Feature

Rufino Mendoza, Sr. was a Hispanic-American advocate for quality education for Hispanic youth in Fort Worth public schools. He led the campaign for Hispanics and addressed the children's education concerns in the district. Mendoza grew up in a family that fought against poverty but stressed the importance and value of education as the avenue to a better quality of life. While actively volunteering in his community, he saw the intelligence and potential in the Hispanic youth. Mendoza was concerned about how the disadvantages of poverty and racial barriers facing Hispanics could affect them.

Representatives from nursing clinical services have launched a new initiative called the Diabetes Education Program. The program aims to reduce diabetes-related readmissions by providing additional education to patients. The representatives recognized the need for this program due to the lack of knowledge about the disease, identified as the main issue causing readmission. The program was launched in August and has already shown reduced readmissions. Its success lies in the regular follow-up with patients after they have been discharged.

Prioritizing the physical and mental health of men is essential to their well-being. The societal stigma surrounding the role of men implies that they should always be strong, and any display of vulnerability is considered unacceptable, so men often deprioritize their health needs. Dr. James Haliburton, Medical Director, Psychiatry, emphasizes the importance of men prioritizing their mental health, as they tend to suffer in silence and keep going. This can have a detrimental impact on their mental and physical health.

On Friday, November 10, JPS Health Network hosted its annual Veterans Day breakfast. The health network celebrated the more than 250 team members who previously served in the United States Armed Forces and now serve the patients and community of Tarrant County.

Camilla Knobel, JPS Manager, Psychiatric Clinical Services, shared a personal story of her journey in the military.

JPS Health Network is committed to providing opportunities for educating its staff. As a Level I Trauma Center and a teaching facility, it is essential to find ways to educate and provide innovative discussions to medical staff to ensure advancement. On Friday, October 27, the JPS trauma department hosted its 13th annual Trauma Symposium, which provided education on current trauma, critical care, and complex social concerns that affect care delivery.

"Suicidal thoughts are so real and powerful that we lose sight of everything: our goals, our spouses, even our children because our mind is going against everything we believe in and love,” said Denisse Padilla, JPS Health Network Peer Support Specialist, Behavioral Health. “When I had my manic episode, I didn't know about mental disorders, and I thought, 'How can medicine help? These thoughts are invisible. They aren't real things that you can physically touch and fix.' So, I thought seeking treatment was unrealistic."

Jake Tanner, 17, went through a life-changing experience. He went from having ideal health to being in the hospital working to recover from a procedure. Though the easiest response to his circumstance could have been to give up, Tanner worked hard to regain his strength and came out stronger than before.

Jamil Ahmad, a Registered Vascular Technologist, is known among his colleagues as a courageous and cheerful individual. Despite facing difficulties in his personal life, Ahmad draws inspiration from his experiences to positively impact the lives of his patients.

The JPS Health Network Medical Home True Worth is located in an area populated by many individuals who are experiencing homelessness. The medical home staff is committed to prioritizing the health of these patients. Jill Stafford, BSN, RN, Practice Manager of Medical Home True Worth, shared that women make up 30 percent of the individuals who are experiencing homelessness but face additional stressors, all reporting that they've experienced sexual, physical, or verbal assault.

The JPS Health Network Learning & Organizational Development team introduced the Accelerate Leadership Cohorts which provide current leaders with fundamental skills they can utilize with their teams. These cohorts are given the necessary leadership tools to introduce, sharpen, or refresh their skills to lead their team to success.

The Accelerate Leadership Cohort is divided into six sessions: Leadership Influence, Relationships, Performance, Teamwork & Execution, Team Dynamics, and Strategic Thinking.