Caring, teaching, leading, improving: Meet the latest Strauss Awards honorees
Every day across UT Southwestern, employees find ways to make a difference for patients, colleagues, and the organization. Six of those individuals were recognized Sept. 4 as recipients of the Diana and Richard C. Strauss Service Excellence Awards for the second quarter of 2026.
Hosted by Jonathan Efron, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs, the virtual ceremony celebrated employees whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment to service excellence set them apart.
Three things define Strauss Award winners:
- They excel at their jobs.
- They serve as role models for the next generation of employees.
- They share a spirit of volunteerism that strengthens our community.
Watch: Dr. Efron recognizes honorees during the virtual event.
D’Amber Howell, M.B.A., B.S.N., RN
Diabetes Educator
Patient Education
“Some nurses are recognized for what they accomplish; others are remembered for how they make people feel. D’Amber is known for both.”
UTSW career: Starting out as a bedside nurse at Zale Lipshy Pavilion, Ms. Howell moved to the Orange Tower at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital when it opened where she worked as a nurse educator. She then transitioned to Patient Education in 2019 and has now been with UT Southwestern for more than 11 years.
In her role: Ms. Howell is a trusted resource for nursing staff, patients, and families, helping them understand diabetes management, medications, and lifestyle changes needed for long-term success. She often meets people who are apprehensive about a new diabetes diagnosis, and she gives them the confidence and tools they need to take control of their situation.
What she loves most about her job: “Seeing the patients is the most rewarding part because I’m naturally a people person. Greeting people with a smile and helping to lighten their load is what’s most important to me.”
A source of strength: Beyond patient care, she served as a dedicated preceptor, nurse mentor, and unit representative on various committees. As Chair of the Opioid Safety Champions Program, her energetic effort yielded an increase in engagement, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and advancing medication safety efforts across the organization.
Setting the standard: Working with her manager, she helped develop standardized diabetes education kits dispersed to inpatient units, improving staff efficiency and patient safety.
Off the clock: Ms. Howell is hands-on with her hobbies, creating diamond art, or mosaic pictures made with tiny crystals, and coloring to soothe her mind and relax. She also loves spending time with her siblings and mother and watching football and movies.
Lynn Nguyen, RT(N)(CT), CNMT (PET)
Lead Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Imaging Services
“Lynn never hesitates to make decisions that are in the best interest of both staff and patients. Her compassion creates a welcoming environment where patients feel valued and respected.”
UTSW career: A veteran technologist, Mrs. Nguyen celebrated her 10th anniversary at UT Southwestern in April. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma and worked there before deciding to return to her Texas roots.
In her role: Mrs. Nguyen oversees daily PET/CT operations while supporting patient safety, staff development, workflow coordination, and advanced imaging services.
What she loves most about her job: “I work with a great group of people, and I know everybody says that, but everyone here is so willing to work together to make things happen. We’re all of the same mindset – getting people taken care of is the most important thing. So, there is no hesitation when it comes to doing what we need to do for patient care.”
Putting on a clinic: She played a key role in launching and growing the new PET/CT clinic and is widely respected for her leadership and professionalism.
Expecting the unexpected: During a staffing shortage affecting Mobile PET/CT services, Mrs. Nguyen quickly reorganized schedules and coordinated patient transfers to ensure uninterrupted care across multiple departments.
Off the clock: “Family time is very important at our house, and that’s how we spend our nights and weekends. We like to travel in the summertime when the kids are out of school.”
Mrs. Nguyen is also passionate about baking and is well known in her department for her cookies. Her specialties include the classic chocolate chip cookie and Asian-inspired flavors, including coconut and sweet potato varieties she enjoyed while growing up.
Chinasa Alexandra Okoro, B.S., RT(T)
Radiation Therapist II
Radiation Oncology
“Alex is one of the most dependable, knowledgeable, and valuable therapists in the department. Her ability to anticipate challenges and develop solutions makes her indispensable.”
UTSW career: Encouraged to apply by a friend who worked at UT Southwestern, Ms. Okoro joined the organization five years ago.
In her role: Ms. Okoro delivers radiation treatments, reviews treatment plans, and works closely with physicians, physicists, and fellow therapists to ensure safe, precise, high-quality cancer care.
What she loves most about her job: “When people are fighting cancer, it’s very rewarding to treat them and feel like you’re making an impact. It feels good to play a part in helping them be healthy again.”
A pillar of support: Ms. Okoro brings a calm and positive presence to every interaction, supporting patients while strengthening communication and teamwork among staff and physicians. She elevates both patient care and the profession of radiation therapy.
Two steps ahead: Her meticulous review of treatment plans often identifies potential issues before patients arrive, helping ensure treatments are delivered safely and efficiently.
Off the clock: “I enjoy staying active. Right now, I am playing a lot of pickleball, and, if I am not doing that, I’m probably working out. My husband and I also like to go on long walks three or four times a week, doing 2 to 5 miles at a time.”
Steven Price, B.S., LSSBB
Management Engineer II
Health System Quality and Operational Excellence
“Steven is always juggling so many projects, yet he still takes the time to help others brainstorm solutions and think through challenges.”
UTSW career: After beginning his career in ambulatory care and later working at Southwestern Health Resources, Mr. Price joined UTSW’s Health System Quality and Operational Excellence team. He has been with UTSW for seven years.
In his role: Mr. Price partners with clinical and operational teams across the Health System to analyze data, improve processes, develop reporting tools, and lead initiatives that enhance patient care and organizational performance.
What he loves most about his job: “I get to work with a lot of different people and see a lot of different personalities and learn about the strengths and challenges they face within their areas. People are very grateful when I can help them with data analysis to better understand the problems they’re facing and identify opportunities for improvement.”
Elevating experiences: This year, Mr. Price led the poster process for the 2026 Health System Celebration of Excellence, successfully coordinating a record-setting 239 submissions while improving the experience for participants and judges.
Leaving his mark: His contributions to clinical pathways, deployment of the Health System Operational Plan, and performance improvement efforts have delivered meaningful impact across multiple departments.
Off the clock: “I’m a soccer coach for fourth grade girls, and that occupies a lot of my time. Soccer season is coming up, and this is going to be my fourth year of coaching.”
Emily Rojas, CMA
Medical Assistant
Geriatrics
“Emily possesses a unique ability to balance efficiency with genuine patient-centered care, ensuring people feel supported, respected, and understood.”
UTSW career: UT Southwestern became Ms. Rojas’ first employer after graduation, and she celebrated her one-year anniversary in June.
In her role: She supports every aspect of the patient visit, from preparing patients and gathering clinical information to coordinating care needs and assisting providers.
What she loves most about her job: “My favorite part is truly just being here and working with such an amazing team. I wanted to be able to make a difference for patients, and I believe this is the best place to do that.”
Passion for compassion: Her compassion was especially evident while helping to care for a confused patient; she used music and therapeutic communication techniques to reduce anxiety and support successful treatment.
Moving on up: A family member convinced Ms. Rojas that becoming a CMA was the gateway to pursuing her goals. The advice proved invaluable. A year of experience and growing confidence has inspired her to begin nursing school this fall.
Off the clock: Besides planning their wedding, Ms. Rojas and her fiancé share a passion for pickleball and can often be found playing at a local park.
Jan Stevenson, B.S.
Senior Project Manager
Clinical Programming and Facility Development
“She consistently thinks beyond the task at hand, looking for ways we can do things better, more efficiently, and with stronger collaboration across departments.”
UTSW career: Six and a half years ago, Ms. Stevenson was considering retirement after her position was eliminated at another healthcare organization. Then she spotted an opening at UT Southwestern that convinced her to embark on one more chapter in her career.
In her role: Ms. Stevenson, who retired at the end of August, led planning and activation efforts for new clinical facilities, coordinating readiness activities, workflows, operational planning, and communication across departments.
What she loved most about her job: “Seeing the end product. You take something from just a blueprint and then see it built with the staff working in that space. It used to be that a building was designed and then people would just move into it. But now what we do is get the users’ input before it’s built, so all the issues are worked out. Knowing we were able to meet expectations and give them what they need to best be able to do their jobs is what I loved the most.”
Setting us up for success: She played a vital role in the organization and launch of some of UT Southwestern’s most significant growth initiatives, including the Cancer Care Outpatient Building and Clements University Hospital’s third tower expansion.
That’s how it’s done: Most recently, Ms. Stevenson served as a key leader in planning and opening the Texas Behavioral Health Center.
Off the clock: Readying for retirement, Ms. Stevenson has indulged her artistic side, creating fused-glass sculptures. She won a first-place award in UT Southwestern’s recent On My Own Time art contest in the Ceramics, Wood & Glass amateur category. Her creation, Steps on the Camino, will be displayed at NorthPark Center through Oct. 5.