Connect Newsletter (Dec. 4, 2025)

Cook Children’s Health Care System Town Hall Scheduled for Dec. 18

Please join us for a Town Hall event at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Hochberger Auditorium.

These events are designed to keep all of us informed and aligned about what has been accomplished by our teams across the system and what we are looking forward to in 2026. Leaders will connect our work to our Promise and celebrate the journey ahead.

If you are able to attend, please join us to be a part of the live audience to experience the discussion in real-time. For those whose schedules or locations do not permit live attendance, the event will be live-streamed and recorded. To ensure everyone has access to this critical information promptly, the recording will be distributed via email later that same afternoon.

Know Before You Go: Holiday Extravaganza

Get ready to be enchanted by one of the most heartwarming holiday celebrations of the season! Holiday Extravaganza brings festive fun and holiday cheer to Medical Center-Fort Worth. 

On Saturday Dec. 6, Santa will visit the Atrium at 3 p.m. and the line will close at 4:45 p.m. At 5 p.m., gather outside for an event with live music, tree lighting, fireworks, and a surprise show. 

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all of our patients, families, staff, and guests, your cooperation is absolutely essential. 

Due to the nature of this large event, there will be traffic closures and pedestrian closures on and around the Fort Worth campus.

• Please follow all posted signs and directions from traffic control officers, staff, and volunteers.
• Be mindful of sidewalk and crosswalk closures and avoid entering closed-off areas.
• Being safe is the top priority. Please be patient and cautious around the campus, both in your vehicle and on foot. Your mindfulness helps us maintain a secure environment for everyone. 

For more information about vehicle and pedestrian traffic updates around Medical Center-Fort Worth visit: Construction Updates.

Clinical Nutrition Supports Community; Fosters Collaboration and Generosity 

The Clinical Nutrition department accepted Cook Children’s heartfelt call to action in supporting our community during the SNAP funding crisis by hosting a food drive for the West Aid Food Pantry at the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center. In just two weeks, the department collected over 2,500 items, which will help feed more than 150 families. 

In true Cook Children’s fashion, our generosity expanded beyond the Clinical Nutrition team. Many other departments heard about the food drive and jumped at the opportunity to support area families during this time of need.

The Clinical Nutrition department would like to give a thank you to the following teams for their collaborative spirit and generosity during this food drive: Pharmacy, Dodson Gastroenterology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and the Miller, Renaissance, and Richland Hills Neighborhood Clinics.

Cook Children's Earns Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence Designation

Cook Children's Medical Center- Fort Worth has been awarded the Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence (DICOE) designation by the American College of Radiology (ACR) – the highest level of recognition for imaging quality and patient safety in the nation. 

Out of thousands of ACR- accredited imaging sites nationwide, only about 500 have earned this elite distinction. Earning this prestigious designation means our program has demonstrated excellence in every critical area: physician leadership and expertise, advanced technology and equipment, rigorous quality and safety processes, radiation dose optimization, and an unwavering commitment to the patient experience.

Thank you to the radiologists, technologists, medical physicists, and entire imaging team whose dedication made this milestone possible.

Shop Cook Children's Online Retail Store for Holidays 

Find the perfect gifts or just treat yourself this holiday season. Check out our online store and give the gift of Cook Children’s swag. Place your orders today to receive items in time for your celebrations.

Click here to find official merchandise, including clothes, bags, cards, and items featuring Peaks the Dragon. 

ICYMI: Self-Install Microsoft 365 Apps

We’re transitioning to the latest Microsoft 365 (M365) desktop applications. You can now install Microsoft 365 apps on your own and at a time that is convenient for you. But don’t wait too long. All users will need to complete this installation before Cook Children’s upgrades to the Windows 11 platform in January.

Visit Connect Newsroom to learn what you need to know before installation.

Share Your Holiday Fun

The holidays are here, and we want to see how Cook Children's teams are celebrating across the state!

Whether you're decking the halls in Fort Worth, Prosper, or any other Texas location, share a photo of your office or department's festive celebrations. 

Please email your photo to InternalCommunications@cookchildrens.org and tell us which location/department your team is celebrating from. For example, "Home Health Houston," “Abilene Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic," etc.

We are excited to see your festive photos! 

Share Your Content with Us

Do you have any tips, ideas or content you would like us to know about? We want to hear from you! Please view our SharePoint site and email us at InternalCommunications@cookchildrens.org. 

Check our CookNet calendar for more system-wide events and to find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.