May 2014
L
A Publication of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
MMM Special Edition
ong-term employees play an invaluable role in the life of UT Southwestern Medical
Center. Their faithful, dedicated service has helped the institution become what it is
today. In this special edition of Center Times, we showcase some of these employees
and their varied interests. Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern
Medical Center, will host a May 13 luncheon to honor employees with 50, 45, 40, 35,
and 30 years of service, and to welcome new members of the Quarter Century Club.
PHOTOS BY DAVID GRESHAM
MARY QUIROGA
By Lin Lofley
Mary Quiroga, Fellowship Coordinator in Pulmonary
and Critical Care Medicine, will be honored at the 2014
Quarter Century Club luncheon as this year’s longest-serving UT Southwestern Medical Center employee.
Ms. Quiroga began her career on Jan. 10, 1964, in the
Radiology Department at St. Paul Hospital, run then by
the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
“I was hired as a typing clerk,” she said, “typing the
name cards used to identify the patients’ names on X-ray
films. After about a year I moved to the Radiology File
Room, where I was responsible for filing the patient Xrays, pulling X-rays for doctors, then re-filing them.”
She held a number of jobs, but she eventually was
recruited to become the Secretary for Dr. Ernest Poulos,
Director of the General Surgery Residency Program. It
was there she discovered how much she enjoyed working in Medical Education. After working several years for
the General Surgery and the Obstetrics and Gynecology
programs, she became Secretary to Dr. Williams C. Brooks,
Director of Graduate Medical Education, and later for Dr.
Brooks’ successor, Dr. Edwin P. Jenevein. She also worked
for Dr. Larry Word and several other directors of the Ob/
Gyn residency program.
“Mary is one of those people who are the backbone of any successful organization. She’s
been like a mother hen to many chicks, and she’s vital to everything we do in our division.”
– Dr. Lance Terada
GLORIA MAGANA
By Lin Lofley
Gloria Magana began working in the laundry
at St. Paul Hospital 45 years ago, in a huge room
on the lower level of the facility that ran industrial-size washing machines 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. She’s still working there, although
most of the washing machines are gone now, as
the laundry operation was outsourced.
Fewer washing machines at what is now St.
Paul University Hospital mean that fewer workers are needed. But Ms. Magana is still a valuable
member of the staff who folds and loads linen for
distribution throughout the hospital. The task remains the same, even if the fabrics Ms. Magana
deals with have changed over the years from cotton to newer materials.
“All I’ve ever wanted was to do a good job,”
she said. “I’ve enjoyed working here, and through
the years my best friends were people I worked
with here. After a while, you sort of feel like you
know these people better than you know your
own family.”
Ms. Magana came to the U.S. in 1955 from her
hometown of San Miguel de Bustamante, Mexico. The current population is listed as fewer than
4,000 people, but she recalled that it was “smaller
back then.”
She became a naturalized citizen in 1975, by
which time she was well on her way to becoming
a fixture at St. Paul.
“We had 63 people working in the laundry.
We did the washing, the pressing, and folding,
virtually all of it by hand. Now, all of that is contracted out and there are four of us here. We send
the laundry out, accept delivery of the clean linens, and sort it for delivery.”
Ms. Magana has three children, two of whom
were born at St. Paul, and four grandchildren.
She looks with anticipation toward the opening of the William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital in late 2014.
“I see it every day when I come in, and it’s
pretty amazing,” Ms. Magana said. “I can’t wait
to see the laundry area.”
And, for someone who has done the laundry
for hundreds of thousands of St. Paul patients
over the years, it had to be asked: What laundry
detergent do you use at home?
“I use All,” she said. “I don’t like the dyes and
fragrances some of the other detergents use. All is
just detergent, and it’s just what I like.”
“I have always enjoyed working in Graduate Medical
Education, working with faculty members, residents, and
interns,” she said. “And now, as Fellowship Coordinator,
I am working with two excellent program directors – Drs.
John Battaile and Hetal Patel – 14 great fellows, and an
excellent Pulmonary staff. I also enjoy working with other
fellowship coordinators and with our administrative staff
members.”
That gives Ms. Quiroga a strong connection with people who have passed through the program, whether as
teachers or trainees.
Lisa Garcia, Division Administrator in Pulmonary and
Critical Care Medicine, has worked at UT Southwestern
18 years. When she became Ms. Quiroga’s supervisor in
2008, she quickly identified a great team member. “When
I came in as Administrator for the Pulmonary Division,
Mary stepped up and offered a lending hand and always
called to ask if I needed assistance getting acclimated to
the position.
“Mary is amazing. She works hard, comes to work daily, and never fails to meet a deadline,” Ms. Garcia said.
“I truly admire her dedication and strong work ethic. It’s
been a pleasure to have her on my team.”
“I’m so fortunate,” Ms. Quiroga said. “I have worked
for so many wonderful people in my career going all the
way back to St. Paul. And it’s been gratifying to see over
the years the many residents who came through our programs on their way to becoming outstanding physicians,
not only in Dallas, but elsewhere in Texas and around the
world.”
When she’s not at work, she enjoys movies – especially
classic movies – and gardening. She has a brother and two
sisters, and many nieces and nephews, and another blessing: “My mother is 89, and she’s not in the best of health
but we’re blessed that she is still with us and enjoying life.”
When UT Southwestern’s Quarter Century Club
honors her on May 13, Ms. Quiroga will smile at many
friendly faces. She has earned the recognition.
“Mary is one of those people who are the backbone of
any successful organization,” said Dr. Lance Terada, Chief
of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Professor of Internal
Medicine and Surgery. “She’s been like a mother hen to
many chicks, and she’s vital to everything we do in our
division.”
Page 2
May 2014
LETICIA FRAYNA
BERNADINE “BERNIE” WAFFORD
By Donna Steph Hansard
By Patrick Wascovich
Forty years after starting as a Staff Nurse in St.
Paul Hospital’s Emergency Room, Leticia Frayna
says what most matters to her is that she has
“made a difference.”
“My wish is that in some way – whether big or
small – I’ve made a difference in someone’s life,
whether that be a patient or his or her family or
one of my co-workers,” she said. “I’m grateful to
all the people who trained and mentored me, and
hope I can do the same for others.”
Recipient of the “Heart of St. Paul” award –
given for showing compassion and excellence
in patient care – during the 1990s, Mrs. Frayna
currently is a Registered Nurse, Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse, and Clinical Coordinator in St.
Paul’s post-anesthesia care unit. She looks forward
to taking her skills and talents to UT Southwestern Medical Center’s new William P. Clements Jr.
University Hospital in the fall.
“Being able to come to work every day is rewarding,” she said. “UT Southwestern is a worldclass facility that continues to excel in patient
A Housekeeper in Environmental Services,
Bernadine “Bernie” Wafford helps to ensure that
St. Paul University Hospital is clean, safe, and presentable for its patients and their families.
“I am responsible for cleaning patients’ rooms,
for cleaning cribs and Isolettes, and whatever else
is asked of me,” Ms. Wafford said.
Hired in March of 1973 after graduating from
high school, she has faithfully carried out her duties ever since with a positive can-do attitude.
Her long-term goal? “I want to retire at
UT Southwestern Medical Center,” the Glenn
Heights resident said.
Her co-workers say that she’s “nice, because
I always smile and speak to people.” That daily
goal of providing for patients earned Ms. Wafford
the Diana and Richard C. Strauss Award for clinical employee excellence in 2002. The recognition
is given to employees who demonstrate excellent
service in a professional and positive manner,
show teamwork, compassion, dependability, and
a strong work ethic, among other qualities.
care and research. I will always be proud and
grateful to be working here.”
In her spare time, Mrs. Frayna enjoys crocheting and sewing, as well as volunteering at her
church. She hopes to participate in mission trips
in other countries once she retires. She counts her
husband, Miguel, as her “best friend.”
Working within UT Southwestern’s Hospitals
& Clinics system has been rewarding, she said.
“Being able to serve others and meeting new
people” have helped Ms. Wafford remain on task
for more than 40 years. Even now, her wish is to
be known as an employee who “loves their job.”
Outside of her career at the medical center,
Ms. Wofford loves being involved in her church,
working with young people and the homeless,
baking, and shopping.
Her family includes her husband, Gregory,
three children (including a son who played college football at Kansas State), a son-in-law, and a
granddaughter.
ALLISON CURRY
GWEN GRIFFIN
By Deborah Wormser
A Business Analyst Supervisor on the Health
System Information Resources (HSIR) Team, Allison Curry works in the office that manages the
professional billings for physicians and practice
groups at Zale Lipshy University Hospital and St.
Paul University Hospital.
The team also handles billings for faculty providers at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Children’s
Medical Center Dallas, and the outpatient clinics
at the James W. Aston Ambulatory Care Center.
She began her career at UT Southwestern Medical Center as a data entry operator for several
community clinics created by the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology in collaboration with
and now run by Parkland. “Before I got here, UT
Southwestern doctors had developed the concept
of reaching out to indigent women in the community,” she explained.
Her most rewarding memory since joining the
HSIR team about seven years ago was “working
on my first Epic (software) upgrade that affected
the entire university in 2009,” she said.
FRANCES COPE EUBANKS
Ms. Curry believes she’s viewed as “confident
and busy” and would like to be remembered as
someone who “works to make sure that the job
that I do is complete and correct and reflects the
goals set by UT Southwestern.”
She loves to read books and is generally a
very quiet person. That may come as a surprise to
some of her co-workers, because she is required to
be talkative at work in a job that touches so many
different areas of the University Health System. In
her free time, she enjoys travel to visit her large
family and gardening.
RHONDA GRAHAM
By Donna Steph Hansard
By Donna Steph Hansard
As a NICU nurse at St. Paul University Hospital, Frances Cope Eubanks enjoys caring for very
special and very tiny patients. Last August, she
was part of the team that helped care for St. Paul’s
first quintuplets – born to missionaries Carrie and
Gavin Jones – and has stayed in touch with the
family. In addition, members of her family know
members of the Jones family, so there are numerous binding ties.
“I volunteered last summer, helping with the
babies after they went home,” she said. “It was
fun. I text and Facebook with Carrie still, keeping
up with what is going on as they prepare to return
to Papua, New Guinea.”
Mrs. Eubanks started at UT Southwestern
Medical Center as a Research Nurse in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases division. She moved to
the St. Paul NICU in 1981. She is “very excited,
yet a little nervous” about her department’s next
step – relocating to the new William P. Clements
Jr. University Hospital in the fall.
One of Rhonda Graham’s favorite memories
at UT Southwestern Medical Center is the April
Fool’s joke she played about 10 years ago on her
boss and co-workers.
“I told them I was giving my two-week notice
and retiring,” she said. “The looks on their faces
were priceless. Then I said: ‘April’s Fool!’ I really
tricked them.”
Obviously difficult to replace, Ms. Graham is
an Administrative Assistant in the Material Management Office of Inventory Control, where coworkers describe her as “compassionate, understanding, dependable, ethical, conscientious, and
committed.”
“I always give all that I have, and even more,
to make UT Southwestern a great place to work,”
Ms. Graham said. “The family relationships that I
have grown to love and enjoy have kept me here,
as well as the recognition that the university is
No. 1 in its business.”
“I feel a sense of loyalty to UT Southwestern,”
she said. “I also feel honored to be a part of a wellrespected institution with such high standards
and the desire for quality care.”
When not working, Mrs. Eubanks enjoys hiking, particularly in Colorado and New Mexico.
She has homeschooled all four of her children –
the last of whom will graduate from high school
in May 2015. She also teaches high school geography in a homeschooling co-op.
“This is my 24th year of homeschooling, so I
am ready to be done,” she said, laughing. She’s
grateful for a job where she could schedule work
around her children’s needs.
Mrs. Eubanks and her husband, Gary, have
four children – Garrett, Andrew, Libby, and Jonathan.
Ms. Graham, who said her long-term goal is
to “retire from here young and in good health
and go forward to new things,” enjoys singing,
sports, traveling, reading, puzzles, and spending
time with her family and friends. Her favorite
times include hanging out with her 30-year-old
daughter Ra’Nesha, who teaches special needs
children, and her 81-year-old mother, “matriarch
of our family.”
May 2014
Page 3
MADELINE K. KIRVEN-GAMBLE
C O LT E E M A S O N
By Donna Steph Hansard
By Deborah Wormser
Madeline K. Kirven-Gamble, Administrative
Manager of the Financial Control division of
Information Resources, considers her co-workers “like family.” When what was then about a
30-member department traveled 100 miles to
Mexia, Texas, for her wedding in 1992, she was
beyond thrilled.
“I felt really, really special and was very grateful,” Ms. Kirven-Gamble said. “I haven’t yet found
a memory during my 35 years at UT Southwestern
that has topped that.”
A hard worker who “genuinely loves her job”
and “doesn’t mind staying extra hours to get the
job done,” Ms. Kirven-Gamble is often described
as diligent, resourceful, professional, trustworthy and one of the “heartbeats” of Information
Resources. Her responsibilities include managing
the day-to-day operations of the Financial Control division, managing the HCM work flows for
the department, and ensuring that Information
Resources maintains compliance and follows university policies.
“UT Southwestern offers excellent career op-
Coltee Mason, a Transporter at St. Paul University Hospital, gets patients where they need
to go for X-rays and other procedures around UT
Southwestern Medical Center. That means constantly moving between the hospital, the outpatient area, and the professional building.
She thinks co-workers would describe her as
spontaneous and willing. “I don’t freeze up or get
an attitude. I’m joyful all the time,” she said.
Growing up, Ms. Mason and her family didn’t
own a car, so she had to walk everywhere in the
East Texas town of Karnack. She later moved to
Dallas and began her career as a hospital housekeeper, determined that her four children – two
girls and two boys – would get good educations
and more opportunities than she had.
She says she enjoys her co-workers and gets
great joy from helping patients, especially when
she transports them as they prepare to go home.
Ms. Mason would like to be remembered as
“The only lady at 64 years old that can dance to
‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke.” She credits her
energy to having 12 grandchildren who keep her
on her toes. “They are surprised I still can dance,”
she said.
She considers her greatest claim to fame after
35 years at UT Southwestern that “I made it,”
she said with a laugh, adding that she is looking
forward to retiring and enjoying life, including
hanging out with friends and family.
“I have a wonderful soul, and four outstanding children. They’re all out on their own and doing well,” Ms. Mason said.
JEANNE SEITZ
STEVE SEITZ
portunities, provides excellent benefits, and is
very family-oriented,” she said. “I take great pride
in working for UT Southwestern.”
While Ms. Kirven-Gamble looks forward to
continuing her career at the medical center and
“continuing to grow professionally,” she also admits to a secret desire to write a book.
One of 13 siblings, Ms. Kirven-Gamble is married to Don Gamble. The couple has two children:
daughter Destiny and son Tray. At 5 feet tall, Mrs.
Kirven-Gamble is a “very good” basketball player
and loves to dance, fish, plan family events, and
“enjoy the simple pleasures of life.”
“My greatest claim to fame was my ability to
overcome obstacles in my life and going on to
make great achievements in spite of those obstacles,” she said.
VICKY ROBERTSON
By Donna Steph Hansard
When she started out working part-time at
UT Southwestern Medical Center at age 20, Vicky
Robertson commuted from Canton – 60 miles east
of Dallas – and was not familiar with driving in
the big city. One night, after mistakenly heading
the wrong way toward Fort Worth, she remembers
crying in her car before turning around and heading back to East Texas.
Today, 35 years later, Mrs. Robertson still
makes the long trek each way from Canton to the
Dallas VA Medical Center, where she serves as a
part-time Administrative Associate in the Department of Internal Medicine’s Education office. She
also works full-time at the Dallas VA hospital, a
separate position, as the medical center’s Medical
Service Management Analyst/ADPAC Coordinator.
An information communications guru, Mrs.
Robertson trains all UT Southwestern Internal
Medicine staffers, including residents, fellows,
and interns, on the hospital’s electronic medical
records system as well as other computer equipment, peripheral devices, and more. She also han-
dles background checks, fingerprinting, information system access, and other duties.
“I enjoy working with the clinical trainees and
assisting them to ensure every trainee has computer access and working knowledge of CPRS, our
electronic health record,” she said. “I’m very dedicated to my job, and I feel a strong sense of loyalty
to this department and its leadership.”
Mrs. Robertson was awarded the Internal Medicine Department’s Seldin Award in 1998 for outstanding administrative accomplishments.
When not at work, Mrs. Robertson often can be
found riding on the back of her husband Doug’s
Harley-Davidson motorcycle “even though I keep
my eyes closed” and enjoying fishing, reading,
and beach vacations.
EFREN STA MARIA
By Lin Lofley
By Lin Lofley
Staff Nurse Efren Sta Maria can see the end of
his career, and the 35-year veteran of St. Paul University Hospital likes the look of it. In many ways,
he’s literally ready to ride off into the sunset.
Only six months ago, Mr. Sta Maria cut back
to part-time hours in the postanesthesia care unit
to spend more time on his ranch, where he has 50
head of cattle and three bulls.
On duty at St. Paul, he watches over patients
on the Medical Surgical Floor, making sure that
they emerge from anesthesia safely before being
moved.
“I have enjoyed my job here,” he said, “and
working at UT Southwestern has been great, although I never envisioned that the hospital
would become a state-owned facility back when I
went to work for the Daughters of Charity.”
On the job since December of 1978, Mr. Sta
Maria has been there for the heavy transition to
technology and automation in the hospital, but
he won’t see much of the new William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.
He’s trading service time in a recovery room
for a quiet, almost solitary, life that will revolve
around his wife of 36 years, Eselita, their two
children and four grandchildren, and his cattle.
He does most of the ranch chores on his own –
mostly cutting and baling hay – and he also likes
hunting and fishing in his spare time.
Steve and Jeanne Seitz have been at St. Paul
University Hospital for 35 years, going all the
way back to the days when the historic Dallas
institution was run by the Daughters of Charity.
The Roman Catholic order of nuns gave them a
reason to come to Dallas from their native Wisconsin. A strong, and still growing, family kept
them at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Mr. Seitz, a Medical Technologist in the Blood
Bank, gives credit to his co-workers for his desire
to stay at UT Southwestern, but he readily admits
that “I like being able to feed my family.”
He earned his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Dallas and, following an
internship at St. Paul, he joined the staff. It’s the
only place he’s ever worked, or even wanted to
work. Completing his internship was propitious,
too, because by that time his wife, a Registered
Nurse, also was employed at St. Paul.
The hospital quickly became nearly as much
a family landmark as their home in Irving. The
Seitzes have seven children, all born at St. Paul.
“I hope that my fellow employees would describe me as ‘involved,’” said Mrs. Seitz, who is
proud of having been named to D Magazine’s
Excellence in Nursing award in General Practice,
and DFW Great 100 Nurses. “I especially like the
way that the staff in our unit (3 North) works together.”
The couple also loves to participate in the productions of the Bedford-based Regal Opera Company. Steve sings in the productions and Jeanne
creates the characters' costumes. Additionally,
they are active in the music program at Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church in Irving.
Their family’s faith is apparent. Little known
fact? Mr. Seitz’s brother, Mark, is the Catholic
Bishop of El Paso.
At work, Mrs. Seitz likes the idea of “making a
difference.” And that goes for both the patient –
“I hope to help them understand their illness and
how they can take care of themselves” – and her
colleagues, with whom she wants to “find ways to
make a difference in our unit and our patient care
knowledge.” Mrs. Seitz likes knowing that she’s a
source of knowledge for those she works with. “If
they aren’t sure about something, someone will
say ‘Ask Jeanne, because she will know what it is
or where to look it up.’”
When Mr. and Mrs. Seitz celebrated their 30year milestone in 2009, they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first grandchild. Now there
are six grandchildren in the family, and three
more on the way.
Page 4
May 2014
DIANE WYNNE
JANICE DAVIS
By Lin Lofley
Like many UT Southwestern Medical Center
employees a few decades into their careers, Diane
Wynne fondly remembers the holiday parties
hosted on campus each year by the late President
Dr. Charles Sprague. And if you go way back, she
can remember when UT Southwestern was closed
the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
An Administrative Associate in the Division
of Burn/Trauma/Critical Care of the Department
of Surgery, Ms. Wynne coordinates the academic
schedules of the Division Chief, Dr. Joseph Minei,
and Drs. Patricia Bergen, Stephen Luk, and Erwin Thal, faculty members in the division. She’s
also the secretary for the Parkland Surgical Society, the “alumni association” for residents who
have trained at UT Southwestern and at Parkland
Health & Hospital System. “I really enjoy being
able to keep up with the residents who have completed their training here, and to work with them
to plan their yearly reunions.”
Even after 35 years, Ms. Wynne marvels at the
expansion of the medical center. “It’s been amaz-
ing to watch over the years,” she said, “and I am
looking forward to seeing the opening of two new
hospitals that will allow patient care, research,
and education to grow and excel.”
In her free time, she enjoys reading, shopping,
sports, and traveling, “but the friendships I have
made with the people in the Department of Surgery have been most wonderful.”
Ms. Wynne professes one more work-related
goal: “I’d like to become proficient in PeopleSoft
before I retire.”
WILLIAM ANDERSON
CLARA BELL
GARY BRUEGGERHOFF
William Anderson peers inside people’s eyes
all day and has for more than 35 years – 30 of
those at UT Southwestern. An Ophthalmologic
Imager, Mr. Anderson performs diagnostic scans
on patients’ eyes, utilizing state-of-the-art technology and equipment to obtain precise corneal
measurements that ophthalmologists rely on
when performing eye implant surgery. “I like
helping patients with their eye problems,” Mr.
Anderson said. “I also enjoy the fine work done
here and the good people who work at UT Southwestern.” A steady eye and patience also work to
Mr. Anderson’s advantage when it comes to his
woodworking and photography interests. In addition, he and his wife, Jennifer, enjoy traveling,
recently having completed a trip down Europe’s
Rhine River.
When Clara Bell started working at UT Southwestern, she had no idea that she would be in the
same department for more than 30 years. She is
an Administrative Associate in the Office of Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs and
has stayed because she feels privileged to work
with such a great group of co-workers. “Loving
and caring for each other and the friendly environment of the office is what makes coming to
work a blessing,” she said. At each day’s end she
knows that she has made a difference. Ms. Bell
and her husband, Herman, have been married for
39 years and have a son and two granddaughters.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing,
and relaxing.
Public Safety Officer Gary Brueggerhoff began
his UT Southwestern career as a guard and earned
a promotion long before most of his fellow officers came to work here. One of those people
even playfully calls him the “Jurassic Guard.” But
assisting people is something Officer Brueggerhoff enjoys doing, whether that means escorting
visitors, handling security, or helping a motorist
change a tire. He served in the U.S. Navy and was
aboard the USS Forrestal on July 4, 1976, when
President Gerald Ford rang in the nation’s bicentennial celebration from the ship’s flight deck. He
and his wife, Pam, have a daughter, Jennifer, and
two dogs that require daily walks.
IRENE DOUGHERTY
ANDREA GONZALES
CASSANDRA HARRIS
BARBARA JORDAN
A Research Associate in Dermatology, Ms.
Dougherty manages the laboratory and coordinates trials. “The most rewarding time is working
with our study patients,” she said. “They’re all so
friendly and willing to help with our research,
even though it may not help them right at the
moment.” Ms. Dougherty’s co-workers describe
her as “helpful, compassionate – someone who
tries to be understanding and helpful wherever
possible.” Her value shows. In 1989, Ms. Dougherty left Texas and UT Southwestern for three
years. When she returned in 1992, the medical
center (and Dermatology) was happy to hire her
again. Away from work, she enjoys time with her
husband, Joel, and daughters Emiko and Mariko.
Administrative Manager Andrea Gonzales is
business manager of the Top 10 nationally ranked
Department of Immunology. Proud of her inclusion in the inaugural UT Southwestern Administrative Leader Academy, she believes her co-workers describe her as productive and calm. “I get
things done and usually don’t panic!” she joked.
She started her UT System career at UT Arlington
in 1983 and arrived at UT Southwestern’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1992. She
and her husband, Jose, have two sons: Carlos and
Daniel. “Each position I’ve held at UT Southwestern has presented me with new challenges and
new things to learn, as well as wonderful people
with whom I enjoy working.”
A Reimbursement Supervisor in Radiology,
Cassandra Harris ensures that the billing staff
operates in a timely and efficient manner for the
department and the patients whom it serves. Ms.
Harris’ succinct response on what has kept her
at the medical center for 30 years? “I enjoy my
work.” She first arrived at UT Southwestern on
April 9, 1984, as a clerk in the safety program.
Married with a son and two daughters, Ms. Harris
also has one granddaughter to enjoy during her
time away from work.
Barbara Jordan has spent three decades in service at UT Southwestern. And you can put the
emphasis on the word service. From her first job
as a Patient Representative on the 7th Floor at
the James W. Aston Ambulatory Care Center, to
seven years spent at the front desk of the Data
Center as a Physician Telephone Consultant, Ms.
Jordan has been all about service, all the time. “I
like helping people,” she said. “That’s what makes
us UT Southwestern.” Ms. Jordan’s other great
passions are her church and her family. Her son,
Nicholas, and four granddaughters – Alex, Myra,
Kyla, and Aryan – also know that their loved one
is centered on service.
May 2014
Page 5
LINDA MUNCY
RICHARD PEREZ
DIAN POLK
DAPHNE DAVIS RYE
Linda Muncy has worked alongside the same
person for 30 years. An Administrative Associate in the Department of Psychiatry, Ms. Muncy
counts Dr. John Sadler, Professor of Psychiatry
and Clinical Sciences, as a colleague and friend.
“We have the same interests in philosophy of
psychiatry and medical ethics,” she said. “He’s
just a great guy to hang out with, which is the
main reason I’m still here.” The two coordinate
UT Southwestern’s Program in Ethics in Science
and Medicine, which Dr. Sadler leads. The program involves consulting on clinical and research
ethics issues, and developing and delivering ethics
curriculum. Ms. Muncy says her next “life” will
include volunteering in marine mammal rescue
operations, a cause she has passionately supported
for many years.
A Buyer at the Zale Lipshy University Hospital
pharmacy, Richard Perez has one mindset on the
job – efficiency in the purchasing of medications
and supplies. Since December 1983, Mr. Perez has
worked to ensure that the processes work and his
colleagues’ needs are met. Co-workers describe
him as “smart and quick.” Born and raised in Dallas, he said “the people I work with, and the interesting events” that occur at an academic medical center have kept him at UT Southwestern. His
long-term goal is one that many people share: “to
pay off my house!” Away from work, Mr. Perez
enjoys gardening and computers.
Executive Assistant Dian Polk of Information Resources said she is led by example. “Even
though their jobs are extremely demanding, the
vice president and assistant vice president that
I support are always supportive and willing to
spend time with their employees.” One of her
special memories was an off-site holiday party
planned by the administrative assistants, who
surprised partygoers by singing a song by the Supremes. She and her husband will celebrate their
30th wedding anniversary in July, and are the
proud parents of two daughters: one a graduate
of UT Arlington and the youngest a junior at the
University of North Texas. Her hobbies include
traveling, church activities, and spending time
with family.
Daphne Davis Rye is an occasional drummer
in a rock-and-roll band. She’s ready to become a
“semi-permanent fixture in Port Aransas” with
husband Larry when she retires. But in the meantime, she is a Research Scientist and loves every
minute of being part of an “incredible team.” Mrs.
Rye was on board in Molecular Genetics when
Drs. Joseph Goldstein and Michael Brown were
awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1985, as well as when Dr. David Russell
was named to the National Academy of Sciences
in 2006 and to the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences in 2011. Currently she works with Dr.
Arun Radhakrishnan, who “continues the high
caliber of research in the footsteps of these predecessors,” she said. “Being a small part of the MolGen team is amazing.”
JENNIFER BUFKIN
PATTINA TRAYLOR
MINNIE TURNER
KAREN WARREN
A Patient Care Technician in St. Paul University Hospital’s Ob/Gyn department, Pattina Traylor
said she gets a daily dose of family time. “I love
my job and I love what I do working with the new
moms and their babies,” she said. Ms. Traylor assists nurses with caring for patients. She said she
wants to be known as the employee who “smiles
all the time.” Ms. Traylor, who loves to roller
skate, would like to become a paramedic someday. She and her husband of 32 years, Charles,
have four grown children living in Dallas. “I love
to spend time with my family, most of all my five
grandbabies.”
When she was inducted into the Quarter Century Club five years ago, Minnie Stephens Turner
was working in Information Resources, a job that
will definitely hone a person’s computer skills.
Now she’s an Analyst in the Medical Service Research and Development Plan administration,
still learning and growing. “[Working in IR] gave
me the knowledge of how to use my computer
skills, both at work and in life away from campus,” she said. But her most proud moment came
when she and her husband of 26 years, Curtis Sr.,
watched their son graduate from the University
of North Texas with a degree in kinesiology.
Karen Warren bills herself as “loud and caring,” but also as someone who is attentive to
“job, co-workers, and our patients.” And when
she lists her favorite non-work passion as “volunteering,” then that’s the makings of a keeper. Ms.
Warren began her UT Southwestern career as an
Administrative Assistant to the leader of the Physical Therapy program. Now she’s an Administrative Assistant in Plastic Surgery, coordinating and
facilitating patient practice flow and academic
office management. “It’s a great place to work, a
great environment,” she said. “I have been lucky
to work with amazing people here.” Ms. Warren
has been married for more than 40 years.
C A R O LY N J A M E S
JOY LILLJEDAHL
K E L LY M O N T G O M E RY
The new William P. Clements Jr.
University Hospital
OPENING IN LATE 2014
ROSE OLIVER
JIM CUNNIFF
LOU PAREDES
Page 6
May 2014
PRISCILLA ALDERMAN
TOM AMES
TERESA BOSLER
ROBERT BUTSCH
Working as an Executive Assistant
to Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of
UT Southwestern, would seem to be a
challenging position, but Priscilla Alderman has actually driven a 12-team
dog sled on a glacier in Alaska. One
pulling-for-the-same-goal
environment was probably good training for
the other. Ms. Alderman and her husband, Dr. Gary Wilson, a dentist, have
traveled to Alaska five times. But the
next big trip on their itinerary is to
San Francisco in August, which also is
when their first grandchild is due to be
born.
A Computer Analyst, Thomas Ames
provides daily hardware and software
support in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He said people
would be surprised to know that he is
a “65-year-old Vietnam veteran who
rides motorcycles.” Mr. Ames said UT
Southwestern’s working environment
and benefits have kept him at the medical center. His most rewarding career
memory? He met his wife on campus
12 years ago. When away from work,
Mr. Ames – a grandfather to seven –
builds and flies large-scale model airplanes, and is a gunsmith.
Senior Project Manager in Academic Information Services is Teresa
Bosler’s title, but she describes it as “Informatics Concierge.” Ms. Bosler helps
researchers with data management,
which is a time-consuming endeavor
when you consider the amount of research done and data gathered on campus. The former high school gymnastics champion (uneven bars) in Iowa
said that – aside from her husband, two
children and Australian shepherd puppy – being a member of UT Southwestern’s first Employee Advisory Council
is her biggest claim to fame.
One of Robert Butsch’s favorite
memories during his 25 years at UT
Southwestern is “running up and down
the stairs in the L Building hoping to
catch a glimpse of Margaret Thatcher”
when the then-British Prime Minister
visited the campus in 1991. “I saw her
twice, going on a tour with a whole
troop of people,” said Mr. Butsch, a Senior Database Analyst with Academic
Information Systems. Described as
“detail-oriented,” or what Mr. Butsch
plainly calls “nitpicky,” the computer
guru volunteers at the Dallas Zoo as a
“keeper’s aide” in his spare time – and
has for 27 years, primarily in the reptile
and amphibian area.
LIZ CARMACK
CARLA CHILDERS
B R E N D A C O LV I N
ALMA CRUZ
S A N D R A D AV I S
Senior Reimbursement Specialist
Mattielue Elizabeth “Liz” Carmack said
she enjoys helping people. Her job entails reviewing ophthalmology patient
accounts for balances and assisting
staff with billings. The mother of four
and grandmother of five hopes she’ll
be remembered as “loyal, dependable,
and loud. My voice carries!” Her greatest enjoyment comes from watching
“the great growth that UT Southwestern has had in the last 25 years.” Her
most unusual experience was watching
students work on cadavers.
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Administrative Coordinator Carla Childers was working as an administrative assistant to Dr. Alfred Gilman,
at the time the Department of Pharmacology Chairman, when he won
the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physiology
or Medicine. Administrative Manager
Wendy Deaner phoned with the early-morning news, and to say she had
a flat tire and needed Ms. Childers to
get into the office ASAP to field phone
calls. “I grabbed my hair dryer and out
the door I went.” Ms. Childers and her
husband enjoy camping, and she has
been a Special Olympics volunteer.
Now an Administrator in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,
Brenda Colvin said her reasons for
staying at the medical center for 25
years include “pride in UT Southwestern’s mission, the challenging and interesting work, and the great faculty
and staff I get to work with.” Although
she’s tasked with a full schedule, Ms.
Colvin’s co-workers said her “door is
always open.” Outside interests include
reading, camping, and watching her
daughter dance. Her family includes
husband Danny, 13-year-old son Ben,
and 11-year-old daughter Ryan.
For Alma Cruz, it’s all about the
patients. A Registered Nurse on the
Telemetry floor at St. Paul University
Hospital, Ms. Cruz is involved daily
in direct patient care. “When former
patients come and visit or stop me in
the hallway, thanking me for a job
well done, that is very rewarding,” Ms.
Cruz said. Originally from the Philippines, Ms. Cruz also has worked as a
Transplant Coordinator. She continues
to teach classes to transplant patients,
as well as their families, advising them
about the specifics of surgery as well as
expectations afterward. When not at
work, Ms. Cruz enjoys cooking, craftwork, and traveling.
As Education Assistant in the Ob/
Gyn Department, Sandra Davis coordinates education for both UT Southwestern medical students and visiting
fourth-year students from other universities. She also provides secretarial
support to seven faculty members. “I
love what I do and appreciate the opportunities and support that I receive
from my department,” she said. “My
most rewarding UT Southwestern
memories are to watch some of my
shy, quiet students become assertive,
outgoing, and successful physicians.”
Ms. Davis enjoys helping others with
Bible studies during her spare time, as
well as spending time with her family,
which includes three grandchildren. “I
am truly blessed,” she said.
THERESA EDWARDS
REBECCA C. EWUNES
PHYLLIS FOLEY
CHARLOTTE FORD
ALBERT C. GARNER JR.
As Plastic Surgery’s Billing Coordinator, Ms. Edwards is described by
co-workers as “supportive, friendly,
encouraging, and talks to everyone.”
Some of her favorite memories revolve around Halloween, when the
department hosted employee costume
contests annually. She and her billing
colleagues took the prize one year, pantomiming moves from the theme song
to the movie “Men in Black” and donning black suits, dark sunglasses, and
carrying masks emblazoned with the
face of Dr. Rod Rohrich, Chairman of
Plastic Surgery. When not at work, Ms.
Edwards enjoys spending time with her
family and five “beautiful” grandchildren, as well as devoting time to her
church.
Co-workers refer to Rebecca C.
Ewunes as “Road Runner” because of
her brisk lunchtime walks around campus. A Purchasing Manager, she is driven to find the best quality at the lowest
cost. Her proudest career achievement
was passing the test to become a certified purchasing manager. She has
one son and a granddaughter. Outside
of work, she enjoys playing with her
granddaughter, Zumba classes, church
worship, friends, and community
walks. After she retires, she would like
to teach elementary school.
Working at UT Southwestern is all
about the people, according to Phyllis
Foley. “I have met many famous and
not-so-famous people during my years
here,” she said. “The people are the
best part of the job. I work for some
brilliant people. And there is always
somebody here for you when you need
them.” Ms. Foley, Division Administrator for Internal Medicine’s Digestive
and Liver Diseases division, said she
“never imagined she would still be
here after 25 years.” When not at work,
Ms. Foley enjoys spending time with
her 13-year-old granddaughter, whom
she adopted as an infant. “It is so much
easier to be a parent at my age.”
Charlotte Ford works nights as a
Sleep Technologist in the Sleep and
Breathing Disorders Center. A registered respiratory therapist, she sets up
sleep studies and monitors patients’
resting states. Her most rewarding
memory was chairing an American
Heart Association community walk. “It
was so much fun and the participation
from my colleagues was so encouraging.” A Dallas Mavericks season ticket
holder, she also enjoys action movies,
church, and family time with her husband, daughter, two sons, grandson,
and new daughter-in-law.
Albert Garner promised himself
when he began working at UT Southwestern that he would only stay five
years. Now, 25 years later, as a Technical
Specialist III in Information Resources,
Mr. Garner “cares about the university
and what it will achieve in the future,”
he said. Described as “friendly” and a
“hard worker,” Mr. Garner enjoys his
job – providing computer and technical support – as well as “meeting new
people and reaching new heights.” A
former disc jockey, Mr. Garner enjoys
restoring classic cars and traveling with
his wife of 22 years and his daughter, 7.
May 2014
Page 7
JINGYUAN GU
BETTY HARMON
S H A R O N H AY N E S
JENNIE HENICKE
KELLI HULSMAN
Jingyuan Gu is a Web Applications
Engineer II in Information Resources/
Academic Information Systems. Her
current job includes providing technical support for grants management,
animal resource control, clinical data
warehouse, and the research service department. Ms. Gu said that UT Southwestern’s mission is inspiring. “It is
both university and hospital. I feel
great to work in such a facility,” she
said. Ms. Gu also is willing to get her
hands dirty. A surprising fact? “I used
to be a farmer in China. I worked as a
farmer for five years.”
A Registered Nurse and Certified
Clinical Documentation Improvement
Specialist, Betty Harmon began her career at St. Paul Hospital before transitioning to UT Southwestern. A favorite
memory is being invited some years
ago to the Christmas party thrown by
a physician. She brought along an acquaintance, Keith, and he’s now her
husband of 10 years. Her passions are
her family – she has two daughters, a
son-in-law, and another coming soon,
and three “grandpuppies” – and traveling. “I’m very impressed with the new
hospital,” she said. “I’m anticipating
state-of-the-art equipment and a worldclass staff.”
As a Clinical Research Finance Analyst, Registered Nurse Sharon Haynes
has been involved in numerous research studies. “It’s been an adventure,”
she said of her 25-year career. A study
helping pregnant women infected by
HIV, and trying to help keep the virus
from being passed to their newborn
children, was a clinical investigation
she will never forget. “The study was
stopped by the Food and Drug Administration because it worked and became
a standard of care,” Ms. Haynes said. “It
was great to be a part of that outcome.”
When not at work, Ms. Haynes enjoys
scrapbooking and spending time with
her extended family.
An Administrative Coordinator at
the Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center,
Jennie Henicke specializes in grants,
office management, and postdoctoral
recruitments. She said “the people and
the new challenges” have kept her at
UT Southwestern for 25 years. Her most
rewarding memory: “Being part of the
team led by Dr. James Willson and Dr.
Tim Strawderman when we submitted
the Cancer Center Support Grant to become an NCI-designated Cancer Center.” Ms. Henicke’s family includes her
husband, Ronny, two grown children,
two grandchildren, and two Westies.
As a Clinical Nurse Educator, Kelli
Hulsman has taught on pregnancy,
childbirth, and early parenthood since
arriving at St. Paul Hospital in 1988.
New parents frequently tell the mother
of four sons that she has made a difference in their lives. Ms. Hulsman currently is involved in a multisite research
project on maternity care and infant
feeding outcomes. Her “best friend” is
her husband of 30 years. Away from
work, Ms. Hulsman enjoys gardening,
working on a small homestead farm,
and spending time with family.
BARBARA F. JOHNSON
JoBETH JOHNSON
MIA JOHNSON
U LY S S E S J O H N S O N
Account Adjuster Barbara F. Johnson is proud of her “25 years achieved
at this institution,” where the pleasant
atmosphere in the adjustment department contributed to her long tenure.
She’d like to be known as a sincere
worker with a positive outlook who
inspires those around her. In her free
time, the Louisiana native enjoys visiting her home state, gardening, helping others, and, most of all, spending
time with family, including son Corey
Deodwin, grandson Deodwin Jaheem
Johnson, and seven siblings.
During the past 25 years as a Registered Nurse, JoBeth Johnson hopes that
she has “made a difference.” Currently
a Staff Nurse in the pre-surgery testing
area at St. Paul University Hospital, Ms.
Johnson said she has stayed because of
“the opportunities and excellent clinicians” she works with. “UT Southwestern has great people working here,” she
said. “I feel that everyone is committed to doing a good job. And we have
been provided a good working environment.” Ms. Johnson enjoys gardening
and walking – including completing
four half-marathons – during her spare
time.
Mia Johnson likely was one of the
first in Dallas to know about the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal
Building in Oklahoma City on April
19, 1995. “While scheduling an appointment with an FBI agent, I began
to hear commotion from the other
end of the receiver. All of a sudden, the
agent exclaimed, ‘They just blew up
the federal building.’” Today a Senior
Administrative Associate in the Mobility Foundation Center, Ms. Johnson
enjoys volunteering for visual, theater,
and musical arts in her spare time. She
also is writing a book. “I am impressed
with the idea that my individual efforts
support world-renowned practitioners
and research,” she said.
While most of us are asleep, Ulysses Johnson is ensuring that things go
smoothly and efficiently on campus.
Mr. Johnson, a Superintendent of Utilities, oversees Physical Plant operations
for the evening shift. His areas of responsibility include HVAC facilities
and maintenance. Mr. Johnson said his
co-workers would call him a problem
solver. “They know I’ll work with them
until the issue is resolved.” Away from
UT Southwestern, he cooks, dances,
plays a “pure shooter” game of basketball, and enjoys time with his wife, Angela, and 14-year-old son Joshuah.
J E A N E T TA
MARSHBURN-WYNN
A Research Assistant in Molecular
Biology, Jeanetta Marshburn-Wynn
enjoys the part she plays in UT Southwestern’s world-renowned research. “I
want to continue to learn more about
research and how it can help the medical field of today and the future,” said
Ms. Marshburn-Wynn, who helps
maintain the mice colony for her area.
Co-workers describe her as “brighteyed and always ready with a cheery
‘good morning’ and a smile.”
DAN MARTIN
T R A C Y M c G AW
R I TA M E S S I M E R
MARIA MORGAN
T R E E C A PAT E
As Manager of the University Store
for 20 years, Dan Martin interacted
with all of UT Southwestern. Now a
buyer in the Purchasing Department,
Mr. Martin remembers one “nonpaying” store customer – a raccoon
that slipped through a store vent and
eventually incriminated itself due to
its partiality for moon pies. “We finally
caught the culprit and made sure he
was taken to a better and safer place,”
he said. Mr. Martin likes fishing, hunting, fossil hunting, antiques, and martial arts. He’s been married for 41 years
to his high school sweetheart, Lynn,
and together they have three sons.
A Clinical Educator, Tracy McGaw
provides primary support for the University Hospitals nurses, including
orientation of new staff; organizing
classes, workshops, and lectures; and
policy and procedure development.
She gains inspiration from special
cases, like a young melanoma patient
who died many years ago. “He had
just been married a few months prior
to the terminal diagnosis. Despite their
grief, his wife and parents sent me an
absolutely gorgeous bouquet of flowers and a beautiful note thanking me
for the nursing care I provided to him
during his final days. I will never forget
this family.” Her free time is spent with
husband Steven, their two Westie terriers, and playing the piano.
Rita Messimer, a Registered Nurse
and Senior Business Analyst in the
Health System Information Resources
area, is proud to say that she “puts
customer service first.” Described as
detail-oriented, Ms. Messimer says coworkers are the reason she’s stayed at
UT Southwestern for 25 years. When
not at work, she and her husband, William, are drive-in theater aficionados,
traveling around Texas to view movies.
She also enjoys reading, cooking, and
traveling.
Maria A. Morgan, a Senior IR Project
Manager in Health System Information
Resources, manages the implementation of new software or upgrade processes for current applications. When
asked what kept her at UT Southwestern, she said, “The ever-changing
‘landscape’ of the university, and the
people who aspire to make it one of
the country’s leading health care institutions.” Although she is completing
a master’s degree, Ms. Morgan still has
time to travel, read, and enjoy photography. She and her husband have
a daughter who will graduate from UT
Austin this year.
A Billing Coordinator at Moncrief
Radiation Oncology Center, Treeca
Pate enjoys her job and the co-workers
she’s met during the past 25 years.
“I’ve been fortunate to work for and
with some great people,” she said. “It is
very gratifying to see the growth of the
institution, and I consider it a blessing
to be here.” An employee who is “dependable” and always “willing to go
the extra mile to get the job done,” Ms.
Pate enjoys gardening, reading, dancing, family time, and listening to jazz
and gospel music.
Page 8
May 2014
JEFF PERKINS
MARIA LOURDES PRUNEDA
MICHELLE RHODES
BENITA “BENI” STEWART
STEVEN STONE
Library Database Analyst/Electronic
Resource Specialist Jeff Perkins is helping in the transition of the UT Southwestern Library from a traditional
library to a virtual one. “It is great to
be part of a growing organization that
makes a difference,” he said. Mr. Perkins says he is known as an employee
who always helps library clients gain
access to electronic resources that
could make their jobs easier. He loves
reading and watching old movies. He
and his wife, Heather, have a daughter,
Grace.
A Registered Nurse, MSN, and Clinical Research Coordinator in Internal
Medicine’s diabetes area, Maria Lourdes
Pruneda is a warrior in the fight against
diabetes. “Every time I attend an investigator’s meeting, I realize we have
so much to do to prevent type 1 diabetes,” she said. “But I am part of one
of the best teams working on this project.” Among Ms. Pruneda’s goals are to
“help someone with diabetes live a tiny
bit better,” stay current in her field,
and obtain a master’s degree in biblical
counseling.
Michelle Rhodes is as passionate
about how people are treated at UT
Southwestern as she is about the horses
she helps rescue. “An honest display of
pleasantness and polite concern for the
welfare of others – co-workers and patients alike – is an important responsibility we at UT Southwestern share and
strive for every day,” said Mrs. Rhodes,
a Risk Management Specialist in the
Office of the Vice President for Legal
Affairs. Mrs. Rhodes hopes to eventually retire to Maine with her husband,
David. The couple currently has eight
horses, a mule, two dogs, and “a host
of barn cats.”
Benita Stewart has stayed at UT
Southwestern for 25 years because her
job has never remained the same. “My
job responsibilities keep changing, so
I am not stuck doing the same things
all the time,” said Mrs. Stewart, a Web
Specialist II in the Internal Medicine
Department. “Since I have been here
so long, I have retained a lot of information. Sometimes it actually is useful!” Mrs. Stewart started at UT Southwestern as a Photography Assistant in
the Pathology Department. Married
to husband Mark, Mrs. Stewart has
an 18-year-old daughter, Retta, and a
14-year-old son, Ian.
Steven Stone is a Pharmacy Business
Analyst in HSIR Pharmacy Support, but
he has been mistaken for someone
with a much larger job to do. “While
working at St. Paul Hospital I went past
a father walking with his young daughter. After I passed by, I heard her ask
him if I was Santa Claus.” He said the
people that he works with, his team,
and the management and staff of the
pharmacy department keep him energized. Mr. Stone’s family includes wife
Karen – a pharmacist at UT Southwestern – daughter Emily, and son Scott. A
surprising fact? “My wife and I have
backyard chickens.”
K I M B E R LY TAY L O R
S H E R R Y TAY L O R
D AV I D W A LT O N
SHAN-MEI “AMY” WANG
CASSANDRA WATKINS
As a Senior Trainer in Electronic Research Systems, Kimberly Taylor’s job is
to make sure people know how to use
a host of important electronic research
systems known by acronyms such
as eIRB, eCOI, eGrants, and ERGO.
“When I look around and notice that
our research is helping heal community members, I know that my job is important.” Looking ahead to retirement,
she said, “While I will miss everyone,
it’s time I found a beach somewhere
warm.”
As a Business Analyst Architect
in Information Resources’ Electronic
Medical Records area, Sherry Taylor is at
the top of the charts when it comes to
managing UT Southwestern’s Epic electronic medical records system. “I enjoy
supporting the EMR applications,” she
said. “I also enjoy the challenges that
come with forward movement and progressing technology.” Married 30 years,
with three daughters and five grandchildren, Mrs. Taylor also enjoys volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters,
as well as working with youth through
her church.
Computers and antiques are what
motivate David Walton. As a Data Center Operator III, Mr. Walton spends his
days managing billing, claims, and production jobs for Health System Information Resources. “I work with a lot of
different kinds of people with different
attitudes,” he said. “I treat everyone the
same.” Away from work, Mr. Walton is
described as a “bargain shopaholic”
by close friends and family. An avid
antique hunter who trolls area estate
sales, Mr. Walton is continually on the
alert for great buys for himself, family,
and friends.
A Programming Applications Supervisor, Shan-Mei “Amy” Wang currently
is working on projects that include
My Learning and OAS archiving. Ms.
Wang’s first job at UT Southwestern
was as a Programmer I. After more
than 25 years at the medical center, she
“feels warm and trusting of this company.” Her family includes a husband
and daughter. Ms. Wang enjoys going
to movies, listening to music, and playing games like mah-jongg in her free
time.
Cassandra Watkins is known to
many as the “Cookie Lady.” A dedicated, generous, consistent and happy
worker, Mrs. Watkins is a Research
Study Coordinator in Ob/Gyn Maternal Fetal Medicine. She said she has
stayed at UT Southwestern because of
“the love” of her job and her “work
family.” “I have met and worked with
some really great co-workers,” she said.
“But, it seems I’m always in cookie
debt – owing someone a batch of my
homemade chocolate chip with walnut
cookies.” In her spare time, Mrs. Watkins enjoys baking as well as volunteering at her church and the DeSoto Food
Pantry.
MERRIE ARNSPIGER
C L AY B I N K L E Y
D AV I D C E B E L L
KIM DUTTON-JOHNSON
ALLYN GIACOMAZZI
ANGELA HOUSTON
Did you know?
• The 2014 luncheon has about 100
honorees who have worked at UT
Southwestern for 50, 45, 40, 35, 30,
and 25 years. Of those, 25 recognized
this year have jobs at St. Paul University Hospital.
R E B E CCA M EHA N
JUDY NEWELL
J AV I E R S O T O
LEELA THOMAS
NINAN THOMAS
• As an academic medical center, UT
Southwestern institutionally follows
a calendar year that begins each September. Fourteen of this year’s 100 ERP
honorees started their careers here in
various Septembers. Other popular
months for start dates are March (11),
and January, April, and July (10 each).