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.

2011 Award Recipients

Employee of the Year Awards:

  • Michelle Pinker, Nurse Supervisor, Our Children's House at Baylor
  • Tonya Pena, Clinical Coordinator, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
  • Denice Taylor, Registered Dietitian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital
  • Deborah Jean-Gilles, Administrative Assistant, Baylor All Saints Medical Center Fort Worth

Physician Award:

  • Dr. Paul Whatley, Orthopedic Surgeon, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton

Community Service Award:

  • Ruth Aguilar, Housekeeping Aide, Methodist Richardson Medical Center

System Award:

  • Sandra Minatra, Public Relations Coordinator, Methodist Health System

Special Recognition Awards:

  • Diana Weeks, Imaging Support Specialist, Hunt Regional Medical Center
  • Christopher Jackway, Nuclear Medicine Tech II, Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton
  • Daniel Cruz, Pharmacy Tech II, UT Southwestern University Hospitals
  • Kenneth Randolph-Ellis, Registered Nurse, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth