’s follow-through and willingness to ask hard questions reflect accountability as shared problem-solving, not individual ownership alone.
Being Counted On Over Time
For Josephine “Josie” Benavidez, clinical nurse coordinator in Wound Care, accountability is built through consistency and reliability. With more than 20 years at Texas Children’s, Josie has coordinated care across specialties and locations, ensuring complex needs are addressed without delay.
“My responsibility to my patients and my team has always been of high importance,” Benavidez said. “They should be able to count on me and know they’ll be taken care of.”
She regularly confirms follow-up details, communicates across teams and travels when needed to support providers and patients. Even during periods of personal transition, Josie remained committed to her role because of the relationships she’s built over time.
“This place has molded me into the nurse I am today,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine leaving my team or my patients behind.”
Accountability We Share
Across these examples, accountability emerges as shared ownership, clear communication and steady follow-through. When we hold ourselves accountable to one another, families experience the difference in how smoothly and thoughtfully their care unfolds.
Where have you seen accountability in action on your team?
Whether it’s follow-through, clear communication or teammates supporting one another, share an example in the comments below that shows how accountability shows up in your day-to-day work.
