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Melissa Lewellen Smith from Texas Children’s Heart Center is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “My consistent motivation for providing good care and service is knowing that I am helping to improve the experiences and outcomes of our patients and families,” Smith said.

Read more of Smith’s interview:

Q&A: Melissa Lewellen Smith, October 2014 Employee

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Melissa Lewellen Smith, Registered Nurse, Pacemaker & Electrophysiology Services (Within Cardiology). I have worked here 16 years.

What month are you Super Star for?
October 2014

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
I returned to work after two weeks of vacation on October 9, 2014 and was in our morning EP service meeting. Our meeting was interrupted by our administrative assistant to let us know our director of cardiology called an urgent meeting in the living area on the 19th floor. When our team arrived, everyone was cheering and clapping. I was totally confused. Our director, Matthew Timmons, then announced the fantastic news. We had a celebratory breakfast and I was presented with flowers and a gift. It was such a phenomenal surprise that I will never forget!!

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do?
As a nurse, your main drive is to take care of the patients/families you’re servicing and to try and give your best while providing great care. When providing care, the furthest thing in my thoughts is being recognized for that service. It is always wonderful and special to be recognized for good work and deeds.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
Consistently going above and beyond the call of duty without being asked to do so. Having a strong passion and love for what you do on a daily basis that always shines in the care and service that you provide to others.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
My consistent motivation for providing good care and service is knowing that I am helping to improve the experiences and outcomes of our patients and families.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
I’ve always loved the sense of “family” at Texas Children’s. Working at Texas Children’s almost 16 years now, the relationships you develop from physicians and nursing colleagues to patients and families feels more like an extended family than it does a job. A lot of my patients I have known since they were newborns or very young children. You watch these small children grow into young adults or from young adults into adulthood. Those children and their families come to see you as not only a health care professional and caretaker but a member of their own family. In turn, my job as a nurse over time, has become more than just taking care of my “patients.” It has evolved into feeling like I am taking care of members of my own family. I truly embrace the lasting friendships and relationships I have developed through my role as a nurse at Texas Children’s.

Anything else you want to share?
I am so very appreciative for the recognition!!

Read the newest Super Star interview featuring Joshua O’Brien with Corporate Financial Planning below.

Q&A: Joshua O’Brien, September 2014 Employee

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Joshua O’Brien, Senior Financial Analyst for Corporate Financial Planning. I’ve worked at Texas Children’s Hospital for 8.5 years.

What month are you Super Star for?
September 2014

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
We were having our group luncheon to celebrate the completion of the FY’15 budget and as our Senior Vice President Alec King was congratulating our team, he announced that I had won the Super Star award. I was extremely surprised, and I felt so grateful that our entire team was there to celebrate it; it’s something that I’ll remember forever.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do?
It’s an honor to be recognized here at Texas Children’s. I feel like our team and all of the people I get a chance to work with are so knowledgeable and work so hard that I really owe this award to them.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
I think a super star employee is someone who shows they support their team through their commitment to work hard and efficiently. It’s also about being happy to be at Texas Children’s and showing that happiness to those around you. This award is given through the nominations of our peers, so it personally means a lot to know that those you work with value your efforts.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
Although I don’t have direct contact with our patients, knowing that my work providing data to make strategic decisions and meeting with areas to develop reporting tools that will impact their care, is so rewarding. Thinking of the big picture and remembering that every bit helps in taking care of our families is what keeps me positive and motivates me every day.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Texas Children’s has always been my second home, and the people in it have become a part of my family. I’ve grown up here, and all of my peers have done more than they will ever know to make me a better employee and a better person. Working at Texas Children’s as a new father has deepened my pride in the role I play in all the good that we do here. Getting to work with such wonderful people and knowing that we’re making a difference in people’s lives are what makes Texas Children’s the best.

Anything else you want to share?
I’d like to thank some of the wonderful people who have mentored me and helped me grow and progress in my career here at Texas Children’s, all the members of Corporate Financial Planning, Business Expense Administration, Accounts Payable, Pathology, Pharmacy, Family Advocacy, Information Services and the Clinical Care Center Food Court. Furthermore I’d like to thank Catherine Codispoti, Bill Little, Scott Martinez, Lisa Saenz and Aisha Jamal for all they’ve done for me here at Texas Children’s.