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Inspiring moments of 2025 captured in images

Published on: By: Staff Reports

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Walkers in the 2025 Heart Walk dancing for the camera.
Excitement was abundant at the Dallas Heart Walk. It drew more than 2,300 UT Southwestern community participants, who showed their joy in supporting a worthy cause.

A look back in photos shows 2025 brought much to celebrate across UT Southwestern: groundbreaking discovery, hard-earned educational achievements, unwavering commitment to service, successful campus collaborations, impactful community partnerships, and the promise of future progress. There is something special about the UT Southwestern community. A tenacious commitment to excellence enables us to continue to reach new milestones in our mission to educate, discover, and heal. As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2025 and look forward to continuing that momentum in 2026, we invite you to pause and reflect on the significant advances that UTSW – through the dedicated efforts of faculty, staff, students, donors, and friends – continues to make across the North Texas community and beyond.

Select an image to begin the slideshow.

Kimberly Favela was the first baby born at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital in 2025. She was welcomed into the world at 12:38 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025. “It’s a blessing to bring a baby into the new year,” said parents Keven Peredo and Joselyn Favela, who live in Pleasant Grove.
In November, a calm evening settled over Clements University Hospital, which was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth for the ninth straight year.
Jett Avant, a student at Biomedical Preparatory at UT Southwestern, showed off the Valentine’s Day card he made for a patient at Clements University Hospital. Jett, now a third grader, and his fellow students all made cards in February to brighten up patients’ days.
Pinnacle Award for Excellence recipient Thuong “Trizzy” Bui, Technical Supervisor in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, came face-to-face (literally) with herself thanks to her biggest supporters’ spirited cutouts. Ms. Bui was one of six employees honored in June at the inaugural UT Southwestern Pinnacle Awards, which recognized those who embody the institution’s core values of excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion.
In May, UT Southwestern broke ground on a new $177 million Radiation Oncology campus in Fort Worth, marking a major milestone in expanding access to advanced cancer care. The 65,000-square-foot facility, set to open in 2028 next to the Moncrief Cancer Institute, will bring the city’s first MRI-guided precision radiation therapy, along with PET imaging, brachytherapy, and multiple linear accelerators.
Employees got into the photo booth spirit at the Academic Affairs PACT celebration, which recognized their achievement of earning Gold or Platinum pins. The PACT Program honors employees and faculty members who exemplify problem solving; ability, attitude, and accountability; communications and compassion; and teamwork.
A member of Ballet Folklorico DFW represented Mexico through dance and a beautifully decorated dress at Fiesta on the Plaza. The outdoor event, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, took place Oct. 8 at McDermott Plaza on South Campus and featured delicious dishes from Hispanic countries along with games and cultural performances.
Idee di Pietra – Acero is a bronze sculpture resembling a tree with a large river stone nestled at the apex of four intertwined trunks. The outdoor installation and a second called 236T, both made possible by UTSW Nobel Laureate Joseph Goldstein, M.D., were installed this year on Donald Seldin Plaza.
Neuroscience Program graduate student Carla Rivera-Pacheco, left, and Helen Lai, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Anesthesiology & Pain Management, conducted an experiment in Dr. Lai’s lab.
At the May Celebration of Excellence event, which recognized patient care, quality, and financial stewardship initiatives, many were moved by the video story of Brent Rasmussen, who for years enjoyed playing Santa Claus at Christmas. A cerebellum stroke had left him unable to speak in late 2023. But thanks to a UTSW rehab therapy team, Mr. Rasmussen recovered. After the video concluded, Mr. Rasmussen, above, stood to acknowledge the audience, prompting a roar of applause and cheers as he punctuated the moment with a hearty “Ho-ho-ho!”
UTSW medical student Julia Shi, right, mentored by Daniel Yang, M.D., Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, earned a P.E.O. Scholar Award this year in recognition of academic distinction, leadership, research, and community service. Ms. Shi plans to devote her career to cancer care and expanding radiation treatment to more people.
Steven McKnight, Ph.D., was honored at a recognition reception on campus for earning the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award related to his discoveries into the role of proteins of low sequence complexity and their influence on the dynamics of cell morphology and biological regulation. Dr. McKnight’s recognition marked the second consecutive year and fifth time that a UTSW scientist had earned a Lasker Award.
Ina Patel, D.O., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, celebrated the achievement of UT Southwestern’s 2025 Medical School class at Match Day by taking a photo with Champ, the Dallas Mavericks mascot. On March 21, more than 200 fourth-year UT Southwestern medical students opened envelopes to reveal where they would spend their post-graduation training – an exciting milestone for these future physicians.
Joelle Abdallah, M.D. (center front), gave a big hug to a fellow classmate to celebrate graduating from UT Southwestern Medical School surrounded by (top, from left) graduates Jai Prasadh, M.D., Sarah Dolphin, M.D., and Nina Stephen, M.D. The May 16 commencement ceremony in the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center honored the years of hard work of 226 graduates, who shared emotional embraces, commemorating the journey they had undertaken to become physicians.
A certified medical assistant listened intently during the annual State of Nursing address, at which Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN, reflected on the past year, recognized progress, and looked ahead to the future of nursing across the UT Southwestern Health System.
The Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health (OSPH) celebrated a significant milestone on May 14 with its first-ever commencement ceremony, honoring graduates from its Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Clinical Investigation, and Ph.D. in Public Health programs. Above, the commencement ceremony in UT Southwestern’s NB2.EEF Auditorium opened with the playing of the national anthem.
Students in the 2026 cohort of UT Southwestern’s Physician Assistant Studies Program listened with enthusiasm to the program after receiving their white coats. The ceremony was held in the Tom and Lula Gooch Auditorium in July.
On May 8, UT Southwestern emergency medicine residents joined peers from area hospitals to compete in the Romeo and Juliet-themed North Texas Regional Sono/Simwars, a competition designed to test residents’ technical knowledge and clinical skills. Above, Samuel Parnell, M.D., Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at UTSW, played his part, helping guide a team to treat a simulated patient.
Elizabeth Davenport, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, spoke about her work as Technical Director of UTSW’s Magnetoencephalography Center of Excellence for an episode of UTSW Unscripted. Magnetoencephalography is a state-of-the-art technology that maps brain function. Above, Dr. Davenport prepared for the video interview.
Toral Patel, M.D., Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Neurology, and Radiation Oncology, spoke about the personal and professional journey that shaped her path to medicine as a neurosurgeon for an episode of UTSW Unscripted. Above, she performed surgery with a team in the operating room at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.
Cadet Staff Sgt. Rylee Tucker, a member of Dr. John D. Horn High School’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Big Red Color Guard/Drill team, saluted the American flag at UT Southwestern’s Tribute to Veterans Celebration. The Nov. 11 campus event included a presentation of colors by the JROTC, then a keynote speech from Tony Lakin, M.S.I.T., Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at UTSW. Mr. Lakin talked about the impact of his U.S. Air Force service.
At the UT Southwestern Medical School Class of 2029 White Coat Ceremony on Oct. 4, medical students showed off banners that represent the six Academic Colleges: Cary, Estabrook, Fashena, Pritchard, Seldin, and Sprague.
Attendees of the Carole Mendelson, Ph.D., Distinguished Visiting Professorship Lecture applauded the intriguing presentation of Gina R. Poe, Ph.D., on sleep and memory. Dr. Poe discussed the many reasons why sleep is essential in the April lecture hosted by the Women in Science and Medicine Advisory Committee.
The UTSW/DFW Adaptive Sports Coalition hosted its 8th Annual Adaptive Sports Expo on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Maverick Activities Center to showcase the variety of sports, recreational, fitness, and wellness activities available to individuals with impairments and disabilities across the DFW area. Families, friends, and community members were encouraged to join and explore a variety of adaptive sports at the free event.
Tia the therapy dog greeted Medical Office Assistant Joy Gooding, who works in the Breast Cancer Clinic at the Cancer Care Outpatient Building.
In January, a winter storm brought snowy conditions to North Texas. The campus transit system was prepared, with staff braving through snow, rain, and any weather the state served up. Above, the North/South Connector shuttle bus made a stop on North Campus during the icy event.
Moody Children’s Hospital will be the centerpiece of the New Pediatric Campus under construction across from Clements University Hospital. Above, construction was in full swing in December, with seven cranes active as viewed from the Cancer Care Outpatient Building.
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