Connect Newsletter (Nov. 6, 2025)

Kids’ Place Gears Up for Move to New Location

Kids' Place will have a new home soon and we have all the details about it. 

Visit Connect Newsroom to read more. 

Revised Parking Garage Flow Alert: L1-L2 Directional Change

Please be aware of a recent change in the 7th and Penn Parking Garage.

Between Nov. 8-9, the Level L2 to L1 down ramp will be closed. All regular parking will still be available during this time.

We understand this will be a change from the usual route, so please pay extra attention to the arrows and new signage to ensure a smooth flow of traffic. Flagmen will be on-site to help direct traffic. Please view the directional changes on the map.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to upgrade the ramp this weekend. 

Recognizing and Celebrating Physicians through the Peak Performer Program

This fall Peak Performer, the system peer-to-peer recognition program, is expanding to recognize physicians. As Cook Children's Physicians Network leadership continues to look for opportunities to recognize physicians for their impactful contributions and the exceptional care they provide our patients and families, they knew Peak Performer would be a great way to accomplish this.

“We are thrilled that the Peak Performer program will expand to include physicians in the individual and team categories. With the encouragement from Dr. Dzurik and Cook Children’s leadership to find further ways to recognize physicians' impassioned work, we as CCPN Board members approached the Peak Performer circle and were met with open arms," Daphne Shaw, M.D. and Diane Arnaout, M.D. jointly stated. 

Nominations for individuals and teams are now open and being accepted online. Go to the Peak Performer page on CookNet for each nomination form. If you have questions about what to write there are examples of strongly written nominations as well as the scoring criteria for individuals and teams on that page. Nominations are reviewed and selections are made quarterly. Recipients are announced in the Connect Newsletter the following month.

Questions about physician nominations? Email Dr. Daphne Shaw. For questions about the Peak Performer program, contact Amy Smith.  

Cook Children’s Family Fun Day at Six Flags Over Texas

Don't forget to purchase your Six Flags tickets before ticket sales close on Friday Nov. 7. 

Join us from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 for a day of family, fun and thrills. This is a special private event, and the park is only open to employees of Cook Children's and one other company. Cook Children’s employees purchasing one or more tickets will receive one free ticket. Employees can purchase a total of six tickets at the price of $16.24. Each ticket includes admission and parking.

Learn more about special offers and purchasing tickets for this event. To view the step-by-step directions on how to checkout, please visit this link. You do not need to enter the promo code if you are using the link from the CookNet announcement. The employee link already has the code it embedded.

Talent Acquisition Tip: Attach Your Resumes for Internal Applications

Are you applying for a new role?  Don’t forget to add your resume.  Your resume is your calling card, and you should have one attached to all internal applications that you do.  The resume gives you more room to talk about your prior roles and education.  It is also an easy one-stop place for the manager and the recruiter to see all of your qualifications in one place. 

Child Life Department Invites You to First Ever Thanksgiving Parade

Get ready to bring the fun, creativity, and holiday spirit to our patients and families. Please RSVP your department or unit’s participation by Friday, Nov. 14 to patientevents@cookchildrens.org using the form located on our right-hand side under downloads. 

Come by our Thanksgiving Parade for patients and families at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 where staff will line up promptly in the Family Health Library before parading from the Zone to the Atrium. 

Join the Child Life Department as they celebrate the season of laughter, imagination, and gratitude. 

For questions, please call 682.885.7027 or 682.303.2987

Cook Children's Health Foundation Teams with Kendra Scott for Retail Event

Cook Children's Health Foundation invites you to shop Kendra Scott jewelry between noon- 2 p.m. on Friday Nov. 7. Come shop at Camelot Light Court where 20% of all sales will go back to Cook Children's Health Foundation. 

If you can't shop in person, please participate online using the code GIVEBACK-KLCOG between Nov. 7-9. 

New Creative Arts Program Coffee Table Book Available

This holiday season, purchase a new coffee table book featuring art from patients. Books can be purchased for $75 and all proceeds go towards the Creative Arts Program. Please see Jana Jackson in the Child Life offices across the Atrium at the Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth to purchase. If you cannot come by in-person, please email sydney.peel@cookchildrens.org. 

Retirement Announcements

Melody Hackfeld, RN, Psychiatry Case Manager/Resource is retiring from Cook Children’s Medical Center on Friday, November 14.

Melody has faithfully worked in the Cook Children’s department of psychiatry for over 32 years. She has served in numerous roles including direct care nurse and night nurse team leader on inpatient psychiatry, nurse manager for both inpatient psychiatry and PHP, and most recently as a high-risk nurse case manager.

Melody was fittingly selected as a TCU EBP Fellow in 2016 to collaboratively research, identify and implement a suicide risk evidence-based screening tool for the ED.  As is Melody’s dedication to our department, she has also served as a hospital-wide CPI instructor and PHP Family Enrichment facilitator for many years. No surprise, her accolades are numerous. Melody achieved board certification in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. She received the Great 10 Nurse Award in 2007 (one of the earliest cohorts), the TCU EBP Impact Award in 2020 for the profound outcomes of the ASQ screening project, and the medical center Peak Performer award this year.

We wish Melody all the best as she begins this new chapter in her life and spends time with her family including her four grandchildren.

Congratulation Melody! We encourage you to take a moment to send Melody a farewell note by Nov. 13.

Rhonda Dieter, RN, Staff in the PICU is retiring from Cook Children’s Medical Center on Saturday, November 22

Rhonda Dieter has been a dedicated night shift Registered Nurse in the PICU for over 36 years, with many of those spent in the CICU before the units split. A true cornerstone of the ECMO team for more than 30 years, Rhonda’s expertise as both an ECMO specialist and primer has earned her the well-deserved title of “ECMO Queen.” Her commitment to excellence extends beyond the bedside, as she has actively contributed to multiple committees and mentors those around her with grace and wisdom. Rhonda will be deeply missed by everyone who has had the privilege of working alongside her and witnessing her unwavering dedication to providing exceptional care to her patients. We wish her all the best in retirement as she enjoys time loving on her family and many grandchildren.

Please join us from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13 in PAV 4 as we celebrate Rhonda’s retirement.

We encourage you to take a moment to send Rhonda a farewell note by Nov. 21. 

Don't Miss our Newsletters 

In case you missed it, we announced our CareShare achievement last newsletter. Click here to see the news.  

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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.