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. 

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.

Occupational Health is Now Team Health

We care about you! As our organization continues to grow and evolve, so does our commitment to supporting the health, safety, and well-being of every employee across the Cook Children's system. To better reflect that commitment and the breadth of services we provide, Occupational Health Services will now be known as Team Health. While the name is changing, our mission remains the same: providing exceptional care and support to every team member every day. The new name reflects a broader vision, one that encompasses the comprehensive health needs of our workforce while emphasizing that every employee is an important part of the Cook Children's family.

Team Health will continue to provide essential services such as work injury and illness management, immunizations, workers' compensation support, return-to-work evaluations, TB testing, respiratory mask fit testing, hazardous material exposure evaluations, workplace accommodations, and ergonomic services. As we move forward, we are always looking at ways we can expand services and enhance access across the Cook Children's system, ensuring that more team members can easily receive the occupational health support they need.

Adding to this exciting new chapter, we welcome a Board-Certified Occupational and Environmental Medicine Physician, Foster Lerner, D.O. who will join the Team Health program on Sept. 1. This addition brings nationally recognized expertise to our organization and further strengthens our ability to provide high-quality occupational health care, consultation, and guidance to employees throughout the system.

Please read more on Connect.

If you have any questions, please contact Kim Cummings, Vice President, Human Resources Operations and Talent Management.

8th and Terrell Parking Garage will be Fully Inaccessible to All Staff, Sept. 1

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, the 8^th and Terrell Parking Garage at Medical Center-Fort Worth will be fully inaccessible to all staff due to construction. The sidewalk along Terrell Avenue between 8^th and 7^th avenues will close to pedestrians.

Employees who normally park in this garage have been assigned a new parking lot in one of several exterior lots. Cook Children’s will be offering a Staff Shuttle to help employees get to work safely and on time. The shuttles are white, 25-passenger vans. They will complete a loop to the lots and drop off passengers in front of the Medical Center-Fort Worth. This shuttle is not available to patient families or visitors.

Employees who park in the 8^th and Terrell garage should check their email for a message from Parking Services regarding their new parking location. Please contact ParkingServices@cookchildrens.org with questions. In addition, any employees that have not registered their vehicles with Parking Services must do so.

Cook Children's Alliance and Urgent Care Alliance Closed Due to Power Outage

Due to the storm, Cook Children’s Pediatric Specialties (Alliance), Cook Children's Urgent Care (Alliance) and the Outpatient Lab have a power outage and are closed at this time.

Please click here to see updates on when the location will be reopened.

Watch Now: Amy Knight's Summer 2026 Town Hall Marketing and Communications 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. Today's segment includes updates from Amy Knight, Chief Administration Officer.

This featured segment includes updates about the Marketing and Communication team and the new multi-year Journey campaign, designed to extend our Cook Children's brand across the region, and two newly launched podcasts, For Kids' Sake and Por Su Bienestar.

Watch the segment to learn more about these Marketing and Communication efforts and what is next on these important Town Hall highlights.

Give to Cook Children’s this North Texas Giving Day

Early Giving for North Texas Giving Day Is Open. North Texas Giving Day is Sept. 17, but the giving (and the impact) starts right now.

Help us spread the word and make an impact for patients and families across our system.

Click here to donate. When you give, your gift will be DOUBLED thanks to Stonelake Capital Partners LLC for their generous one-for-one match up to $20,000.

Follow @CookChildrensHealthFoundation on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Re-share posts, tag a friend and help us have a record-breaking year.

Thank you for helping us maximize this opportunity for more hope, healing and magic under our blue peaks.

Register for Brain Health Symposium

Join the University of Texas at Arlington and Cook Children's in advancing brain health research across the lifespan! The symposium will take place at 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, at UT Arlington and the Hochberger Auditorium respectively.

For the full agenda and registration for the Sept. 10 event at UT Arlington, click here. For the full agenda and registration for the Sept. 11 event at the Hochberger Auditorium, click here

There is still time to submit your abstracts. The deadline to submit is Aug. 28. Click here to submit an abstract.

Retirements

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

• Renee Lavelle, Speech Pathologist, is retiring after 25 years of service.
• Lori Goosen, HR Professional Services Consultant, is retiring after 40 years of service. Please join us for a retirement celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 29 in the Rosedale Office Building in room 1102A from 3-5 p.m.

To read more about Renee and Lori, along with other recent retirements, 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.

Labor Day Holiday Does Not Change Payroll Deadlines

As the Labor Day holiday approaches, team members and leaders are reminded that payroll processing deadlines remain unchanged. To ensure employees are paid accurately and on time, all payroll-related submissions, approvals and corrections must be completed by the established deadlines on Payroll Monday, Sept. 7.

Payroll Monday Deadlines: Sept. 7, 2026

10 a.m.

• All adjustment forms, including TCA, PCA and PCX forms, must be submitted.

Noon

• All pending corrections submitted directly through UKG must be reviewed and approved or refused.
• Deadline for timecard approval.

Managers should note that timecards cannot be signed off if they contain pending transactions that have not been reviewed, approved or refused. Any transactions still pending in UKG at noon on Payroll Monday will be denied. Corrections for denied transactions must be submitted using a PCA form and will be processed in the next payroll cycle.

On-demand payments are not issued for late or unapproved transactions in UKG.

Helpful Reminders

To help ensure accurate payroll processing:

• Verify that employee work schedules have been entered in UKG. PTO, jury duty and bereavement requests submitted without a work schedule may result in zero hours being paid.
• Approve exempt employee timecards and PTO requests as early as possible.
• Employees should review their timecards weekly to ensure accuracy.
• Nonexempt employees should enter missed punches as soon as they occur to allow time for review and approval before payroll deadlines.

Meeting these deadlines will help ensure timely and accurate payroll processing during the holiday period.

If you have any questions, please email CPayroll@cookchildrens.org

Last Week to Complete the Your Voice Matters Survey: Open through Sept. 1

This is the last week to complete the Your Voice Matters Survey, closing on Sept. 1. We are currently at 62% of employee participation, but our goal is to reach more than 75% completion. 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.

Watch Now: Stephen Kimmel's Summer 2026 Town Hall Financial Update

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. We'll be sharing these highlights in upcoming editions of the Connect Newsletter, beginning with the opening portion of the program.

This featured segment includes President and CEO Rick W. Merrill's opening remarks, a reflection from Jennifer Hayes, Director of Spiritual Care, and an important financial update from Stephen Kimmel, Executive Vice President, System Finance. Stephen shares insights on Cook Children's financial performance and the health care environment.

Watch the segment to hear Stephen's financial update and revisit these important Town Hall highlights.

Welcome Pat Furr, CTO

Please join us in welcoming Pat Furr, MBA, CBCP, to Cook Children’s as our new Chief Technology Officer.

Pat is a proven technology leader with deep experience in transformation, cybersecurity, infrastructure modernization, and digital innovation across health care and Fortune 500 organizations. More importantly, he is a leader who understands that the true value of technology lies in empowering caregivers and making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.

“I’m excited to join Cook Children’s and lead technology forward - connecting innovation and purpose to advance our mission and transform care for every child and family we serve," Pat said.

Teresa Tonthat, Chief Digital & Information Officer, adds, “As we continue advancing the health and well-being of every child, Pat will help create seamless, connected experiences that better support our caregivers and the children and families who rely on us.”

Kick Off Football Season in Style

Are you ready for some football? To celebrate the start of the college football season, employees are invited to wear their favorite college football team jersey to work from Thursday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 30.

Show off your team spirit and get ready for a great season!

Registration Is Still Open for Drug Diversion Symposium on Friday

Registration is still open for the 2026 Drug Diversion Symposium on Friday, August 28. Seats remain available for both the Early Morning Session (6:30 to 7:30 a.m.) and the Full-Day Symposium (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Please note that seating in Hochberger Auditorium will be available a first-come, first-served basis. An overflow room will be available in Pavilion 1 for additional attendees. Breakfast will be provided for all attendees, and lunch will be available for participants attending the full-day symposium.

Registration links:

• Early Morning Session
• Full-Day Symposium

Please click here to watch a video to learn more about the symposium and what to expect.

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.

Overnight AT&T Fiber Maintenance at Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth for Aug. 21

AT&T will conduct fiber maintenance serving Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth from midnight to 4 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21.

During the maintenance window, a limited number of communications services may experience temporary interruptions. The work is being performed overnight to minimize disruption to hospital operations.

Services That May Be Impacted

• Inbound fax services
• Most inbound external phone calls (excluding designated critical numbers)
• Cellular calling in basements, stairwells and elevators
  • Team members who need to make calls in these areas should use Wi-Fi Calling.
• Department radios used by:
  • Facilities
  • Security
  • Operating Room
  • Emergency Department
  • Parking
• SIM Lab services

Services That Will Remain Available

• Internal five-digit dialing
• Outbound phone calls
• Outbound faxing to the public

A campuswide pop-up notification will be sent approximately 10 minutes before maintenance begins as a reminder.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Service Desk at ext. 5-7999.

Building Psychological Safety Together: A Message from Our Leaders

Psychological safety shapes how we work together every day. It is key to collaboration, innovation, learning and exceptional patient care. Now that over 10,000 employees have completed the Psychological Safety 2026 System Competency in ULearn, we hope you will be more aware of interactions within our teams and speak up when it may be lacking.

As we continue this important journey, we thought it would be valuable to hear perspectives from some of our executive leaders. Matthew Carroll, M.D., Chief Quality Officer, shares:

“Psychological safety is the foundation of patient safety. When every member of the care team feels safe to ask questions, raise concerns, report mistakes, and respectfully challenge the status quo without fear, we create an environment where learning replaces silence, collaboration replaces hierarchy, and risks are identified before they become harm," he said. "A culture where every voice is valued is a culture where every patient is safer, every team is stronger, and excellence in care can thrive.”

Please click here for more information and a link to watch a Leader Message on Psychological Safety to hear additional leaders from across our organization share what psychological safety means to them and why it matters.

Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month and included in our benefits are various maternity and parental related support.

On the right is a list of Lactation Rooms available for employees to utilize across the system.

Cook Children’s also has a virtual lactation program available for you. This program allows moms to schedule a virtual consultation with a lactation consultant in real time. Connect with a private and secure video from your home laptop, tablet or mobile device.

After your video visit, the summary and care instructions will be available to you via Cook Children’s secure patient portal website. Please know there is a cost associated with this program and insurance will not cover this cost. To see reimbursement options, visit the Maternity Booklet on SharePoint.

If you are pregnant or preparing for motherhood, we have an Early Steps Maternity Program with Quantum Health available for you. This program provides extra support and resources focusing on you and your baby.

For more information about maternity benefits, including parental leave policies, visit Maternity on the Occupational Health SharePoint page.

Well-being Month: Caring for You

August is Well-Being Month, and there’s still plenty of time to participate! Take a moment to focus on your well-being and check out these upcoming opportunities:

Beat the Heat Treat

Wednesday, Aug. 26
1:30–3:30 p.m. at the 750 Building
2-4 p.m. at the Calmont Office Building
Funds provided for all off-site and fully remote teams. Learn more here.

Grand Rounds with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation
Join us Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 8–9 a.m. as CMO Dr. Stef Simmons from the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation will speak on the national movement for the healthcare workforce’s professional wellbeing.

There’s Still Time to Register for a Self-Care Class!
Choose from two upcoming opportunities to pause, recharge and invest in your well-being:

• Gratitude is a Gift – In person at the Prosper Campus on Thursday, Aug. 27
• Vitamin BE: Using Mindfulness and Responding to the Present Moment – Virtual on Friday, Aug. 28, from 11 a.m.–noon

Well-bingo
Find a work buddy or invite your team to join the fun with individual or team Well-Bingo during Well-being Month! Complete a variety of well-being activities, explore new ways to support your personal well-being, and earn a chance to win a gift card.

Don’t let Well-Being Month pass you by! Visit the Well-Being Month page to learn more about these opportunities and other resources available to support your well-being.

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.

Closing Soon: Open Enrollment for Benefits

Time is running out to finalize your selection of benefits or make updates to your current coverage for the 2026-2027 benefits year.

Open enrollment runs through 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. The benefits you select will be effective Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.

Enroll by going to Workday Benefits, accessing the Benefits and Pay app, and submitting the elections you make. Or call the Benefits Center at 833-938-4154, weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

You can find details about eligibility, plan rates and options for health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, wellness and much more in the Benefits Guide available on the Benefits site on CookNet. The guide gives an overview of high-quality, affordable benefits that support your physical, emotional and financial well-being. You choose the coverage that fits your life best.

Current elections roll over automatically with the exceptions of flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions and PTO sellback. These three elections are required to be made annually. If you don't take action by Friday, you'll have to wait until the open enrollment period in 2027 unless you have a major life change, such as getting married or having a baby.

What’s new starting Oct. 1? The biggest update is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) becoming our medical insurance carrier, offering access to a larger network of providers and member support through a service called Health Advocacy Solutions. Learn more about BCBSTX by watching a recorded information session located on the Benefits site on CookNet.

As always, if questions come up, we’re here to help. Contact the Benefits team by email at AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org.

BENEFITS INFORMATION SESSIONS:

Medical Center-Fort Worth - Family Support Room

• Aug. 18 – 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3- 6 p.m.
• Aug. 21 – 1-4 p.m.

Medical Center-Prosper, Classrooms 1621 and 1622

• Aug. 20: 12-3 p.m.

Mansfield Multispecialty

• Aug. 19: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Join Employees Care for Another Incredible Year of Impact

At Cook Children’s, we believe in the power of collaboration and generosity to make a difference.

As an employee, your job impacts patient care every day. As an Employees Care donor, you can become an even bigger part of our patients’ journeys, making their experience at Cook Children’s even more magical.

Employees Care is a special way for all of us – nurses, doctors, administrative staff and everyone in between – no matter our location, to unite for a cause that’s close to our hearts. Together, we can support those in need under our blue peaks.

Every dollar you donate helps us provide the best care for our patients, families, and colleagues. Whether it’s funding life-saving treatments, providing comforting toys, creating a magical space for play and healing, or helping fuel the Employee Crisis Fund, your generosity shines through in countless ways! Plus, you get to rock an awesome T-shirt to show others you give above and beyond your work!

Joining Employees Care is simple and rewarding. You can choose a one-time gift or set up a recurring donation – whatever works best for you. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a big difference!

Employees Care 2026 kicks off this week. Be sure to join us at one of our events, make your donation online or in-person, grab your thank you gift(s) and make a difference.

Questions? Be sure to email EmployeesCare@cookchildrens.org.

Complete Your Voice Matters Survey

It’s important for us to hear from you through the Your Voice Matters Survey. The response rates continue to rise but we want to reach a 75% response rate goal! Help us accomplish this by taking the survey by September 1 so we can have a strong picture of your work experience so we can take meaningful action.

It’s easy to take the survey: see the email you received from Press Ganey – or – go to the CookNet homepage scroll for two quick ways to get to the survey. Click here to take the survey or if you’re on a desktop computer you can click the banner and go directly to the survey. Use your employee ID # as your password. Tip – add a leading zero(s) if your ID # is less than 6 digits. Ex. 9999 = 009999

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.

Watch Now: Summer 2026 Town Hall

If you were unable to attend today's Town Hall or would like to revisit any of the topics discussed, the recording is now available to watch at your convenience.

During the Town Hall, leaders shared updates on:

• Financial and operational performance across Cook Children's
• Marketing and Communications initiatives
• Benefits updates and open enrollment information
• Human Resources announcements, reminders and employee resources
• Quality and Safety priorities and future goals
• A panel discussion focused on supporting team member well-being
• A reminder to complete the Your Voice Matters survey and help us reach our participation goal 

In the coming weeks, we will share individual video segments from today's Town Hall, making it easier to watch specific presentations and discussions that are most relevant to you.

Watch the Town Hall recording here.

Update on the 2026 Market Review Process

We appreciate your patience as we have completed the market review process, taking the time to ensure every role was evaluated thoroughly and accurately. This was our top priority.

Team members receiving a market adjustment have been notified by their manager and are able to view their updated pay rate information in Workday today. Tomorrow’s paycheck will include this change and any additional pay retroactive to June 28, 2026.

While some employees will receive a market-based base pay adjustment as a result of this review, most will not. Adjustments were identified across a variety of departments, professions, job levels and roles because each position was evaluated against external labor market base pay rates rather than as part of a broader employee group.

Alignment indicates that base pay is competitive. Steps taken over the past year, including merit increases and interim pay adjustments, have helped position base pay appropriately. Looking ahead, annual merit increases, internal adjustments and external market reviews will continue. The work completed this year will make these annual processes more streamlined.

Base pay is one important element of our compensation program. In addition to base pay, Cook Children's continues to benchmark and invest in our benefits, retirement contributions, CareShare, wellness programs, recognition and training initiatives, and other compensation and total rewards offerings.

Thank you for your dedication to our patients and members, children and families, one another, and our Promise.

To get your frequently asked questions answered, please click here. 

Under the Peaks Updated Hours 

The Under the Peaks retail store will have updated hours. Come shop between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. This new schedule will begin on Friday, August 14. 

There will not be extended hours on the third Wednesday of every month. Don't forget you can visit our online retail store for all your Cook Children's gear! 

Click here to shop the online store. 

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. 

System Town Hall

Please join us for a Town Hall event at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Hochberger Auditorium, Medical Center-Fort Worth.

Click here to attend virtually and experience the discussion in real-time via a live stream.

These events are designed to keep all of us informed and aligned about what has been accomplished by our teams across the system and what we are looking forward to in the rest of 2026 and beyond.

For those whose schedules or locations do not permit attendance, the Town Hall will be recorded and posted on the scrolling banner on the homepage of CookNet, and emailed after the event.

Stephen Kimmel to Retire in October

After more than 12 years of dedicated service to Cook Children's, Stephen Kimmel, Executive Vice President of System Finance, has announced his retirement in October.

Since joining Cook Children's in 2014, Stephen has been a trusted leader and steward of the organization's resources, helping ensure Cook Children's could continue investing in exceptional care for children and families. He brought to Cook Children's a wealth of health care finance experience, including leadership roles at Providence Health & Services and Hendrick Health System, where he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for more than a decade. Through thoughtful financial leadership and planning, he has helped position the health system to meet the needs of a growing region while staying true to its mission.

During Stephen's tenure, Cook Children's expanded its reach across North Texas, including the opening of Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper in 2023. The medical center brought emergency, surgical and inpatient care closer to home for families in one of the state's fastest-growing regions and continues to grow alongside the community it serves.

"It has been a profound honor and a privilege to be part of such an exceptional organization,” Stephen said. “Looking back on our growth over the last 12 years, I am deeply grateful for the dedication of our team and proud of all we’ve accomplished together in service of our Promise."

Behind many of Cook Children's most significant growth initiatives was Stephen's thoughtful stewardship of the organization's resources. His leadership helped ensure Cook Children's could continue investing in children and families, our team members, and our communities, from the opening of the Prosper medical center to the development of the West Tower, which will expand access to critical care, neonatal care, cancer and blood disorder services, surgery and imaging for years to come.

"Stephen has been an exceptional leader, trusted advisor and valued member of our executive team," said Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children's. "His stewardship, integrity and commitment to our Promise have helped shape a transformative chapter in Cook Children's history. We are deeply grateful for his contributions and wish him nothing but happiness and fulfillment in retirement."

Colleagues across the system know Stephen for his integrity, steady leadership and commitment to the Cook Children's Promise. As he begins this next chapter with his wife, Sherette and their family, we thank him for his years of service and the lasting impact he has made on Cook Children's and the families and communities we serve.

Reminder: Enroll Now for New Benefits Year

Open enrollment for the 2026-2027 benefits year runs through Aug. 21, and you can learn about your options at information sessions offered online and at various locations in person.

A brief overview of our new medical insurance carrier, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), will be explained in virtual sessions that introduce BCBSTX Health Advocacy Solutions, which connects members with health advocates for personalized support. Click the date below to tune in:

• Wednesday, Aug. 12 – 11:30 a.m.
• Monday, Aug. 17 – 9 a.m.

The virtual sessions will be recorded and posted on CookNet to watch at your convenience.

Information sessions at sites across the system (see dates and locations below) are also available to help you choose the coverage that fits your life best. Our new Benefits Guide, available here on CookNet, provides details about eligibility, plan rates and options for health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, wellness and more.

The benefits you select during open enrollment will be effective Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.

Current elections will roll over automatically with the exceptions of flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions and PTO sellback. These three elections are required to be made annually. If you want any of these for next year, you must actively make those elections. If you don't take action, you'll have to wait until the next open enrollment period unless you have a major life change, such as having a baby.

Enroll by going to Workday Benefits, accessing the Benefits and Pay app, and submitting the elections you make. You can also enroll by calling the Benefits Center at 833-938-4154, weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Questions? Contact the Benefits team at AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org.

BENEFITS INFORMATION SESSIONS:

Medical Center-Fort Worth - Family Support Room

• Aug. 13 – 10 p.m.-12 a.m.
• Aug. 17 – 10 p.m. – 12 a.m.
• Aug. 18 – 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3- 6 p.m.
• Aug. 21 – 1-4 p.m.

Medical Center-Prosper, Classrooms 1621 and 1622

• Aug. 20: 12-3 p.m.

Child Study Center

• Aug. 12: 3-4:30 p.m.

Hurst Multispecialty

• Aug. 13: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Walsh Ranch

• Aug. 14: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Calmont

• Aug. 17: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mansfield Multispecialty

• Aug. 19: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Performance Evaluations Kick Off

Now through Sept. 14, managers will complete year-end performance reviews to support the continued growth and development of our team members.

These evaluations provide a structured way to reflect on and assess your accomplishments, contributions, strengths and development opportunities since the start of the performance year on Oct. 1, 2025. Performance and Development (P&D) helps you look back, learn and launch forward for your continual growth and success.

Managers will use a three-point rating scale to evaluate performance across several performance dimensions, including:

• Core job responsibilities
• Impact on patients, patient families, members and teammates
• Demonstration of Cook Children’s values
• Goal management and achievement (directors only)

P&D is an important part of your professional growth journey. It helps you:

• Celebrate your achievements and reinforce habits of excellence.
• Identify any challenges and potential areas for growth.
• Look ahead to career aspirations and goals.

Once evaluations are complete, team members will meet one-on-one with their manager to discuss their performance review. These conversations provide an opportunity to reflect on accomplishments and challenges, review additional feedback from peers and direct reports (for leaders), and discuss development goals and priorities for the coming year. Visit the P&D page on CookNet for more information.

Listen to Newest Podcast: For Kids’ Sake Podcast, Por Su Bienestar

For Kids' Sake is a pediatric health podcast from Cook Children's Health Care System. Each week, Cook Children's physicians, specialists and clinicians answer parents' questions, explain trending health topics and share practical guidance on children's health, development, safety and wellness.

The first episode features Pediatrician Diane Arnaout, M.D. (in English) and Pediatrician Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O. (in Spanish) for a Back-to-School episode. Listen wherever you get podcasts or watch full episodes on the Cook Children's YouTube channel. Spanish-speaking families or employees can also explore our companion podcast, Por Su Bienestar.

Cool Down with Beat the Heat Events

Well-Being Month continues through August, and we have Beat the Heat events for you! If your team is off-site or fully remote, funds will be provided to help you coordinate a sweet treat experience of your own, because everyone deserves a moment to cool off and connect. Please see the Team Experience page to learn more about how to get these funds.
Wednesday, Aug. 12 - Fort Worth Medical Center

• Day Shift: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Click here to view the serving location map

• Night Shift: 10-11:30 p.m. (Pruitt Plaza)

Wednesday, Aug. 19 - Prosper Medical Center

• 3 p.m.-7 p.m. (Day and Night Shift)

• Serving from the back of the hospital. In the case of inclement weather, Mr. B’s Shaved Ice will be serving from Conference Rooms 1621/1622.

Wednesday, Aug. 26 - Calmont Office Building

• 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

• Serving from the third-floor break room

To participate in the other Well-Being Month activities including self-care classes and Well-Being Bingo, see the Team Experience SharePoint page.

Retirement

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

• Leslie Earle, Patient Experience in Food Services, is retiring after 19 years on August 14.

To read more about Leslie along with other recent retirees please visit the Retirement 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.

Message from Mr. Merrill - Employee Survey

Every day, we witness the incredible dedication and compassion you show to our patients, health plan members, their families, and one another. This commitment is the foundation of our Promise and makes Cook Children’s a remarkable place to work.

We encourage you to participate in this year’s Your Voice Matters Survey, open from Aug. 4 to Sept. 1. This survey is our key tool for listening to you, celebrating successes, and identifying areas for improvement. Your feedback has driven meaningful changes over the years.

Our goal is to achieve a 75 percent participation rate, ensuring we capture an accurate picture of experiences across all locations and departments. The survey is confidential and managed by Press Ganey, so you can share your thoughts freely.

Look for an email from Press Ganey on Tuesday or scan the QR code on CookNet. It takes just 10 to 15 minutes, and you can pause and return at any time. Your input will shape our work for the year ahead.

Thank you for everything you do to uphold our Promise, and for sharing your voice to strengthen Cook Children’s.

- Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children's Health Care System

ICYMI: System Town Hall

Please join us for a Town Hall event at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Hochberger Auditorium, Medical Center-Fort Worth.

Click here to attend virtually and experience the discussion in real-time via a live stream.

These events are designed to keep all of us informed and aligned about what has been accomplished by our teams across the system and what we are looking forward to in 2026.

For those whose schedules or locations do not permit attendance, the event will be recorded and posted on the scrolling banner on the homepage of CookNet and emailed later after the event.

Learn About Benefits Options During Open Enrollment

Open enrollment for the 2026-2027 benefits year is now in full swing, and we have a variety of ways to help you choose the coverage that fits your life best.

Come to a Benefits Fair this week to meet with representatives from our benefits vendors (see locations and dates below). Vendors will be on hand to answer questions about health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, wellness and more. Resources at the fair can help you clarify complex options, optimize your current plans and feel confident about open enrollment selections.

We’re also offering several virtual sessions to briefly review the upcoming year’s changes, including the switch to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) as our medical insurance carrier. Virtual sessions will provide an overview of the BCBSTX Health Advocacy Solutions, an employer-sponsored program that pairs members with a dedicated health advocate for personalized, hands-on support. Sessions will be recorded and posted on CookNet to watch at your convenience.

Open enrollment runs through Aug. 21. The benefits you select will be effective Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.

Be sure to check out the comprehensive new Employee Benefits Guide, which provides details about eligibility, plan rates and options. Click here to view the benefits CookNet page.

Current elections will roll over automatically with the exceptions of flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions and PTO sellback. These three elections are required to be made annually. If you want any of these for next year, you must actively make those elections. If you don't take action, you'll have to wait until the next open enrollment period unless you have a major life change, such as having a baby.

Enroll in Workday by going to Workday Benefits, accessing the Benefits and Pay app, and submitting the elections you make. You can also enroll by calling the Benefits Center at 833-938-4154, weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Contact the Benefits team at AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org if you have questions.

BENEFITS FAIRS:

Medical Center- Fort Worth - Atrium

• Aug. 5 – 1-6 p.m.
• Aug. 6 – 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Medical Center-Prosper, Classrooms 1621 and 1622

• Aug. 7 -- 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

BENEFITS INFORMATION SESSIONS:

Medical Center-Fort Worth - Family Support Room

• Aug. 10 – 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Aug. 12 – 7-10 a.m.
• Aug. 13 – 10 p.m.-12 a.m.
• Aug. 17 – 10 p.m. – 12 a.m.
• Aug. 18 – 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3- 6 p.m.
• Aug. 21 – 1-4 p.m.

Medical Center-Prosper, Classrooms 1621 and 1622

• Aug. 11: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Aug. 20: 12-3 p.m.

Child Study Center

• Aug. 12: 3-4:30 p.m.

Hurst Multispecialty

• Aug. 13: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Walsh Ranch

• Aug. 14: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Calmont

• Aug. 17: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mansfield Multispecialty

• Aug. 19: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

VIRTUAL SESSIONS: Click the dates below to join the corresponding virtual session

• Aug. 10 – 2 p.m.
• Aug. 12 – 11:30 a.m.
• Aug. 17 – 9 a.m.

Self-Evaluation: Reflect on Your Year

Magnet nurses are required to complete the Self-Evaluation step of year-end Performance & Development (P&D) by Aug. 10 in Workday.

For everyone else in our system, Self-Evaluation is optional but highly encouraged. It’s an opportunity to assess how you carried out your core job responsibilities, and the impact you’ve made on patients, patient families and your team across the entire performance year starting Oct. 1, 2025.

Managers can begin performance evaluations for their direct reports as soon as each Self-Evaluation is submitted. If a Self-Evaluation is not submitted, managers will have to wait until Aug. 10 to begin the Manager Evaluation. Visit the P&D page on CookNet for a timeline, tips and more resources.

Coming Aug. 12: A New Look for the External Email Banner

For several years, Cook Children’s has used an external email banner to help employees identify messages sent from outside the organization and to encourage extra caution when reviewing them.

In order to improve visibility and make external emails easier to recognize, we will be updating the external email on Wednesday, August 12. Click here for more information and to see the new banner.

While the appearance is changing, the purpose remains the same: helping employees quickly identify messages from external senders. Taking a moment to verify unexpected emails, links, attachments, and requests for information helps protect our patients, our colleagues, and Cook Children’s data.

(Note: The APPROVED EXTERNAL EMAIL banner will be updated at a later date.)

Celebrate Latest Quarterly Peak Performers

Congratulations to all our latest Peak Performers. From Behavioral Health and Pharmacy to Research and Environmental Services, we see you stepping up with dedication, quick thinking and positivity as you advocate for patients and one another. Your contributions to our system do not go unnoticed. Visit the Peak Performers CookNet site to see a full list of those recognized this quarter and to find out how to a nominate fellow colleagues.

Medical Center - Prosper Named No. 1 in Prosper & Celina Living Magazine Readers' Choice Awards

We are excited to share that families in Prosper and Celina have officially voted Cook Children's as their #1 choice for pediatric health care and emergency services! In a region where families have many options for pediatric health care services, they continue to choose Cook Children’s because of your commitment to high-quality care and outstanding experiences.

This recognition is a direct reflection of the exceptional care you deliver every single day, as well as the genuine connections you build with our patients and families. Thank you for everything you do to live out our Pinky Promise: Everything for the Child.

Register for Drug Diversion Symposium

Drug diversion is a quiet crisis, one that demands awareness, accountability, and action. The System Diversion Committee is proud to host the biennial Drug Diversion Symposium at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth.

This year’s symposium is headlined by keynote speaker Stephen Loyd, M.D., a nationally recognized expert in substance use disorder and a powerful voice in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Dr. Loyd’s lived experience and clinical leadership helped inspire the critically acclaimed series Dopesick, bringing national attention to the realities of addiction and recovery.

Attendees will gain insight into organizational recovery following diversion events, emerging risks across both controlled and non-controlled substances, and the importance of a unified, system-wide approach to prevention, detection, and response. Each session is designed to equip participants with practical strategies that strengthen both individual accountability and organizational resilience.

Whether you are clinical or non-clinical, you will gain the tools needed to recognize risk, respond effectively, and protect our patients, colleagues, and organization.

• Cost: Free
• Date: Aug. 28, 2026
• Location: Hochberger Auditorium
• Early Morning Session: Register here
• Full Symposium: Register here

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.

Starting Soon: Open Enrollment for New Benefits Year

Get ready to enroll for the 2026-2027 benefits year by exploring your options for medical plans and many more benefits available to you and your family members.

Open enrollment runs from Aug. 3-21. The benefits you select will be effective Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.

The comprehensive Employee Benefits Guide provides details about eligibility, plan rates and options including dental, vision, pharmacy, time away from work, leave, disability, retirement, lifestyle benefits and financial wellness. Use the guide, arriving in your mailbox next week to learn about the variety of benefits and changes new this year. Choose the coverage that fits your life best. 

“At Cook Children’s, we want every team member to thrive at work, at home, and in every stage of life,” said Merridth Simpson, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. “That’s why we continue to invest in high-quality, affordable benefits that support your physical, emotional and financial well-being.”

Read more about what's new this year, in-person help at Benefits Fairs, and information sessions at several locations. 

August is Well-being Month 

Each year we dedicate August as Well-being Month at Cook Children’s. The goal of Well-being Month is to connect you with the programs, benefits, and resources available at Cook Children’s that support your well-being both at work and at home.

When we prioritize our personal and professional well-being, we’re better equipped with the energy, motivation, and resilience to show up as our best selves each day.

Join us for one or more well-being activities planned throughout the month. Opportunities include self-care classes, connection events, and fun ways to explore new well-being practices through Well-Bingo and Well-Being On-Demand.

The best place to stay informed about everything happening during Well-being Month is the Well-being Month page on the Team Experience site on CookNet. You’ll find registration links for classes, details about upcoming activities, and access to the Well-Bingo card. Click here to learn how off-site clinics and locations, and fully remote teams, can get funds to host a Beat the Heat Treat event. 

FAQs: Your Voice Matters Survey

We want to hear from you Aug. 4 to Sept. 1 through the Your Voice Matters Survey!

The survey is our most effective tool to understand how we’re delivering on our Promise. It helps us know what is working well and where we have opportunities to improve. Your input continues to drive real improvements that enhance our team, patient, and safety/quality experiences at Cook Children’s.

Our goal is that 75% or more of you will complete the survey. Reaching that goal will give us a strong picture of your work experience so we can take meaningful action. Read through the helpful FAQs below to learn more about this year’s survey.

Survey FAQs: 

• Who is included in this year’s employee survey? Employees who started with Cook Children’s on or before May 4, 2026.
• How long is the survey open? The survey opens the morning of Aug. 4 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 1.
• How can I take the survey? Press Ganey, our survey vendor, will send eligible employees an email on Tuesday, Aug 4; Press Ganey emails are green tag/approved so it’s safe to click on the link to take the survey.
• Will there be a QR code for the survey? Yes, employees can also take the survey on their phone by using the QR code posted on the CookNet survey page on Aug. 4.
• Will I get reminders to take the survey? Press Ganey will send reminder emails each Tuesday morning in August; if you lose your email link, you can wait for a reminder email or use the survey QR code.
• How long does the survey take? The average time to complete the survey is 10 to 15 minutes; this includes the multiple-choice questions and three open-ended questions.
• Do I need to complete the survey all at once? You can start the survey, then stop and return later to complete it; the survey will open where you left off.
• Is the survey confidential? Yes, the survey is administered by our third-party vendor, Press Ganey. No one at Cook Children’s sees any individual employee’s responses to the survey.
• What if I can’t open the survey or have issues with logging in? The Press Ganey help desk can assist you. See their contact information at the bottom of their email or on the CookNet survey page.
• What if I have a question about who or what the survey is asking about? Look for the survey Key Terms link at the top right of the screen.

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

P&D Self-Evaluation Kicks Off in Workday

Now is your chance to assess your own job performance and weigh in with your perspective ahead of year-end evaluations for Performance & Development (P&D). 

You should have received a task in your Workday inbox to submit a Self-Evaluation by Aug. 10. This should cover the entire P&D year starting on Oct. 1, 2025. Here’s what else you need to know:

• Seize the opportunity to reflect on and advocate for:
  • How well you carried out your core job responsibilities
  • The impact you’ve made on patients, patient families, members and/or your team
  • How you’ve demonstrated Cook Children’s Values
  • (For Directors) How effectively you’ve managed goals and delivered expected results
• Highlight your strengths and areas you’d like to develop next year.
• Responses can be viewed only by you, your manager and Human Resources.
• Magnet nurses are required to complete Self-Evaluations. It’s highly encouraged for everyone else.

What comes up next in the P&D cycle? Performance Evaluations. Managers can begin these annual reviews for their direct reports as soon as each Self-Evaluation is submitted. Otherwise, managers will have to wait until Aug. 10.

Other action items to complete:

1. FY26 Required Annual Training by Aug. 1. See the list and the steps to check your completion status here. Those who are not complete by the deadline will be subject to a corrective action at the written warning level beginning Aug. 2 and given 15 days to complete the curriculum. Further disciplinary action will continue if the required curriculum is not complete by Aug. 15.

   Anyone who hasn’t completed the FY2026 Required Annual Training in ULearn by Aug. 1 will be issued a Written Warning corrective action by the Employee Relations department. The employees will have an additional 30 days to complete these requirements.  If the employee has not completed their training by Aug. 31, the employee will be issued a Final Written Warning corrective action the next day..
    

2. Leader Feedback by Aug. 3. Your insights help your manager know their strengths and areas for growth.
    

3. If your role requires annual respiratory mask fit testing, all required employees must be up to date with their mask fit test by Dec. 11, 2026. Mask testing is required once every 12 months. If your current test is still good, you are all set for now and do not need to take any action until your 12 months are up. For example, if you got tested in December 2025, your test is good through December 2026. Before booking an appointment, please take a quick moment to check the date of your last test. Making sure you actually need a new test right now helps keep open appointment spots available for teammates who are due immediately. 

   If your test is already past due, or will expire soon, you can easily schedule a new appointment through the Enterprise Health Portal, where plenty of open times are available. Leaders can view completion dates in their Enterprise Supervisor Portal, but if you are past due, you will have a grace period to get scheduled before any further action is taken. 

   As a reminder, you can sign in to the Enterprise Health Portal, to confirm your due date or that your mask fit has expired. Please contact occhealth@cookchildrens.org if you have any questions. 

   The goal is for everyone to be in compliance with all requirements when the employee’s Performance and Development is completed. 

Check out CookNet to find resources, tip sheets and a timeline for year-end P&D activities. 

Introducing Data Sensitivity Labeling

Data Sensitivity Labeling will launch across the System on July 30, 2026. Data sensitivity labels are digital tags users can apply to documents, emails, and other files to classify how confidential or sensitive the information is. Think of them as a standardized way to label content (such as Public, Internal, Confidential, or Regulated) so that everyone handles it appropriately.

Data labels make it easy to identify the sensitivity level of our files and documents. This helps to:

• Protect patient and business information.
• Reduce the risk of accidental data sharing.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and Cook Children's Data Classification and Governance Policy IS 350.

To learn how to use the new labels in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint, Outlook, and Teams, please review the quick reference guides here.

The Motion Lab at Medical Center - Fort Worth Has New Home

Join the team for an open house at the Motion Lab from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, and explore the new space.

Finding the lab is easy: Enter the Seventh Avenue parking garage and use the doors leading to the elevators on the first floor. Just beyond the elevators closest to Pruitt Plaza you'll find the entrance to the Motion Lab's new location.

In Case You Missed It

Save the Date: System Town Hall 

Please join us for a Town Hall event at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Hochberger Auditorium, Medical Center-Fort Worth.

Click here to attend virtually and experience the discussion in real-time via a live stream.

These events are designed to keep all of us informed and aligned about what has been accomplished by our teams across the system and what we are looking forward to in 2026. 

For those whose schedules or locations do not permit attendance, the event will be recorded and posted on the scrolling banner on the homepage of CookNet and emailed later after the event.

Solutions Center - Simplified Support

Beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, the Solutions Center will transition to a single phone number for all service requests: 682-303-COOK.

This new phone number is designed to simplify the process of requesting service by providing one easy-to-remember point of contact. When you call, your request will be routed to the appropriate department, helping ensure you are connected to the team best equipped to assist you

Services available through the Solutions Center include Security, Facilities, Environmental Services and Clinical Engineering.

By consolidating multiple phone numbers into one, the Solutions Center will improve the customer experience and help connect callers to the right resources more efficiently. 

Please note: This phone number will be available for the Medical Center - Fort Worth campus only. Existing numbers and processes at other Cook Children’s locations will remain unchanged. 

Thank you for your support and cooperation as we implement this improvement to simplify the support services you need. 

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. 

Save the Date: System Town Hall 

Please join us for our next Town Hall at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Hochberger Auditorium, Medical Center-Fort Worth.

Our Town Halls bring us together to share essential updates, discuss key initiatives, and highlight what’s on the horizon for our system.

For those whose schedules or locations do not permit attendance, you can watch the livestream by clicking here on the time of the event.

The event will be recorded and posted on the scrolling banner on the homepage of CookNet and emailed later after the event.

Your Voice Matters Survey Launches Aug. 4

We want to hear from you this August through the Your Voice Matters Survey! 

The survey is our most effective tool to understand how we’re delivering on our Promise. It helps us know what is working well and where we have opportunities to improve. Your input continues to drive real improvements that enhance our team, patient and safety/quality experiences at Cook Children’s.

Our goal is that 75% or more of you will complete the survey. Hearing from as many of you as possible is important – it helps us understand your work experience better so we can take meaningful action.

Look for an email invitation from Press Ganey in your inbox on Aug. 4. You’ll have until Sept. 1 to complete your survey.

Next week we’ll share more details and FAQs about the upcoming survey. Questions? Email teamexperience@cookchildrens.org.

Prepare for Self-Evaluation in Workday

The Self-Evaluation phase of Performance & Development (P&D) opens next week, allowing you to share viewpoints on your own job performance and contributions.     

While these self-assessments may be optional, they are highly encouraged to give you the chance to reflect on the impact you’ve made since Oct. 1, 2025, the start of this performance year. Note: Magnet nurses are required to complete Self-Evaluations. The task is due in Workday by Aug. 10. 

Self-Evaluation is an opportunity to advocate for yourself. Responses stay confidential as they are viewable only to you, your manager and Human Resources. Be thinking about these prompts:

• How you contributed to the experience of our patients, patient families and teams
• How you carried out your core responsibilities
• How you demonstrated Cook Children’s values: collaboration, generosity, imagination, kindness, respect and safety
• Your top two strengths and top two opportunities for development

Also, time is winding down to complete Peer Feedback by July 27 and Leader Feedback by Aug. 3. Your feedback helps colleagues and managers know their strengths and areas for growth. Thank you for supporting your teammates with candid, actionable insights.

And one more reminder of the Aug. 1 deadline to complete your fiscal year 2026 required annual training in ULearn. Check out CookNet to find resources, tip sheets and a timeline for year-end P&D activities. 

Important Clarification: Aug. 1 Mask Fit Testing Compliance Requirement

We want to clear up a few details regarding annual mask fit testing and share an update on the deadline.

First, all required employees must be up to date with their mask fit test by Dec. 11, 2026. Mask testing is required once every 12 months. If your current test is still good, you are all set for now and do not need to take any action until your 12 months are up. For example, if you got tested in December 2025, your test is good through December 2026.

Before booking an appointment, please take a quick moment to check the date of your last test. Making sure you actually need a new test right now helps keep open appointment spots available for teammates who are due immediately.

If your test is already past due, or will expire soon, you can easily schedule a new appointment through the Enterprise Health Portal, where plenty of open times are available. Leaders can view completion dates in their Enterprise Supervisor Portal, but if you are past due, you will have a grace period to get scheduled before any further action is taken.

As a reminder, you can sign in to the Enterprise Health Portal, to confirm your due date or that your mask fit has expired. Please contact occhealth@cookchildrens.org if you have any questions. 

The goal is for everyone to be in compliance with all requirements when the employee’s Performance and Development is completed. 

Thank you for checking your dates and helping us keep everyone safe and up to date!

Solutions Center - Simplified Support

Beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3,  the Solutions Center will transition to a single phone number for all service requests: 682-303-COOK.

This new phone number is designed to simplify the process of requesting service by providing one easy-to-remember point of contact. When you call, your request will be routed to the appropriate department, helping ensure you are connected to the team best equipped to assist you

Services available through the Solutions Center include:

• Security
• Facilities
• Environmental Services
• Clinical Engineering

By consolidating multiple phone numbers into one, the Solutions Center will improve the customer experience and help connect callers to the right resources more efficiently. 

Please note: This phone number will be available for the Fort Worth Medical Center campus only. Existing numbers and processes at other Cook Children’s locations will remain unchanged. 

Thank you for your support and cooperation as we implement this improvement to simplify the support services you need. 

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. 

Cash Registers Impacted Beginning July 20, Bring Cash as Backup

Cook Children’s will be upgrading to a new cash register system July 20-24, 2026.

During this transition, we’ll be converting and testing the QuickCharge Point of Sale (POS) system, which will offer updated features. The changes affect Medical Center-Fort Worth, Medical Center-Prosper, and Dodson Specialty Clinics.

Credit cards, retail gift cards and employee badge payments at registers will be intermittently unavailable. All forms of payment will resume as each register update is completed. Please anticipate delays and have cash on hand as backup form of payment.

To learn more, visit Connect Newsroom. Thank you for your patience during this transition. 

Support your Peers and Leaders with Feedback  

Two key components of Performance & Development (P&D) are underway, and it’s essential to hear from those selected for input.

First, if a colleague chose you for Peer Feedback, you have until July 27 to complete your response in Workday. Be specific, honest and constructive in sharing insights into your teammate’s performance. 

Next, if a manager tapped you for Leader Feedback, you have until Aug. 3 to finalize your response. It’s your opportunity to share perspective on your manager’s coaching, communication and other leadership skills.

Providing feedback as requested is optional but highly encouraged. Per Magnet requirements, nurses must complete requests for Peer Feedback.

Keep in mind why this phase of the P&D cycle matters. Because the feedback:

• Reinforces your strengths and celebrates your accomplishments

• Identifies potential areas for improvement and growth

• Puts the values of collaboration and respect into practice to help everyone at Cook Children’s be their best professional selves  

Remember, the feedback you provide doesn’t impact anyone’s year-end performance evaluation. And you must complete by Aug. 1 your Fiscal year 2026 required annual training in ULearn and the N-95 respiratory fit test through Occupational Health, if required for your role.

Visit the P&D page on CookNet for resources and more information.

The July 17 Epic Upgrade Launches a New Quarterly Upgrade Cadence at Cook Children’s

Cook Children’s is moving to a new quarterly Epic upgrade schedule beginning with the summer upgrade. Instead of receiving updates twice annually, end users will now benefit from a more frequent, smaller update that brings new tools, workflow improvements, important fixes, and emerging innovations into everyday practice sooner. This shift is designed to help teams stay closer to Epic’s latest functionality while making change easier to absorb.

Why quarterly upgrades are a win for end users:

• Faster access to new tools, fixes, and workflow improvements. Enhancements that can streamline documentation, ordering, scheduling, reporting, In Basket management, and clinical decision support will reach teams sooner.
• Smaller, more manageable changes that are easier to learn and adopt. Quarterly upgrades reduce the volume of change introduced at one time, helping teams focus on what is most relevant to their workflows.
• Quicker implementation of innovations, including AI-enabled features and Epic optimization opportunities. A more frequent cadence supports earlier testing, piloting, and deployment of capabilities that can reduce administrative burden and improve the end-user experience.

Looking ahead

The July 17 upgrade is more than a single Epic update—it marks the beginning of a faster, more responsive upgrade rhythm for Cook Children’s. By moving to quarterly upgrades, we can bring meaningful improvements to end users sooner, support innovation more effectively, and continue optimizing Epic in ways that make daily work simpler and more efficient.

Thank you to all teams who support testing, training, communication, and readiness for each upgrade. Your partnership helps ensure Cook Children’s continues to make the most of Epic’s evolving capabilities while keeping patient care at the center of every improvement.

Click here to see what clinicians are saying about the move as well as what's coming with the upgrade.

Save the Date: August is Well-being Month at Cook Children’s

Well-being is how people feel about the quality of their lives, including their physical, emotional, and mental health, as well as their ability to be productive and financially secure.

We look forward to sharing the many benefits, resources, programs and classes available to help you thrive at work and at home. You can take part in Well-being Month no matter where you work!

Visit the Well-being CookNet page to learn more about upcoming Beat the Heat Treat events, virtual self-care classes, well-being activities and resources plus ways you can enter a raffle for prizes!

Retirements

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

• Becky Clem, Speech Pathologist, is retiring after 35 years on July 31.
• Marinda Allender, Registered Nurse, is retiring after 43 years on August 1.

To read more about these retirees along with other recent retirements 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. 

Matthew Carroll, M.D., named Cook Children’s new Chief Quality Officer

Matthew Carroll, M.D., came to Cook Children’s in 2014 as a pediatric hospitalist. Eight years ago, he joined the Quality Team. This month, Dr. Carroll moved into the Chief Quality Officer role, where he oversees more than a dozen programs and teams, including Accreditation, Health Outcomes Improvement, the clinical pathways program, Case Management, Social Work, Language Services, and Health Information Management, just to name a few. He worked with many of these teams in his previous role but is excited to continue to do so at a broader scope. 

Read about Dr. Carroll's goals and what he is most excited about in his new role on Connect Newsroom. 

Performance & Development: Leaders Need Feedback Too

Leaders are asking some of their direct reports to provide input in Workday on the effectiveness of their coaching, communication and other leadership skills. 

If you are selected for Leader Feedback, this is your opportunity to provide objective and meaningful insights into your manager’s strengths and areas for development. Leader Feedback is due by Aug. 3.

A few tips:

• Provide specific examples of your leader’s behaviors, collaboration and guidance that helped improve your own work performance.

• Share how your leader encouraged your learning, helped solve a problem, or supported your well-being.

• Provide specific examples of ways your leader could provide more opportunities for professional growth, communicate more clearly, strengthen team bonds or be open to new ideas. 

This feedback is for developmental purposes only. It will not be an input into a leader’s performance evaluation.  

Peer Feedback is also open in Workday now through July 27. If a colleague has tapped you to provide Peer Feedback on their job performance, please complete the request in a timely manner with candid, actionable feedback. 

The cycle of Performance & Development (P&D) activities is designed to foster an environment where ongoing and supportive feedback helps every team member feel valued and equipped for success.

Learn more about P&D and the FY2026 timeline here. 

New Employee Orientation Moves to Calmont Building

New Employee Orientation (NEO) is being relocated to Calmont, starting July 13 and 14, 2026, for the next two to three years as a result of parking issues at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth. This move will allow Cook Children's to continue welcoming new hires during construction at the Medical Center.

See Presidents’ Scholarship Recipients 

Cook Children’s celebrated 2026 President’s Scholarship recipients at an awards luncheon held on June 25. This year, 12 outstanding students (all children of Cook Children’s employees) were awarded a $5,000 scholarship in recognition of their academic achievements, leadership, service, and future aspirations. For 17 years, this program has honored exceptional students through a rigorous selection process led by a committee representing a variety of roles, levels, and five Cook Children’s companies. 

Click here to meet this year’s recipients. 

Sign up for Upcoming Blood Drive

Spots are open for the blood drive taking place on Monday, July 13 at the Family Support Meeting Room A in the Medical Center-Fort Worth. If you sign up and donate blood you may receive a stainless-steel canteen, while supplies last. 

Click here to sign up. 

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. 

Input Due for P&D Peer Feedback  

If a colleague has tapped you to provide Peer Feedback on their job performance, get ready to share your insights in Workday by July 27. What’s the goal? To gather insights into everyone’s strengths and accomplishments on the job since Oct. 1, 2025. Constructive input can also identify potential areas for improvement. The feedback you provide doesn’t affect your colleague’s performance review. But they’ll receive a summary for job coaching purposes.

Even though submitting feedback is optional, we strongly encourage those who are selected to fulfill the request in a timely manner with objective, thoughtful and candid responses. Note: Nurses must complete Peer Feedback requests per Magnet requirements. A nurse who declines must give an explanation to their leader.

A few tips:

• Be specific about your teammates’ strengths and contributions, as well as areas for improvement.
• Point out with appreciation the positive impact they’ve made on patients, families and fellow employees.
• Encourage excellent habits that demonstrate the Cook Children’s values.
• Keep your comments constructive rather than critical.

Some of you will also receive requests in Workday to provide Leader Feedback. Leader Feedback is a developmental opportunity to provide insights into your manager’s leadership, coaching and teaming behaviors. Visit the P&D page on CookNet for tip sheets and other resources. 

ICYMI: Update to Medical Benefits; See the FAQ

In case you missed it: Starting Oct. 1, 2026, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) will become Cook Children’s new medical insurance carrier. This change is part of our ongoing commitment to care for our team and their families—just as thoughtfully as we care for our patients.  For more information about this change, please visit Connect Newsroom. 

Please use the Transition Support website to get tools and resources to help with this transition and get your frequently asked questions answered. Please reach out to the Benefits team if you have any other questions.

Please see the previous Connect Newsletter to read about the other Human Resources news, including an update to the Care Share program and information about a potential market adjustment. 

Reminder for Fourth of July

This Fourth of July holiday, please do not attempt to view fireworks from any Cook Children’s facility or parking garage. It's important that ample, safe, and close parking is available for our patient families and for the employees and medical transport teams who are working on site. Thank you!

Fourth of July Message from Spiritual Care

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, Jennifer Hayes, Director of Spiritual Care, shares a special message reflecting on this historic milestone. Jennifer writes “This land was made for you and me!” … In a world that often feels uncertain, I find myself returning to those same 8 words. They remind me that people thrive through connection. They evoke a sense of belonging, of being seen, of being valued. At Cook Children’s, belonging looks a lot like our Promise. It is meeting children and families with different stories, traditions, languages, beliefs, and life experiences and saying, “Welcome! Thank you for choosing us to care for you!”

Please click here to read her entire message

As you gather with family and friends this Independence Day, we wish you a safe, joyful, and memorable Fourth of July!

Parking Update – Seventh Avenue Parking Garage

Beginning Monday, July 6, parking on the first floor of the Seventh Avenue Parking Garage will be unavailable.

During this time, the Seventh Avenue entrance will be closed. All vehicles must enter and exit the garage using the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance. Please use the available parking spaces on the remaining garage levels.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we complete this work.

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. 

View Changes to Medical Benefits Beginning Oct. 1

We have an important update to share about your medical benefits.

Starting Oct. 1, 2026, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) will become Cook Children’s new medical insurance carrier. This change is part of our ongoing commitment to care for our team and their families—just as thoughtfully as we all care for our patients. 

While this is a big change, the goal is simple: To give our teammates more choice and help keep the cost of health care manageable. Please visit Connect Newsroom to learn more about why we are making this change and get helpful resources during this transition. 

CareShare Update: Your Feedback in Action

At Cook Children’s, we regularly seek employee feedback to better understand what’s working well and where we can improve. Because of feedback, we are pleased to share new changes to the CareShare program. 

“CareShare continues to be one of the ways we recognize our collective efforts towards fulfilling our promise,” said Merridth Simpson, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. “These updates help ensure the program reflects our shared success as an organization.”

To see what is changing about the CareShare program, visit Connect Newsroom. 

2026 Market Review Update 

We are taking another major step toward advancing our compensation plan and our Promise to regularly review pay to ensure competitiveness and the ability to attract and retain our valued employees.

Now that we have communicated the new Cook Children’s Compensation Philosophy which was created with our core values in mind and completed the external market assessment, we have a better understanding of how the external market rates impact how we deliver pay.

On average, the market assessment results support our goal of paying competitively across all job categories —meaning the majority of our workforce is currently paid at a competitive rate.

If you are not receiving a market adjustment that is an indication that your pay is competitive for the role you perform each day. For others, the market adjustment is the opportunity to increase pay rates for individuals who are paid less than a competitive rate, subject to the following criteria:

• Non-executive, non-physician, PRN, Pool, and Flat Rate positions.
• Regular status (excludes temporary, contingent, or contractor roles).
• Employees in good standing (e.g., no pending final written warnings).
• Employees who have strong or better performance over last two performance and development cycles

Key Dates:

• June 28, 2026 
  Effective date (visibility date will be mid-July) for employees who will receive an adjustment
• July 6, 2026
  Pay changes visible to Leaders.  Leaders will be able to discuss outcomes with employees
• July 13, 2026 
  Employees who receive an adjustment will see the pay change in Workday
• July 17, 2026 
  Pay changes reflected in paychecks for those employees who receive an adjustment

Thank you for your work in caring for our patients and your dedication in helping Cook Children’s deliver on our pinky promise — everything for the child. 

Retirements

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

• Nancy Russell, Nursing Quality Improvement Coordinator, is retiring after 41 years on July 2 - Please join us for a celebration on Wednesday, July 1 in the Hochberger Auditorium Pre-function Area from 2 - 4 p.m.
• Bessie Payton, Unit Secretary of 5 Main, is retiring is retiring after 47 years on July 10.

To read more about Nancy and Bessie along with other recent retirees please visit Team Experience's 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. 

Missed the Town Hall? We’ve got you covered

If you couldn’t make it to the latest system Town Hall, don’t worry — we’re breaking the session down into video highlights. Keep an eye out for these segments dropping soon so you can get all the major updates on your own time.

Click here to see the third part of the Town Hall series. Today's segment includes a discussion with:

• Teresa Tonthat, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Information Officer

• Kathy Jobes, Vice President, Chief Information Officer 

Now Open: Selections for Leader Feedback

Leader Feedback, a step in the Performance & Development process, is currently open. Managers should find a task in their Workday inbox to select direct reports to provide feedback. Selections are due by June 29. Leader Feedback is a developmental opportunity for team members to provide insights on their leader’s leadership, coaching and teaming behaviors.

More items on the P&D checklist:

• Complete all the fiscal year 2026 required annual training courses assigned to you in ULearn by Aug. 1
• If you require a mask fit, this is a 12-month deadline. Please make sure you are compliant with a current mask fit by Aug 1
• Provide requested Peer Feedback

Sign up for Stop the Bleed Training

Register for upcoming Stop the Bleed course on Ulearn. These classes have a two-part registration process. 

First, you must finish the American College of Surgeon’s online course, which can be completed by watching associated videos (a 15–20-minute time commitment). Click here to sign up. 

Once the online courses are finished and a comprehension quiz is passed, participants can return to register for the hands-on skills portion in the next step (a 30–40-minute time commitment). You must bring the results of the online quiz to validate completion of the online course.

To register, click here. Below are the dates for the in-person portion of the class. 

• June 30 – 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. in the SimLab
• July 6 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• July 22 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Command Center
• Aug. 3 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• Aug. 19 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Command Center

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. 

Cook Children's Patients Take Global Stage

Twelve of Cook Children's patients had a once in a lifetime experience on Sunday when they served as flag bearers for the first World Cup match taking place in Arlington. Check out photos from this very special event, as Japan took on the Netherlands.

Cook Children’s was chosen through a partnership between Children’s Miracle Network and Coca-Cola to supply all 12 flag bearers for the match opening ceremony. Each teen overcame significant medical challenges. The flag bearers represent unity, pride and the global spirit of the tournament.

Stories of Cook Children's flag bearers have been featured by journalists across the region, touching the heart of millions of people. See three of the patient stories below featuring Wesley Duncan, Kian Francis, and Cristo Hernández.

• CBS Texas
• San Angelo Live
• Telemundo Dallas Fort Worth 

Missed the Town Hall? We’ve got you covered

If you couldn’t make it to the latest system Town Hall, don’t worry — we’re breaking the session down into video highlights. Keep an eye out for these segments dropping soon so you can get all the major updates on your own time.

Click here to see the first part of the Town Hall series. Today's segment includes a discussion with:

• Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D.

• Matthew Dzurik, M.D.

• Corwin Warmink, M.D.

Reminder: Complete Required Annual Training Before Aug. 1 

We know that many of you are busy balancing work duties, summer activities, and PTO, but we want to remind you to please carve out time to complete your annual training before Aug. 1. Staying on top of these requirements ensures that Cook Children's remains fully compliant. Employees who haven’t met the deadline for these requirements may be subject to corrective action. 

• Complete all the fiscal year 2026 required annual training courses assigned to you in ULearn by Aug. 1
• Complete an N-98 respiratory fit test through Occupational Health, if required for your role, by Aug. 1

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. 

Closing Soon: Selections Due for Peer Feedback

Now Open: Selections for Leader Feedback

Time is winding down to finalize in Workday which teammates you want for Peer Feedback input on your Performance & Development (P&D). The selection process ends June 22.

Team members are required to select at least three and up to seven peers who have worked closely with you and observed your skills. Consider the colleagues who can give objective and thoughtful insights into your job performance since the fiscal year started Oct. 1, 2025.  

Your manager will approve or modify the list of people you select. Managers may add names if there are others whose feedback they want to hear – or they may remove names from your list.

What’s the goal? To gather insights into your strengths and accomplishments on the job. Constructive input can also identify potential areas for improvement. The feedback doesn’t affect your performance review.

Leader Feedback is open now too. Managers should find a task in their Workday inbox to select direct reports to provide feedback. Selections are due by June 29. Leader Feedback is a developmental opportunity for team members to provide insights on their leader’s leadership, coaching and teaming behaviors.

More items on the P&D checklist:

• Complete your FY26 required annual training in ULearn by Aug. 1

• Complete your N-98 respiratory fit test, if required for your role, by Aug. 1

• Provide requested Peer Feedback

Missed the Town Hall? We’ve got you covered

If you couldn’t make it to the latest system Town Hall, don’t worry — we’re breaking the session down into video highlights. Keep an eye out for these segments dropping soon so you can get all the major updates on your own time.

Click here to see the first part of the Town Hall series. Today's segment includes a discussion with:

• Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children's Health Care System
• Amy Knight, Chief Administration Officer
• Merridth Simpson, Senior Vice President of Human Resources

Join A Virtual Occupational Health Educational Event 

In this session you will learn about workers compensation, team safety, and ergonomics in the workplace. The course will take place between 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18. 

Registration is required through ULearn. See more information on Occupational Health website and click here to sign up. 

Sign up for Stop the Bleed Training

Register for upcoming Stop the Bleed course on Ulearn. These classes have a two-part registration process. 

First, you must finish the American College of Surgeon’s online course, which can be completed by watching associated videos (a 15–20-minute time commitment). Click here to sign up. 

Once the online courses are finished and a comprehension quiz is passed, participants care return to register for the hands-on skills portion in the next step (a 30–40-minute time commitment). You must bring the results of the online quiz to validate completion of the online course.

To register, click here. Below are the dates for the in-person portion of the class. 

• June 17 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Pavilion 2 Classroom
• June 30 – 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. in the SimLab
• July 6 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• July 22 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Command Center
• Aug. 3 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• Aug. 19 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Command Center

ICYMI: See our World Cup Newsletter

We hope you are having fun this soccer season. In case you missed it please review the World Cup Newsletter for all things related to the tournament. 

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. 

Ready for Kickoff: Cook Children's Prepares for Soccer-Filled Summer

With millions of soccer fans descending upon Dallas-Fort Worth for the World Cup, Cook Children’s is fully prepared to handle the excitement. The Emergency Management team has spent more than a year meticulously planning and implementing proactive logistics to ensure our facilities across the Metroplex remain ready.

We’re taking a comprehensive approach to matchday readiness by activating a command center to keep an eye on security, patient volumes, inventory, and more. From bolstering our cybersecurity measures to ensuring our frontline patient care teams have what they need, we are fully aligned to maintain the high standard of care our community expects. At Cook Children’s, we're gameday ready — focused on keeping our patient families safe, secure, and well-cared for while the world turns its eyes on North Texas.

Click here to read a kickoff article. 

All Things World Cup on CookNet 

Ahead of the big soccer tournament coming to the Metroplex, Environmental Safety and Emergency Management have created a one-stop shop of resources for employees all about the World Cup. A direct link to this 2026 World Cup CookNet site will be at the top of the CookNet homepage until the end of the tournament. 

The website includes details for clinicians on international diseases, as well as cultural resources, how to access to language interpreters, and how to sign up for Cook Children's emergency alerts. Please use this CookNet site for all your World Cup needs during the tournament. 

Here's How to Connect Non-English-Speaking Families with Language Services 

The Case Management Department’s Interpreter Services is ready to help units, clinics and ambulatory sites meet the communication needs of non-English-speaking patients and families. 

Blue phones for over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) and green video remote interpreter (VRI) carts are readily available across all locations. If you are unsure where these tools are kept on your unit, please ask your supervisor. 

When requesting assistance, keep the distinct roles of language professionals in mind: 

• Interpreters assist with spoken communication, speaking back and forth between two parties.
• Translators handle written communication, transcribing documents from one language to another (such as turning an English welcome letter into Arabic). 

To request a Spanish onsite interpreter, go to the My Important Places section on the CookNet home page and find the ServiceHub/Spanish Onsite Interpreter icon once you press see all. Then add the icon to your My Important Places section and it will be easy to find at all times. You can also access the request link located below the contact information on the right side of the Interpretation Services page. 

Onsite hours are 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sundays. For more information visit, Interpreter Services and for other World Cup Resources visit.

Peak Travel Periods Across the Metroplex

Match days will bring increased travel across the region. If you are driving around the Metroplex, please see these peak travel periods from the North Central Texas Council of Governments. 

Click here to view primary activation areas across North Texas and road closures near Dallas Stadium in Arlington (that's the name for AT&T Stadium during the World Cup).

To view accurate and timely highway conditions, visit DriveTexas before you head out. 

Share World Cup Wednesday on Social Media

Every Wednesday until the end of the tournament, the Public Relations Department is sharing articles related to the World Cup on CheckupNewsroom.com and on Cook Children's social media pages. 

Today you'll see a story about 12 patients who'll take the field during the inaugural FIFA World Cup 2026™ match in North Texas. The teenagers will not just be in attendance; they will serve as official Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup 2026 Flag Bearers, carrying the national flags for Japan and Netherlands onto the pitch.

We made it made it official on June 1 during a “Flag Bearer Signing Day.” As friends, family, and hospital staff looked on, the teens signed a Peaks the Dragon soccer ball to commemorate the milestone. Click here to see the story or you can view it on social media. 

Be sure to share these amazing stories so locals and visitors can see the incredible work we do at Cook Children's. And tune in at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 14 at to watch our patients take the global stage. 

Show off Your Favorite Jersey This Week

To celebrate the tournament, we'll have World Cup Jersey Days between June 11-14 for staff. You can wear this jersey or any other soccer jersey you have to work. Whether it is a Peaks the Dragon jersey or your favorite soccer team, we want to see it! 

Don't forget you can purchase the Peaks the Dragon soccer jersey at our Under the Peaks store. The jersey costs $36 and runs small so be sure to size up. Employees can purchase this jersey and have it sent by inter-office mail. Send this Under the Peaks order form to underthepeaks@cookchildrens.org. Please make sure your Cook Children's location is listed on the form. 

Join Global Soccer Trek Step Challenge on Personify Health 

As we watch these incredibly fit and dedicated athletes from around the globe, you can take part by participating in a Global Soccer Trek Step Challenge on Personify Health and tracking your steps every day. To begin, join or create a team and connect your device to track your steps. The team with the most steps at the end of the challenge wins! 

Sign up for the step challenge on Personify Health. Already have an account? Click here to log into Personify. If you do not have an account, click here to enroll in Personify. 

Share Your World Cup Memories

Are attending a World Cup match? Planning a work tournament watch party? Wearing jerseys with your colleagues? Send us pictures of your World Cup memories! We will share them throughout the tournament. 

Send your photos to InternalCommunications@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. 

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

Meet Your New AI Assistant: Microsoft Copilot Launches at Cook Children’s

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant that helps you save time by drafting emails, summarizing conversations, and quickly finding the information you need. Starting Monday, June 8, 2026, Microsoft Copilot will be available to all Cook Children’s employees. Information Services is hosting experts from Microsoft for a training webinar at noon on June 9 to learn more about how to get the most out of Copilot. 

“The future of work isn't about working harder; it’s about working smarter. We are investing in Copilot because we are investing in you,” said Teresa Tonthat, Chief Digital Information Officer. "By streamlining those tedious, daily tasks, I’m excited that we’re able to launch a tool to give you time back to focus on the meaningful, human-centered work that truly impacts our community."

Visit Connect Newsroom to learn more and find links to training resources. 

Construction Update - Fort Worth Medical Center

Please be aware from now until Wednesday, June 18, Seventh Avenue (between West Pulaski and Rosedale streets) will be reduced to one lane with two-way traffic maintained by flaggers. The work will be phased as shown with each phase including an associated sidewalk closure. Please plan for a short delay during your commute or use a different route using Eighth or Sixth avenues. After hours and at night, both lanes will be open with the traffic impact beginning again the next morning. Your patience is appreciated as the utility infrastructure for the Rosedale Office Building is upgraded.

Please bookmark the Construction page to get up-to-date information on road closures when driving to the Fort Worth Medical Center. You may share the construction page with our patient families so they can also be aware of these changs. For employee-only walking directions, visit Connect Newsroom. 

To read an update on an employee involved in a recent accident, click here. 

Help Guide the Future of Artificial Intelligence at Cook Children's

This survey is for all employees (clinical and operational) to find out how you currently use artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools at work. We also want to know how you feel about using AI and what challenges or benefits you've experienced. Your answers will help us plan training, make good decisions about AI, and make sure we use AI safely and fairly. For more information about the survey, see a flyer on CookNet. 

To take the survey, click here. 

Junior Volunteers Arriving to Fort Worth Medical Center 

Junior Volunteers will arrive at the Fort Worth Medical Center on June 8 and will serve for nine weeks this summer.  You'll see volunteers between the ages of 15-18, in many different departments, ranging from inpatient Child Life roles to surgery units, retail shops, Child Life Zone, spiritual care, research and more.  These teens will also round in the hospital with the hospitality cart, restock our book carts, serve in the Emergency Department waiting room, and volunteer with Home Health and the Cook Children’s Alexander Vision Center.  

Thank you for supporting our youngest volunteers and helping build a bridge with future healthcare workers and well-rounded contributors of our community.  

Get Your Pharmacy Questions Answered 

Capital Rx is hosting a series of virtual sessions created just for Cook Children's employees to answer your questions about your pharmacy benefit. The sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., on Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12, 

Meet with a benefits specialist in whatever way feels most comfortable — face-to-face over Zoom or by phone — at a time that fits your schedule. There's no cost, and no question is too big or too small. 

• How your drug coverage, tiers, and copays work
• Filling prescriptions through home delivery
• Specialty medications and prior authorizations
• Finding an in-network pharmacy near you
• Getting started with your member portal and app

Click here to learn more about the sessions and get the session link. 

Retirements 

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

• Lynn Phan, Environmental Service Aide, is retiring on June 5 after 29 years.
• Johanna Davis, Imaging Operations Supervisor, is retiring on June 10 after 37 years.
• Terry Wilder, Senior Media Production Specialist, is retiring after 38 years of service. Please join a retirement celebration  from 1:30 -3 p.m. on Friday, June 26 in the Hochberger Auditorium Prefunction Area.

To read more about Lynn, Johanna and Terry, 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. 

Cook Children's Patients Will Take World Cup Stage

We are so honored that 12 Cook Children's patients will serve as flag bearers for the first World Cup group-stage match between Japan and the Netherlands on June 14 at Dallas Stadium. We hosted a signing day for the patients to get to know one another and prepare for the international stage. Stay tuned for more coverage on our social media channels and Checkup Newsroom next Wednesday. 

If you want to catch a glimpse of stories that have already appeared in local media, check out the news coverage here:  

• Why 12 Cook Children’s patients will be part of the World Cup – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
• 2 Texas brothers overcome medical challenges to carry flags at 2026 FIFA World Cup | FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth

P&D Starts with Peer Feedback on Job Performance

Performance & Development (P&D) opens this month seeking feedback in Workday from the colleagues who work most closely with you. This phase of the P&D cycle gathers insights into your strengths and accomplishments on the job. Constructive input from your co-workers can also identify potential areas for improvement.  

The feedback isn’t part of merit calculations and won’t affect performance ratings. Instead, the feedback serves as a developmental input to help to improve everyone’s performance and growth. It’s important to know two types and key dates:

Peer Feedback

• Select 3-7 co-workers
• Make your selections June 8-22. Look for a task in your Workday inbox
• Selections subject to manager approval

Leader Feedback

• Select 3-7 direct reports
• Leaders make selections June 15-29
• Selections subject to manager approval

Begin preparing now by giving thoughtful consideration to your selections. Feedback providers will be asked to submit their input in July. Thank you for supporting one another with collaboration and respect as we work to strengthen performance and uphold excellence across the System.

Visit the P&D page on CookNet for a timeline and more information.

Marketing & Communications Win Nine Telly Awards

The Marketing & Communications department has earned two Gold, four Silver and three Bronze leveled Telly Awards for outstanding work. Below are links to the videos that received awards: 

18 Missed Calls - Won a Gold Telly Award and a Silver Telly Award 

My Name is Addy - Won a Gold Telly Award and a Silver Telly Award 

From Leukemia Diagnosis to Triumph: Perry's Story - Won a Bronze Telly Award

The Heart Hero: How a Cook Children’s Surgeon Helped Save a Newborn - Won a Silver Telly Award and a Bronze Telly Award

Golden Deeds - Won a Bronze Telly Award

Reach Your Fitness Goals with Cook Children's 

If you are looking to reach your fitness goals, Cook Children's employees receive various benefits to make achieving your goals easier. 

These benefits include: 

• Wellness Zone
• Texas Health Fitness Center
• GameOn Sports Complex and Arena
• Studio Discounts

For more information, visit Connect Newsroom. 

Sign up For World Cup Celebration of Cultures; a Patient Event 

Get your kicks at a global-themed patient event celebrating the nations competing in the World Cup.  Sign your team up to participate and choose a country from the list provided here. One team per country.

You must email patientevents@cookchildrens.org by Tuesday, June 9 to sign up. Please include team organizer, department, and top three choices of countries. Your country will be confirmed upon submission.

The patient event will take place 10:30 - noon on Tuesday, June 23 at the atrium in the Fort Worth Medical Center. To learn more, click here.

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. 

More than Compensation: Benefits and Perks Factor into Total Rewards

We're taking a deep dive into total rewards at Cook Children's. Total rewards is a comprehensive approach to employee compensation and benefits that goes beyond just your paycheck. It refers to the full package of monetary and non‑monetary rewards for employees, to help ensure that employees get the most out of their experience working at our organization. 

Understanding the concept of Total Rewards is like seeing the job landscape with a wider lens. The big picture contains your compensation plus the variety of benefits, perks incentives that make Cook Children’s the best place to work.

Learn more about Total Rewards on Connect Newsroom. 

Coming Soon: Feedback and Reviews on Job Performance

Kickoff is just around the corner for Performance & Development (P&D), a lineup of activities empowering you to elevate your skills and thrive on the job.

What’s the goal of P&D? To help our employees become their best professional selves. It’s designed to reinforce what you’re already doing well, provide ongoing support and identify opportunities for growth.

Year-end components of our annual P&D cycle run from June through early October. The framework uses tools in Workday starting with Peer Feedback from colleagues you select. You’re encouraged to add your own perspective through Self-Evaluation. Performance reviews and check-in conversations with your manager happen in the homestretch.  

The P&D process matters because it’s a chance to:

• Celebrate your accomplishments in the workplace since the start of the fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2025)
• Recognize your contributions to meeting our Promise: Everything for the Child
• Have candid conversations about your challenges
• Strengthen areas for improvement
• Outline a path for your career aspirations

You can get a jump start by completing any requirements for your role such as the 2026 Required Annual Trainings in ULearn by Aug. 1, 2026. Additionally, all employees whose role requires an N-98 respiratory fit test must complete their annual fit appointment at Occupational Health. Employees who haven’t met the deadline for these requirements may be subject to corrective action.

You can expect regular communication from now until P&D wraps up this fall. Check out Connect newsletter to find resources, key dates and reminders to keep you up-to-speed. Go to our CookNet site to access tips, Job Aids and the P&D timeline. Thank you for tuning in to stay informed.

Cook Children’s Celebrates Peaks the Dragon Appreciation Day

Enjoy the new "Peaks and Love” music video and song this May in honor of Peaks the Dragon Appreciation Day on May 31, celebrating Peaks the Dragon’s first magical appearance. 

The song and music video were created in collaboration with the Child Life Department’s CLZ TV and Sparklefly Studios. 

Take a look at the video on Connect Newsroom🎵

Purchase Peaks' Soccer Jersey

Ahead of the World Cup, be sure to check out the Peaks the Dragon soccer jersey being sold at our Under the Peaks store. The jersey will cost $36 and runs small so be sure to size up. Employees from across the system can purchase this jersey using the inter-office mail form, by returning the Under the Peaks signed order form through email to underthepeaks@cookchildrens.org. Please make sure your Cook Children's location is listed on the form. 

To celebrate the tournament, we'll have World Cup Jersey Days on June 11-14 for staff. You can wear this jersey or any other soccer jersey you have to work. Don't forget to send us your photos! 

Sign up for Stop the Bleed Training

Register for upcoming Stop the Bleed course on Ulearn. These classes have a two-part registration process. 

First, you must finish the American College of Surgeon’s online course that can be completed by watching the associated videos (15–20-minute time commitment), click here to sign up. 

Once the online courses are finished and the comprehension quiz is passed, participants care return to register for the hands-on skills portion in the next step (a 30–40-minute time commitment). You must bring the results of the online quiz to validate completion of the online course.

To register, click here. Below are the dates for the in-person portion of the class. 

• June 1 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• June 2 – 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. in the SimLab
• June 17 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Pavilion 2 Classroom
• June 30 – 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. in the SimLab
• July 6 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• July 22 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Command Center
• Aug. 3 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• Aug. 19 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Command Center

Untold Podcast: Sonny Burgess

Music has the power to heal, connect and inspire - and few people understand that better than Sonny Burgess, Director of Clinical Performing Arts. In this final episode of Untold: The Stories of Cook Children’s, Sonny shares the remarkable journey that took him from playing music in small-town Texas to Nashville stages - and ultimately to the halls of Cook Children’s.

Visit Connect Newsroom to view this episode of Untold: The Stories of Cook Children's. 

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. 

Gearing Up for Employee Performance & Development

Our year-end Performance & Development (P&D) cycle kicks off in June, launching the annual activities that review and support your performance on the job.   

This is the third straight year we’re applying Workday tools to our P&D platform. The goal is to reinforce your strengths, enhance your career growth, and equip you to excel and thrive in your role at Cook Children’s.

What does the P&D process mean for you? You’ll be involved in: 

• Peer Feedback: Selected co-workers provide input on your performance.
• Leader Feedback: Selected direct reports provide input on the leader’s performance.
• Self-Evaluations: Highlight your own successes; it’s your time to shine! (required for Magnet nurses)
• Manager Evaluations: Assessment of each direct report’s performance over the past year, followed by a check-in conversation.

Be sure to read the Connect newsletter for updates from now until P&D wraps up Oct. 5. We’ll keep you informed and help you prepare. You can expect:

• Articles and images explaining each step
• Advance notice of key dates
• Reminders when a task is coming due
• Expectations and tips

Thank you for your collaboration as we look ahead to this important process. In preparation for the kick-off, visit the Performance & Development page on CookNet for resources including Job Aids and Click Views.

Upcoming Law Enforcement Training on Fort Worth Campus 

Please read this important notice regarding scheduled activity at the former Kids' Place location.

On weekdays starting Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, June 5, SWAT and local police forces will be using the former Kids' Place and former Alliance for Children building on the Fort Worth campus, for essential emergency response training. These scheduled exercises will take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

During these hours, you'll see an increased presence of uniformed officers on campus and may hear noticeable noises coming from the training space. All training will take place within a fenced area and will not impact hospital operations in any way. 

This is a scheduled, routine training exercise only. There is no active threat to the campus, and there is no cause for alarm.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as local law enforcement makes use of this facility.

Get Ready for World Cup Preparedness Day

Ahead of the big tournament, be sure to attend World Cup Preparedness Day, taking place on May 26 at the Hochberger Auditorium at the Medical Center - Fort Worth campus. You must register for the Stop the Bleed training, but the remainder of the sessions do not require registration. 

Feel free to attend one, multiple, or all of these sessions. These sessions will cover major incident response actions, emotional safety tips, and hands-on training.

Click here to see the full list of what will be offered during World Cup Preparedness Day. 

Visit the World Cup Resource site located on the top of the CookNet homepage for more information on preparing for this huge event in North Texas. 

Untold: Meet Kanika Bowen-Jallow, M.D.

Kanika Bowen-Jallow, M.D., Medical Director of the Bariatric Surgery Program, never set out to become a pediatric surgeon - but one unexpected rotation in medical school changed everything. In this episode of Untold: The Stories of Cook Children’s podcast, Dr. Bowen-Jallow shares the journey that led her to pediatric surgery and to building Cook Children’s Adolescent Bariatric Program in Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper. 

To learn more about her story, visit Connect Newsroom. 

Retirement 

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

• Liz Barriteau, MS, RRT, AE-C-Patient and Family Education Coordinator, is retiring after 38 years of service. Please join us for her celebration from 1–3 p.m. on Friday, June 5, in the Hochberger Auditorium to congratulate Liz.

To read more about Liz 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. 

Introducing Day in the Life of Peaks

Everyone's favorite dragon is going behind the scenes to learn what makes a normal day at Cook Children's Health Care System so extraordinary. To start his journey, Peaks hung out with our Custom Mobility Technicians at Home Health to see the amazing work they bring to the system every single day.

See postcards of his journey on Connect Newsroom and see it on our LinkedIn page! 

Power Outage Scheduled at Fort Worth Medical Center 

There will be two short power outages this week: on Wednesday, May 20 between 10:30 - 11 p.m. and early Thursday, May 21, between midnight - 1 a.m. The outages will last fewer than two minutes and will only affect normal power circuits. Emergency power will be uninterrupted.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Growing Together: The New Kids’ Place

For more 20 years, Kids’ Place Child Development Center has been a cornerstone of the Cook Children’s family. While the walls are changing, the memories, laughter, and family-centered care remain exactly the same. 

On May 18, Kids’ Place officially moved just a few blocks away to a brand-new location on Ninth Avenue (between Cooper and Pruitt streets). Take a look at our story and photos of the new facility on Connect Newsroom. 

We collected your submissions and are sharing parents' memories of Kids' Place through the years. Click here to see photos of adorable kids! 

*We are no longer accepting submissions at this time*

Join us for 2026 Trauma Awareness Fair 

Join us for the 2026 Trauma Awareness Fair. An employee-only portion will be held between 10 a.m-2 p.m. and 9 p.m.- midnight on Thursday, May 21 at Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth Atrium. These sessions are for both day and night shift employees.

You can encourage patient families to visit us 10 a.m-2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20 at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth in the Atrium. 

Get Ready for World Cup Preparedness Day

Ahead of the big tournament, be sure to attend World Cup Preparedness Day, taking place on May 26 at the Hochberger Auditorium at the Medical Center - Fort Worth campus. You must register for the Stop the Bleed training, but the remainder of the sessions do not require registration. 

Feel free to attend one, multiple, or all of these sessions. These sessions will cover major incident response actions, emotional safety tips, and hands-on training.

Click here to see the full list of what will be offered during World Cup Preparedness Day. 

Visit the World Cup Resource site located on the top of the CookNet homepage for more information on preparing for this huge event in North Texas. 

Read the Process Improvement Newsletter 

The Process Improvement Newsletter is back, and with it, a renewed commitment to connection. Prior to COVID, this newsletter served as a way to highlight improvement work happening across the system. At that time, it was distributed in hard copy form, which limited its reach. As a result, some may not have been aware of its presence. While the newsletter paused in the years that followed, the work never did.

Click here to read the relaunch of the Process Improvement Newsletter on CookNet. 

Mental Health Awareness Education

As a reminder, you can point patients and families towards reliable resources when they are in need of mental health education. Please read or share these webpages: Behavior and Emotion Resources or Mental Health Resources if a child or a patient family is in need of education and support. These education resources include various platforms, including a video series, pdfs, podcasts and articles. 

These sites cover:

• Supporting a child with ADHD
• Managing moments of anxiety
• Practical advice to guide behavior
• Provide comfort and strength to your loved one with depression
• Healthier ways to cope and heal together
• Navigating the challenges of substance abuse

System Reminders

• Prosper Campus Cookout and CCPN Hurst Urgent Care Center Cookout - Team Experience
• Get your Cook Children's Weekend at the Ballpark tickets - Team Experience
• Join in-person Q&A with the Leave of Absence Team. Details on CookNet System Calendar
• Share your experiences about how our benefits have helped you. Email AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org by May 31.
• Sign up for Stop the Bleed training - Event

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. 

If You Missed It: Watch Town Hall  

Thank you to all who attended or watched our System Town Hall. If you were unable to attend, please watch the recording of the event here. 

This Town Hall includes: 

• A panel discussion with:
  • Rick Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children's Health Care System
  • Amy Knight, Chief Administration Officer
  • Merridth Simpson, Senior Vice President of Human Resources
• Details about our new brand awareness campaign
• A walk through our West Tower construction journey
• Clinical discussion with:
  • Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D., Chief Medical Officer
  • Matthew Dzurik, M.D., President of CCPN
  • Corwin Warmink, M.D., Chief Clinical Officer
• World Cup resources and news
• Information Services Update with:
  • Teresa Tonthat, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Information Officer
  • Kathy Jobes, Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer

Major Construction Impact: Terrell Avenue Between Eighth and Seventh Avenues Closed for Drivers May 18  

Upcoming Street Closure - Beginning May 18, Terrell Avenue between Eighth and Seventh Avenues will be closed. 

• The Terrell Avenue Garage will no longer be accessible from Eighth Avenue. Please use Sixth Avenue via Pennsylvania Avenue or Rosedale Street to access the garage.
• The Eighth & Terrell Garage will still be accessible from both Eighth Avenue and Terrell Avenue.
• The sidewalk on Terrell Avenue will still be accessible allowing staff parking in the Eighth & Terrell Garage to walk down Terrell Avenue and access the Medical Center via the South Tower.

 Please remind patients and families

• The Emergency Department will no longer be accessible from Eighth Avenue.
• Please use Sixth Avenue via Pennsylvania Avenue or Rosedale Street to access the Emergency Department located on Sixth Avenue and Terrell Avenue.

To stay up to date on driving routes bookmark: Construction Updates | Cook Children's Medical Center. 

Sign up for World Cup Preparedness Day

Ahead of the big game, be sure to register for World Cup Preparedness Day, taking place on May 26 at the Hochberger Auditorium at the Medical Center - Fort Worth campus. 

During this training, the course will cover response actions to consider during a potential major incident, emotional safety tips, and other hands-on training. 

Click here to see the full list of what will be offered during Work Cup Preparedness Day. 

Visit the World Cup Resource site located on the top of the CookNet homepage for more information. 

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. 

Compensation Corner: Spotlight on Employee Pay

Cook Children’s is kicking off a communications initiative to keep you informed about compensation topics, including pay. We’re introducing a Connect Newsletter series called Compensation Corner, designed to keep you updated. The Compensation team in Human Resources wants all employees and leaders to understand the why and how behind pay decisions at Cook Children’s. They’re working to earn your trust.

“We’re connecting the dots between performance and rewards, engaging our leaders, taking a strategic approach, utilizing data to help leaders make informed decisions and leveraging technology to develop solutions,” said Anniese Lemond, AVP for Compensation. 

To learn more about the milestones on the journey ahead, visit Connect Newsroom.

Cook Children's Names Great 10 and DAISY Nurse Leader Award Recipients

Always a highlight of Nurses Week, Cook Children's Health Care System honors our nursing professionals through our Great 10 Nurse Ceremony and Daisy Leader Award Ceremony. With 80 nominations for the Great 10 Nurses award and a record-breaking number of nomination letters (more than 100), our nursing professionals exemplify high-quality professionalism and expert care to our patients. 

Visit Connect Newsroom to view photos of the event and the full list of award-winners and nominees. 

All Things World Cup on CookNet 

Ahead of the big soccer tournament coming to the Metroplex, Environmental Safety and Emergency Management have created a one-stop shop of resources for employees all about the World Cup. A direct link to this 2026 World Cup CookNet site will be at the top of the CookNet homepage until the end of the tournament. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It features 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 stadiums spread across North America. The first match at Dallas Stadium (the temporary name for AT&T Stadium in Arlington) is on June 14.

The website includes details for clinicians on international diseases, as well as cultural resources, how to access to language interpreters and how to sign up for Cook Children's emergency alerts. Check back frequently for the latest news and updates as we count down to kickoff.

Training for New Contract Worker System RightSourcing - May 13 and 14

Cook Children's is implementing a program to help manage our contract workers more efficiently. We’ve partnered with RightSourcing, a contingent workforce management firm, to manage hiring, timecards, payroll, and other services for contractors and temporary workers.

This new process will be phased in, with the first update happening this month. Starting on May 17, managers will request any new contingent workers using Magnit VMS, RightSourcing’s web-based tool for requisitions, time and expense reporting, and approvals. By transitioning to this new process, we aim to automate the hiring process to reduce manual data entry and paperwork, cutting out extra steps so you can get your work done faster. 

If you are a manager who has a contingent worker, two virtual training sessions are scheduled in May to provide an overview of RightSourcing and Magnit VMS. These trainings will be virtual 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 13 and 10 a.m., Thursday, May 14. 

Click here to read more about this change and sign up for training. 

Celebrate Second Quarter Peak Performers

Congratulations to all our second quarter Peak Performers. Your contributions to our system do not go unnoticed. Visit the Peak Performers CookNet site to see a full list of those recognized this quarter and to find out how to a nominate fellow colleagues. 

Retirements 

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

• Diane Taylor, Registered Nurse for Surgery-IP/OP, has retired after more than 29 years of service on May 4.
• Morris Foster, ACT - Vascular Access, is retiring after 22 years of service on May 12.
• Jeannie Parsley, Unit Secretary for the Fort Worth Emergency Department, is retiring after more than 25 years of service on May 14.
• Alison Coombs, Registered Nurse for SPA-Recovery, is retiring after more than 24 years of service on May 29.
• Joann Sanders, M.D., Chief Quality Officer, is retiring on June 1. Please join us from 2-4 p.m. on May 21, in the Rosedale Office Building on the 5th floor, Rooms 5405 A&B for a retirement celebration.

To read more about their retirements please visit the Retirement CookNet page. 

System Reminders

• Watch the Town Hall at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12 - Live stream link
• Get your Cook Children's Weekend at the Ballpark tickets - Team Experience
• Join in-person Q&A with the Leave of Absence Team. Details on CookNet System Calendar
• Share your experiences about how our benefits have helped you. Email AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org by May 31.

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. 

The Quality of a Career: Celebrating the Legacy of Joann Sanders, M.D.

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Joann Sanders, M.D., CHCQM, FAIHQ, has done more than practice medicine; she has defined the very standards of care we uphold today. As she prepares for her retirement on June 1, 2026, Dr. Sanders leaves behind a legacy built on the belief that for our patients, "good enough" never is. 

Read more about Dr. Sanders' impact and journey on Connect Newsroom. 

Cook Children’s Health Care System Town Hall Scheduled for May 12

Please join us for a Town Hall event at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Hochberger Auditorium.

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

If your schedule or location doesn't permit live attendance, the event will be live-streamed and recorded. To ensure everyone has access to this critical information promptly, plans are for the recording to be distributed via email later that afternoon.

We look forward to discussing our path toward preeminence.  

Untold: Kevin Greene, President of Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper

The Untold: The Stories of Cook Children’s, a podcast series, is coming to an end with a final season featuring your colleagues and leaders who live out our Promise daily. 

In this episode we hear from Kevin Greene, President of Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper, as he shares a powerful full-circle journey rooted in purpose, perseverance, and passion.  

From childhood memories of watching the iconic blue peaks light up the Fort Worth skyline to leading a brand-new medical center serving thousands of families, Kevin’s story is deeply personal. Inspired by his mother’s career in health care, shaped by early experiences as both a patient and intern, and strengthened through unexpected detours - including selling copiers door-to-door - Kevin’s path is a testament to resilience and calling.  

Click here to watch on Connect Newsroom.

Why 2,800 Pinwheels Are Lining the Paths at Cook Children’s

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The pinwheels help draw attention to the issue and remind caregivers, families, and parents they are not alone. Each pinwheel isn’t just a case or a number; it represents a child. Each of the 1,528 pinwheels represents a visit with Cook Children’s Child Advocacy Resource and Evaluation (C.A.R.E) team due to suspected child abuse in 2025. In Prosper, 1,287 pinwheels illustrate the victims of child abuse in Denton County in 2025.

Thank you to the C.A.R.E. Team which includes social workers, nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, and medical assistants who live out our Promise to ensure every child is being cared for. Read more about how your colleagues work to prevent child abuse on Checkup Newsroom. 

Retirements 

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

• Susan Hillin, RN, MSN, RN-BC, Director of Clinical Education, is retiring after more than 22 years of service on May 1.
• Noelia Echols, Clinical Quality Improvement Coordinator, is retiring after more than 40 years of service on April 24.

To read more about their retirements 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. 

The Storyteller’s Final Chapter: Saying Goodbye to Wini King

After 20 years of shaping the narrative at Cook Children’s, Wini Joyi King, SVP and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, is preparing to step away on April 30, 2026.

Since joining, Wini has been the driving force behind elevating the organization’s reach—most notably by launching Checkup Newsroom seventeen years ago, which has since grown into a global platform with over 21 million views. Beyond her mastery of storytelling, she served as a steady voice during the COVID-19 pandemic and a dedicated leader who worked to ensure that "The Promise" remained a core, lived experience for every employee and patient. As the organization embarks on a new phase of growth, Wini leaves behind an indelible legacy, having spent two decades ensuring the world saw the exceptional talent and care within our walls.

Read more about her legacy on Connect Newsroom. 

Gear Up for Employee Appreciation Month 

May is Employee Appreciation Month at Cook Children’s! Throughout May, we’ll be celebrating with campus cookouts, activities, and special offers just for employees. Join in on the fun no matter where you work across the system!

• Campus Cookouts are coming to Cook Children’s locations, and funds are available for off-site and fully remote teams to plan their own celebration. Click here to see the dates.
• Two Cook Children’s Weekend(s) at the Ballpark - discount tickets
  • May 8-10: Rangers vs. Chicago Cubs
  • May 29-31: Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals
• An Evening with The Cliburn - discounted concert tickets
• Healthcare Hero Day at the Frisco RoughRiders – discount baseball tickets
• NRH2O Family Water Park – discount day passes
• Brain Break word search challenge - enter for a chance to win a Starbucks gift card!

Be sure to visit the Team Experience CookNet site and Employee Appreciation Month 2026: Events and Special Offers page for full details.

Participate in Patient Experience Week Events

Patient and Family Experience Week is an annual time to celebrate accomplishments, re-energize efforts, and honor those who collaborate with the goal of improving the experiences of our patients and families.

Please join us in celebrating the week by participating in one or more of the events listed here. The theme this year is celebrating the children and families who trust us with their care, recognize the privilege of serving them, and reconnect ourselves to the meaning behind our daily work.

We are not just here to provide care — we are here because patients and families inspire us to be better, kinder, and more compassionate every day.

Click here to see the flyer with the list of events. 

Visit the Patient Experience CookNet site to view a video of teens sharing heartfelt and honest reflections on what helps them feel heard, respected, and supported during their healthcare journey. Their messages remind us how every interaction, big or small, helps create exceptional experiences through connection, collaboration, and care.

After Cancer Journey, Louis White Brings New Joy to Cook Children’s

“Everybody is going through a storm,” Louis White Jr. says. “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.”

Louis, security services ambassador with the Security Services department, celebrates his 31-year anniversary working at Cook Children's Health Care System this month after a year battling multiple myeloma. 

Learn more about his journey on Connect Newsroom. 

Courtney Engelbaum Named Social Worker of the Year

Please join us in congratulating Cook Children’s 2026 Social Worker of the Year and all social workers who were nominated for this award. Each employee nominated for this honor has gone above and beyond to meet Cook Children’s experience standards – to connect, collaborate, and elevate – and each embodies Cook Children’s core values of kindness, respect, collaboration, imagination, generosity and safety.

This year, the honor of Social Worker of the Year is awarded to Courtney Engelbaum, LMSW, CARE Team. 

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. 

Building Our Future: Stay Flexible and Friendly

Just like a child getting a "big kid" bed, our Main Campus is having a growth spurt! Thank you for your continued patience and for looking out for one another as we build this exciting future for our patient families and our community. During this time of change, let’s be sure to live by our Cook Children’s values of kindness and generosity.

Learn about the ways we can sprinkle some extra kindness around campus while navigating West Tower construction on Connect Newsroom. 

As a reminder, if you need staff navigation please visit Connect Newsroom.

Vote for Cook Children’s in the People’s Tellys

Three videos created by the Marketing Department at Cook Children's are shortlisted to win a People's Telly Award. To win, we're asking you to vote and rate five stars. You are welcome to vote for more than one video. The deadline for voting is Friday, April 17. 

• 18 Missed Calls: Vote now
• My Name is Addy: Vote now
• The Heart Hero: How a Cook Children’s Surgeon Helped Save a Newborn: Vote now

Lights and Flag Show Support for Organ Donation

Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth will light up in the blue and green colors of Donate Life from April 20-25 to help raise awareness for organ donation.

April is National Donate Life Month, which encourages people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. More than 100,000 people in the United States are awaiting a transplant. Cook Children’s partners with the procurement organization LifeGift.

A ceremony at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, will honor patients who received donated organs and deceased patients who became organ donors. A 12-year-old kidney recipient is planning to share his story at the ceremony, taking place in the Meditation Room on the first floor of the south tower.

Donors at Cook Children’s have provided kidneys, hearts, livers, lungs and other organs for transplant surgeries across Texas and beyond. Their first names and ages are etched into a memorial plaque near the prayer garden. From 2023-2025 at Cook Children’s there were 25 organ donors resulting in 84 organs transplanted, as well as 19 tissue donors.

“As their own hearts are breaking, some families choose courage, generosity and kindness, and mold their searing pain into something that can do good for others,” chaplain Brianna Benzinger said at the 2025 flag raising. “We give thanks for their bravery, their gift, their love in action.”

Go online to register as a donor or stop by the Donate Texas table from 1-3 p.m. on April 22 in Camelot Court Light to learn more. 

Send Us Your Kids' Place Memories

To make way for expansion of Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth, our on-site child development center will be moving to a new building under construction a few blocks away along Ninth Avenue between Cooper and Pruitt streets. Kids’ Place Child Development Center has served the families of Cook Children’s employees since 2001 at its 901 Southland Ave. location. 

Does your family have a connection to Kids' Place? We'd love to see photos of memories of your child's experience at the center. Please send us photos of your child at Kids' Place and don't forget to let us know their name, age at the time of the photo and the year the photo was taken! Please submit your photos by May 8. 

We’ll share some of the photos in the Connect Newsroom, email us at internalcommunications@cookchildrens.org. 

Sign up for Stop the Bleed Training on ULearn

Visit ULearn to sign up for a new education opportunity that features an online training course and then an in-person training session at the SimLab on the Medical Center - Fort Worth campus. 

Dates for the SimLab in-person training include: 

• Tuesday, April 21, 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, April 28, 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
• Friday, May 8, 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 14, 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 2, 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, June 30, 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

For more information or to sign up, click here.

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 Navigation Routes: Helping You Transition Through Fort Worth Campus Changes

To support you during this transition, we have developed step-by-step walking directions with photos to guide you through the best alternative routes to the Medical Center-Fort Worth and Dodson Specialty Clinics. Click here. 

As we prepare for the permanent closure of Dillard Family Garden and Seventh Avenue on Tuesday, April 14, our priority is ensuring you can navigate campus with ease. We recognize that this change impacts the primary walking route for team members parking in the 8th & Terrell and Terrell Avenue garages, and staff at the Rosedale Office Building (ROB) and 901 Building. 

Staff access between the north and south sides of campus will be through the South Tower, and some areas are accessible only with a Cook Children’s badge. (For non-employee access, please see separate directions on the Construction page on our website.) Please only park in your designated area. 

It is highly recommended to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination and report for your shift at your scheduled time. For staff members who are already familiar with the South Tower basement routes, please model generosity and help your colleagues get where they need to go.

Putting Safety First as We Build the West Tower

As work on the West Tower expansion progresses, the Main Campus is becoming an even busier place. With new routes opening up between the north and south ends of the Main Campus, employees and patient families will be sharing the roads and walkways with increased construction traffic and heavy vehicles.

Our Cook Children’s values of safety and kindness can help us navigate these changes together. We want to ensure that every person—whether walking or driving—gets where they need to go.

For more information about the safety precautions visit Connect Newsroom. 

Learn More about Leave of Absence

Our Benefits Leave of Absence team will host in-person Q&A sessions to answer any questions you have related to the Family and Medical Leave Act, Leave of Absence, Paid Parental Leave, and short-term or long-term disability.

Please come visit us at the Medical Center - Fort Worth in the Family Support Meeting Room A during the following times:

• 11 a.m. - noon, Tuesday, April 21
• 11 a.m. - noon, Tuesday, May 19

You can reach out to our Benefits Leave of Absence team at AskLeave@cookchildrens.org with any questions!

Visit the FMLA & Leave of Absence CookNet site to learn more or see the Leave Brochure. 

From the Stands to the Office: Share Your World Cup Stories

North Texas is hosting nine matches at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, and departments are busy making sure we are prepared for any families from across the globe that may need care at Cook Children’s. For now, we’re looking for highlights from employees who have experienced past World Cup events, to give us an idea of what to expect.

We want to see and hear your experiences, including:

• The Atmosphere: What was the "vibe" like in the host city?
• The Photos: Show us your stadium selfies, your best fan gear, or the view from your seat.
• The "I Was There" Moment: That one specific play or goal that made the whole trip worth it.

We’ll be featuring some of the stories and photos in the Connect Newsroom. Send information to internalcommunications@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. 

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

New Navigation Routes: Helping You Transition Through Fort Worth Campus Changes

As we prepare for the permanent closure of Dillard Family Garden and Seventh Avenue on Tuesday, April 14, our priority is ensuring you can navigate campus with ease. This closure is a necessary step in connecting our new West Tower to the South Tower, ultimately allowing us to better serve the families who trust us with their care.

We recognize that this change impacts the primary walking route for team members parking in the 8th & Terrell and Terrell Avenue garages, and staff at the Rosedale Office Building (ROB) and 901 Building. 

To support you during this transition, we have developed step-by-step walking directions with photos to guide you through the best alternative routes to the Medical Center-Fort Worth and Dodson Specialty Clinics. Click here.

Staff access between the north and south sides of campus will be through the South Tower, and some areas are accessible only with a Cook Children’s badge. (For non-employee access, please see separate directions on the Construction page on our website.)

It is highly recommended to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination and report for your shift at your scheduled time. For staff members who are already familiar with the South Tower basement routes, please model generosity and help your colleagues get where they need to go.

New Chapter, Same Commitment: THPG Henderson is Now Open

The Henderson location has officially transitioned from CareATC to Texas Health Physicians Group (THPG) and is now open to serve you.

While the name on the door has changed, our Promise to provide convenient, high-quality care to our Cook Children’s team members remains our primary focus. We are pleased to welcome Kevin Eldridge, M.D., to the Texas Health Resource team, alongside several familiar faces who have chosen to join THPG to continue supporting our employees.

Ready to Schedule at the Henderson Employee Clinic?

To book your first appointment during this transition, please call the clinic directly.

• Phone: (817) 250-7441
• Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Know Before You Go

We want to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible for you. Detailed information regarding insurance coverage, new providers, and scheduling is available in an updated resource guide.

Click here for FAQ  

The FAQ includes:

• Contact information on the new clinicians at all locations.
• Guidance on co-pays and medical plan benefits.
• A map of all THPG Health Centers.

A Quick Reminder about THPG Prosper

As we expand our footprint to better serve all of you across the system, don't forget that THPG Prosper is also open and available for your health care needs. Click here to learn more about the Prosper location. 

For more information visit the Occupational Health CookNet site. 

‘What’s New’ with the Epic Spring Upgrade

Check out ‘What’s New’ – training updates aimed making staying up to date with Epic easier than ever. These updates are now available in one easy-to-access location—and they’re customized based on when and where you work within Epic. The updates will be timely, targeted resources designed to support your workflow patterns. 

Epic customizes the content in ‘What’s New’, so you’ll see upgrade education prioritized based on the amount of time you document in the various activities. Click here to read more.

Vote for Cook Children’s in the People’s Tellys

Three videos created by the Marketing Department at Cook Children's are shortlisted to win a People's Telly Award. To win, we're asking you to vote and rate five stars. You are welcome to vote for more than one video. The deadline for voting is Friday, April 17. 

• 18 Missed Calls: Vote now
• My Name is Addy: Vote now
• The Heart Hero: How a Cook Children’s Surgeon Helped Save a Newborn: Vote now

BJ’s Wholesale Special Membership Rate for Employees 

BJ’s Wholesale is opening soon at 7241 Harris Parkway in Fort Worth. You can purchase your membership now, save money, and support Cook Children’s Health Foundation with your membership purchase.

New Memberships special rate: 

• Club Card: $15 (regularly $60)- Donates $5 to Cook Children’s Health Foundation
• Club+ Card: $50 (regularly $120)- Donates $15 to Cook Children’s Health Foundation
  • Includes 2% back on most purchases plus 5 cents off per gallon at BJ’s Gas

How to Sign Up: www.bjs.com/partner/cookchildrenshealthfoundation

Memberships are active immediately for online shopping and use at any other BJ’s location valid for 12 months from the store opening—so you get extra time to save at any BJ’s location.

• Gas incentives for the first six months with each membership
• With the Club card, new members get 10 cents off on gas
• With the Club+ card new members get 20 Cents off on gas

This offer expires May 17, 2026. For any questions, please contact corporatepartners@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, 

This weather is amazing! Your leadership team hopes that you all had a wonderful time with your family at Easter and made some memories! We would invite you to take a moment to reflect on the pinwheels on the front lawn and the meaning that they carry. Please see the information for our Ethics bundle and tickets for Dallas Volleyball. Enjoy the spring weather and sunshine😊

Thank you for all you do, 

Your Prosper Leadership Team

Infection Prevention Monthly: April 2026

Hearts & Heroes Night: Complimentary Volleyball Tickets

We are excited to share a special invitation for our staff to attend Hearts & Heroes Night with Dallas Pulse Volleyball! To honor the dedication of healthcare workers, first responders, and military personnel, our team members are being offered two complimentary tickets to the match on at 7:00 p.m., on Friday, April 17, 

This evening is dedicated to recognizing the heroes in our community with special in-game tributes and activations throughout the concourse.

How to Redeem: To claim your seats, scan the QR code on the attached flyer or visit the Hearts and Heroes Tickets link. After selecting your seats and proceeding to checkout, you will see the price of your first two tickets reduced to $0. If you'd like to bring more guests, you will also have the option to purchase additional tickets at a discounted rate.

Event Details:

• Time: 7:00 p.m.
• Date: April 17
• Offer: Two complimentary tickets (plus discounted additional seats)

Pinwheels on Campus

The month of April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and here at Cook Children's Health Care System we acknowledge every child deserves a loving childhood. You will notice pinwheels on our Prosper and Fort Worth campuses. These pinwheels are a national symbol for child abuse prevention. 

Each pinwheel at our campus represents one of the nearly 1,300 cases of abuse reported in Denton County.

In Case You Missed It

Heart of Melissa Spring Street Fair

We are excited to add a new event to our spring line up this year to support our north market. The Heart of Melissa Spring Street Fair will take place from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on April 11 in downtown Melissa. It is hosted by the Melissa Chamber of Commerce. This event brings live music, food vendors, a kids area and more. The event draws 20,000 - 25,000 people annually.

If you are available, please volunteer at this fun event! Use the link here to sign up today. Help us spread the word that we are a convenient healthcare option for these families. Come and promote your clinic and our system!

Universal Date for Mask Fits

Starting this July, we are transitioning to an annual schedule for respiratory mask fit testing, which will take place every July moving forward. 

Here is what this change means for the first year: 
 

• Those that had mask fitting in March 2026 will perform mask fitting in July 2027. If the employee experiences significant weight loss/gain or facial changes, the employee will need to be refitted. The employee will contact Occupational Health Services for instructions.
• Those that are due April-June 2026 will instead perform mask fitting in July 2026.
• Everyone who has a respiratory mask fitting requirement will be completed in the month of July.
• Occupational Health will be at Medical Center-Prosper for July dates: Tuesday through Thursday on July 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23 from 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Appointments will open for scheduling starting on May 20.
• OSHA questionnaires must be completed by June 22 so that the Occupational Health Team can review.
• If employee does not obtain a mask fitting at the Medical Center-Prosper, then alternative sites will need to be utilized to meet the requirement but will still maintain the July due date every year. Approved options will be shared with the administration at Prosper. This is mainly for those out on leave and needing a mask fit upon return to work.
• Those who do not complete their mask fitting by Aug. 1 will be subject to corrective action, up to and including suspension or termination. 
   

Volunteers Needed

We have some great upcoming injury prevention event opportunities to share with you. If you are looking to get involved or need some volunteer hours, we have options in all focus areas several areas around the North Texas area. If you are bilingual, please let the organizer know, as it helpful in the planning process. Every event listed below will be supported by one or more of our team members. We are so very grateful to our volunteers, as we work to spread awareness and educate families on these important topics. 

• April Pools Day
  • 6-8 p.m., April 10, Heritage Park, Weatherford
  • Contact: Jillian Mitchell
• Texas Health Resources FW Super Safety Saturday
  • 10 a.m.–1 p.m., April 25, Clearfork
  • Topics: Water safety and safe sleep
  • Contact: Jillian Mitchell
• Carrollton Safety Fair
  • 10 a.m.–1 p.m., May 2, Carrollton
  • Topics: Gun safety, water safety, poison prevention, safe sleep, vehicle safety
  • Contact: Eric Gonzalez
• Northwest Fort Worth PD Safety Event
  • 11 a.m.–2 p.m., May 16, North Fort Worth
  • Topics: All programs
  • Contact: Klaressa Broughton
• Super Safety Saturday THR Burleson
  • 9 a.m.–12 p.m., May 16, Burleson
  • Topics: Water safety and safe sleep
  • Contact: Jillian Mitchell

• Celina Touch-A-Truck Event

  • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 11
  • Old Celina Park, 12670 FM 428, Celina
  • Sign up: here. 

Cook Children's is so pleased to be the Title Sponsor of the Celina Touch-A-Truck Event for 2026. We will have Teddy Bear Transport Ambulance at our booth along with fun giveaways for kids. Bring your kiddos and family out to enjoy this fun, free, family event. We would love to have physicians and staff members volunteer to meet and greet with the community.

• Celina Cajun Fest

  • 2–9 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 9
  • Sign up: here.

Cook Children’s is the Kids Zone sponsor and will have a booth. This is a great opportunity to represent Cook Children’s, get volunteer hours or market your practice or services to the community. This will be a busy and fun event and is free for the whole family. Enjoy carnival rides, inflatables, a Gator Show, vendor booths and all the crawfish you can eat. As it gets dark, enjoy live music from the Eli Young Band.

Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper Ethics

Important: Permanent Closure of Dillard Garden and Seventh Avenue Sidewalks

As we move forward with the West Tower construction—a vital expansion to serve our growing community—we are reaching a significant milestone. To allow for the seamless connection between the new West Tower and our existing South Tower, we must permanently close a portion of our campus footprint.

Starting April 14, Dillard Family Garden and Seventh Avenue sidewalks between Cooper Street and Terrell Avenue will be permanently closed.

We recognize that this change impacts the primary route many of you use to navigate between the north and south sides of our campus. While we understand this is a significant adjustment to your daily routine, this step is essential to building a facility that will allow our incredible team to care for even more families across DFW.

To ensure safety and facilitate construction, please note the following pedestrian impacts:

• Seventh Avenue: Sidewalks on both the east and west sides of this section will be permanently closed.
• Cooper Street: The sidewalk on the south side of Cooper Street will remain closed until further notice.
• Alternative Routes: Access to Medical Center-Fort Worth and Dodson Clinics from Terrell Avenue is available via the basement level of Cook Children’s Medical Center or Sixth Avenue.

Though construction brings temporary challenges, the completion of the West Tower will result in a much-improved experience for patient families. Thank you for your patience and for everything you do to provide world-class care. We will share more specific navigation details in upcoming internal communications to help you transition through these changes. For updates on construction impacts on traffic, parking and pedestrian routes, please visit the campus growth page on the Cook Children's website.

Cook Children’s Medicare Resources – Explore, Learn and Get Support

Navigating Medicare can feel overwhelming, but getting the right guidance doesn’t have to be. As part of your benefits through Cook Children’s, you have access to Medicare education and support through our partner, Medicare Choice Group. Here is what is available to you:

On Demand recordings- Learn at your own pace, anytime. These comprehensive webinar sessions are designed to help you better understand how Medicare works and what to consider as you approach eligibility. Once you register, you can access the recordings for the below topics at your convenience here: Medicare Guidance

• Understanding Medicare Coverage Recording
• Effectively Planning Your Medicare Transition Timeline Recording

Helpful Resources - Once you’ve had a chance to review the webinars, you can also explore additional resources through your Cook Children’s Medicare Learning Hub. 
Medicare Learning Hub

1:1 Support - If you’d like to take the next step and speak with a Medicare advisor about your specific situation, you can schedule a one-on-one appointment at no cost to you here:
Schedule an Appointment

Cook Children’s employees and their loved ones who may be approaching Medicare eligibility are eligible for this benefit. Whether you’re planning ahead, getting close to eligibility, or helping a family member, these resources are available to help you every step of the way. 

Recognize Someone Who Lives Out our Promise 

Help us celebrate our Promise in action! The Health Foundation is collecting nominations for team members who live out our Promise values every day—in big ways and small moments. Your responses may be featured in the annual Promise magazine and help shine a light on the people who bring our Promise to life!

Click here to submit your nominations. Please submit your nominations by Wednesday, April 15. 

Have questions? Reach out to Rachel.Hendricks@cookchildrens.org.

Attend the Operational Excellence Summit 

Join the Process Improvement Department in the 2026 Operational Excellence Summit between 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Monday, April 13 at the Medical Center - Fort Worth. 

This event is free to all Cook Children's staff and will feature guest speakers, food and presentations. 

To register, click here. 

Around the System: 

Our very own Diane Arnaout, M.D., a pediatrician at Cook Children’s Pediatrics – Forest Park, is featured on the cover of Fort Worth Magazine’s 2026 “Top Doctors” issue. To read her feature, visit page 62-67 in the Fort Worth Magazine digital issue. 

In the same magazine issue, there is a feature about Christos Papadelis, M.D., and his team of neuroscientists developing an AI-driven tool able to help identify the origin of seizures. To read more, visit page 60-61 in the Fort Worth Magazine digital issue. 

Research Administration and Medical Laboratory team members wore purple to honor International Epilepsy Day. We want to see how teams connect and collaborate throughout the system. Send us your photos to InternalCommunications@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. 

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

Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth Hosting Preparedness Workshop 

Several law enforcement and government agencies will be at Cook Children’s Medical Center- Fort Worth on Friday, April 3 for an emergency preparedness workshop.

The workshop is part of a citywide effort to collaborate and strengthen relationships ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Led by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the workshop will be a discussion-based tabletop exercise. Cook Children’s is proud to serve as the host for this event. Local, regional, state and federal participation is expected.

Connect with the Cook Children’s Veterans Group

The Cook Children’s Veterans Group (CCVG) provides resources for those directly or indirectly impacted by the uncertainties of global conflict. Whether you or a family member faces a potential deployment, the CCVG is here to support you.   

To read more about what resources are offered to you, visit Connect Newsroom. 

Construction News - Fort Worth Medical Center 

Seventh Avenue Southbound Closed until April 11

AT&T is conducting work on Seventh Avenue between Terrell Avenue and Pulaski Street. The southbound lane will be closed during this time. Recommended alternate is to use Sixth Avenue due to construction on Eighth Avenue. 

To stay up to date on driving routes around the Medical Center-Fort Worth visit: Construction Updates | Cook Children's Medical Center 

Last Call: Presidents' Scholarship Applications Are Open

Applications are open for the 2026 Presidents' Scholarship program. This scholarship is open to dependent children of full-time and half-time Cook Children’s employees in good standing with a minimum of one year of eligible service from the date these applications are due.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on April 6.

To view the full eligibility criteria and application, visit the Human Resources CookNet page. 

If you have any questions, please email amanda.mendoza@cookchildrens.org.

‘What’s New’ with the Epic Spring Upgrade

Check out ‘What’s New’ – training updates aimed making staying up to date with Epic easier than ever. These updates will be available in one easy-to-access location—and they’ll be customized based on when and where you work within Epic. The updates will be timely, targeted resources designed to support your workflow patterns. 

Epic customizes the content in ‘What’s New’, so you’ll see upgrade education prioritized based on the amount of time you document in the various activities.

You can begin exploring ‘What’s New' starting on April 3. Click here to read more.

Retirement Announcement 

The following are retiring from Cook Children's Health Care System: 

• Beverly McCoy, Radiographer

Thank you for your dedication to patient families and your colleagues, and we wish you the best in your future endeavors. To learn more about Cook Children's employee retirements visit the Team Experience site. 

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 hope you had a chance to celebrate our wonderful physicians this week! They were incredibly touched by the notes of appreciation left in their lounge. Also, the pinwheels are now up on the lawn in recognition of Child Abuse Awareness Month.

Important: Please review the message below detailing the new Universal Mask Fitting process, as it contains essential information and updates.

Finally, we wish you all a Happy Easter and hope you have a beautiful time connecting with your loved ones.

Thank you for all you do, 

Your Prosper Leadership Team

50th Bariatric Case at Medical Center - Prosper

On March 10, we reached a truly wonderful milestone as Kanika Bowen-Jallow, M.D. successfully completed her 50th bariatric procedure at Medical Center - Prosper. This achievement is more than just a number; it represents 50 lives changed and 50 new beginnings for members of our community.

We are incredibly proud of the dedication Dr. Bowen-Jallow brings to her patients every single day. Her expertise, combined with the compassion of our talented nursing and support staff, has made this program a shining example of excellence. It is the heart and hard work of this entire team that allows us to provide such a high level of personalized care.

As we celebrate this 50-case mark, we look forward to a bright future. We are excited to watch this program continue to flourish and expand, helping even more people reach their health and wellness goals. Congratulations to Dr. Bowen-Jallow and the whole team for their unwavering commitment to our patients!

Heart of Melissa Spring Street Fair

We are excited to add a new event to our spring line up this year to support our north market. The Heart of Melissa Spring Street Fair will take place from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on April 11 in downtown Melissa. It is hosted by the Melissa Chamber of Commerce. This event brings live music, food vendors, a kids area and more. The event draws 20,000 - 25,000 people annually.

If you are available, please volunteer at this fun event! Use the link here to sign up today. Help us spread the word that we are a convenient healthcare option for these families. Come and promote your clinic and our system!

Universal Date for Mask Fits

Starting this July, we are transitioning to an annual schedule for respiratory mask fit testing, which will take place every July moving forward. 

Here is what this change means for the first year: 
 

• Those that had mask fitting in March 2026 will perform mask fitting in July 2027. If the employee experiences significant weight loss/gain or facial changes, the employee will need to be refitted. The employee will contact Occupational Health Services for instructions.
• Those that are due April-June 2026 will instead perform mask fitting in July 2026.
• Everyone who has a respiratory mask fitting requirement will be completed in the month of July.
• Occupational Health will be at Medical Center-Prosper for July dates: Tuesday through Thursday on July 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23 from 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Appointments will open for scheduling starting on May 20.
• OSHA questionnaires must be completed by June 22 so that the Occupational Health Team can review.
• If employee does not obtain a mask fitting at the Medical Center-Prosper, then alternative sites will need to be utilized to meet the requirement but will still maintain the July due date every year. Approved options will be shared with the administration at Prosper. This is mainly for those out on leave and needing a mask fit upon return to work.
• Those who do not complete their mask fitting by Aug. 1 will be subject to corrective action, up to and including suspension or termination. 
   

Celebrating Our Physicians: National Doctors’ Day 2026

At Medical Center - Prosper, our physicians are the cornerstone of the exceptional care we provide to our community. This week, we are taking the opportunity to celebrate National Doctors’ Day by expressing our collective gratitude for their expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our patients. Our doctors were treated to breakfast burritos and yogurt parfaits earlier this week.

Our celebration features a heartfelt display of gratitude through "scrub-note" messages. These colorful, scrub-shaped notes allow staff to share personal words of thanks and encouragement, serving as a visual testament to the impact our doctors have every day. Dr. Anthony Anani wishes to express his appreciation for so many kind words shared this week.

The festivities also include a more lighthearted tradition: Slime-A-Doc 2026. We would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. John Robertson for being such a fantastic sport during the event. Seeing one of our esteemed leaders covered in slime for the sake of team morale was a highlight for everyone involved, proving that while our work is serious, our spirit remains vibrant and connected.

To all our doctors, thank you for your leadership and for the compassion you bring to our facility. Please enjoy these highlights from our celebration in the photo gallery at the end of this week's edition of Prosper News. To see more photos from Slime-A-Doc 2026, click here.

Medical Center - Prosper Easter Event

Happy Easter from Medical Center - Prosper! Today, we celebrated the season of renewal and hope alongside our patients and community. We are honored to provide dedicated care on this special day and wish all our neighbors across North Texas a wonderful holiday filled with joy and peace. To see photos of our event today, scroll to the end of this week's edition of Prosper News.

In Case You Missed It

Employee Parking Reminder

As a friendly reminder, 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.

Interdepartmental Nursing Collaboration Experiences

Dallas Renegades Ticket Discount

The Dallas Renegades in Frisco has provided us with a special offer for Healthcare Appreciation Day exclusive to Cook Children's!

Discount tickets are available for Cook Children's employees to purchase for the Dallas Renegades vs. Columbus Aviators game 11 a.m., Sunday, April 12 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. 

Click here to purchase tickets!

Volunteers Needed

We have some great upcoming injury prevention event opportunities to share with you. If you are looking to get involved or need some volunteer hours, we have options in all focus areas several areas around the North Texas area. If you are bilingual, please let the organizer know, as it helpful in the planning process. Every event listed below will be supported by one or more of our team members. We are so very grateful to our volunteers, as we work to spread awareness and educate families on these important topics. 

• Las Vegas Trail Safety Fair
  • 1-3 p.m., March 28, LVT Rise Community Center Fort Worth
  • Topics: Gun safety, water safety, poison prevention, safe sleep, vehicle safety
  • Contact: Eric Gonzalez
• April Pools Day
  • 6-8 p.m., April 10, Heritage Park, Weatherford
  • Contact: Jillian Mitchell
• Texas Health Resources FW Super Safety Saturday
  • 10 a.m.–1 p.m., April 25, Clearfork
  • Topics: Water safety and safe sleep
  • Contact: Jillian Mitchell
• Carrollton Safety Fair
  • 10 a.m.–1 p.m., May 2, Carrollton
  • Topics: Gun safety, water safety, poison prevention, safe sleep, vehicle safety
  • Contact: Eric Gonzalez
• Northwest Fort Worth PD Safety Event
  • 11 a.m.–2 p.m., May 16, North Fort Worth
  • Topics: All programs
  • Contact: Klaressa Broughton
• Super Safety Saturday THR Burleson
  • 9 a.m.–12 p.m., May 16, Burleson
  • Topics: Water safety and safe sleep
  • Contact: Jillian Mitchell

Windsong Easter Eggstravaganza (Prosper)

• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Saturday, April 4
• 1001 Windsong Parkway South, Prosper (Amenities Center)
• Sign up: here.

We are so excited to partner with Windsong Ranch for their Easter Eggstravaganza Party. This is a great event to promote your practice and get out in the community and meet potential patients. This is a FREE family event, so feel free to bring your family to enjoy the festivities. There'll be an Easter Bunny, food trucks, carnival rides, crafts and more.

Celina Touch-A-Truck Event

• 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Saturday, April 11
• Old Celina Park, 12670 FM 428, Celina
• Sign up: here. 

Cook Children's is so pleased to be the Title Sponsor of the Celina Touch-A-Truck Event for 2026. We will have Teddy Bear Transport Ambulance at our booth along with fun giveaways for kids. Bring your kiddos and family out to enjoy this fun, free, family event. We would love to have physicians and staff members volunteer to meet and greet with the community.

Celina Cajun Fest

• 2–9 p.m.
• Saturday, May 9
• Sign up: here.

Cook Children’s is the Kids Zone sponsor and will have a booth. This is a great opportunity to represent Cook Children’s, get volunteer hours or market your practice or services to the community. This will be a busy and fun event and is free for the whole family. Enjoy carnival rides, inflatables, a Gator Show, vendor booths and all the crawfish you can eat. As it gets dark, enjoy live music from the Eli Young Band.

Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper Ethics