Therapy dogs comfort hospital staff during Mental Health Awareness Month
![woman hugging dog](/ctplus/asset/3dd3174c-79e2-44dc-9915-2b3bb939e9fb/therapy-dogs-header.jpg)
May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, and the UT Southwestern Health System kicked off the month by bringing in therapy dogs on May 1 to support health care workers at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, our health care heroes have selflessly dedicated themselves to combating the virus and delivering quality patient care. We are in awe of their resilience and grit. Flip through the photos below for a look at the four-legged friends that visited UT Southwestern and brought smiles to so many faces. Thank you to Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs for participating in this event.
Select an image to begin the slideshow.
![From left: Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs volunteers Rosalind Henwood with dog Rusty, Ruth Peterson with dog Emma, and Sheryll Barker with dog Daisy.](/ctplus/asset/f82ccced-e278-4a68-b921-3a6fe3a40467/therapy-dogs-9210.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Clinical Staff Pharmacist Lisa Walsh](/ctplus/asset/eee9fb36-01d7-4ebf-8f9f-074d88f9db1b/therapy-dogs-9152.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Registered Nurse Senayt Wondu](/ctplus/asset/60c13a69-87aa-4e86-b663-aabc8cfd64b4/therapy-dogs-9171.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Registered Nurse Karjoryn Pula takes a selfie with Emma.](/ctplus/asset/d97dae70-0bd3-43d3-bdc1-317ed34f57dd/therapy-dogs-9148.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Emergency Room Tech James Cartwright](/ctplus/asset/b198c2a8-d6ec-4418-85a9-e43e83e18aae/therapy-dogs-9139.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Registered Nurse Marilou Marilag](/ctplus/asset/deb36800-4909-4469-a73e-eeaf9b569dda/therapy-dogs-9094.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Registered Nurse Janice Hughes](/ctplus/asset/60de9ac7-786e-46e3-9218-6975c2a926e6/therapy-dogs-9054.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Health care staff practices social distancing while waiting their turns to get some quality time with the therapy dogs.](/ctplus/asset/d26a8c04-abb3-42e6-b391-7f8e5ccf9126/therapy-dogs-9048.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Emma is ready for her close-up.](/ctplus/asset/01513c52-3c6f-4191-9f48-204799eef401/therapy-dogs-9066.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Rusty shows off his cool style.](/ctplus/asset/661b4a08-fc58-423a-96c9-bf4bc01fad34/therapy-dogs-8870.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Respiratory Therapist Wendy Selke steals a kiss from Daisy.](/ctplus/asset/958451b0-b4c7-47a2-a0ee-75f8d673ca85/therapy-dogs-9035.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Social Worker Jaime Riser](/ctplus/asset/11943d35-c4c7-43f2-a63d-95a7dcd42ee3/therapy-dogs-8960.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Registered Nurse Brooke Bender takes a photo of fellow registered nurse Tiffani Dunn with Rusty.](/ctplus/asset/20c68635-9a5f-45d0-8889-5e3136527af1/therapy-dogs-8999.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Volunteer Rosalind Henwood spends quality time with Rusty.](/ctplus/asset/0399a941-4573-4cd3-9a76-457932e70305/therapy-dogs-8863.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Laura Thieleman, Associate Vice President of Cardiovascular Services](/ctplus/asset/4f23ee2b-8c6c-4934-8e3a-a48076dce158/therapy-dogs-8835.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Keisha Brock, Clinical Operations](/ctplus/asset/e0dcad2f-b4e4-47b9-b458-b851686b50e3/therapy-dogs-8856.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![A health care staff member gets a kiss from Rusty.](/ctplus/asset/32a5ad07-5fa5-408c-a0da-0bfa454d91e5/therapy-dogs-8881.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)