Between May 4-8 we are celebrating Nurses Week, honoring the dedication of nursing professionals across Cook Children's Health Care System. Throughout the system, we have about 3,038 licensed nurses (both LVN and RN) who give their all to our patients. 

Thank you to all our nursing professionals for all your hard work each and every day!

We have designated events at the medical centers to recognize nurses, and for nurses to celebrate with colleagues.

In Fort Worth, nurses will be offered chair massages, a breakfast burrito event, a soda bar, and an opportunity to take professional headshots, as well as other events. The Center for Nursing Excellence is hosting a nurse-only design thinking workshop.

The Cook Children's Great 10 nurse celebration event will take place on Tuesday, May 5. The event is by invitation only, but here is the link to watch the festivities live! Great 10 nurses are recognized for being role models, leaders, community servants, compassionate caregivers, and for their significant contributions to the nursing profession. 

On Wednesday, May 6, food trucks will be at Pruitt Street, and they'll be offering food for purchase to all employees, not just nurses. They'll be onsite from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

In Prosper, everyone is encouraged to wear blue for nurses on Tuesday, May 5 and on Wednesday, May 6 there will be a table in the Over the Moon cafeteria to write a note of appreciation to a colleague. Other events include treats from Panera and Chick-fil-A, and more. 

See the full list of events below: 

• Click here to see events happening on the Medical Center - Prosper campus.
• Click here to see events happening on the Fort Worth Medical Center campus.

Nursing Annual Report 2025

Every year, we compile the Nursing Annual Report, in which we highlight many of the accomplishments and exceptional work of our nurses across the system. To learn more about our incredible nurses at Cook Children's please click here to read the 2025 report. 

You can also find the report on the Cook Children's website here.

“This truly has been an extraordinary year for our nursing team at Cook Children’s, one defined by excellence, innovation and a deep, unwavering commitment to our patients, families and one another. Throughout our entire system, nurses have led with compassion, curiosity and courage, consistently raising the standard for what exceptional pediatric care can be,” writes Cheryl Petersen, RN, MBA, NE-BC Chief Nursing Officer. 

The office is home to three physicians: Bryan Steinmann, M.D., Rachel M. Thomas M.D., and Shannon L. Watts, M.D., along with eight other staff members. While the team’s individual experience within the Cook Children’s Health Care System ranges from one to 30 years, they share a central goal: providing exceptional care to local children.

“Our team and clinic are like a family,” Dr. Steinmann said. “This small-town atmosphere in Granbury blends well with our staff, and we could never do the amazing work that we do without our wonderful team.”

The office has experienced significant growth since opening in October 1995. After moving locations three times, the exam space has nearly doubled in size. Today, the staff has generations of care in their space as their former pediatric patients return for care now as parents with their babies and children.

“It was nice to see the support from the community,” Dr. Watts said. “We started off with five exam rooms and now we are up to over 10. … We see generations of patients — children of the children we were first seeing 30 years ago. It really is full circle.”

Visit the Cook Children’s Pediatrics Granbury Facebook page for more highlights from the celebration.

Thank you to the Granbury staff for your dedication and hard work. Happy 30th anniversary!

In January, he returned to the Fort Worth campus after a year spent battling multiple myeloma, an uncommon blood cancer that affects bone marrow and causes symptoms such as fatigue, bone pain, fractures and appetite changes.

Louis is 6-feet-tall with a bold voice, big smile and constant catchphrase “peace and love” that follows him wherever he goes. He aims to carry this message through his work every day. He enjoys visiting patients at various departments, bringing musical instruments and songs to lift their spirits.

“Everybody is going through a storm,” he said. “Everybody’s got battle scars. We don’t know until we talk and reveal ourselves to each other. We can help each other so much by showing grace and showing love.”

After working security at a local department store, Louis made his way to Cook Children’s in April 1995 and his kindness has been a welcome comfort for patients, families and staff alike.

“Louis is really always leaving a little drop of positivity, happiness and hope,” said Eric Hubli, M.D., Surgeon-in-Chief, Medical Director, Craniofacial and Cleft Surgery. “I think that’s what the Promise is about. We’re here for the kids holistically, with hope, care and love. I think as Louis travels around our community, he gets that message across.”

Treatment & Recovery

His presence is well-known: kind, warm and personable, so when he went out on medical leave in February 2025, his absence was noticed. The hallways that he usually visited were quieter; his wagon, filled with crafts and activities for patients, sat undisturbed.

Louis traveled to his sister Anita Douglas’s home in Slidell, Louisiana in May 2025. Starting in July 2025, he faced five rounds of chemo and a stem cell transplant.

“I knew that God’s got me,” Louis said. “He shielded me from the worries and thoughts of ‘what’s going to happen?’ and he covered me. My energy was focused on God, family and friends.”

Louis had one major round of chemo, which the doctor called his “new birthday.” He didn’t remember that week, but his sister knew he was in pain. Douglas said he was still showing kindness by talking to his care team about Bible scriptures and handing out small wooden crosses.

“That new birthday restored my soul,” Louis said. “God restored my soul.”

As he recovered, Louis required 24/7 support, so his family in Louisiana banded together to make a schedule of his sisters, in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins to always have someone by his side over several months.

“He really had such a village behind him with his friends and family,” Douglas said. “I think it really gave him the push because it was not an easy journey.”

Douglas’s mailbox was flooded with hundreds of cards and gifts. She asked, “Who are all these people?” White told her how he knew each person from Cook Children’s.

Every morning and night, Louis prayed on the phone with his closest friends, one of whom was James Carson, program specialist with Cook Children’s Behavioral Health.

“His hope, his confidence, his faith, his belief -- that never changed,” James said. “His body was going through stuff and he was losing weight; oftentimes when we go through something like that, the joy comes down some, but his rose to another level.”

James and Louis have been best friends for more than 27 years. When Louis came home in November 2025, James says he will always remember when they reunited and embraced. James knew he was strong and healthy again.

“My brother’s home,” James said. “He’s a fighter to the end. He’s a warrior.”

Returning to Fort Worth

Louis returned to Cook Children’s in January. At this stage of his recovery, he takes precautions to not get sick and wears a face mask as he continues to build his immune system.

“I feel really blessed that we have him back,” Dr. Hubli said. “I told him, ‘Don’t overdo it and be careful with yourself.’ I think he is and will be.”

The next goal? To visit with the patients in Hematology/Oncology as soon as his immune system is strong enough.

“I can’t wait for them to continue to teach me and receive me,” Louis said. “It’s important for us to walk with the families to keep hope and love alive and keep the humanity there.”

James calls his journey a miracle.

“Louis’s story is a story of miracles, a story of hope, a story of how the power of God intervened into something so tragic and it turned out to be something so beautiful,” James said. “That’s Louis’s story, it really is. It’s his story and it is his glory.”

Before his cancer journey, he was still known for his kindness. Now, Louis says this “helped make me a better person to serve our community.”

“I was a good man then, but now I’m a better man,” Louis said. “All of us have gifts that we have learn how to recognize and give back to the community and the world. I’m learning that one of my gifts is the ability to connect and I’m grateful for that gift he gives me.”

Ways the CCVG supports employees:  

• Connect with peer support and resources to help support
• Organizes care packages for those impacted by deployment.
• Support Cook Children’s employees and/or their immediate family members that deploy.
• Honors you or your immediate family member that deploy with a Bue Star Banner  

If you would like to get support or contact CCVG, please email CCVGLeadership@cookchildrens.org. If you are active duty, retired and / or a veteran Cook Children’s thanks you for your service.   

If during this time you need mental health resources, know that Cook Children’s has resources available to support you.  

Responder Health provides confidential and full-service solutions that support front-line workers.  

• Reach out to Safe Call Now at 253-243-3701
• You can also download the app and use the code: cctx  

Military OneSource is the gateway to MC&FP programs and services that provide 24/7/365 support to the everyday needs of the over 4.3 million service members and immediate family members of the military community around the world. 

• https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/resources-finder/
• Call 24/7/365 by calling 800-342-9647 or logging in to start a secure live chat. 

The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is a confidential, judgement-free care 24/7.   

• Call or text 988 to get help.   

The Crisis text line offers a live crisis counselor for free and gives you confidential support at your fingertips 24/7.  

• Texas HOME or HOLA to 741741  

Our Uprise Health offers free employee assistance program (EAP) benefits for you and your family.  

• Call: 800-395-1616 for direct mental health scheduling
• For coaching support with EAP, visit the website: uprisdehealth.com/members  
• Access code: cook
• For more information visit Health, Wellness, and Mental Health Resources   

From Case Management Department, where social workers help families plan a safe and successful discharge… to Behavioral Health and Psych Services, where they support children navigating emotional and mental health challenges… to our CARE Team, ensuring every child’s social and emotional needs are part of their care plan… to the Trauma Department helping families heal after difficult experiences… and through Cook Children’s Health Plan Service Coordination, connecting members to vital resources — social workers are there.

For more information about social work visit their CookNet site. 

View our social workers from across the system: 

Thank you to the heroes at Cook Children’s who practiced our values – safety, kindness, collaboration, imagination, generosity and respect – while caring for our patients, families and one another. One example? The Microbiology/Molecular Laboratory at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, which has performed 249,518 COVID tests since the pandemic started.

Clinical microbiologist Morgan Pence, Ph.D. recounted the difficulty obtaining test kits, swabs, viral transport media and other essential items due to worldwide supply chain issues.  

“Items that we previously never had to think twice about were nearly impossible or entirely impossible to acquire,” she said. “We spent an inordinate amount of time sourcing and creating alternative options.”

Here’s more in Morgan's words: “At the beginning of the pandemic, health care facilities and laboratories were scrambling to bring COVID testing in-house. We were able to bring testing in-house at the Medical Center, but to do so required utilizing Plan E; Plans A-D ultimately did not work out. I do not recall any other time when we have had to resort to Plan E.

“To meet the needs of our patients, we had to get creative. We developed triaging strategies based on the patient location and/or condition. … We frequently updated the indications and worked with our clinical colleagues to ensure everyone was on the same page.

“We also hired an additional laboratory scientist to perform batch COVID testing on second shift to improve turnaround times for patient care. Fortunately, after the pandemic, we were able to maintain the additional staff position. This has resulted in decreased turnaround times for several tests and is a service not offered in many hospital-based laboratories.

“Even with the substantial increase in workload, the team rose to the occasion to provide consistent, high-quality patient care and to continually support each other. There were times when we had to adjust on a daily basis, and they handled it with ease and flexibility. It was inspiring to see everyone come together; it was an impressive example of teamwork.”

For National Children’s Dental Health Month, we would like to thank our Renaissance NHC Dental Team for their dedication to our patients. You guys shine bright! 

Send all photos to internalcommunications.cookchildrens.org

Christians from many denominations observe Lent as a 40-day season of reflection leading up to Easter. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of that season and is traditionally observed through the imposition of ashes by a clergy person, offering a moment to pause, reflect on our shared humanity, and enter the season with intention.

Recognizing that many employees may be working, covering patients, or unable to attend services within their own faith communities, Spiritual Care is offering this practice within our system as one way we care for the whole person. Whether you are beginning your shift, ending a long day, or finding a quiet moment in between, chaplains will be available at the times and locations below:

Cook Children’s Medical Center—Prosper

• 10 a.m.— noon

Cook Children’s Medical Center—Fort Worth, Chapel

• 8—9 a.m.

• 11:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.

• 8:30—9:30 p.m.

Night shift offering will be available in both English and Spanish.

Cook Children’s Medical Center—Fort Worth, Meditation Room

• 2:30—3:30 p.m.

Rosedale Office Building, Main Lobby

• 9:30—10:30 a.m.

Dodson 1, 2nd Floor Waiting Area beside GI and Nutrition

• 11—11:30 a.m.

Dodson 2, 2nd Floor Waiting Area between Endocrinology and Urology

• 11:30 a.m.—12 p.m.

Calmont Office Building

• 11:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.

Meacham

• 1—1:30 p.m.

For ICUs, the ED, and H/O units at CCMC-Fort Worth, chaplains will work with unit leaders to offer the Imposition of Ashes in ways that honor patient safety and the unique needs of those spaces. Your unit chaplain will share details about timing and location.

Employees in other inpatient units, ambulatory clinics, and off-site locations are warmly invited to participate by visiting any of the scheduled offerings listed above.

What to Know

• Why some units are not listed

  • ICUs, the Emergency Department, and Hematology/Oncology units require additional coordination due to patient vulnerability. If an offering is planned in your area, your unit chaplain will communicate directly with your team.

• If you are unable to step away during scheduled times

  • We understand that stepping away is not always possible. Staff are welcome to visit any of the listed locations as their schedule allows.

• Spiritual Care Suite option (Fort Worth)

  • Employees may stop by the Spiritual Care Suite in Fort Worth during normal business hours to receive ashes.

• About individual requests

  • To remain present and available across all care areas, chaplains are not able to seek out staff or provide individual employee offerings outside of the scheduled times and locations.

• Patients and families

  • Patients and families may request the Imposition of Ashes from a chaplain during normal business hours. 

If you have questions, please contact Spiritual Care at 682-885-4030.

Cook Children’s Health Care System was awarded the 2025 Pinnacle of Excellence Award for our inpatient experience from Press Ganey.   

This prestigious recognition reflects our consistent dedication and hard work. Drawing on three years of data, this award places Cook Children’s in the top three pediatric organizations in the country for overall patient rating and the likelihood of families to recommend our care.   

Press Ganey is a global leader in health care experience solutions and collaborates with more than 41,000 health care facilities to enhance overall safety, quality and experience of care.  

Following our Guardian of Excellence awards in 2023 and 2024, Cook Children’s has now reached a new peak. This latest honor represents the highest achievement awarded to our organization from Press Ganey further cementing our unwavering commitment to the patient experience. 

“Caring for children requires more than clinical excellence. It requires heart,” Megan Chavez, Senior Vice President, Chief Experience Officer said. “This award is a testament to the many ways our teams turn fear into comfort and uncertainty into hope. The exceptional experiences created for children and their families through kindness, teamwork and dedication create a safe and healing experience for every child.” 

Despite this rapid growth, we remain steadfast in our promise that every child receives our very best. This achievement belongs to all 10,000 members of our team. Every employee plays a vital role in shaping a family’s experience. Together, we continue to show up for our patients and community, upholding a legacy of award-winning care. 

Thank you to every member of the Cook Children’s team. Your dedication to our patients and their families is what makes us a national leader in pediatric health care.  

Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS)—a Pediatric Healthcare Safety and Quality Collaborative of more than 150 pediatric hospitals across the U.S. and Canada—has recognized Cook Children’s in two categories of safety innovation and improvement in the 2025 SPS SHINE Report (SHINE—Sharing Hospital Innovations for Network Engagement.)

Excellence in CLABSI Reduction in the NICU

Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth was one of only six hospitals honored for outstanding work in reducing Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Our NICU leaders and frontline teams implemented a series of targeted, disciplined practices to better protect our tiniest patients. Their efforts led to a significant reduction in CLABSI rates—translating into meaningful prevention of harm for vulnerable infants who depend on us every day.

This recognition reflects the creativity, rigor, and heart our employees bring to their safety work and their unwavering commitment to doing what’s best for children.

Recognition in Proactive Safety

Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth was also one of eight hospitals recognized in the Proactive Safety category for being a national front‑runner and early adopter of innovative safety tools and methods. These approaches help us learn directly from the people who do the work and strengthen our partnership with frontline teams.

A heartfelt thank‑you to the direct care employees and leaders across the system who embraced and contributed to tools such as Walk‑Through Talk‑Through, Learning Teams, and Proactive Safety Huddles. Your insights have already led to dozens of improvements—and because of their success, these tools will continue to play a key role in shaping safer, more effective care. To learn more about these Proactive Safety Tools, visit the Proactive Safety page on CookNet. Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS)—a Pediatric Healthcare Safety and Quality Collaborative of more than 150 pediatric hospitals across the U.S. and Canada—has recognized Cook Children’s in two categories of safety innovation and improvement in the 2025 SPS SHINE Report (SHINE—Sharing Hospital Innovations for Network Engagement.)

Dr. Robertson has led the team at the Exercise Respiratory Center at Cook Children’s – Prosper since it opened in October 2023, which is one of three centers in the country that helps pediatric patients with exercise-induced breathing issues. He has been a pioneer in this highly specialized field, which has changed the game for athletes who are seeking new diagnosis and treatment beyond asthma so they can return to their sports. Often, his patients have already tried traditional asthma inhalers without improvement. His dedication to this program has helped over 100 patients achieve a diagnosis and learn how to breathe easier.

“To be a finalist for this award means that our colleagues had to nominate us,” Dr. Robertson said. “Our colleagues work with us intimately and know the details of what we are doing and thought highly enough of it that they paused in their good work to acknowledge ours with this nomination. That means everything to us.”

The Exercise Respiratory Center was one of the first Endowed Chair Awards at Cook Children’s, generously awarded by the Cook Children’s Health Foundation.

“Our patients are frequently competitive athletes who have breathing problems that are so significant that they are faced with the possibility of giving up the sport they love,” Dr. Robertson said. “It’s often a sport they have already dedicated hundreds or even thousands of training hours to. My team and I feel very fortunate and privileged to get to come alongside these amazing young people and give them back their sport, their passion.”

Dr. Robertson and the team completed the world’s first Continuous Bronchoscopy during Exercise in a pediatric patient in August 2024 and regularly conduct Continuous Laryngoscopy during Exercise.

Dr. Robertson and two researchers, Rebecca Brovina, MSHS, BSN, RN, CPN, and Andy Kreutzer, PhD, CSCS, LSSWB, have presented their findings to other researchers and clinicians at conferences and published their work in multiple journals.

Exercise-Induced Breathing Issues

The problem: For many young athletes, traditional evaluations often miss the root cause of the symptoms of breathlessness, chest tightness, wheezing and dizziness while exercise.

The innovation: Dr. Robertson’s multidisciplinary team is one of only a handful of pediatric centers nationwide – and the only one in Texas – to perform Continuous Laryngoscopy during Exercise testing. During this test, Dr. Robertson will use a scope to view the patient’s voice box and vocal cords in real time while the child exercises. This pinpoints conditions like Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO), Exercise-Induced Asthma and dysfunctional breathing.

The Impact: After patients receive their diagnosis, our multidisciplinary team helps them learn how to breathe so they can perform at their fullest capacity. This pioneering approach allows us to provide accurate, definitive diagnoses and individualized treatment plans, getting young patients safely back to the sports and activities they love.

Dr. Robertson aims to raise awareness because these disorders are common enough to be present in every pediatrician’s patient population and may stay unrecognized.

“If these problems go on long enough, they will eventually force an athlete to not only quit their sport, but in some cases quit regular exercise all together,” Dr. Robertson said. “Regular exercise is one of the essential pillars of good health.  The long term effects of these breathing problems can be devastating because of this. For us, a way to prevent these negative long term health effects is to help pediatricians learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of these breathing problems early enough that diagnosis and treatment can be done before deconditioning occurs.”

Dr. Robertson’s next goals for the program are to raise awareness of exercise-induced breathing problems amongst primary care providers, coaches and athletic trainers who work with pre-teens and teenagers across Texas. He also aims to spread awareness of this program’s diagnostic and treatment capabilities to this audience, as well as allergists and ENT clinicians in Texas.

Research Goals

Dr. Robertson and his team will soon be starting a randomized control trial and within five years will complete and publish their findings of the trial, which will use inhaled medication to treat exercise induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO).

The program will soon be starting a different study investigating and characterizing the subtypes of dysfunctional breathing. Within five to 10 years, the team will have completed and published their findings. Then they will use them to design specific physical therapy treatment programs specific to each subtype and hopefully shorten the length of time treatment takes.

This study will be done using the same motion capture technology used by professional sports organizations to analyze and optimize a quarterback’s throw or a batter’s swing.  The team will be using the technology to study breathing patterns and chest wall motion in different sports movements.

Also retiring with her is our Facility Dog, Neely, who has worked with Cook Children's since March 2019. She is the first Facility Dog to retire. After retirement, Jill will continue providing her expertise to coordinate the facility art at Cook Children's. 

Thank you, Jill, for your dedication and service to Cook Children's Health Care System. 

Watch more about Jill's impact to Cook Children's and her story below: 

The Best of Show Award and Worthy Award in Reputation/Brand Management for Associations/Nonprofit Organizations was awarded to Eline De Bruijn, Writer for: 

Cook Children’s Health Care System, “Grant’s Story Elevates Cook Children’s Prosper”

Click here to view the award-winning story and watch the impactful video showcasing Prosper's Emergency Department. 

An Award of Excellence in Crisis Communications/Issues Management was awarded to:

• Laura Van Hoosier, Vice President of Public Relations
• Sydney Hanes, Public Relations Manager
• Reilly Ternan, Digital Communications Specialist
• Lourdes Vazquez, Multimedia Storyteller

For the campaign:

Cook Children’s Health Care System, “Saving Cook Children’s Health Plan: A PR Campaign”

Click here to see the campaign.

An Award of Excellence in Integrated Communications for Associations/Nonprofit Organizations was awarded to:  

• Laura Van Hoosier, Vice President of Public Relations
• Jeff Calaway, Director of Internal Communications
• Sydney Hanes, Public Relations Manager
• Reilly Ternan, Digital Communications Specialist
• Lourdes Vazquez, Multimedia Storyteller
• Jessamy Brown, Corporate Communications Manager

For the campaign:

Cook Children’s Health Care System, “Cook Children’s Measles Response”

Click here to see the campaign.

An Award of Excellence in Multicultural Public Relations was awarded to: 

• Jeff Calaway, Director of Internal Communications
• Eduardo Padilla, Photographer
• Arianna Flores, Corporate Communications Specialist
• Ashley Antle, Writer 

For the story:

Cook Children’s Healthcare System, “Framing the Future: Internship Program Empowers Students and Gives Hope to Families”

Click here to see the story. 

Also recognized for their dedication to professional development in public relations were: 

• Sydney Hanes, Public Relations Manager awarded Unsung Hero
• Reilly Ternan, Digital Communications Specialist awarded Rising Star

Below are personal reflections from leaders at Cook Children's about Mr. Merrill's leadership.

Sonny Burgess, Director, Clinical Performing Arts: “He is probably the most visionary person I have known and will ever know … He has changed my life for the better. He has taught me there is a much bigger purpose for all of us. Congratulations!”

Nancy Cychol, Executive Vice President, Hospital Services: “One of the best things about working for Rick is the trust he places in our team. He gives us the autonomy to own our work and succeed on our terms. But that freedom never means we're on our own—whenever you need guidance or support, he's always right there to help.”

Matthew Dzurik M.D., President of the Cook Children's Physician Network: “One of the leadership qualities that I admire most about him is his commitment to high-quality care for his patients. Whenever you take a request to Rick that will involve patient care, the first question he asks is, ‘How will this affect the quality of care to the patient?’ instead of, ‘How much does it cost?’”

Brady Gendke, Vice President, Operations, Cook Children’s Home Health: “One of the qualities I admire most about Rick is his willingness to just stop and speak with staff at all levels and show an interest in what they do, what they have to say and just let them know he has an interest in their thoughts and ideas.  The staff respect him for that and are often very excited that he takes the time to listen.”

Robert Goodwill, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Cook Children's: "I have worked with Rick for over a decade, and the one trait I admire the most is his quiet resolve about the direction of Cook Children’s. Without oversimplifying, I have always believed he exhibits humility that is befitting of someone who was raised in a small West Texas town. He really means what he says. While he actively listens and considers the viewpoints of other leaders, you can sense that his internal compass is guiding his decisions. 

"The one area where this stands out most to me is his unwavering resolve to continue to find ways to help children in West Texas. “His character is very genuine, and he is innately driven to do the right thing. Healthcare is an extremely complex industry, and the market pressures are very real and at times can pressure leaders to cut a few corners. I really do not think Rick has the capacity to do that. I have seen him make decisions on which direction the organization should take and frequently hearing him conclude the topic by saying, 'and it’s the right thing to do’. The culture of any organization reflects the values of their leader, and I believe Cook Children’s does just that, and it is why I am so proud to tell people I work at Cook Children’s."

Kevin Greene, President of Cook Children's Medical Center Prosper: "Mr. Merrill has demonstrated true leadership by having the strategic foresight and willingness to invest in and develop a new comprehensive medical campus in Prosper, Texas, and a network of ancillary access points across the growing northern region of North Texas. This decision was a clear example of what makes great CEOs great. It was built on the foundation of ensuring that as the metroplex and surrounding rural communities grew, they would be able to receive world-class pediatric care close to home. “Mr. Merrill’s visionary leadership, willingness to take risks, and commitment to leading with integrity—always basing the system’s decisions on what is ultimately the best thing for the children and families we serve—is what I believe makes him a great CEO and leader."

Karen Love, President of Cook Children's Health Plan: “When I first arrived at Cook Children’s, the Health Plan was undergoing the first-of-its-kind Office of the Inspector General audit of the STAR Kids Program. This was a relatively new program (started in November 2016) and OIG had never conducted this type of audit of an MCO for this program. They were prepared to issue a report that indicated that hundreds of our members had not gotten the services they needed (therapy, private-duty nursing, home health, etc.). Their draft results were based on some fundamental misunderstandings of how the program worked and how many of these kids had private insurance as well, which frequently paid for the services instead of us. But in light of the 2018 Dallas Morning News series on the misdeeds of the MCOs for the STAR Plus population, we could just see National Enquirer-type headlines about Cook Children’s denying needy children vital services. Rick quickly grasped the potential reputational danger to Cook Children’s, as well as the harm this would have caused to the health plan and its hard-working employees. He quickly engaged in helping us work aggressively but collaboratively with the OIG to educate them on the program and how their audits should be conducted. 

“He accompanied me and several others to Austin for a face-to-face meeting with the OIG to help defend Cook Children’s honor and good work. Ultimately, we were successful in helping the OIG to see the errors and misassumptions they had applied, and we were able to have them publish a much more favorable audit report. Being as new as I was to Cook Children’s, I doubt we’d have been as successful without Rick’s willingness to engage and support our efforts."

Peter Philpott, Chairman of the Cook Children's Board of Trustees: “Rick brings out the absolute best in people with his leadership. He is a dynamic thinker who can move any project or initiative from conception to successful implementation. He does this through his unique ability to engage and motivate people to operate at their highest level. By doing this, I have never known him not to succeed in successfully completing a challenging task once he has committed to do it. His quiet persistence and unreserved encouragement provide the impetus that motivates his team to ‘overachieve.’ In short, Rick has the rare personality and leadership skills that bring out the absolute best in the people who work for him.”

Merridth Simpson, Vice President of Human Resources and Occupational Health: “I admire many qualities about Rick. His humble spirit and extraordinary kindness immediately come to mind. He is truly one of the kindest people you will ever meet. Rick is also very thoughtful. In all my years working for large organizations, I’ve never known another CEO who consistently takes time to attend New Hire Orientation. With all the demands on his time, his desire to personally welcome new employees is a powerful reflection of his humility, accessibility, and genuine care for our people. His presence speaks volumes about his leadership."

Laura Van Hoosier, Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Communications: “When I think of Mr. Merrill and his leadership, kindness and gratitude are two things that come to mind. He is a leader who truly walks the walk and lives by Our Promise. His focus is always on what’s best for the children we serve and that goes for every conversation, interaction, and decision. He’s someone I so admire and he’s very deserving of this recognition.”

Natalie Wilkins, Vice President of Operations of Cook Children's Medical Center: “Mr. Merrill has the ability to cast the vision by inspiring and motivating teams to collaborate and innovate to achieve a shared goal. His transformational leadership focuses on the ‘why’ and he trusts us to deliver the ‘how’.”

We chatted with our Security Communications Officers at Medical Center-Fort Worth to learn more about their roles and how they help keep the campus safe. 

Shawna Coen, Communication Officer, Second Shift Communications Officer

What is your role and what does it entail?

My role is to serve as the primary contact for all incoming calls into Cook Security, and make sure I get the pertinent information out in a timely manner and as accurately as possible relay information from the phones or alarms to our security officers here at Cook. I update the officers with the most up-to-date information as I receive it, especially for critical calls. I monitor and keep track of all officers on calls, their locations, and dispatch additional officers when needed. I also keep our leadership on duty informed of any current and important information.

What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part of the job is knowing I am still able to help parents, children, and staff when critical situations arise. My background is 911 Police, EMS, and Fire dispatching. So I get a little bit of everything here at Cook Children's without the high-stress environment. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would still want to be here doing this job.

How do you keep Cook Children’s safe?

I rapidly dispatch all calls pertaining to safety and locating any missing or eloping children. I document in our daily logs to ensure accuracy and accountability. I monitor over a thousand cameras when possible, and I work closely with hospital staff to ensure they feel safe and receive any necessary assistance from an officer when needed. I maintain a calm, professional tone on the other end of the phone or radio, so my officers can remain as calm as possible, even in stressful situations.

Amy Schatz, Third Shift Communication Officer

What is your role and what does it entail?

I’ve worked the overnight shift for 18 years. My job includes answering the Panic Alarms. Every time a Panic is pushed it goes straight to my desk. I promise you I’ve got the Security Officers on the way, even when it’s a false alarm. Our goal is to keep everyone in the hospital safe.

What does a typical day look like?

I spend my nights logging every call for service that the Security Officers go on. When someone has an emergency, needs a door opened, an escort, a wagon or a wheelchair that is all dispatched and logged. I probably answer hundreds of calls a night. I’m also in charge of watching all the cameras in the hospital, keep that in mind when you start dancing in the hallways. I also relay messages to Environmental Services and Plant Ops or anyone else as needed.

What is your favorite part of the job?

One of my favorite things about my job is doing Panic Checks. The Security Department, once a month, tests every Panic Alarm and Intercom in the entire hospital that includes all the garages. It takes us three nights to complete this, but it is so important to make sure you can get us in a hurry in an emergency.

How do you keep Cook Children’s safe?

I feel good knowing I work with a group of people that are really trying to help the children, the families and each other. Cook Children's Health Care System has been a wonderful place to work and I’m proud to be here.  

Kenia Busane, First Shift Communications Officer

 What is your role and what does it entail?

I am a Security Dispatcher, which means I’m the communication hub for our security team. My position requires strong communication, multi-tasking, and decision making skills to help maintain a safe and secure environment for patients, families and staff.  I monitor cameras, answer calls for assistance, and dispatch officers wherever they’re needed throughout the hospital. I also help coordinate responses during emergencies and make sure everyone—from staff to visitors—gets the help and support they need quickly and safely.

What does a typical day look like?

Every day is a little different, but it usually starts with checking our security systems to make sure everything’s running smoothly. Throughout the day, I handle radio calls, answer phones for calls of service, monitor alarms, dispatch officers to different situations such as disturbances, panic alarms, safety escorts, and hospital codes, all while logging incidents and officer activity in real time. Some days are pretty routine, while others move fast and require quick thinking and clear communication. It definitely keeps things interesting.

What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part is knowing that what I do helps keep everyone safe, even though I’m behind the scenes I play part in making sure the officers and staff can respond quickly and ensuring they get the support they need. I also enjoy the teamwork that comes with working in a hospital environment, where everyone’s goal is to provide care and safety for children and their families.

How do you keep Cook Children’s safe?

I help keep Cook Children’s safe by staying alert, communicating clearly, and coordinating timely responses to any situation that comes up. I constantly monitor our systems, follow safety protocols, and work closely with our team to ensure that the right people are in the right place when they’re needed most. Staying calm under pressure and focused helps making sure everything runs smoothly even in stressful moments.

Teams across Cook Children’s play a role in collecting and submitting the data that U.S. News & World Report uses to rank the nation’s top children’s hospitals each year.   

As we look ahead to the 2025-2026 rankings coming out Oct. 7, we wanted to pull back the curtain on the strategies at Cook Children’s that go into completing these annual surveys. Key partnerships involve our staff from Quality Process Improvement (QPI), Information Systems (IS), Research Administration Office, Global Health Services, Business Development, Data Analytics, Marketing, Communications and leaders within the individual specialties.  

First, some background … U.S. News evaluates children’s hospitals and pediatric specialties across the country based on quality of care, clinical research, safety record, infection prevention, surgical outcomes, advanced technologies, recognition as a Nurse Magnet Hospital and much more. Data from 108 children’s hospitals were analyzed to generate the rankings last year.

The 2024-2025 pediatric specialties list included seven programs at Cook Children’s:and in 2023, five specialties at Cook Children’s received gold badges in the U.S. News rankings.

Matthew Carroll, M.D. and VP Associate Chief Quality Officer, said the approach Cook Children’s takes to the rankings has always focused on improving care for our patients.

“U.S. News provides an annual self-assessment that highlights where there may be opportunities for improvement within our organization, but we don’t pursue points just for the sake of points. We want to pursue points that truly improve the care we deliver,” Dr. Carroll said. 

“We partner with clinical leaders in each specialty and across the organization to evaluate those opportunities and determine which ones could result in improvements in the care we deliver, and those are the areas we focus our efforts,” he said.

To be considered in the U.S. News rankings, our departments answer hundreds of survey questions based on data from IS reports. Cook Children’s a few years ago tapped QPI specialists Kim Kimberling and Noelia Echols to work with group leaders to help increase their performance with survey measures. Their goal? To give U.S. News the fullest picture of the top-notch care Cook Children’s provides for patients and families.

The involvement of Noelia and Kim improves collaboration and communication. They make tasks more streamlined and data-driven. Kim and Noelia validate the IS reports and provide support to the employees who fill out the surveys. Their role keeps everyone on track to meet deadlines.  

QPI Director Anthony Mason said his team in 2025 applied a process improvement tool for decision making that aims to maximize results in two ways: effort and expected outcome. The tool – called a PICK chart – helps teams quickly group tasks by impact and effort so they can focus on the ones most likely to improve results.

“By adopting this approach, departments were able to focus more efficiently on meaningful process improvements that support both rankings and patient care,” Anthony said.

If you have questions or want to learn more, contact the Cook Children's U.S. News & World Report team at USNews@cookchildrens.org or go to our CookNet site.

Click here to read more about our APP's at Cook Children's and see our photos from their appreciation luncheon at Cook Children's Medical Center-Fort Worth.

*To see the Prosper APP luncheon photos visit the Prosper newsletter here.

 What started as a small single location less than 5,000 square feet on Pennsylvania Ave., has now turned into a 50,000 square feet main office located in Fort Worth and four satellite locations across the state (Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas) equally over 90,000 square feet of mixed-use space used to facilitate care for the patients in the community. 

“We provide a vast array of services including nursing, rehab, respiratory therapy, pharmacy infusion & injectable services, custom mobility, orthotics and prosthetics as well as general durable medical equipment and supply services,” Brady Gendke, Vice President of Home Health Operations said. “There is a lot to offer and there is no shortage of patients needing the services we offer.” 

Over the last 10 years, Cook Children’s Home Health has processed and completed over: 

• 99,000 nursing referrals
• 95,000 rehab referrals
• 102,000 pharmacy referrals
• 112,000 orthotics and prosthetics referrals
• 3,200 custom mobility referrals
• 475,000 medical equipment and supply referrals  

Joel Murray, a nearly 10-year veteran to Home Health, said he did not come from any medical background before working. His journey began as a consignment driver then shifted in 2021 to his current position as a Custom Mobility Technician.  

“My favorite part of working at Home Health is getting to be creative within my position and seeing the results firsthand how our Custom Mobility department helps the families that we serve,” Murray said. “The Assisted Technology Professionals and technicians on our team are incredible human beings that are here to help people have better lives. I'm very thankful to be able to team up with them each and every day.”  

The growth of Cook Children's Home Health represents the expansion of meeting our Pinky Promise. For 25 years, the team has been bringing life-changing care directly to children's homes. As they look to the future, the mission remains the same: to go any distance to bring expert care and hope to those who need it most. 

View our photos from the celebration below: 

The Texas Panhandle is a special place, and it holds a special place in Dr. Foreman's heart. He was born in Dumas, then moved to Pampa, Texas later in high school.  While he's a proud fourth-generation Aggie, his medical journey took him through Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. He then moved to Indianapolis for his fellowship at Riley Hospital for Children. With his wife and three children, Dr. Foreman returned home to West Texas and had always planned to continue medicine in Lubbock. 

In this Q&A, Dr. Foreman shares his journey into pediatrics and more about his wonderful family.

What inspired you to work in pediatrics? What made you decide to pursue Gastroenterology?

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was in first grade and actually came to Lubbock for my care at the time.  I met Dr. Jim Higgins at that age and formed such a bond over the course of several years, several medications, and several surgeries, that I found myself interested in Pediatric GI.  In late elementary school - after a total colectomy and ileal pull-thru - I realized that becoming the next First Baseman for the Houston Astros probably wasn’t in the cards (but only due to a lack of talent and athleticism) and considered medicine as a career.  I had always loved academics and people, and medicine was a natural fit.  I leaned into my experience in Pediatric GI and kept in contact with Dr. Higgins and felt that my experience as a patient might offer some benefit to other kiddos with GI illness and never looked back. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to join Jim (as well as my other excellent partners!) as both a mentee, friend, and practice partner!

What's your favorite part about working with children?

Kids are so fun!  I’ve never really grown up in my own mind.  And equally important - kids are so resilient.  They can climb the biggest of mountains.

What is your philosophy of patient care?

My faith is very dear to me, and I see patient care and faith intersect constantly.  I try to meet each patient and family where they are and thoroughly enjoy spending time with and pouring into a relationship with each patient and family.  I try to think - If Jesus of Nazareth had been “Dr. Jesus” and just so happened to be a 21st century Pediatric Gastroenterologist - how would He care for this person?  I try to do that.  I fail on a daily basis, but that is my target I try to aim at!

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

I am a proud dad of three school age kiddos and married up (somehow) to my beautiful wife.  I love spending time with them.  That time could be at home, dance class, in the car, date night, or McDonald’s.  I also have fallen back in love with playing and recording music since finishing my GI fellowship.

What is your favorite things about working for Cook Children’s?

When our group joined Cook Children’s, we were able to house all of the pediatric gastroenterologists in West Texas under one roof.  In my opinion, this is good for us as providers and also good for the patients we serve.