Employee of the Year

Employee of the Year

A salute to the North Texas hospital workforce, the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation Workforce Center's Employee of the Year Luncheon is celebrating 16 years of success. Last year, 10 recipients and 50 nominees were honored. This luncheon is an opportunity for metroplex hospitals to acknowledge exceptional employees, boost morale within our healthcare community and additionally offers employees a chance to be recognized. It is an event where nominees lunch with hospital executives. Not only do hospital CEOs attend, they stand side-by-side with their honorees. Winners, in the tradition of an awards show, are announced at the luncheon.

Employee of the Year 2012 Keynote Speaker


Drew Pearson

Drew Pearson is a sportscaster and former star wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected as a free agent by the Cowboys in 1973 where he rose to become one of the team’s greatest wide receivers, earning the nickname “Mr. Clutch” for his numerous game-winning catches in close games.

Pearson was a part of one of the most famous catches in NFL history when he grabbed the “Hail Mary” reception from Roger Staubach that sealed a 17-14 victory in a 1975 playoff game versus the Minnesota Vikings. He caught the game-winning touchdown in a hotly-contested 1973 playoff game versus the Los Angeles Rams and the game-winning touchdown from reserve quarterback Clint Longley in the 1974 Thanksgiving game against the Washington Redskins. All three plays were named among the Top 75 plays in NFL history in 1994.

Pearson had a total of 489 receptions, 7,822 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns in a career spanning 1973-1983 exclusively with the Cowboys. He was named an All-Pro three times and was named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team. In 2011, Pearson was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys’ exclusive Ring of Honor.

2012 Award Recipients

Rex McRae Scholarship:

  • Kimberly Cline, Patient Care Technician, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Student, El Centro College

Physician Award:

  • Dr. Anis Ansari, Internal Medicine, Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton

Community Service Award:

  • Shawna Underwood, Patient Care Technician, HCA's Medical Center of Plano

System Award:

  • Janet Brady, Employee Activities Coordinator, Methodist Health System

Special Recognition Awards:

  • Nikki Best, Nursing Administration, THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano
  • Dan Swan, Physical Therapist, Our Children's House at Baylor
  • Cindy Melis, Clinical Nursing Supervisor, Methodist Charlton Medical Center
  • Michelle Baker, Registered Nurse, Medical City Dallas Hospital

Employee of the Year Awards:

  • Jaime Ball, Registered Nurse, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle
  • Jackie Clifton, Registered Nurse, Tenet's Lake Pointe Medical Center
  • Hedgy MacDonald, Cardiovascular Invasive Tech, Baylor Medical Center at Garland
  • Abi Finberg Provence, Staff Nurse ER, Methodist Dallas Medical Center