Badge Redesign Project Overview with Natalie Wilkins
Employees Care Campaign Update from Mary Butler
Prosper Highlights Q&A with Kevin Greene and Tony Anani, M.D.
Growth in Prosper and the Northern Market with Robert Goodwill (CCPN)
Experience Roundtable Discussion with Megan Chavez, Kathy McLean, Merridth Simpson, Anniese Lemond, and Joann Sanders, M.D.
Closing Comments from Kevin and Cheryl
Important Note: This confidential communication is for Cook Children's employees only and should not be shared outside of our organization.
The "Crown Jewel for Prosper": Our Leaders Take a Tour of the Medical Center
Following the System Collaboration Meeting and Virtual Town Hall on Feb. 13, 2025, in Prosper, a small group of leaders in attendance went on a tour, focusing on the upcoming NICU on the third floor. We want to thank them for allowing us to tag along. Click here for a behind-the-scenes look.
West Tower Expansion Garners More Attention; $1.25 Billion Project to be Supported by Mix of Operations, Bonds and Philanthropic Support
To keep pace with the current and projected growth in the area, the Cook Children’s Health Care System is once again preparing to meet the moment by embarking on a 10-year master plan to expand and enhance its Fort Worth Medical Center.
As we reported earlier, the plan includes a 700,000-square-foot medical tower, known for now as the West Tower, which will add more signature blue peaks to Cook Children’s flagship campus and Fort Worth’s skyline. An expansion of this magnitude ($1.25 billion) has already begun to attract media attention and we expect to see more stories in various media outlets in the immediate future and years to come.
The 10-year master plan will be funded by a mix of operations, bonds and donations. The Cook Children’s Health Foundation will be reaching out to the community for philanthropic support for this historic project.
The West Tower will be a seamless extension of the existing medical center, connected both above and below ground, and make way for an expansion of the NICU with an additional 37 beds. It also allows for an expansion and redesign of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and increases capacity for Hematology/Oncology services and research, as well as additional operating rooms and imaging services.
Take the Required ACA Section 1557 Training in ULearn
In accordance with the anti-discrimination provisions established in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, it is mandatory for all employees to complete the ULearn module titled "Affordable Care Act: Section 1557 ONLINE CLASS."
The completion deadline for this module is May 1.
It is important to note that this date differs from the deadline for other required annual training in 2025, which is set for Aug. 1.
We have some exciting updates for the Service Awards Program. This program recognizes our employees for milestone anniversaries starting at five years and every five years thereafter.
New dynamic gift catalog – our gift vendor has added dozens of categories and hundreds of brand name gift options for recipients to choose from during their anniversary month; new gifts are constantly being added so no item will ever be out of stock or on back order.
New date for the annual dinner – this year we’re moving the dinner from June up to April. We hope that more staff can join us for the new spring date.
Employees celebrating a milestone anniversary from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025 received a save the date email in January about this year’s plans for the service awards dinner. Leaders of recipients also received details in a separate email with instructions on how to pull their list of recipients using Workday.
Stay up-to-date on plans for this year’s Service Awards Program by visiting the Service Awards CookNet site.
Updating Peak Performer Program to Align with our Culture Platform
Cook Children’s employees have done an outstanding job of recognizing their peers as both individuals and teams across the System over the last 15 years. We encourage you to continue to support the program and its legacy of recognizing outstanding work by nominating your colleagues using the newnomination forms. Nominations are accepted 24/7 through the online nomination forms found on the CookNet Peak Performer nomination page.
Raising Joy's 100th Episode: Empowering Families through Mental Health Conversations
What began as a six-article campaign in response to rising rates of youth suicide has blossomed into a thriving podcast reaching nearly 24,000 listeners in 60 countries. In this milestone episode, the hosts reflect on their incredible journey, sharing fun facts (did you know the most popular episode focused on Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder?), and answering insightful questions like:
What were their favorite and most impactful episodes?
What common themes emerged?
What surprised them most?
They also discuss listener feedback, dream guests, debunking parenting myths, and the personal impact of hosting Raising Joy. Tune in for a candid conversation about the podcast's past, present, and future, and the biggest lessons they've learned about themselves and parenting along the way. And don’t forget to follow Raising Joy on Instagram @raisingjoypodcast and TikTok @Raising.joy for more content you can feel good about.
Our Raising Joy team had fun celebrating our hosts with a sweet surprise on the day of filming the 100th episode. We are so grateful for them and all of the passion and dedication they have poured into the podcast. Listen to this episode on all podcast streaming platforms and watch to see the surprise.
Support for Nursing Moms: Enhanced Lactation Room Options
We care about our employees, and we've heard your feedback about the lactation rooms at the Main Campus in Fort Worth. We're happy to share that leadership has taken steps to make things better for our nursing moms.
These rooms, located in the basement of Medical Center - Fort Worth (B0032D), second floor of the Rosedale Office Building (Room 2302), and at Calmont (second floor), are equipped with massage chairs and offer various wellness resources. Please read more in the Connect Newsroom.
Funding Some Big Ideas
Don’t miss your chance to turn your big idea into reality with the Blue Peaks Giving Circle. Blue Peaks is a collaborative group of donors ready to help make your big dream come to life. Departments and programs can apply for funding, and members vote to direct their pooled resources toward frontline patient care.
Last year, Blue Peaks awarded more than $282,000 to 13 projects, and since its start, it has granted more than $693,000 to 34 proposals.
Your Voice Matters: Help Us Improve Your Cook EHR Experience
Attention clinical staff members: We’re excited to announce the launch of our first-ever Electronic Health Records (EHR) Experience Survey at Cook Children’s. This is a unique opportunity for you to share your insights about what’s working—and what isn’t—with our electronic health record system.
As clinicians and partners in care, your feedback is essential in shaping how we can better align our technology to support your clinical needs, workflows, and well-being. Our goal is simple: to ensure that our tools and systems make your day-to-day work easier, not harder, and allow you to focus on what matters most—providing world-class care to our pediatric patients.
Video - Brighton’s Bright Future: Overcoming Heart Defects and Stroke
Brighton Weeks needed surgery when he was just 2 weeks old to repair his rare and complex heart defects. For follow-up care, his family chose Pediatric Cardiologist Danielle Moyé, M.D., at Cook Children’s Heart Center in Prosper, close to their home in Celina. During a routine checkup with Dr. Moyé, a test called an echocardiogram showed a ballooning mass of tissue filled with blood. Brighton needed another open-heart surgery to patch the leak.
Then, just before leaving Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth after the second surgery, 8-month-old Brighton had a small stroke. The stroke caused temporary weakness but no apparent long-term damage.
Brighton made a remarkable recovery. He learned to eat on his own – after more than a year on a specialized diet fed through his nose – and has grown into a tall and energetic 2-year-old. He’ll likely need heart surgery again, probably when he’s a teenager, to replace the artificial tube he has now with a bigger device.
Congrats to Prosper OR Nurses for Receiving CNOR-Designation
We are incredibly proud to announce that the CNOR Institute has recognized the outstanding dedication and expertise of our perioperative nursing team at Cook Children's Medical Center – Prosper. This prestigious certification, administered by the Competency & Credentialing Institute, is a testament to their commitment to providing the highest quality care for our patients.
The Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certification is a rigorous achievement, focusing on the comprehensive care provided by operating room nurses—from pre-op to post-op and everything in between. It validates their deep knowledge and honed skills in areas like patient safety, infection prevention, and advanced surgical techniques. More than half of our nurses dedicated hundreds of hours to studying for this challenging exam and thousands of hours to reach requirements, and we are thrilled to celebrate their well-deserved success.
“The team has demonstrated commitment to advancing their skills and maintaining the highest standards in surgical care. This recognition reflects not only their hard work but also the culture of excellence we strive to uphold in our department,” said LaRisha Glover, Nurse Manager for Surgical Services at Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper.
This accomplishment underscores our team’s unwavering focus on patient safety and their pursuit of clinical excellence. Their dedication truly embodies our "Everything for the Child" philosophy. A huge thank you to these exceptional nurses for their hard work and commitment! We are so fortunate to have you on our team.
Cardiac ICU Earns Prestigious Beacon Award for Excellence
What a special gift for American Heart Month 2025! The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Cook Children's.
The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve unit outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that earn this annual award with a gold, silver or bronze designation meet specific criteria established by AACN that represent the characteristics and components of the unit environment that nurses can influence to achieve nursing excellence.
“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” said AACN President Jennifer Adamski.
Beacon Awarded units distinguish themselves by excelling in many areas demonstrated in their application. Through participation in the Beacon Award Program units can compare and reflect on their performance compared to global applicants. There are very subtle differences for different scoring levels, often differentiated by 1 point or less. All awardees demonstrate dynamic and outstanding performance in the areas of: Patient Outcomes, Nursing Workforce and Work Environment.
Our People
Untold Episode 8: Sara Garza, M.D. and Kirk Pinto, M.D.
Physicians dedicate their lives to healing others, but what happens when the healers themselves are struggling? In this episode of Untold: The Stories of Cook Children's, we sit down with Kirk Pinto, M.D. and Sara Garza, M.D., the passionate voices behind Cook Children's Office of Physician Well-being.
They pull back the curtain on the realities of burnout in modern medicine, why corporate healthcare is driving unprecedented levels of stress, and how they’re working to reimagine the way doctors practice. From the evolution of work-life balance to deeply personal journeys that shaped their mission, this episode is an eye-opening look at the hidden struggles doctors face—and the hope for a healthier future.
If you've ever wondered what it takes to restore the passion for medicine, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Tune in here.
Meet Laurie Bailey, Ph.D., Director of the Pediatric Research Training Program
Newsweek recently named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place.
Laurie Bailey, Ph.D., thrives on turning intricate problems into impactful solutions. Over her two-decade career at Cook Children’s, Laurie has consistently applied her problem-solving mindset to her research-focused roles, choosing to forgo the traditional post-graduate career path in academia to elevate pediatric health care.
“One of the biggest challenges that I face is that my education and training prepared me for a position in academia,” she said. “There, my degree and my role make sense, but I was working at Cook Children’s as I obtained my degree and I graduated knowing two things: I wanted to be at Cook Children’s, and I did not want to work in academia. I am definitely a fan of higher education, but I knew finding a niche in health care research was where I was meant to be.”
Laurie has served as director of the Research Data Science and Analytics (RDSA) department for the past five years, but recently accepted a new challenge, one where she hopes to replicate the growth and success of the RDSA department. Now, as head of Cook Children’s Pediatric Research Training Program, she'll focus on building academic partnerships and growing the next generation of medical researchers.
4th Biennial Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect
Cook Children’s is presenting the 4th Biennial Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect on April 2. This educational opportunity will help all health care and mental health professionals, school nurses and law enforcement to develop and enhance skills and knowledge in the recognition, assessment and prevention of child abuse.
We hope to see you at The Blast on March 29. at Panther Island Pavilion.
The Blast is Cook Children’s annual walk benefiting the Hematology and Oncology Center. But The Blast is more than just a walk. It is a chance to show every child battling cancer that their friends, neighbors, and the whole team at Cook Children’s are right beside them every step of the way.
Join teams like More Than Four, 5 North Tower’s night shift team. They believe that the patients they care for deserve more than the four percent of federal research funding allocated for childhood cancer and are joining forces to raise essentials funds for more research, treatments and clinical trials right here at Cook Children’s.
Will your department walk alongside our patients too?
Stay tuned to participate in Patient Safety Awareness Week Activities March 10-14
Championed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW)is a worldwide annual event meant to promote education and awareness around patient safety in the health care field. Though much work has been done to improve health care outcomes throughout the world, medical harm unfortunately remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Because of this reality, IHI continues its work to prevent harm in this setting while also recognizing the progress already made. The Center for Patient Safety (CPS) echoes this recognition in their chosen theme for PSAW 2025: “Moving the Needle.” Click HERE to read more about their focus on transforming awareness into action for all members of the health care team.
What about Cook Children’s? Here, our Promise is our “why.” Patient Safety Awareness Week activities remind us of one of our core values and our own call to action: “Safety first, every time.” You can expect a special Pediatric Grand Rounds presentation, a Quality Quick Topic presentation, a virtual contest, and more. We not only want the week to be educational, but as IHI reminds us, a way to celebrate the work you already do to ensure a safe experience. You can click HERE to view the 2025 PSAW page on CookNet to stay up-to-date with all the activities that are planned.
ICYMI: Your Teen Headed to College? Apply Now for Our Scholarship
Applications are open for the 2025 Presidents' Scholarship program. Since 2008, Cook Children’s has been helping to foster the collegiate pursuits of employees’ children each year through our Presidents’ Scholarship program. In keeping with our Promise, Cook Children's created the Presidents' Scholarship to establish a legacy for health care through academic advancement. Student applications are due Monday, April 7.
Applications are also open for employees who are interested in being on the 2025 Selection Committee. Applications are due Monday, March 3.
Retirement Announcement for Wanda Bonn, LVN, Supervisor of Sterile Processing
Wanda Bonn, LVN, Supervisor of Sterile Processing in the Sterile Processing Department is retiring from Cook Children’s Health Care System on March 7 after more than 22 years of service.
Here's what leaders in Sterile Processing said about Wanda.
“After 22 years of dedicated service to the Operating Room and Sterile Processing departments, Wanda is retiring. Her unwavering commitment to patient safety leaves a behind lasting legacy. Throughout her career, Wanda served as an LVN, including as a scrub nurse in the OR, before she transitioned to Sterile Processing. Her expertise ensured the meticulous preparation of countless patients and surgical instruments, impacting many lives. Wanda's attention to detail and mentorship have set a high standard, and she will be greatly missed. We wish her a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement!”
We encourage you to take a moment to send Wanda a farewell note or a congratulatory eCard by March 6. Thank you, Wanda, for your many years of dedication to the Cook Children's Promise.
Retirement Announcement for Anthony Nunley, Lead Environmental Services Aide
Anthony Nunley, Lead Environmental Services Aide for the Environmental Services Department is retiring from Cook Children’s Medical Center after more than 13 years of service on Wednesday, February 6.
We encourage you to take a moment to send Anthony a farewell note or a congratulatory eCard by Feb. 25.
Thank you so much for your many years of dedicated service, Anthony! Enjoy your retirement.
Watch Now: System Collaboration Meeting & Virtual Town Hall on Feb. 13, 2025, in Prosper
The "Crown Jewel for Prosper": Our Leaders Take a Tour of the Medical Center
Raising Joy's 100th Episode: Empowering Families through Mental Health Conversations
Support for Nursing Moms: Enhanced Lactation Room Options
Funding Some Big Ideas
Brighton Weeks needed surgery when he was just 2 weeks old to repair his rare and complex heart defects. For follow-up care, his family chose Pediatric Cardiologist Danielle Moyé, M.D., at Cook Children’s Heart Center in Prosper, close to their home in Celina. During a routine checkup with Dr. Moyé, a test called an echocardiogram showed a ballooning mass of tissue filled with blood. Brighton needed another open-heart surgery to patch the leak.
Untold Episode 8: Sara Garza, M.D. and Kirk Pinto, M.D.
Meet 
Sign Up for The Blast Today
Championed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW)is a worldwide annual event meant to promote education and awareness around patient safety in the health care field. Though much work has been done to improve health care outcomes throughout the world, medical harm unfortunately remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Because of this reality, IHI continues its work to prevent harm in this setting while also recognizing the progress already made. The Center for Patient Safety (CPS) echoes this recognition in their chosen theme for PSAW 2025: “Moving the Needle.” 
ICYMI: Your Teen Headed to College? Apply Now for Our Scholarship 
Retirement Announcement for Wanda Bonn, LVN, Supervisor of Sterile Processing 
Retirement Announcement for Anthony Nunley, Lead Environmental Services Aide