Before joining the Department of Molecular Biology, Cindy Lawson worked in Internal Medicine and Cardiology for more than 15 years. Now, as an Administrative Manager, she manages a basic science department. Ms. Lawson has stayed at UT Southwestern due to a number of factors, including “a sense of contributing to the missions, co-workers, the supportive supervisors, and opportunities for further growth.” A loyal and dedicated person, she hopes to grow professionally over the rest of her career. In her free time, Ms. Lawson enjoys reading and has a strong interest in silky terriers.

Saul Lopez likes the idea that he can learn new things every day from his job. Mr. Lopez began his career at UT Southwestern as a Carpenter’s Helper. Now as a Building Maintenance Specialist within Building Maintenance and Sitewide Services, he repairs any electrical fixtures and plumbing systems, along with damage to walls, floors, and ceilings. He has enjoyed working with people to accomplish their goals, and his co-workers would describe him as “a responsible and respectful man” with great skills. Away from work he enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with his wife, Lupita.

Stephanie McNealy started her career at UT Southwestern working with medical records. Now as a Billing Coordinator in Radiology, she ensures that all billing issues are followed up and handled. Her co-workers would call her a funny person, but more importantly she would like to be known as a dependable employee. Mrs. McNealy has two children of her own, but has also nurtured and raised many others. Her hobbies include spending time at her church and traveling as much as possible.

Friendly, helpful, and caring. These are the words co-workers would use to describe Leticia Molina. Mrs. Molina is a Senior Administrative Assistant in the Department of Radiology. She works hard and offers help to anyone she sees that needs it. “The people and friends” around her have kept her at UT Southwestern, and so has her work ethic, which earned her an award. “I was given the Merit Award when I was in the Pain and Anesthesia Department for being an exemplary employee,” she says. Mrs. Molina hopes to retire in a few years alongside her husband, and spend more time with her family. She and her husband of 45 years have three children, a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

For 25 years at UT Southwestern, Trung V. Nguyen has designed and manufactured medical equipment for biomedical investigations. As a Research Scientist, Mr. Nguyen continues to contribute as a team member in the Department of Radiology, and his co-workers even have assigned him a nickname. “[They call me] Mr. Smith because my last name is as popular in Vietnam as Smith is in [the] U.S.,” he says. Mr. Nguyen’s long-term career goal is to keep up the development of his medical equipment, which he hopes will help find a cure for cancer. His family includes his “beautiful wife and two smart daughters.” His hobbies include photography and traveling. 

If you ask Debby Noble what she does, she may tell you more than a few things. One claim to fame? She is a self-proclaimed “pig whisperer.” More importantly, however, she works in the Department of Plastic Surgery as a Lab Manager, where she manages preclinical research. Described as someone who is always willing to help, Mrs. Noble hopes to continue to support Plastic Surgery research. When asked what has kept her in the same department for 25 years she says, “The chance to do research in a great place, my co-workers, and interacting with students and international fellows.” In her spare time she loves to read, craft, and scrapbook. She is married and has two sons.

Stephen Ostermann, a reliable Laboratory Technical Assistant II in the Internal Medicine - Infectious Disease Department, has never used a sick day in more than 25 years, even when he was hit by a truck on his way to work. Mr. Ostermann monitors, cleans, and maintains materials, glassware, waste, and facilities. He says he’d like to be known as the employee who works hard with a smile, and hopes to be the best employee in any position he holds. “I am honored to have worked for so long for this fine institution, and to have made so many good friends,” he says. He loves to bake, bowl, and travel, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization.

Sheria Oswalt loves to bring up UT Southwestern in conversations. “When I tell people where I work I always brag that I work at a medical school, a clinical facility, and a research facility that has six Nobel prize winners, and numerous members of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine,” she says. As a Senior Program Coordinator, she has the job of reviewing annual statements of financial interests for potential conflicts of interest. Mrs. Oswalt has also held positions at the medical center in the Department of Psychiatry, Printing Services, Business Affairs, and Auxiliary Enterprises, where her sister Sheila works. She has a husband of 26 years, Tom, and two children, Jillian and Annelise.

Anthony Pedrazine is someone who could be described as a “ninja guru,” because of his ability to quietly tame misbehaving computers and web pages. He works as a Programmer Analyst II in Psychiatry Administration. Mr. Pedrazine develops databases, e-newsletter/HTML email designs, and works in technical support. He says he enjoys informing people about what is going on at UT Southwestern. “I have enjoyed the opportunities to tell a global audience about the wonderful research and programs going on at UT Southwestern via the Internet,” he says. Away from work, he enjoys volunteering, going to concerts and live theater, and sharpening his gaming skills.

Valerie Pope works in the Ophthalmology Clinic as a Clinic Manager. Her passion for people helps her excel at her job, and it is also the base of her most rewarding memory. “A patient’s son came back to thank me for getting his mother an appointment that saved her life,” she says. Ms. Pope started her career at UT Southwestern as a Billing Data Entry Clerk. As an outgoing and humorous person, Ms. Pope wants people to know her as the employee “who made you laugh.” In her free time, she loves to bake and play chess. Ms. Pope also hopes to start her own consulting business in the future.

Charles Richards has had a highly rewarding experience at UT Southwestern, meeting his wife, Amy, at the medical center. Mr. Richards is a Senior Database Analyst. He manages the IT group in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Mr. Richards says he has stayed at UT Southwestern because of the continuing opportunity to learn new things, and working on projects that make an impact on campus. His long-term goal is to stay healthy, and his hobbies include cooking, cycling, and hiking. The Richards have two sons, Colby and Brandon, and a daughter, Sarah. When asked about his time at UT Southwestern, he had a perfect response:  “25 years ... I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!”

Working in the Department of Psychiatry has shown Cindy Rodgers one of the many positive aspects of UT Southwestern. “It has been a privilege to know the outstanding faculty, staff, and students in the Division of Psychology,” she says. “They are intelligent, generous, and genuine people.” Mrs. Rodgers is a Manager of Clinical Research, which has her managing projects and overseeing division personnel, finances, resources, and reporting. She started out as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at UT Arlington before moving to UT Southwestern. “When I interviewed, I said I was looking for a challenge. So far, I have not been disappointed,” she says. Mrs. Rodgers and her husband, Barry, have two sons and two daughters, and four grandchildren.

Haynie Sandle is Director of Information Quality in the Office of Administrative Systems, managing the PeopleSoft Student Information System as well as the MyLearning, OnBase, and HRMS/OAS/iAim Legacy systems. Mr. Sandle, who started in 1988 as a Computer Programmer I, stays at UT Southwestern due to the wonderful area he works in. “It is exciting to be able to support the missions of the university in patient care, research, and education,” he says. “I am learning new things every day.”

A Medical Technologist in Clements University Hospital, Kim Stewart stays at UT Southwestern because of the learning opportunities it affords. “I love microbiology,” she says. “We have interesting cases here, and there is always [an] opportunity to learn something new. I also have really great people to work with.” Mrs. Stewart performs lab work, where she identifies bacteria and fungus from patient cultures, and performs susceptibility testings. Her favorite memory at UT Southwestern was when Dr. Richard Jones would visit departments, playing his saxophone and handing out candy. She has been married for 27 years, and has a daughter enrolled at UT Austin, and a University of North Texas-bound son.

Billy Thomas is a mover, if not a shaker, at UT Southwestern. He is a Supervisor in Sitewide Services General Administration’s Physical Plant, where he relocates departments throughout the campus. Mr. Thomas has stayed at the medical center because of the opportunity to “perform customer service at difficult times,” and he views his experiences as fulfilling. “It is rewarding to do what I can to aid professionals in medical research,” Mr. Thomas says. He is a fair and honest man who claims there is nothing surprising about him. Aside from making things better on campus, he hopes to eventually invent tools and machinery. Mr. Thomas’ hobbies include playing basketball and working in his yard. He and his wife, Peggy, have a son, Billy.

For 25 years, Brenda Thompson has worked at UT Southwestern as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Now in the Division of Cardiology’s Heart and Lung Center, she has a challenging job taking care of patients with advanced heart failure. That has been a major reason why she has maintained her career here. “The most rewarding memories are the ‘Thank Yous’ from the patients and their families,” she says. Mrs. Thompson is not only a caring and compassionate person, but she always gives 150 percent. Her passion is reading journals, and she has seen every new animated movie over the past seven years. Mrs. Thompson has been married for 43 years and has three children and nine grandchildren.

A Histology Lab Aide, Vivian Tolor has worked in the Physiology Department for 25 years, and a big reason she stays at UT Southwestern is due to the great people in her department. “When I was out with breast cancer, the department was very supporting,” she says. “When I returned it was my 50th birthday, and they gave me a surprise party. That meant the world to me. THANKS PHYSIOLOGY!” She is married with two sons, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren, along with her two wonderful parents. “That is a lot of love,” she says.

Described as a “movie star” by his co-workers, Larry Wine says his greatest claim to fame is that he made it. Mr. Wine began his career at UT Southwestern as a Housekeeper, and now works as an Environmental Services Lead at Zale Lipshy University Hospital. It is his job to supervise in the Department of Environmental Services. Asked why he’s stayed at UT Southwestern, Mr. Wine gives credit to his co-workers and the patient care, as well as the opportunity to learn new skills at his position. His favorite memory is receiving awards for his job duties. Mr. Wine hopes to be remembered for his hard work. “[I’m] always willing to go that extra mile,” he says. In his free time he loves to play dominoes, watch football, play cards, and hang out with friends and family.

Meifang Zhu has been at UT Southwestern since 1989, when she was hired in the Department of Cell Biology. Now a Research Associate in the Department of Ophthalmology, she helps with the study of corneas. Mrs. Zhu is a kind and outspoken employee who is also energetic. Her greatest claim to fame? She participated in the 2013 Boston Marathon, where she placed 5th in her age group. She is married and has two children. Her hobbies include running and working out at the gym.