Frances Eubanks has a lot to celebrate these days: having worked at UT Southwestern for 40 years and her recent retirement.

“I think it is rare for someone to stay in one job for very many years,” Mrs. Eubanks says. “But I love research and the feeling that what I’m involved in can change what is done at the bedside to improve the care of the most vulnerable baby.”

Mrs. Eubanks started at UTSW in 1979 as a Research Nurse in the Department of Pediatrics. Since then, she’s ventured into other areas within the Department, such as being a Bedside Nurse. Ultimately, she came back to research.  

“My belief is I was led by God into nursing,” Mrs. Eubanks says. “I always gravitated to Pediatrics while in nursing school and landed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after  college.”

She has very fond memories of the NICU team stemming from her days working at the former St. Paul University Hospital, since replaced by William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.

“Although many of us don’t work in the Clements NICU any longer, we still get together and feel like family,” Mrs. Eubanks says. “Some of us have worked together for over 25 years.”

Over four decades, Mrs. Eubanks benefited from several mentors and supporters on campus. She names Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics Dr. George McCracken, Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Education Dr. Charles Ginsburg, and former faculty member Dr. Jon Tyson as a few, along with Nursing Manager Aziza Young.

“Dr. Tyson, who is now at UTHealth, was literally like a big brother to me for many years,” Mrs. Eubanks says. “And Aziza Young, Manager of the Clements NICU, was a fabulous manager during most of my 29 years in the NICU.”

As she fondly reminisces about the past, Mrs. Eubanks says she felt very much valued by her former team, all of whom miss her.

“Frances has been a delight to work with over the past five years. Her positive attitude and can-do spirit are much appreciated by her research teammates, the bedside nurses in the NICU, and the families of the patients who participate in our studies,” says Dr. Myra Wyckoff, Professor of Pediatrics and Mrs. Eubanks’ former supervisor. “We wish she could be with us another 40 years!”

Last serving as a Senior Research Nurse for Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Mrs. Eubanks describes herself as friendly and cooperative. Others might call her superwoman.

“I home-schooled all four of my kids from kindergarten through high school and taught high school geography for 11 years in a large home school co-op,” Mrs. Eubanks says. “I know my geography. I can locate and spell most of the countries in the world.”

Now enjoying retired life, Mrs. Eubanks likes to hike, cycle, and sing. She is enjoying spending retirement years with her husband of 37 years, Gary, who is a beekeeper, along with her two grandchildren.

“We’re ready to travel, grandparent, and maybe have a honey business,” she says.