Good morning Prosper family,

Crisp fall weather is finally here—break out the sweaters! To celebrate the upcoming spooky season, we're hosting our annual pumpkin decorating contest. Get your costumes and pumpkins ready, and read below for complete details.

Our food drive is in full swing; we are halfway there. Please help us to continue this drive and make an impact on our community.

Reminder: get your flu shot or have your exemption accepted by Oct. 23.

Your Prosper Leadership Team

FY27 Peer Support Training Sessions on ULearn

Sometimes, the most meaningful support begins with simply being present. Through compassionate listening and genuine human connection, Peer Supporters help create a culture where colleagues feel seen, heard, and supported.

Join us for this training to learn how you can offer support, encouragement, and a safe, nonjudgmental space for colleagues who may be navigating personal or professional challenges. Your presence, empathy, and willingness to listen can make a profound difference.

Prosper Campus Training Sessions:

• Nov. 12, 2026 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• April 27, 2027 | 12-4 p.m.

Register in ULearn today!

Medical Center - Prosper Now Accepting Food Donations

Working with Lovepacs, Medical Center-Prosper is accepting food donations, focusing on the greatest needs that week. If you wish to donate, please review the schedule below detailing the appropriate donation for that week.

Holiday Help 2026

It's Holiday Help time.

Some families are spending more time at Cook Children’s than they ever expected. Some are managing the cost and logistics of a child’s care. Some are simply having a hard year. Holiday Help is about supporting families with dignity, consistency, and care, giving us a way to make things a little easier for them.

How can you help?

If you would like to support a Cook Children’s patient and family, based on the family’s needs and wishes, sign up as a department or employee group below to be matched with an eligible family: Click here to support a patient family through gifts!

If you know of a patient and family that may need extra support this holiday season, please notify one of our on-site Social Workers and/or Madelyn Hannon, LCSW-S. If you have any questions, please email Madelyn Hannon or HolidayHelp@cookchildrens.org.

Halloween Boo Bash Pumpkin Contest

If you are interested in this year's pumpkin decorating contest, please complete and submit the form below to the Prosper Admin Leadership email. Voting will begin the week of Oct. 26, so be sure to submit your pumpkin by Oct. 23. No late entries will be accepted. 

In Case You Missed It

Infection Prevention & Control Liaison Team Infosession

If you share a passion for infection prevention and control, join us from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Oct. 22 in classrooms 1621/1622 to learn more about the team and how you can participate. 

Halloween Boo Bash Costume Contest

Halloween costumes can be worn on all shifts from Oct. 29 to 31. If you and your team are interested in participating in this year's Halloween Boo Bash, please complete the form below and submit it along with a group or individual photo to the Prosper Admin Leadership email address.

Fall Community Relations Volunteer Opportunities

It may not feel like autumn yet but our fall events for Community Relations are around the corner. As we go out into our communities in our north market, we have something for everyone this year. Look at the events and volunteer to come represent Cook and share help us share our story about the services we provide to the community. If you have a teenager in your life that needs volunteers these are great events for them to come serve with us. Bring your families for some fall fun.

• DFW Fall Fest in Frisco
  • Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W. Elliott Dr., Frisco 75033
  • Register Here
• Anna Boo Bash
  • Oct. 17 from 12 - 4 p.m.
  • Slayter Creek Park at 425 W. Rosamond Parkway, Anna 75409
  • Register Here
• McKinney Trick or Treat Trail
  • Oct. 17 from 3 - 6 p.m.
  • Bonnie Wenk Park, 2996 Virginia Parkway
  • Register Here
• Celebrate Prosper Fall Festival
  • Oct. 17 from 4 - 8 p.m.
  • Frontier Park – 1551 Frontier Parkway
  • Register Here
• Beware of the Square Celina
  • Oct. 24 from 2 - 9 p.m.
  • On the downtown square in Celina, 302 W. Walnut St., Celina 75009
  • Register Here
• Nightmare Over Little Elm Halloween Event
  • Oct. 30 from 5 - 10 p.m.
  • 701 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm
  • Register Here
• Diwali Mela at Kaleidoscope Park – India Festival of Lights
  • Nov. 1 from 3:30 - 10 p.m.
  • Kaleidoscope Park, 6635 Warren Parkway, Frisco 75034
  • Register Here
• Melissa Fall Fest
  • Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Melissa High School football stadium area, 3030 Milrany Lane, Melissa
  • Register Here

Please reach out to Paige Mayfield if you have any questions.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

M. Scott Perry, M.D., Appointed Interim Chief Research Officer

Following years of distinguished leadership across research, education and clinical care, M. Scott Perry, M.D., will serve as Interim Chief Research Officer for Cook Children's.

Earlier this month, William Stigall, M.D., concluded his service at Cook Children's as Vice President and Chief Research Officer. As we continue to build on the strong foundation of research and discovery established across our system, Dr. Perry will provide leadership and continuity for our research enterprise while a national search is conducted for a permanent Chief Research Officer.

Throughout his tenure at Cook Children's, Dr. Perry has been a dedicated champion of research and clinical discovery. He has helped bring greater rigor, structure and strategic focus to our research enterprise while playing an instrumental role in identifying, developing and supporting endowed chairs that drive innovation across our system.

In addition to his leadership contributions, Dr. Perry helped conceive the Neuroscience Research Endowment that led to the establishment of the Neurosciences Research Center and remains an active investigator with a nationally recognized body of work that includes more than 150 peer-reviewed publications.

Since joining Cook Children's in 2009, Dr. Perry has served in several key clinical and administrative leadership capacities, including Medical Director of Neurology, Head of the Neurosciences Institute, Director of the Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health, and Vice President of Faculty Development. Across every role, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing pediatric care through research, collaboration and academic excellence.

Colleagues across the system know Dr. Perry as a thoughtful, collaborative leader who understands the vital role research plays in fulfilling the Cook Children's Promise. His ability to connect clinical care, education and research has strengthened our academic foundation, expanded opportunities for innovation and helped position Cook Children's for continued growth.

As Interim Chief Research Officer, Dr. Perry will help advance ongoing research initiatives, support our investigators and research teams, and guide our research enterprise during this transition while a national search is conducted for a permanent Chief Research Officer.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Perry for his willingness to step into this important role and in offering him your support during this transition.

A New Way to Manage System Forms Launching Oct. 14

Information Services is launching a new Forms Management System, creating a central location for managing and accessing approved Cook Children's system forms in OnBase. 

Why this change?

Forms are used throughout Cook Children’s every day but managing multiple forms can make it difficult to ensure team members are accessing the most current, approved version. The new Forms Management System will provide a one-stop shop for forms, making it easier to:

• Find and print current, approved forms
• Request a new form or changes to an existing form
• Identify form ownership and maintain appropriate oversight
• Manage form revisions and version history
• Support standardized review and approval processes
• Receive notifications when forms are approaching their required review date

Please note that mass printing of forms will continue to be managed through your assigned third-party printing vendor.

For more information about compliance, where to get on-going support and more, visit Connect Newsroom. 

Introducing 'What's New' Designed to Support Your Work in Epic 

Introducing What’s New, an improvement that makes staying up-to-date easier than ever. Soon, training updates will be available in one easy-to-access location, and they’ll be customized based on where you work within Epic. You’ll see training updates that are relevant to the specific areas you use exactly when you need them. You’ll see timely, targeted resources designed to support your workflow patterns. Epic customizes the content in What’s New, so you’ll see upgraded education prioritized based on the amount of time you document in various activities.

This Epic Upgrade and all its updates will be live on Oct.16 For more information, visit What's New on CookNet. 

T-Shirts Available from Online Cook Children's Store

Need a new addition to your closet this season? Visit the Cook Children's online store and shop shirts that support causes important to our patients, families and community, including:

• Safe Sleep Awareness
• Brain Tumor Awareness
• Epilepsy Awareness
• Sickle Cell Awareness
• Erase Kid Cancer

Find your favorite design and help spread awareness. Click here to shop. 

Retirement Announcement

Join us in congratulating a staff member who is retiring from Cook Children's.

Marie Howell, Volunteer Program Manager, is retiring after 22 years at Cook Children's on Oct. 31. Please join us for a retirement celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16 in the Family Support Meeting Room.

To read more about Marie, along with other recent retirees, please visit the Retirement CookNet page. 

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. 

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website. 

Helping Improve Performance & Development

An effective Performance & Development (P&D) process helps employees understand expectations, recognize accomplishments, support growth, and ensure performance is evaluated fairly and consistently. To strengthen our process for FY27 and beyond, Cook Children's established the P&D Advisory Committee and the P&D Business Resource Group (BRG) to gather feedback, explore opportunities, and recommend improvements.

The Advisory Committee, made up of leaders from across the System, provides oversight and recommends priorities for improving the P&D process. The BRG, a diverse group of employees and leaders representing different roles, departments, and locations, brings employee perspectives to the discussion by gathering feedback, researching best practices, and developing recommendations to address priorities. Together, they are helping shape the future of P&D at Cook Children's.

Based on employee and leader feedback, the groups identified several areas to explore, including:

• Making performance ratings more meaningful and easier to understand.
• Strengthening accountability for P&D ratings and conversations.
• Improving clarity and transparency throughout the process.
• Ensuring future enhancements align with compensation and merit practices.

The groups are now working on action plans, evaluating ideas, and researching solutions designed to improve the experience for both employees and leaders.

This work is still underway, but one thing is clear: employee feedback is helping drive the conversation. Thank you to the members of the Advisory Committee and BRG for investing their time and expertise to help create a stronger, more effective Performance & Development process for everyone at Cook Children's.

We look forward to sharing future updates as this work progresses.

Please reach out to PDFeedback@cookchildrens.org if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

Wellpoint Medicaid Contracts Scheduled to End Nov. 10; Families Have Coverage Options

Cook Children’s contracts with Wellpoint, a Medicaid health insurance plan, will end Nov. 10, 2026. As a result, Cook Children’s facilities and providers will be out-of-network for Wellpoint STAR and CHIP members.

Wellpoint members impacted by this change will have the option to transition to a Medicaid plan that includes Cook Children’s. For members within our primary service area, Aetna Better Health or Cook Children’s Health Plan (CCHP) are alternatives. For Wellpoint members in Texas and outside of the immediate area, Cook Children’s participates in other Medicaid health insurance plans that serve families in their region.

Cook Children’s will continue to provide emergency services to all patients. Additionally, ongoing care may continue when authorized by Wellpoint through continuity-of-care provisions. Until Nov. 10, Wellpoint members will continue to be seen and scheduled for services at Cook Children’s.

Our goal is to ensure families have the information they need to make the best decisions for their child’s care. We have a dedicated page for families on the Cook Children’s website with details and instructions on how to navigate this transition.

For Cook Children’s team members, we have prepared detailed guidance to ensure you have the answers needed to support our families. Find them on the Payor Relations site on CookNet. This link is should not be shared outside of Cook Children's. Please only share information from Wellpoint update | Cook Children's with patient families.

Stop By Art Exhibit Featuring Work from Our Nurses

You’re invited to experience Sent with Care, a public art exhibit featuring original postcards created by Cook Children’s nurses.

Sent with Care celebrates the everyday work of pediatric nurses at Cook Children’s. The project uses thoughtful data storytelling to make the invisible work of nursing more visible. Participants observed one aspect of their work or experience over time, tracked it, and created a postcard-sized visual that turns those data points into a personal story that illustrates the breadth, complexity, and value of pediatric nursing. Together, these postcards honor the expertise, presence, advocacy, and human connection that nurses bring to children and families every day.

The exhibit is on display at the South Main District MicroPark, 105 S. Main St., Fort Worth, in the hot pink shipping container. Drop by for a special event on Friday, Oct. 9. from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Celebrate 2026 Process Improvement Graduates

You are invited to join us for the 2026 Process Improvement Graduation Ceremony as we recognize and celebrate employees who have completed our Process Improvement certification programs.

Graduates will be recognized for earning certifications in:

• Lean Six Sigma White Belt
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt for Leaders
• Lean Practitioner
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Please join us in celebrating these graduates' hard work, commitment to continuous improvement, and professional growth. Join these graduates from 1 - 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 at the Hochberger Auditorium.

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.

Good afternoon Prosper family,

Autumn is here, bringing crisp, cool weather and beautiful sunshine! As we count down to our upcoming Boo Bash, make sure to get costume ready. A big thank you to our amazing Pediatric Nurses—we hope you enjoyed today's coffee and hot cocoa bar! Everyone is invited to partake in the beverages. We truly appreciate everything you do.

Our food drive for LovePacs is in full swing. Thanks to all who have contributed. This week, we're collecting jelly (plastic containers only). Let's keep the momentum going, fill those bins, and support our community!

Remember to get your flu shot or have your exemption accepted by Oct. 23.

Your Prosper Leadership Team

Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship Completion

Please join us in congratulating Jennifer Brannum and Lauryn Goff for their completion of TCU's Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship!

Launched under the Health Innovation Institute at TCU’s Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, this fellowship required Jennifer and Lauryn to complete a year-long program designed to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to translate research and best evidence into measurable improvements in patient care, clinical outcomes and healthcare processes.

In order to complete the course, they had to:

1. Formulate a practice question (PICOT)

2. Conduct a literature search

3. Critically appraise and synthesize evidence

4. Develop recommendations and an implementation plan

5. Implement and evaluate a project

6. Establish a dissemination plan

If you see Jennifer or Lauryn, please join us in giving them a warm congratulations on their accomplishment!

Nursing Innovation Summit

Looking to earn CEUs and explore the future of nursing? Join the Nursing Innovation Conference virtually this Thursday, Oct. 8. Discover new ideas, hear from experts and gain practical insights you can bring back to your practice. Space is limited. Contact Jane Wilchak to register.

• 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Oct. 8
• Virtual webcast here

American Heart Association Certification Expiration

Cook Children's follows the AHA standard in that certifications are valid for 24 months after the date of certification. This includes BLS, PASL and ACLS. Regardless of the date your card notes for renewal, Cook Children's recommends following the 24 month protocol.

Infection Prevention & Control Liaison Team Infosession

If you share a passion for infection prevention and control, join us later this month from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., in classrooms 1621/1622 to learn more about the team and how you can participate. 

Halloween Boo Bash Costume Contest

Halloween costumes can be worn on all shifts from Oct. 29 to 31. If you and your team are interested in participating in this year's Halloween Boo Bash, please complete the form below and submit it along with a group or individual photo to the Prosper Admin Leadership email address.

In Case You Missed It

Veterans Day Recognition

Veterans of Prosper, we want to celebrate you! 

Veterans Day is coming up on Nov. 11, and we’d like to recognize the veterans within our Prosper community.

If you have served in the military, please email your name and service branch to Jane Wilchak. We’d be honored to include you in a Veterans Day recognition.

Thank you for your service and dedication.

Fall Community Relations Volunteer Opportunities

It may not feel like autumn yet but our fall events for Community Relations are around the corner. As we go out into our communities in our north market, we have something for everyone this year. Look at the events and volunteer to come represent Cook and share help us share our story about the services we provide to the community. If you have a teenager in your life that needs volunteers these are great events for them to come serve with us. Bring your families for some fall fun.

• DFW Fall Fest in Frisco
  • Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W. Elliott Dr., Frisco 75033
  • Register Here
• Anna Boo Bash
  • Oct. 17 from 12 - 4 p.m.
  • Slayter Creek Park at 425 W. Rosamond Parkway, Anna 75409
  • Register Here
• McKinney Trick or Treat Trail
  • Oct. 17 from 3 - 6 p.m.
  • Bonnie Wenk Park, 2996 Virginia Parkway
  • Register Here
• Celebrate Prosper Fall Festival
  • Oct. 17 from 4 - 8 p.m.
  • Frontier Park – 1551 Frontier Parkway
  • Register Here
• Beware of the Square Celina
  • Oct. 24 from 2 - 9 p.m.
  • On the downtown square in Celina, 302 W. Walnut St., Celina 75009
  • Register Here
• Nightmare Over Little Elm Halloween Event
  • Oct. 30 from 5 - 10 p.m.
  • 701 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm
  • Register Here
• Diwali Mela at Kaleidoscope Park – India Festival of Lights
  • Nov. 1 from 3:30 - 10 p.m.
  • Kaleidoscope Park, 6635 Warren Parkway, Frisco 75034
  • Register Here
• Melissa Fall Fest
  • Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Melissa High School football stadium area, 3030 Milrany Lane, Melissa
  • Register Here

Please reach out to Paige Mayfield if you have any questions.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

Reminder: Get Your Flu Vaccines; Visit an Onsite Flu Fair

All employees are required to complete the annual influenza vaccination process and receive their flu vaccine by Oct. 23, 2026.

To get started you must complete the electronic influenza consent form on Enterprise Health Portal. Then, attend one of the various onsite flu fairs or upload your flu vaccine you received from a non-Cook Children's provider, such as a physician's office or pharmacy, through the My Medical tab in the Enterprise Health Employee Portal.

Visit one of the remaining flu fair sites to receive your shot:

• Oct. 6: Noon to 3 p.m., ROB 1102-1103
• Oct. 7: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Family Support Meeting Center
• Oct. 7: 9 a.m. to Noon, Calmont
• Oct. 8: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Camelot Light Court

Visit Connect Newsroom to learn more exemptions, compliance, and how to pick up flu vaccines for department events.

Halloween Hoopla is Almost Here!

Halloween Hoopla is right around the corner, with contests and ways to participate for all employees across Cook Children’s.

Whether you’re planning a creative costume, connecting with your team or taking the stage for a skit, now is the time to join the fun.

Planning a skit? Don’t wait! The deadline to record is approaching.

Visit the Halloween Hoopla CookNet page to explore this year’s contests, review participant guidelines, or see virtual options to participate.

Cheer on the Dallas Mavericks with Cook Children’s

Grab your family and friends and join your Cook Children’s family for a special night of NBA basketball as the Dallas Mavericks take on the Los Angeles Clippers!

The game tips off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The fun doesn’t end at the final buzzer; attendees will have an opportunity to stay after the game and shoot a free throw on the court.

To kick off the NBA season, wear your favorite basketball team gear to work on Oct. 16-18.

Visit the Team Experience CookNet page for all details and link to purchase tickets.

Thanks for Attending Back to School Fair; Learn About Tuition Assistance

Thank you to all who attended the Back-to-School Fair in the Atrium at the Fort Worth Medical Center. This fair showcased different educational opportunities for our employees.

And don't forget: If you have an undergraduate or graduate degree in mind, Cook Children's offers tuition assistance to both full- and half-time employees using EdAssist.

To learn more about this benefit offered to you, visit the Tuition Assistance CookNet page.

Chicken Salad Chick is Coming to Camelot Light Court

Spread the word, Chicken Salad Chick will be having pop-ups between 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Oct. 7 and Oct. 21 in front of Camelot Food Court for you to purchase.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

New Plan Year for Benefits Starts Oct. 1

A new medical insurance carrier and other high-quality benefits take effect today with the start of the 2026-2027 plan year.

Cook Children's invests more than $200 million annually in benefits designed to help our team members thrive. It’s an investment that reflects an ongoing commitment to you and your family. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, retirement, disability, life insurance, leave of absence, mental health resources and a variety of support for well-being.

The benefits you selected during open enrollment in August 2026 run from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027. The bullets with astericks are new this year. A quick recap of highlights:

• *The switch to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) offers more in-network provider options, improved contract rates to help manage out-of-pocket costs, and a simplified experience for all your medical plan questions.
• *Disabled dependents over age 26 remain covered, as long as the disability occurred before age 26 and eligibility requirements are met.
• *Digital tools FitOn Health and Enrich promote content to build physical and financial wellness.
• Judi Rx, formerly called Capital Rx, continues as pharmacy benefits manager. A big perk is the convenience of filling prescriptions at Cook Children’s retail pharmacies in Fort Worth and Prosper.
• Flexible spending accounts will be managed by Health Equity effective Oct. 1, 2026 (formerly managed by Navia).

Click here to view the benefits CookNet page or email your questions to AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org.

Temporary Sidewalk Closure Near 901 Building

Beginning Oct. 5, the sidewalk in front of the 901 Building between W. Humbolt St. and Terrell Ave. will be temporarily closed for several months.

Staff Access

Staff, including those working in the Rosedale Office Building and Urgent Care Center, can continue to access the Fort Worth Medical Center through the 901 Building by using their badge at the door located next to the garage exit on Humbolt Street, as shown in the graphic.

This entrance leads into the Terrell Avenue Garage, where you can access the 901 Building on the first floor. From there, take the elevator or stairs to the third floor and use the skybridge to reach the rest of the Medical Center.

Patient and Family Access

If you encounter a patient or family on the south side of campus, please direct them to the following parking locations for easier access:

• Medical Center patients and visitors: park in the 7th Avenue Garage
• Dodson patients and visitors: park in P1 Garage
• Behavioral Health-ABC patients and visitors: park in the Terrell Garage

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while this work is underway.

Enjoy Exclusive Access During Family Fun Day at Six Flags

Get ready for a day of thrills! Cook Children’s Family Fun Day returns to Six Flags Over Texas from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.

This year Six Flags will be open exclusively for Cook Children’s employees and their families. With no other company joining us, you can look forward to a fully private park experience, shorter lines and more time to enjoy your favorite rides and attractions.

Employees who purchase one or more tickets will receive one free ticket! Employees can purchase a total of six tickets at $16.24 each ($15 plus $1.24 tax). Each ticket includes park admission and parking. Children 2 and under are free and do not need an admission ticket. The original price for one ticket that includes Six Flags park admission and parking is valued at $89.99, so this is an outstanding offer.

Additional offers:

• Add on a Single Meal Deal [1Meal - 1 Snack - 1 Beverage] to enjoy inside the park at select park locations for $19.99 per person.
• Upgrade your event ticket to a Gold Season Pass for unlimited access to Texas and Oklahoma Six Flags locations including parking for a special price of $29.00. Must purchase on the day of the event.

And there’s a brand-new thrill waiting for you, Tormenta Rampaging Run is now open. The record-breaking coaster is the world’s tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster and features a 95-degree beyond-vertical drop. Make plans to bring your family and enjoy an unforgettable day of rides, food and fun with your Cook Children’s family.

Ready for the thrills? Visit the Team Experience CookNet site to learn more about Family Fun Day, review ticket-purchasing instructions and purchase your tickets.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

This year's theme is 'Don't Make It Easy for Them.' Throughout the month, Information Services will share practical tips and resources to help employees build safer online habits and make life difficult for cybercriminals.

In addition to the Cybersecurity Rock Star Challenge, employees can participate in the new Phishing Derby and Cyber Quest Scavenger Hunt. Watch for weekly security tips, fun activities, prize opportunities, and resources designed to help protect both personal and organizational information.

Visit the Cybersecurity Awareness Month page on CookNet for activities, schedules, resources, and participation details throughout October.

Sign up for Fort Worth Medical Center Trick or Treat Patient Event

Help create a fun Halloween experience for our patients by signing up your department at this year's Halloween event.

If your department plans to participate, please click here to see the requirements and forms to sign up. The first 25 forms submitted are guaranteed a table.

All forms must be turned in by Oct. 16, to Katie Shanklin in the Child Life Department via email patientevents@cookchildrens.org For more information, please call 682-885-4270.

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.

Good afternoon Prosper family,

Happy October! With the turn of the season comes cooler fall weather and a busy month ahead. Mark your calendars for our Boo Bash on Friday, Oct. 30. W can’t wait to see everyone’s costumes!

Important Deadline: Flu shots are due by Oct. 23 for anyone who wasn't able to attend the Flu Fair.

Thank you for everything you do to take extraordinary care of our patients and families!

Your Prosper Leadership Team

Food Compliance Reminder

As a reminder, please refrain from bringing food or snacks into patient care areas and nurses' stations. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to keeping these spaces clean, professional, and in compliance with regulatory requirements.

Retirement: Lucinda Berent

After four years with Medical Center - Prosper 🐮, and a distinguished nursing career spanning many years, Lucinda Berent will be celebrating her retirement, effective Oct. 2.

Throughout her time with us, Lucinda has made a lasting impact on our hospital, our patients, and her colleagues. Her dedication, compassion and commitment to excellence have played an important role in our success, and her contributions will be felt long after her retirement.

We are deeply grateful for all she has given to our team and wish her nothing but happiness and fulfillment in this well-earned next chapter.

Please join us in congratulating Lucinda and thanking her for her many years of service if you see her. 💙

Pediatric Nurses Week: Coffee Social

In honor of Pediatric Nurses Week, we’re hosting a coffee social to celebrate our amazing Medical Center - Prosper Nurses! Please join us Wednesday, Oct. 7, in classrooms 3332/3333 (3rd Floor). Thank you for all that you do!

Day shift: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Evening shift: 8:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Veterans Day Recognition

Veterans of Prosper, we want to celebrate you! 

Veterans Day is coming up on Nov. 11, and we’d like to recognize the veterans within our Prosper community.

If you have served in the military, please email your name and service branch to Jane Wilchak. We’d be honored to include you in a Veterans Day recognition.

Thank you for your service and dedication.

Infection Prevention Newsletter: September

Erase Kid Cancer Dress Up Calendar

In Case You Missed It

Medical Center - Prosper Now Accepting Food Donations

Working with Lovepacs, Medical Center-Prosper is accepting food donations, focusing on the greatest needs that week. If you wish to donate, please review the schedule below detailing the appropriate donation for that week.

Fall Community Relations Volunteer Opportunities

It may not feel like autumn yet but our fall events for Community Relations are around the corner. As we go out into our communities in our north market, we have something for everyone this year. Look at the events and volunteer to come represent Cook and share help us share our story about the services we provide to the community. If you have a teenager in your life that needs volunteers these are great events for them to come serve with us. Bring your families for some fall fun.

• DFW Fall Fest in Frisco
  • Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W. Elliott Dr, Frisco 75033
  • Register Here
• Anna Boo Bash
  • Oct. 17 from 12 - 4 p.m.
  • Slayter Creek Park at 425 W. Rosamond Parkway, Anna 75409
  • Register Here
• McKinney Trick or Treat Trail
  • Oct. 17 from 3 - 6 p.m.
  • Bonnie Wenk Park, 2996 Virginia Parkway
  • Register Here
• Celebrate Prosper Fall Festival
  • Oct. 17 from 4 - 8 p.m.
  • Frontier Park – 1551 Frontier Parkway
  • Register Here
• Beware of the Square Celina
  • Oct. 24 from 2 - 9 p.m.
  • On the downtown square in Celina – 302 W. Walnut St., Celina 75009
  • Register Here
• Nightmare Over Little Elm Halloween Event
  • Oct. 30 from 5 - 10 p.m.
  • 701 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm
  • Register Here
• Diwali Mela at Kaleidoscope Park – India Festival of Lights
  • Nov. 1 from 3:30 - 10 p.m.
  • Kaleidoscope Park, 6635 Warren Parkway, Frisco 75034
  • Register Here
• Melissa Fall Fest
  • Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Melissa High School football stadium area, 3030 Milrany Lane, Melissa
  • Register Here

Please reach out to Paige Mayfield if you have any questions.

Prosper Halloween

Your department is invited to participate in our Prosper Halloween event. Fill out and return the application below by Friday, Oct. 16.

The MOB Invites You to Participate this Season: Sunshine Committee Holiday Fun Calendars

Based on feedback from previous years, we're excited to provide all three holiday fun calendars (October, November and December) in advance. Our purpose is to ensure everyone has plenty of time to plan ahead, gather any needed items, and coordinate if they'd like to join in.

As you'll see, there are quite a few fun activities, dress-up days, celebrations and team spirit events throughout the next few months. Please don't feel like you need to participate in every event. The calendars are simply meant to provide options so you can join in on the days that sound fun, meaningful or manageable for you. Participation is always encouraged, but never required.

Our goal is to create opportunities to:

• Spread kindness
• Build team spirit
• Celebrate together
• Have fun
• Bring a little extra joy to our workplace during the holiday season

Whether you participate in one event or twenty, we're glad you're part of our team and appreciate all that you do for our patients, families and each other. Thank you for helping make our workplace such a positive and supportive place.

Have fun and Happy Holidays!

-Your Sunshine Committee

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

Next Steps in Home Stretch of Year-End P&D

Now that you've had a conversation with your manager about your performance and development. Next, you must make sure to acknowledge your performance conversations in Workday by Oct. 5.

By verifying that the conversations took place, you’re acknowledging that you and your manager went over your annual performance evaluation and calculated rating together. Team members will choose between two statements in Workday:

1. “I acknowledge that I have had a conversation regarding the review with my manager.”
2. “I acknowledge the review meeting has been held, and I would like to request further discussion.”

If the second option is selected, the manager and manager’s leader will be notified. You and your manager will have five business days to discuss the matter further. Contact Human Resources for guidance if there are any extenuating circumstances to consider.

Important point to know:

• Leave of Absence -- Performance evaluation for a team member on an approved leave of absence won’t be submitted until they return to work.

Thank you for the time, intentionality and respectfulness you put into the annual performance review process. We hope our team members had impactful conversations that celebrated your accomplishments, identified any opportunities for improvement and explored paths for your career growth.

Questions? Contact your HR Business Partner. You can also visit the P&D page on CookNet for resources and more information.

Now Accepting Donations for Homeless Initiative Program

Now through Oct. 23, you can donate to the Homeless Initiative Program drive. Donation boxes are located across the system.

Acceptable donation items (must be new) are

• Baby wipes
• Bath Towels
• Hand Towels
• Pillows
• Twin sheet sets
• Washcloths

Contact bianca.ramos@cookchildrens.org with questions.

Join Fitness Challenges on Personify Health, Redeem Rewards

Join the Wellness Zone in two fitness challenges this Halloween season. You can join in the month-long progressive squat challenge, called Squatober or join the European Texpedition Steps Challenge. Through these challenges you can build strength, power and endurance in your core and lower body with workouts you can do anytime of the day.

To register go to the "Challenge" tab on Personify Health.

Already have an account? Click here to log into Personify!

Log in Troubleshooting Tips!

1. Enter your Cook Children’s email as your username
2. Click out of the box after you enter your email/username and you should automatically be taken to the Cook Children’s Secure Single Sign On page.
3. Enter your employee ID number with letters and leading zeros and your Cook password that you use to log into your computer

Click here to enroll in Personify!

See Photos from APP Sweet Splashdown

Congratulations to our Advance Practitioner Providers who reached a systemwide goal of a 75% response rate for the 2026 Your Voice Matters Survey!

APP Leadership rewarded their staff with a fun dunk tank and ice cream during National APP week. See photos from the event on Connect Newsroom.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

Heartfelt Dedication to our Promise

Balloons, bubbles, and bursts of cheers filled a hallway to celebrate a special patient milestone following a successful surgery.

This celebration reflects the impact of the dedication, compassion, and teamwork that takes place every day here at Cook Children's. Every department plays a role in creating outcomes worthy of applause. This story is a testament to what we can achieve together.

Read more and see the video on CookNet.

You must be on Cook Children's network to view this story.

Reminders on Changes for Health Benefits

Our new plan year is right around the corner, including the transition of medical coverage to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) starting Oct. 1. Here’s what you need to know:

• Look for new ID cards arriving in the mail at your home address.

• Register your Blue Access for Members account using the member ID printed on your card. Download the BCBSTX app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
• If you’re enrolled in a Meritain Health medical plan, you have until Sept. 30 to buy over-the-counter CVS health care products with your final $25 quarterly health allowance. Order online at https://www.cvs.com/benefits or download the OTC Health Solutions app.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards issued by HealthEquity can be used as of Oct. 1. Continue to use your current Navia card through Sept. 30. Plan designs aren’t changing – only the administrator.

Why are we making the move to BCBSTX? More in-network provider options. Improved contract rates to help manage out-of-pocket costs. And a simplified experience for all your medical plan questions.

Visit the BCBSTX / Cook Children’s Transition Support Website to learn more. Or contact the Benefits team at askbenefits@cookchildrens.org.

Stop by the Wellness Zone Open House

Join us the at Wellness Zone to explore the facility open to you! Stop by between 3-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 901 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor.

What's in store?

• Tour the facility
• Snacks and refreshments
• Door PRIZES! - $50 value
• Zumba dance party
• Complimentary chair massages between 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information about the Wellness Zone, visit their CookNet site.

Enter to Win Diamond Heart Pendant courtesy of Collections Fine Jewelry

One Cook Children’s employee will win a stunning piece of fine jewelry to wear or share with a loved one. Created by Collections Fine Jewelry, this diamond and 14kt white gold pendant was designed to honor our health care heroes who give their hearts to Cook Children's patients every day.

Raffle tickets are available to Cook Children's employees only and are available for $10 each or three for $25. Raffle tickets may be purchased online via the QR code above or in person at Camelot Light Court at Medical Center-Fort Worth throughout September. A drawing will be held on Oct. 5 to choose a winner.

For more than 70 years, Jewel Charity Members have raised essential funds to support uncompensated care at Cook Children's. Funds raised through this exclusive raffle will directly support the most immediate needs of our patients and their families!

Click here to purchase raffle tickets or visit jewelcharity.org to learn more about Jewel Charity's mission.

Retirement Announcement

Join us in congratulating a staff member who is retiring from Cook Children's:

• Wanda Cargile, Insurance Specialist North Denton PC, is retiring after 27 years on Sept. 30.

To read more about Wanda along with other recent retirees please visit the Retirement CookNet page.

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.

Good afternoon Prosper family,

As we welcome the fall season, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your continued hard work, dedication, and commitment to our team and the patients we serve. Fall brings a season of change, growth, and opportunities to connect with one another, and we are excited about the events planned in the coming weeks.

Please consider joining your colleagues in donating to Lovepacs, This initiative specifically supports local children in Prosper, Gunter and Celina who are currently struggling with food insecurities.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and enjoyable fall season!

Your Prosper Leadership Team

Sent with Care: Share Your Nursing Story

In celebration of Pediatric Nurses Week this October, Cook Children’s invites you to participate in Sent with Care, a unique storytelling project designed to highlight the compassion, connection and meaningful moments that shape nursing across our organization. Inspired by the "Dear Data" project, this storytelling project encourages nurses to track a meaningful or challenging moment from everyday practice and transform it into a simple, hand-drawn postcard. No artistic talent is required. This project relies solely on your curiosity, reflection and willingness to share your unique perspective. The blank side of the postcard serves as your canvas, while the reverse side allows you to explain the personal significance of your artwork.

How to participate:

• Gather materials: Pick up a blank postcard, instructions and colored pencils from the gray baskets in any nurse breakroom.
• Return artwork: Drop your completed postcard into the large blue basket at the first-floor information desk by Sept. 30.

Participating nurses will have the opportunity to showcase their work at the Art Tooth gallery in the South Main Micro Park this October.

Click here for topic ideas, visual examples and full project details.

State Fair Menu at Over the Moon Cafe

Join us on Thursday, Sept. 24 for a menu featuring items from The State Fair of Texas. The menu includes the following:

• Smoked Turkey legs
• Foot long Chili Cheese dogs
• Foot long corn dogs
• Sausage on a Stick
• Chili Cheese Curly Fries
• Fried Pickles & Jalapeno Poppers
• Buttered Corn on the Cob
• Onion Rings
• Hamburgers
• Ground Beef Nachos
• Pizza
• Jumbo Pretzel
• Cotton Candy
• Fried Oreos
• Funnel cake with strawberries and whipped cream

Onsite Flu Fair

Protecting our patients, families, fellow employees and community remains one of the most important ways we live Our Promise. Annual influenza vaccination is an important part of that commitment and helps reduce the spread of a serious seasonal illness. 

All employees are required to complete the annual influenza vaccination process and receive their flu vaccine by Oct. 23, 2026.

Medical Center - Prosper will hold an onsite Flu Fair from 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Sept. 29, in Classroom 3332/3333.

To see the full information about employee flu vaccinations this year, click here.

Medical Center - Prosper Now Accepting Food Donations

Working with Lovepacs, Medical Center-Prosper is accepting food donations, focusing on the greatest needs that week. If you wish to donate, please review the schedule below detailing the appropriate donation for that week.

Sepsis Day Escape Room Winners

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Sepsis Day Escape Room and making this celebration of the day a success. The two winning teams are:

Best participation: Lab

Fastest clear time: Rehab/Clinical Therapy

Fall Community Relations Volunteer Opportunities

It may not feel like autumn yet but our fall events for Community Relations are around the corner. As we go out into our communities in our north market, we have something for everyone this year. Look at the events and volunteer to come represent Cook and share help us share our story about the services we provide to the community. If you have a teenager in your life that needs volunteers these are great events for them to come serve with us. Bring your families for some fall fun.

• DFW Fall Fest in Frisco
  • Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W. Elliott Dr, Frisco 75033
  • Register Here
• Anna Boo Bash
  • Oct. 17 from 12 - 4 p.m.
  • Slayter Creek Park at 425 W. Rosamond Parkway, Anna 75409
  • Register Here
• McKinney Trick or Treat Trail
  • Oct. 17 from 3 - 6 p.m.
  • Bonnie Wenk Park, 2996 Virginia Parkway
  • Register Here
• Celebrate Prosper Fall Festival
  • Oct. 17 from 4 - 8 p.m.
  • Frontier Park – 1551 Frontier Parkway
  • Register Here
• Beware of the Square Celina
  • Oct. 24 from 2 - 9 p.m.
  • On the downtown square in Celina – 302 W. Walnut St., Celina 75009
  • Register Here
• Nightmare Over Little Elm Halloween Event
  • Oct. 30 from 5 - 10 p.m.
  • 701 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm
  • Register Here
• Diwali Mela at Kaleidoscope Park – India Festival of Lights
  • Nov. 1 from 3:30 - 10 p.m.
  • Kaleidoscope Park, 6635 Warren Parkway, Frisco 75034
  • Register Here
• Melissa Fall Fest
  • Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Melissa High School football stadium area, 3030 Milrany Lane, Melissa
  • Register Here

Please reach out to Paige Mayfield if you have any questions.

Prosper Halloween

Your department is invited to participate in our Prosper Halloween event. Fill out and return the application below by Friday, Oct. 16.

In Case You Missed It

The MOB Invites You to Participate this Season: Sunshine Committee Holiday Fun Calendars

Based on feedback from previous years, we're excited to provide all three holiday fun calendars (October, November and December) in advance. Our purpose is to ensure everyone has plenty of time to plan ahead, gather any needed items, and coordinate if they'd like to join in.

As you'll see, there are quite a few fun activities, dress-up days, celebrations and team spirit events throughout the next few months. Please don't feel like you need to participate in every event. The calendars are simply meant to provide options so you can join in on the days that sound fun, meaningful or manageable for you. Participation is always encouraged, but never required.

Our goal is to create opportunities to:

• Spread kindness
• Build team spirit
• Celebrate together
• Have fun
• Bring a little extra joy to our workplace during the holiday season

Whether you participate in one event or twenty, we're glad you're part of our team and appreciate all that you do for our patients, families and each other. Thank you for helping make our workplace such a positive and supportive place.

Have fun and Happy Holidays!

-Your Sunshine Committee

Erase Kid Cancer Dress Up Calendar

Volunteer Opportunities

This is a reminder that we have some great opportunities to give back this fall. Please click the link here to see available options and times. Once you sign up, a coordinator will be in touch with more information about the event.

There is something for everyone, whether you are passionate about gun safety, safe sleep or any of our other injury prevention topic areas. We have streamlined the sign-up process with Signup Genius so you can see what is available in real time. If you have any questions regarding any of the events listed, please contact Jillian Mitchell, CPST or anyone on the Community health team. As always, we appreciate your time and passion for educating families to keep children safe.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

Karen Love Retires After Eight Years Leading Cook Children's Health Plan

A remarkable chapter is coming to a close as Karen Love, MHA, retires after eight years as President of Cook Children's Health Plan.

Under Karen's leadership, the Health Plan experienced significant growth while staying true to its mission of improving the lives of children and families.

To read about Karen's legacy of advocacy, service and creating healthier communities across Texas, visit Connect Newsroom.

Acknowledge Your Performance Conversation in Workday

As managers wrap up Performance & Development (P&D) discussions with employees by Sept. 28, don’t forget to log in to Workday to acknowledge that you and your manager reviewed your annual performance evaluation and calculated rating together.

You must complete this P&D task by Oct. 5. Here are the steps:

1. Go to your Workday inbox

2. Select the “To Do” – Acknowledge Performance Review Check-In

3. Click “Get Started”

4. Select the appropriate acknowledgement statement in the “Status” field

5. Add comments, if desired

6. Click submit

Step 4 gives team members the choice between two statements:

• “I acknowledge that I have had a conversation regarding the review with my manager.”
• “I acknowledge the review meeting has been held, and I would like to request further discussion.”

If you choose the second option, your manager and the manager’s leader will be notified in Workday. You and your manager will have five business days to discuss the matter further. Learn more at the P&D page on CookNet.

Information Services News

ServiceNow, Epic and Workday Requests Are Getting Easier

What's Changing?

Requests for ServiceNow, Epic and Workday will no longer be submitted through Optimization categories.

Instead, go to the Employee Center and search for:

• ServiceNow Enhancements
• Epic Enhancement Request
• Workday Request

Select the option that best matches your need, and your request will be sent to the right team automatically.

To learn more about the changes on the Idea Portal and how it will be easier to track your requests, visit Connect Newsroom.

ServiceNow Incident Reporting Update: Identifying Patient Care Impact

What is Changing?

A new question is now available when reporting an issue through Epic "Something is Broken/Epic Report an Issue" or the ServiceNow Employee Center:

Question: Is there an impact to patient care?

Select the option that best describes the impact only when the issue is:

• Preventing Patient Care – Patient Present Right Now
• Preventing Scheduled Patient Visit
• Preventing Documentation or Result Entry

Selecting one of these options elevates the incident for expedited assessment by the appropriate Information Services support team. Please include a clear description of the issue and your callback information so the on-call responder can contact you if additional details are needed.

Appropriate use of these options helps the IS team prioritize incidents that may directly affect patient care.

Kids' Place has Openings for Ages 2+

There are currently spaces are available at Kids Place for the 2-year-old and preschool age groups.

To learn more, please visit Kids' Place registration.

Please note the infant age group is currently on a waitlist and members of Kids' Place will reach out directly to you if you are on the waitlist and a spot becomes available.

Sign Up for Employees Care

It’s not too late to sign up for Employees Care 2026. Stop by one of the Employees Care events occurring now until the end of the month to make a donation and grab your thank you gift(s).

Can’t make it to one of our events but still want to make a difference in the lives of patients, families, and colleagues? Click here to sign up.

Because of you, we’re able to go above and beyond for those under our blue peaks. Click here to see a few of the recently funded Employees Care projects that help create moments of magic for patients across our healthcare system. Contact EmployeesCare@cookchildrens.org with any questions.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

Join the Fun at This Year's Halloween Hoopla

Halloween Hoopla is returning this October. Get ready for creative costumes, spirited skits, friendly competition and plenty of Halloween fun. Gather your team, bring your best ideas and join us for one of our favorite employee traditions. There are opportunities to join in on festivities no matter where you work.

• Fort Worth Medical Center (live-streamed): Friday, Oct. 30, 2–3 p.m. | Live costume and skit contests. The last day to record a skit is Oct. 15.
• Prosper Medical Center: Friday, Oct. 30 | Campus contests and activities
• Calmont Office Building: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 12–1 p.m. | Live costume contest and virtual contest
• Virtual Hoopla: Open to ALL employees, no matter where you work. Enter the individual or group costume contests by submitting a photo.

Please review the Participant Guidelines before registering, as well as the Recording Studio Guidelines if your team plans to record a skit in Sparklefly Studio.

Ready to participate? Visit the Team Experience CookNet page for event details, registration information, deadlines and participant guidelines.

Today is North Texas Giving Day; Help us have a record-breaking year

Today is one of our biggest fundraising days of the year – North Texas Giving Day. Today, our community comes together to make a difference in the lives of patients and families across our entire health care system. These funds help provide the latest equipment, care for unbillable services and so much more. That’s why we need your help! 

Help us spread the word and make a difference by:

1. Click the link below to make a tax-deductible gift. When you donate, your gift will be DOUBLED thanks to Stonelake Capital Partners LLC for their generous one-for-one match up to $20,000.
2. Follow @CookChildrensHealthFoundation on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Re-share posts, tag a friend and help us have our best year yet. 

Cook Children's | North Texas Giving Day 

Thank you for going above and beyond for our patients and families. 

Your Voice Matters Survey – We Did It

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey. More than 7,500 employees took the time to share their experiences, ideas, and feedback. Together, your voices are helping us identify our strengths, uncover opportunities for growth, and drive meaningful action that supports our teams, our patients, and our commitment to safety and quality.

What’s Next?
In October, leaders will receive access to the survey results portal and begin reviewing feedback from their teams. Throughout the fall, leaders will meet with their teams to discuss the results, celebrate strengths, and identify opportunities for improvement. Together, each team will select a focus area to sustain or improve. At the same time, executive leaders will review organization-wide feedback to identify key system priorities. Stay tuned for updates as we share survey insights and the actions that will help shape our future together.

The eCards Recognition Program Is Back

Looking for a simple way to brighten someone’s day? The popular eCards Recognition Program is back. These eCards are a quick and meaningful way to show appreciation, celebrate contributions, and help colleagues feel valued for the important work they do to fulfill our Promise every day.

Ready to Recognize Someone?

Visit the Recognition Tools page on CookNet. Scroll down to the section for eCards to see all your options for cards.

When you have someone in mind, select the “click here to send an eCard” button. The link takes you to the eCard builder with instructions on how to select a card, add your recipient(s) and a personal message. You’ll receive confirmation on the screen when your eCard is sent. Also, be sure to favorite this site (Modern Card) so it’s easy to return to send more cards.

Please note: If it’s your first time sending an eCard, you’ll be prompted to accept the Power Apps permissions. You’ll only need to do this once then you’re ready to start recognizing your colleagues. 

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. 

Good morning Prosper family,

Welcome to fall (minus the weather!) and football!  We are headed right into flu season; be sure you get your consent and vaccine and/or exemption by the Oct. 23 deadline. We have definitely entered the back-to-school sick season. As volumes have increased across the board, hang on as we head into our winter season. 

Thank you for all you do for our patients and our community.

Your Prosper Leadership Team

Behavioral Health Champion of the Month

Please join us in congratulating Jonathon Lafollett, ED ACT, on being named our August Behavioral Health Champion.

Jonathon is a valued member of the Behavioral Health team who consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to caring for this patient population while embodying Cook Children’s Promise. His dedication extends beyond his daily responsibilities, as evidenced by his recent initiative to create and lead an interactive educational game focused on patient elopement prevention. Through this engaging learning opportunity, Jonathon helped strengthen knowledge and preparedness across the Prosper campus.

Known for his positive attitude, teamwork and passion for behavioral health, Jonathon continuously seeks ways to support both patients and colleagues while promoting a safe, compassionate care environment. His leadership and commitment to education make a meaningful impact on our teams and the families we serve.

Thank you, Jonathon, for going above and beyond and for your ongoing dedication to behavioral health care at Prosper.

Parking Reminder: Front Spaces Intended for Patient Families

In our effort to make sure our patients and their families can park up front; the GREEN areas of the parking map below indicate where employees should be parking. Please keep the parking spots closest to the buildings available for our patients and families. Thank you for all you do to take care of our families. Continued non-compliance could lead to further disciplinary steps.

Zero Harm Coach Training

Our next Zero Harm Coach Training will be livestreamed in Prosper Classroom 1621/1622. If you have an interest in attending, please email Hannah Miller.

Onsite Flu Fair

Protecting our patients, families, fellow employees and community remains one of the most important ways we live Our Promise. Annual influenza vaccination is an important part of that commitment and helps reduce the spread of a serious seasonal illness. 💉

All employees are required to complete the annual influenza vaccination process and receive their flu vaccine by Oct. 23, 2026.

Medical Center - Prosper will hold their onsite Flu Fair from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Sept. 29, in Classroom 3332/3333.

To see the full information about employee flu vaccinations this year, click here.

The MOB Invites You to Participate this Season: Sunshine Committee Holiday Fun Calendars

Based on feedback from previous years, we're excited to provide all three holiday calendars (October, November and December) in advance. Our purpose is to ensure everyone has plenty of time to plan ahead, gather any needed items, and coordinate if they'd like to join in.

As you'll see, there are quite a few fun activities, dress-up days, celebrations and team spirit events throughout the next few months. Please don't feel like you need to participate in every event. The calendars are simply meant to provide options so you can join in on the days that sound fun, meaningful or manageable for you. Participation is always encouraged, but never required.

Our goal is to create opportunities to:

• Spread kindness
• Build team spirit
• Celebrate together
• Have fun
• Bring a little extra joy to our workplace during the holiday season

Whether you participate in one event or twenty, we're glad you're part of our team and appreciate all that you do for our patients, families and each other. Thank you for helping make our workplace such a positive and supportive place.

Have fun and Happy Holidays!

-Your Sunshine Committee

Prosper Halloween

Your department is invited to participate in our Prosper Halloween event. Fill out and return the application below by Friday, Oct. 16.

NFL Kickoff: Jersey Days Recap

Thank you to all those who participated in our NFL Kickoff Jersey Days by wearing their favorite team's gear!

Fall Community Relations Volunteer Opportunities

It may not feel like fall yet but our fall events for Community Relations are around the corner. As we go out into our communities in our north market, we have something for everyone this year. Look at the events and volunteer to come represent Cook and share help us share our story about the services we provide to the community. If you have a teenager in your life that needs volunteers these are great events for them to come serve with us. Bring your families for some fall fun.

• DFW Fall Fest in Frisco
  • Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W. Elliott Dr, Frisco 75033
  • Register Here
• Anna Boo Bash
  • Oct. 17 from 12 - 4 p.m.
  • Slayter Creek Park at 425 W. Rosamond Parkway, Anna 75409
  • Register Here
• McKinney Trick or Treat Trail
  • Oct. 17 from 3 - 6 p.m.
  • Bonnie Wenk Park, 2996 Virginia Parkway
  • Register Here
• Celebrate Prosper Fall Festival
  • Oct. 17 from 4 - 8 p.m.
  • Frontier Park – 1551 Frontier Parkway
  • Register Here
• Beware of the Square Celina
  • Oct. 24 from 2 - 9 p.m.
  • On the downtown square in Celina – 302 W. Walnut St., Celina 75009
  • Register Here
• Nightmare Over Little Elm Halloween Event
  • Oct. 30 from 5 - 10 p.m.
  • 701 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm
  • Register Here
• Diwali Mela at Kaleidoscope Park – India Festival of Lights
  • Nov. 1 from 3:30 - 10 p.m.
  • Kaleidoscope Park, 6635 Warren Parkway, Frisco 75034
  • Register Here
• Melissa Fall Fest
  • Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Melissa High School football stadium area, 3030 Milrany Lane, Melissa
  • Register Here

Please reach out to Paige Mayfield if you have any questions.

In Case You Missed It

Sepsis Conference 2026

Join us for this year's Sepsis conference, on Oct. 22 at the Hurst Conference Center. If you have any questions, please contact Hannah Miller.

Erase Kid Cancer Dress Up Calendar

Volunteer Opportunities

This is a reminder that we have some great opportunities to give back this fall. Please click the link here to see available options and times. Once you sign up, a coordinator will be in touch with more information about the event.

There is something for everyone, whether you are passionate about gun safety, safe sleep or any of our other injury prevention topic areas. We have streamlined the sign-up process with Signup Genius so you can see what is available in real time. If you have any questions regarding any of the events listed, please contact Jillian Mitchell, CPST or anyone on the Community health team. As always, we appreciate your time and passion for educating families to keep children safe.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

Five Cook Children's Specialties Earn National Recognition

Thank you to our teams, who work day in and day out to provide exceptional care to our patients. Because of your hard work, Cook Children's Health Care System has earned national recognition in five specialties on the 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals list.

The recognition includes the 19th consecutive year that Cook Children's Neurology & Neurosurgery program has been nationally ranked. Notably, the program has appeared in the rankings every year since U.S. News & World Report introduced pediatric specialty rankings in 2008, reflecting nearly two decades of consistent excellence in caring for children and families.

To be the first to read about this news, visit Checkup Newsroom.

Anne Rote Named President of Cook Children’s Health Plan

Please join us in welcoming Anne Rote as President of Cook Children's Health Plan, succeeding Karen Love, who will retire Sept. 30. Anne brings more than 25 years of health care leadership experience and a passion for improving access, quality and outcomes for children and families. She began her new role at our organization on Sept. 8, 2026.

Anne's expertise in health plan operations, strategy and value-based care will help strengthen Cook Children's Health Plan as we continue to meet the evolving needs of our members. She holds a bachelor's degree from Rice University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

“I am honored to join Cook Children’s Health Plan and excited for what we can accomplish together,” Anne said. “Working alongside our members, providers and community partners, we have a vital opportunity to make a lasting difference for families and deliver on Cook Children’s Promise to improve the health of every child in our care and our communities.”

Throughout her career, Anne has led the development, management and operation of government-sponsored health plans, integrated delivery systems and medical groups. She is known for building strong partnerships between providers and payers, creating innovative care models and leading high-performing teams that deliver both exceptional service and sustainable growth.

"Anne brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leading complex healthcare organizations while keeping patients and families at the center of every decision," said Rick W. Merrill, Cook Children’s President and CEO. “Her expertise in health plan operations, partnership development and innovative care models will help position Cook Children's Health Plan for continued success. We are excited to welcome Anne and look forward to the impact she will make for the children and families we serve.”

Flu Vaccines 2026: Visit an Onsite Flu Fair

All employees are required to complete the annual influenza vaccination process and receive their flu vaccine by Oct. 23, 2026.

To get started you must complete the electronic influenza consent form on Enterprise Health Portal. Then, attend one of the various onsite flu fairs or upload your flu vaccine you received from a non-Cook Children's provider, such as a physician's office or pharmacy, through the My Medical tab in the Enterprise Health Employee Portal.

Visit Connect Newsroom to learn more about flu fairs and other important information including exemptions, compliance, and how to pick up flu vaccines for department events.

Get Ready for Performance Review Check-In Conversations

As we wrap up annual performance reviews, managers are reaching out to schedule time one-on-one to discuss the outcome of each team member’s evaluation and their overall calculated rating.

These conversations pave the way for continued improvement and professional development. The goal is to provide constructive feedback that empowers everyone to thrive and flourish in their careers.

A few tips for a productive conversation with your manager:

• Prepare: Take time beforehand to reflect on your achievements, how you’ve demonstrated Cook Children’s values, and any work challenges you navigated since the start of the performance year on Oct. 1, 2025. You may want to have your self-evaluation handy.

• Listen actively to your manager’s feedback and suggestions.

• Ask questions if you need clarification.

• Share your honest perspective. Your input can connect the dots to help your manager make specific and impactful recommendations.

After you’ve completed the performance discussion with your manager, you must acknowledge that the conversation took place by Oct. 5. Follow these steps:

1. Go to your Workday inbox
2. Select the “To Do” – Acknowledge Performance Review Check-In
3. Click “Get Started”
4. Select the appropriate acknowledgement statement in the “Status” field
5. Add comments, if desired
6. Click submit

Learn more at the Performance & Development page on CookNet.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

Major Construction Update: 7th and Terrell Intersection Closure

Effective this Monday, Sept. 14, the intersection of 7th and Terrell Avenues will close to vehicular traffic through early January. Review the map for details on new traffic patterns and the best routes to your destination. Please note your commute to the garage will look different, but the Terrell Garage is open.

Commute & Traffic

Allow extra time for your commute to accommodate traffic congestion and ensure you arrive safely and on time. Remain alert for vehicles and pedestrians navigating the campus. The Terrell Garage is open and staff who are assigned to it must park there.

Pedestrian Routes

The mid-block crosswalk on Terrell Avenue will close. Employees entering the Medical Center from the Terrell Garage or the south side of campus must use these alternative routes:

• Basement level: Enter through the South Tower entrance (badge access required).
• 3rd floor: Use the skybridge over Terrell Avenue (badge access required) to reach the 2nd floor of the Medical Center.
• Street level: Walk east to 6th Avenue.

Safety Reminders

• No jaywalking: Crossing mid-block on Terrell Avenue is hazardous. Please set a safe example for patients, families, and visitors. To cross Terrell Avenue, use only the skybridge or the crosswalk at the intersection of Terrell and 6th Avenues.
• Emergency Department: Do not use the ED entrance as a walk-through to access the hospital.

Upcoming Milestones

• Sidewalk closures: Sidewalks at the 7th and Terrell intersection close on Oct. 5. Further details will follow soon.
• Reopening: Terrell Avenue (from 7th Avenue to the South Tower) is scheduled to reopen to vehicles and pedestrians in early January.

Shuttles: Parking Services is providing a staff shuttle service solely for employees impacted by the closure of the 8th and Terrell Garage. These employees have each been reassigned to a specific exterior lot. This shuttle service is not available to other staff, patients, families, or visitors. Click here for more information.

Thank you for your patience during our West Tower construction project. Read more about completed phases and upcoming work in the Connect article: Construction Progress: Milestones Reached and What's Ahead

Flu Vaccines 2026: Onsite Flu Fairs Begin Sept. 15

All employees are required to complete the annual influenza vaccination process and receive their flu vaccine by Oct. 23, 2026.

To get started you must complete the electronic influenza consent form on Enterprise Health Portal by Sept. 15. Then, attend one of the various onsite flu fairs or upload your flu vaccine you received from a non-Cook Children's provider, such as a physician's office or pharmacy, through the My Medical tab in the Enterprise Health Employee Portal.

Visit Connect Newsroom to learn more about flu fairs and other important information including exemptions, compliance, and how to pick up flu vaccines for department events.

Into the Silent Sky: Teddy Bear Transport’s Lifesaving Flight After Sept. 11, 2001

By Tracey Stephens, RN, former employee and wife of Todd Stephens

Editor's note: Patient-specific details have been removed to protect privacy.

In the dark, uncertain hours following Sept. 11, 2001, the United States was under an unprecedented, total military lockdown. Civilian aviation had vanished. Air traffic control screens were completely blank, commercial tarmacs were dark, and the sky belonged exclusively to heavily armed military fighter jets.

Yet hundreds of miles away, a critically ill infant needed specialized care available at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. A ground ambulance would take hours, making air transport essential. It was a literal matter of life or death, requiring a miracle just to get off the ground.

While the rest of the nation held its breath, the dispatchers and command at Cook Children’s waged a frantic battle on the phones, coordinating directly with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and military command. Recognizing the stakes, authorities granted the Teddy Bear Transport crew a historic, highly exclusive emergency waiver.

Approximately 48 hours after the nation was attacked, pilots Todd Stephens and Ray Crain stepped into the cockpit of the King Air 200 along with the Neonatal Critical Care Team. When they advanced the throttles and lifted off into the North Texas night, they became one of the only civilian flight crews permitted into United States airspace.

The crew flew into a historical vacuum. Surrounded by eerie, echoing silence on the radio, looking down at completely dark, abandoned commercial runways, and flying with the watchful eyes of NORAD tracking their every move, Todd and Ray pressed onward through the empty sky.

As they neared their destination, the true magnitude of their mission became visually striking. Out of the darkness, two military fighter jets scrambled from a nearby base and dropped into formation, flanking the Teddy Bear Transport plane. Escorted closely by the roaring, heavily armed fighters through a locked-down sky, Todd and Ray piloted the medical aircraft safely to its destination under the protective watch of the United States military.

They flew not out of comfort, but out of a profound duty to a child they had never met. Because of their courage, skill, and willingness to fly when the world was gripped by fear, they safely retrieved that newborn. They delivered the baby to the intensive care unit in Fort Worth and gave a family a lifetime of birthdays.

As we mark the 25th observance of 9/11, we honor the crew of that flight. Todd Stephens, Ray Crain and Cook Children’s stand as a shining reminder that even in humanity’s darkest and quietest moments, heroes will always find a way to bring light, hope and life back into the sky.

Retirements

Join us in congratulating staff members who are retiring from Cook Children's:

• Ginny Ciriot, Burleson Pediatrics NP/PA, retired after 50 years on Sept. 5.
• Ceci Brown, Senior Nurse Informaticist, is retiring after 32 years on Oct. 2. Please join us for a retirement celebration from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30 in the South Tower Classroom 1163 at Medical Center-Fort Worth.

To read more about Ginny and Ceci, along with other recent retiree please visit the Retirement CookNet page.

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.

Flu Vaccines 2026: Onsite Flu Fairs Begin Sept. 15

All employees are required to complete the annual influenza vaccination process and receive their flu vaccine by Oct. 23, 2026.

To get started you must complete the electronic influenza consent form on Enterprise Health Portal by Sept. 15. Then, attend one of the various onsite flu fairs or upload your flu vaccine you received from a non-Cook Children's provider, such as a physician's office or pharmacy, through the My Medical tab in the Enterprise Health Employee Portal.

Visit Connect Newsroom to learn more about flu fairs and other important information including exemptions, compliance and how to pick up flu vaccines for department events.

Get Ready for Year-End P&D Conversations

Your manager will be reaching out to schedule performance conversations during September as we enter the home stretch of our year-end Performance & Development activities.

These one-on-one sessions provide you and your manager with a scheduled block of time to discuss your performance over the past year, paving the way for continued improvement and professional development in the coming year. The goal is to provide constructive feedback that empowers everyone to thrive and flourish in their careers.

A few tips for a productive conversation:

• Prepare: Take time beforehand to reflect on your achievements, the Cook Children’s values you demonstrated, and any work challenges you navigated since the start of the performance year on Oct. 1, 2025.

• Listen actively to your manager’s feedback and suggestions.

• Ask questions if you need clarification.

• Share your honest perspective. Your input can connect the dots to help your manager make specific and impactful recommendations.

Learn more at the P&D page on CookNet.

Watch Now: A Conversation with Matthew Carroll at the Summer 2026 Town Hall

If you were unable to attend the Aug. 13 Town Hall or would like to revisit the topics discussed, recordings of individual segments will be available to watch on demand over the next few newsletters.

This featured segment includes a conversation with our new Chief Quality Officer, Matthew Carroll, M.D., MHA, MSHQS about the high-quality care we strive for at Cook Children's.

Watch the segment to revisit these important Town Hall highlights.

NFL Kickoff: Jersey Days

Wear your favorite NFL jersey on Sept. 10-13 to kick off the upcoming football season! Show off your football pride and send a photo to team.experience@cookchildrens.org.

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.

Good afternoon Prosper family,

We have made it through back-to-school time and headed into cooler weather, we hope😊. Thank you to all of you who participated in the employee survey. We look forward to hearing your feedback and getting better together. Hopefully you got to enjoy Well-being Month and were able to find some tips to keeping yourself healthy. We are headed into football season and fall -- yay for pumpkins!

Thank you for all you do, it takes a village to take care of the community, and we are so proud each of you are on the team.

Your Prosper Leadership Team

Cross Country Cooling

We are proud to support our local student-athletes right here in Prosper! Cook Children’s recently donated cooling towels and essential first aid supplies to the Prosper Eagles Cross Country team as they prepare for their upcoming season. The team shared the photo below, expressing their appreciation for our investment in keeping young runners cool, safe and ready to compete. Thank you to our Prosper team members for continuing to champion our community partnerships outside our Medical Center walls.

Sent with Care: Share Your Nursing Story

In celebration of Pediatric Nurses Week this October, Cook Children’s invites you to participate in Sent with Care, a unique storytelling project designed to highlight the compassion, connection and meaningful moments that shape nursing across our organization. Inspired by the "Dear Data" project, this storytelling project encourages nurses to track a meaningful or challenging moment from everyday practice and transform it into a simple, hand-drawn postcard. No artistic talent is required. This project relies solely on your curiosity, reflection and willingness to share your unique perspective. The blank side of the postcard serves as your canvas, while the reverse side allows you to explain the personal significance of your artwork.

How to participate:

• Gather materials: Pick up a blank postcard, instructions and colored pencils from the gray baskets in any nurse breakroom.
• Return artwork: Drop your completed postcard into the large blue basket at the first-floor information desk by Sept. 30.

Participating nurses will have the opportunity to showcase their work at the Art Tooth gallery in the South Main Micro Park this October.

Click here for topic ideas, visual examples and full project details.

Behavioral Health Champion of the Month

Please join us in congratulating Amina Morehead, a PCT on 4 Main, on being named our Behavioral Health Champion of the Month. She consistently demonstrates remarkable teamwork and collaboration alongside exceptional skill in de-escalation, reflecting a profound dedication to patient safety. We are incredibly grateful for her unwavering commitment and compassionate approach to the care of our behavioral health population.

Prosper Halloween

Your department is invited to participate in our Prosper Halloween event. Fill out and return the application below by Friday, Oct. 16.

NFL Kickoff: Jersey Days

Wear your favorite NFL jersey on Sept. 10-13 to kick off the upcoming football season! Show off your football pride and send a photo to team.experience@cookchildrens.org.

In Case You Missed It

Nursing Leadership Academy

Advance your nursing career through Cook Children's Nursing Leadership Academy. Join this six-month program to enhance your leadership career skills. Applicants are required to have enrolled in or completed a Professional Development Program, have a BSN or higher nursing degree, and a minimum of two years of experience working at Cook Children's Medical Center. Applications are open until Sept. 30, 2026, for the January 2027 Cohort. There will be two opportunities to join a Q&A session, on Sept. 3 or Sept. 15, via Teams.

Sepsis Day Escape Room

World Sepsis Day is coming on Sept. 13. Join us for an interactive Sepsis Escape Room on the 5th floor between Sept. 9 and 11. Details are in the image below. If you have any questions, please contact Hannah Miller.

Sepsis Conference 2026

Join us for this year's Sepsis conference, on Oct. 22 at the Hurst Conference Center. If you have any questions, please contact Hannah Miller.

Erase Kid Cancer Dress Up Calendar

Volunteer Opportunities

Good afternoon volunteers!

This is a reminder that we have some great opportunities to give back this fall. Please click the link here to see the available options and times. Once you sign up, a coordinator will be in touch with more information about the event.

There is something for everyone, whether you are passionate about gun safety, safe sleep or any of our other injury prevention topic areas. We have streamlined the sign-up process with Signup Genius so you can see what is available in real time. If you have any questions regarding any of the events listed, please contact Jillian Mitchell, CPST or anyone on the community health team. As always, we appreciate your time and passion for educating families to keep children safe.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.

Final Day to Complete the Your Voice Matters Survey: Open now through 11:59 p.m.

This is the last day to complete the Your Voice Matters Survey, closing at 11:59 p.m. tonight. We are currently at 71% for employee participation, but our goal is to reach more than 75%. It is important for us to hear from you about your work experience. Your survey input helps to drive real improvements that enhance our team, patient and safety/quality experiences at Cook Children’s.

It’s easy to take the survey: See the email you received from Press Ganey today – or click here to take the survey. You can also go to the CookNet homepage scroll and click the banner to go directly to the survey. Use your employee identification number as your password.

Tip: add a leading zero(s) if your identification number is fewer than six digits. (For example: 9999 = 009999.)

Questions about the Your Voice Matters survey? Visit the CookNet survey page or email teamexperience@cookchildrens.org.

TB Questionnaire and Respiratory Mask Fit Requirements

Requirement reminders for Performance & Development: Managers, as you complete Performance & Development (P&D) evaluations, please verify that employees are compliant with both the annual Tuberculosis (TB) Questionnaire requirement by asking them to complete the form in Enterprise Health and any required Respiratory Mask Fit Testing obligations.

TB Questionnaires: Employees who completed the TB Questionnaire during the August 2025 campaign remain current in the Enterprise Health portal until the day after the annual due date of Sept. 14, 2026. Employees who have completed the TB Questionnaire during the current campaign will remain current until the day after Sept. 14, 2027.

Respiratory Mask Fit Testing: Employees who are currently late on their required Respiratory Mask Fit testing have been granted a final extension and must complete the requirement by Dec. 11, 2026. Please schedule your Respiratory Mask Fit test with Occupational Health as soon as possible. Appointments are filling up fast.

Please click here for more information about actions required. Thank you for your partnership in maintaining a safe, healthy, and compliant environment for our patients, families, and team members.

Building Our Future: Celebrating West Tower Milestones and What to Expect Next

Construction across the Fort Worth campus continues to move forward, and we're beginning to reach important milestones. From completing major infrastructure work to progress on the future West Tower, each step brings us closer to expanding capacity and creating more space for the children and families we serve.

Take a look at the latest construction updates, key milestones, upcoming projects and what team members can expect next.

Click here to learn more about what's happening across the Medical Center-Fort Worth campus and view drone footage of the West Tower construction site!

Reminder about Parking: 8th and Terrell Parking Garage is Closed

The 8th and Terrell Parking Garage is closed completely for parking. The sidewalk along Terrell Avenue between 8^th and 7^th avenues is closed to pedestrians.

If you previously parked in this garage, please check for an email sent from Parking Services to see your new parking assignment. You may NOT park in other lots or garages, per policy MC 252.

Please contact Parking Services by phone at 682-885-7492 or by email ParkingServices@cookchildrens.orgwith questions.

Watch Now: Merridth Simpson's Summer 2026 Town Hall Benefits and HR Updates

If you were unable to attend the Aug. 13 Town Hall or would like to revisit the topics discussed, recordings of individual segments will be available to watch on demand over the next few newsletters.

This featured segment includes updates from Merridth Simpson, SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer about our benefit plans starting in October, important Human Resources reminders and news about Care Share.

Watch the segment to revisit these important Town Hall highlights.

Enter to Win Diamond Heart Pendant courtesy of Collections Fine Jewelry

One Cook Children’s employee will win a stunning piece of fine jewelry to wear or share with a loved one. Created by Collections Fine Jewelry, this diamond and 14kt white gold pendant was designed to honor our health care heroes who give their hearts to Cook Children's patients every day.

Raffle tickets are available to Cook Children's employees only and are available for $10 each or three for $25. Raffle tickets may be purchased online via the QR code above or in person at Camelot Light Court throughout September. A drawing will be held on Oct. 5, 2026, to choose a winner.

For more than 70 years, Jewel Charity Members have raised essential funds to support uncompensated care at Cook Children's. Funds raised through this exclusive raffle will directly support the most immediate needs of our patients and their families!

Click here to purchase raffle tickets or visit jewelcharity.org to learn more about Jewel Charity's mission.

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.

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.