Demetrice L. Walton

Demetrice L. Walton’s most precious UT Southwestern memory is of having her second child 24 years ago at the former St. Paul University Hospital – with a little help from her co-workers.

Assigned to the Medical Science Research and Development Plan (MSRDP) office at the time, she worked right up to her delivery date and her colleagues drove her to the hospital for her daughter’s birth. “I had a very special group of co-workers that assisted,” she says.

Much has changed since she was hired as a temporary employee in medical records at the James W. Aston Ambulatory Care Center. Today, she works as a Patient Access Services Intake Supervisor, overseeing day-to-day preregistration operations for the Surgery Verification Team at the Brookriver facility.

Colleagues and patients know Ms. Walton for her sunny disposition, beautiful smile, and willingness to listen.

“I take the time to talk and listen to staff, whether it is personal or work-related. My feedback is always positive and I keep an open mind,” she says. She wishes to be known as “that person that will give you her last,” she adds.

Ms. Walton is also known for her sense of humor. When asked for the most surprising detail of her tenure here, she laughs and says, “The length of time I have been at UT Southwestern – starting at the age of 6, most [people] would say!”

Family is her priority. The seventh of eight children, she grew up in Dallas and is the proud mother of two daughters and one granddaughter. Family connections also abound at work.

“I have a sister who has worked for Minority Student/Physician Affairs for over 20 years. My oldest daughter works in Nutrition Services at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, and I have one sister who transitioned to heaven while working at MSRDP/MSP for over 10 years,” she says.

Ms. Walton views UT Southwestern as a family-centered Institution. She says she has stayed at the Medical Center because of career advancement, excellent benefits, the wonderful staff, and the overall excellence of medical care, teaching, and research.

Her outside interests include spending time with family, traveling, and shopping. Her prediction for the next 75 years is that UT Southwestern will be known as the best world-renowned academic medical center.