Meet the third-quarter winners of the Strauss Service Excellence Awards
Congratulations to the third-quarter 2018 recipients of the Diana and Richard C. Strauss Service Excellence Award, honoring employees who exemplify excellent care and service, professionalism, a positive attitude, dedication to teamwork, dependability, enthusiasm, and compassion for patients, guests, and co-workers. The awards are presented quarterly throughout the calendar year. The following employees were selected for their outstanding care and service during the third quarter.
Hospitals
Shannon Chalk
Nurse Manager, 7 South-Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Clements University Hospital
Ms. Chalk was hired in 2001 as a Staff Nurse in the Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the former St. Paul University Hospital. It’s no surprise she considers UTSW a second home: All of her original preceptors are still in her unit and she is now the Nurse Manager for many of her own mentors. Repeatedly recognized for exceeding expectations, she has received several hospital-based awards, including the Patient Safety Star Award, The DAISY Award, the UTSW 2018 Nurse Excellence Leader of the Year Award, and multiple PACT Gold Pins. In addition, a number of Ms. Chalk’s projects, abstracts, and posters have been accepted to local and national conferences – including two to the American Nurses Association’s 2019 national conference. Ms. Chalk met her husband while he was completing his residency in plastic surgery at UTSW. They have a son and a daughter who keep them busy exploring local parks and museums.
Terrie Jenkins, LCSW
Social Work Care Coordinator, Department of Care Coordination
Clements University Hospital
Ms. Jenkins has dedicated more than 20 years to the social work profession, including five at Clements University Hospital’s Department of Care Coordination. Hired in January 2014 under a grant to work with Emergency Department patients who were underserved, underinsured, or uninsured, she has established partnerships with several community-based programs that enable her to redirect patients to resources in the community rather than using the Emergency Department as a care provider. Ms. Jenkins was inspired to become a social worker when she was in fourth grade and met a woman at church who was a social worker. She wanted to help people the same impactful way. Colleagues describe her as the epitome of professionalism – someone who always sets a good example for others through her warm, compassionate smile and kind words. Ms. Jenkins’ community involvement also reaches outside UTSW in her role as Executive Minister of Smith Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas.
Lacey O’Steen, RD, LD
Registered Dietitian
Zale Lipshy University Hospital
Prior to entering the field of dietetics, Ms. O’Steen was a veterinary technician for 11 years. After taking a basic nutrition course at a local community college, she fell in love with the subject and decided it was time for a change. She joined UTSW as a Registered Dietitian in 2015. Ms. O’Steen works with neurology patients and loves finding creative ways to communicate with patients and teaching them how a few small changes can positively impact their diet and lifestyle. Colleagues are quick to compliment the empathy and compassion she shows to every patient. She also has created new training manuals and spreadsheets to educate staff and improve operations to better serve patients and families. A recipient of numerous PACT cards, she was named Employee of the Month in November 2017. Ms. O’Steen still has a soft spot for her furry friends and works at a local vet clinic on the weekends when needed.
Patricia Lee, B.S.N., RN, CCRN
Registered Nurse II, 7 South-Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Clements University Hospital
Ms. Lee joined the former St. Paul University Hospital in 1980 as a nurse in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Over the years, she has been a primary preceptor to hundreds of nurses, including many who are now managers and directors at UTSW. She also cared for the first heart transplant patient in the new transplant program on June 27, 1988. Among her many roles, she enjoys bedside nursing the most. She still has the same rewarding feeling watching patients improve as she did when she began her career. Patients and family members have called her a guardian angel, and she is regularly complimented for her attentiveness. Colleagues are grateful for the energy, compassion, and spirit of teamwork she brings to every 12-hour shift. When she’s not working, Ms. Lee enjoys traveling with her husband and visiting her children and grandchildren in New York.
Clinics
Michelle Walsh
Ambulatory RN
Neurology Clinic
Working with both the Stroke and Memory sections of the Neurology Clinic, Ms. Walsh triages patient calls and messages for a large group of providers. A member of the UTSW team since March 2017, she also serves as a great preceptor to new hires. Colleagues describe her as outgoing and personable and note that she loves to be involved with projects implemented in the Clinic. She currently chairs its Unit Based Council and has helped to initiate a process that improves its Moving Through the Visit scores. In addition, she has been nominated for the UTSW Nurse Excellence Award. Away from work, Ms. Walsh enjoys spending time with family, dancing, being involved in church activities, and doting on her newborn niece, Piper.
Mamer Demamer
Patient Services Representative
Guest and Patient Services
After joining UTSW in early 2017, Mr. Demamer moved to Guest and Patient Services in April. “From the very first handshake, we knew that he was going to be a great fit for our department,” his nominator wrote. Mr. Demamer approaches patients and guests with enthusiasm and an eagerness to assist. Gifted with a caring and humble heart, he has a natural ability to relate to everyone he encounters, his colleagues say. In addition to serving the many patients, visitors, and staff members of UT Southwestern, he helps raise funds, participates in campaigns, and assists in yearly projects for his church and international nonprofit organizations. Mr. Demamer has a contagious smile and a deep desire to devote himself to serving people.