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Yesterday, on May 6—the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday—we began our annual celebration of Nurses Week. As you may remember, last year was named the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife due to the extraordinary efforts of everyone in this field. The demanding circumstances from 2020 have carried through to this year, as we know, and so it is well warranted that The World Health Organization (WHO) announced an extension of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife through 2021 as a way to continue to honor our nurses and healthcare heroes.

At Texas Children’s Hospital, this is a very special week where we formally recognize the amazing work, courage and dedication that nurses embody day in and night out. There is no doubt in my mind that the Texas Children’s nursing team is the absolute best. Together, these remarkable men and women truly create the compassionate, welcoming and supportive atmosphere that our patients and their families need during their time at Texas Children’s.

The challenges that this past year presented included some of which we never thought we’d face in our lifetime. Our patients, especially those with month-long stays, often felt isolated and alone while in the hospital.

However, in the midst of it all, our nurses didn’t skip a beat on showing our patients that they are never alone. Nurses are the support system to a parent who is having to make difficult decisions, the playmate of a patient who needs a friend, and the confidant of their colleagues.

The impact that our nearly 3,700 nurses have had on our entire organization, the flexibility shown with every policy change during the pandemic, all while demonstrating compassionate care and exhibiting courage is, to say the least, incredible. Being on the front lines of this public health crisis has only reemphasized the critical role our nurses serve. My number 1 leadership maxim, “leadership always influences or determines outcomes—not some of the time, but all of the time” is undeniably represented through the amazing leadership and unwavering commitment our nurses provide to Texas Children’s patients each and every day.

We would not be who we are without our incredible nursing staff.

Nursing is a challenging and demanding profession, and while it is rewarding to see patients thrive, I know that not every day is a success story. To every nurse who is currently serving—or has previously served—our patients, I thank you for your tireless commitment through every high and every low. I am tremendously proud of your accomplishments and I hope you are too.

As we honor our nursing front line warriors this year, I ask that you join me and thank our nurses for all they do in leading our #OneAmazingTeam.

At Texas Children’s, we take care of the world’s most vulnerable children from around the world. We provide the highest quality form of women’s services and maternal care to women who need us most. We are the hands that cradle the tiniest of patients and celebrate when they are strong enough to go home. The multitude of medical staff, employees, and volunteers who make up Texas Children’s Hospital is without a doubt caring for generations of families.

However, to make a true difference for future generations, the care must go beyond our role within these walls. We must dedicate ourselves to create and maintain a healthy environment for generations to thrive.

Can you imagine what our environment would look like if we cared for the earth the same way we care for our patients?

Our patients are strong and resilient but still need us to help them get where they need to be. With the high-quality care we provide to patients every day, we get the privilege of seeing them overcome challenges and grow to reach health and prosperity. Just like the patients we serve, the earth is counting on all of us to do our part to create the transformation it desperately needs. Today, on Earth Day, we celebrate an atmosphere within Texas Children’s that gives back to our environment.

A few ways we’ve initiated sustainability throughout the organization is by implementing re-usable medical waste and sharps containers, installing LED light fixtures to help reduce energy consumption, and converting our shuttle buses to utilize propane in order to reduce carbon emissions. Next year, we will resume our annual tradition of planting trees to commemorate today’s holiday.

We are continuously educating ourselves on new ways to make an impact and have incorporated a variety of environmental conservation efforts as we plan to build our North Austin Campus. Food waste composting, electric car charging stations, reflective roofs to minimize heat gain, bicycle racks, and LED and dark sky lighting fixtures have all been included in the building design. We have also minimized pavement to preserve trees and maximize green space.

Other ways Texas Children’s is leaning into organizational sustainability is through our research. Just last year, Dr. Kjersti Aagaard and Dr. Bhagavatula Moorthy received a National Institute of Environmental Health grant to study how the toxicity of environmental chemicals impact preterm births.

I truly believe that the world’s largest organizations should be paving the way for sustainability, and as the nation’s largest pediatric hospital, we have an obligation to help lead this vital initiative. If you have suggestions for sustainability at Texas Children’s, or if you’d like to share how you plan to celebrate Earth Day, leave a comment below. I ask that you join me—in and outside of the hospital walls—to ensure that Texas Children’s is leading the way for sustainability in healthcare, environmental change, and creating a clean, healthy world for the generations of patients we serve.

It’s an honor to have the opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you. I’m proud to be representing On the Mark for Black History Month, and what a wonderful time it is to truly celebrate, respect, and learn about African American culture and our rich history here in the U.S.

Throughout history, Black men and women have had to fight to overcome adversity. In 2020, we saw reflections of history that we hoped we’d never see again—moments of division and injustice that created a desperate need for change. But what I’ve learned in my own life, is in order to make a change, we have to first look back.

Texas Children’s Hospital opened its doors in 1954, the same year the Civil Rights Movement began. As our organization and the wonderful men and women who worked within these walls were working to care for every child who needed us, there were countless children around the nation who were harmed or witnessed violence against their families, just because of the color of their skin.

When we look back at the history that is often the hardest to hear, we can see how far we have come as a nation and regain the hope that we will overcome again.

As former President Barack Obama said in a 2016 speech, Black History Month is “about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and ultimately strengthened America. It’s about taking an unvarnished look at the past so we can create a better future. It’s a reminder of where we as a country have been so that we know where we need to go.”

As much as many want to forget the past, acknowledging and combatting the true heartbreak of racism is very much a part of Black History Month, and it’s essential that we remember and educate future generations so that history is not repeated.

As an African American woman, I am proud to know where I come from. I am proud to continuously learn about the trials my ancestors overcame. And I am proud to do all I can today to ensure their legacy never fades.

Although we have come so far, our work is not over. In the words of youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman:

“For while we have our eyes on the future
history has its eyes on us
This is the era of just redemption
We feared at its inception
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs
of such a terrifying hour
but within it we found the power
to author a new chapter.”

Just as Mr. Wallace said in his most recent blog, we as a nation have come so far in many regards. I myself beamed with pride as I watched Kamala Harris, our nation’s first African American South Asian woman be sworn in as Vice President last month. This is a moment we can all be proud of.

When we think about where we’ve been and where we want to be, just as those who came before us—we will write a new chapter, and we will overcome.

This Black History Month, I ask you to take some time and listen to the stories of the strength and perseverance of our history. Listen to music by Black artists or read a book about Black history. And remember that while the past can be hurtful, the best choice you can make is to learn from it, do better and make a change for tomorrow.

Michelle Riley-Brown
Executive Vice President

As I’ve watched the events of the past year play out before my eyes, I often think to myself—what would the great leaders who came before us do if they were here today? More often than not, I think about what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would say to us about events that have taken place more than half a century after he told the world of his dream.

I believe he would be immensely proud of how far we’ve come in some regards. For instance, in just a few days, Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the first woman Vice President of the United States—and not just the first woman, but the first African American South Asian woman. No matter who you voted for this past November, I think we can all agree that this is progress, which Dr. King would undoubtedly be proud of.

On the other side of progress though, we have also been confronted with how prevalent racism still is in today’s society. The Black Lives Matter protests from this past summer—sparked by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and too many others—forced us to come face to face with the reality of racism we are still encountering decades after Dr. King’s movement.

Dr. King believed in equality for everyone. He fought and rallied tirelessly to ensure that our nation was a place where inclusivity and diversity was not only accepted, it was expected.

Dr. King did not violently fight those who were against him; he educated and peacefully protested the racial unrest that was occurring in his community. He used his power and knowledge to become a profound leader during the civil rights movement, and although I know that I will never fully understand the battles he fought, I want to continue to learn all that I can. Only through this education can I continue to stand up for what Dr. King believed in and ensure that the culture at Texas Children’s reflects his beliefs too.

Our culture is based on equality, inclusivity and compassion, and if we trust in these qualities and continue to not only do what’s right, but also stand up for what’s right, we will create a lasting legacy for the future employees and patients of this great organization.

We will create a generation of leaders who will not stand by and let this division continue to take place.

Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most profound and beautifully written speeches I’ve ever read. If you’ve never read it, I highly encourage you to do so. It’s a message of his fight and passion, yet it is encompassed by peace and love for all.

As we prepare to enter this holiday weekend where we honor the remarkable Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all he accomplished, I encourage you to think about what we can each do to be the change to create a world we are proud of. And remember, Dr. King’s reach began in his own community, yet it spread across the world—you never know how far your reach truly is until you make the decision to stand up for what is right.

Because after all, standing up for what is right is exactly where leaders are born.