August 9, 2016

81016JuliaTenHoeve175Julia TenHoeve of Development is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “A super star lives the core values of Texas Children’s to provide the best health care to children from our community and around the world and creates an environment that inspires others,” TenHoeve said. Read more of her interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Julia N. TenHoeve; Senior Associate Director – Special Events, Office of Development. I have been at Texas Children’s Hospital for three years and have enjoyed every minute of it!

What month are you Super Star for?
August 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
Wow, what a surprise! I was in a meeting with my entire team to review survey results and one of my team members, Claire, had to step out for a moment. She came back a few minutes later and said, “Hey, everyone you have to come into the hall to see this!” We walked out and there, waving Super Star wands, was the entire Office of Development, John Nickens, and my husband, Oliver! Everyone was wearing hot pink stickers adorned with my monogram and the words “Super Star!” They all had glasses of diet coke (my favorite drink) and sparkling cider to *toast* me on the Super Star award. I was totally surprised. It was such a fun afternoon…and boy do they know me well – monograms, diet cokes and my wonderful team!

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do?
Working at this outstanding organization is already reward enough. Receiving recognition from my team and the organization is just icing on the cake!

How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
In many, many ways, Texas Children’s has helped me achieve both my personal and professional goals. The support system at Texas Children’s Hospital for personal and professional development is phenomenal. I am consistently afforded the freedom to be creative and innovative in my space. Knowing that I have the full support of our organization to push the boundaries of development is what makes Texas Children’s Hospital such a wonderful place for me to work.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
Living the core values of Texas Children’s to provide the best health care to children from our community and around the world and creating an environment that inspires others.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
Simply put, I love what I do! I work with some of the most talented and creative people developing and hosting memorable events to build friends and benefactors for Texas Children’s Hospital. I love that my work directly and indirectly supports our mission of creating a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education and research. I am so proud to be a member of a winning team that is consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
The passion our employees, volunteers and contributors have for our hospital’s mission.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader?
It is so empowering that every Texas Children’s employee, regardless of title, has the opportunity to be a leader through their actions and influence. Every employee is expected to act as a leader which results in an environment and culture of infinite passion.

At Texas Children’s Hospital our leaders are both good and tough. Good to each other and tough on the work. Good means respect, collaboration, passion, inspiration. Tough means pushing, stretching and never settling.

What is your leadership definition?
Leadership is the ability to inspire reliability, creativity, unending self-improvement and genuine joy.

A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.
John Maxwell

Anything else you want to share?
I’d like to thank those who nominated and selected me for this award. It is such an honor to be recognized at such an amazing organization. I would also like to thank all of the mentors I have here at Texas Children’s Hospital – your influence goes far beyond the work day and I am so thankful for your guidance and support.

July 19, 2016

72016PaulaMcSwain175Paula McSwain of Texas Children’s Pediatrics Baytown is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star leader. “Working for an organization that values and recognizes employees for their efforts has raised the bar for my professional and personal goals as well,” McSwain said. Read more of McSwain’s interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department.
Paula McSwain, Practice Manager, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Baytown

What month are you Super Star for?
Third Quarter (July – September) 2016 for Texas Children’s Hospital

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
A surprise breakfast meeting was planned by my staff/providers; Kay Tittle, president of Texas Children’s Pediatrics; Pat Coleman, director of regional operations; and Claudia Cerrato Day, assistant director of regional operations.

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?
I was honored to receive this award from the organization. Working for an organization that values and recognizes employees for their efforts has raised the bar for my professional and personal goals as well.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?

  • To be Committed to the values of Texas Children’s
  • To be Motivated to come to work every day looking for ways to help others.
  • To be Determined that every decision you make is centered on the patient and their families for a positive outcome.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
I like to know that families are receiving the best possible care for their children as I would want my own children to receive. Texas Children’s is an organization that leads health care around the world, and I take pride every morning when I put my badge on knowing that I am a part of that team.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Being able to help others, be it a patient, staff member or a provider. Also when I meet someone off of the job while in the community and they ask where I am employed, I proudly tell them Texas Children’s!

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your Leadership definition?
I believe that part of being a leader is having the ability to influence others by your actions. I realize that every day my co-workers are watching my actions and are reacting to those actions as well. I also see the same thing going on with other staff members within the clinic daily, so we all can be leaders.

Anything else you want to share?
Over the years I have told my staff and providers that every patient should be treated as we would like our own families to be treated. Customer Service is something that I feel is very important and I strive daily to exceed the expectation of our patients and their families. I love helping people while at work and in the community as well.

July 6, 2016

7616HeatherShady175Heather Shady of Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “The patients and family members have a difficult time being out of their daily routine, and I find it very rewarding to bring out the best in a difficult situation,” Shady said. Read more of Shady’s interview and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Heather Shady. I am a Patient Care Assistant, chairman of skin champions in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and a safety coach. I have worked at Texas Children’s Hospital for three and a half years.

What month are you Super Star for?
June 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
I was asked to come to a meeting for the skin champions and was told they needed my input on a few things. However, when I arrived they yelled surprise! I was given a party showing their appreciation. It was very nice and thoughtful.

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?
Receiving this award has been the highlight of this year for me. It is amazing to win such an award. I really do go above and beyond to help patients, family and coworkers. This organization has provided me with support and boosted my confidence. Specific mentors at Texas Children’s have guided me with my goal to achieve my BSN.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
A super star at Texas Children’s is a committed, kind hearted, compassionate person who truly loves what they do. We are all superstars.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The exceptional coworkers I work with every day. Everyone is always so helpful and happy. It really makes a difference in how the day goes. The patients and family members have a difficult time being out of their daily routine, and I find it very rewarding to bring out the best in a difficult situation. Watching my patients with a congenital heart defect (CHD) grow up and achieve their goals motivates me to achieve my goals.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Everyone’s positive attitude and willingness to help others. Texas Children’s motivates you to always be better.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
Everyone is considered a leader because he or she takes ownership in the role they have. My definition of a leader is someone who wants to excel in what they do, stands up to do what’s right, and doesn’t give up.

Anything else you want to share?
Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look harder.

7616CedricAugust175Cedric August of the Food Court is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “My definition for being a leader is to be a good role model to people that are looking up to me,” August said. Read more of his interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department.
Cedric August, Food Court Specialist, Food Court

What month are you Super Star for?
July 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
I was told during our line meeting.

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 means I am doing a great job. The organization has helped me be motivated a lot to be a better person.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
They show they are a hard worker.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The people I am working with and also my family.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Seeing the wonderful kids and the people I work with.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
My definition for being a leader is to be a good role model to people that are looking up to me. Everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader by working hard and helping everybody else.

Anything else you want to share?
I am grateful to work hard at Texas Children’s.

June 28, 2016

View a testimonial from Pharmacist Margo Hanerhoff about what is like to work at Texas Children’s.

June 21, 2016

62216TCHPquilt640Debbie Spence, LVN, recently designed a colorful signature quilt to honor the nurses from the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) where she works as a medical compliance auditor.

“I’ve made special quilts in the past, but most, if not all, were for a specific person or to honor someone who was going through a difficult time,” Spence said. “I felt in my heart that making a quilt would honor the nurses I work with and making a signature quilt would be the best way to accomplish this honor.”

Designed with various combinations of fabrics to represent the uniqueness of our nurses, the individual quilt squares contain the name, nursing school and the year of graduation for each TCHP nurse including the nurses from The Centers for Women and Children in Greenspoint and Southwest.

“Everyone was very supportive of this project,” Spence said. ”It was such a joy to create this quilt to represent us – the Texas Children’s Health Plan.”

Spence’s quilt will be displayed in the TCHP’s new offices at 6330 West Loop South and will serve as a constant reminder of how special and dynamic our nurses are at the TCHP.

June 7, 2016

6816Catalyst640Every year, this program honors outstanding individuals whose personal leadership and contributions have positively impacted a team, a patient, a family, a process, an outcome or any element of our Texas Children’s mission. Nominations for the 2017 award are being accepted until Thursday, June 30.

Visit the Mark A. Wallace Catalyst Leadership Award website for complete details about the nomination process and this exciting recognition.