Chaplain, four RNs, nurse practitioner among latest Strauss Award winners
We offer a tip of the hat and (virtual) high-fives all around for the latest winners of the Diana and Richard C. Strauss Service Excellence Awards.
Each quarter, UT Southwestern recognizes model Health System employees who provide exceptional patient care, as well as those in vital supporting roles.
The third-quarter winners include a chaplain, a nurse practitioner, a nurse educator, and nurses from Labor & Delivery, Hematology/Oncology Infusion, and Neurology.
Three things define and unite Strauss Awards winners:
- They are excellent at their jobs.
- They serve as role models for the next generation of employees.
- They share a spirit of volunteerism that strengthens our community.
Here’s a quick look at your colleagues and how they exemplify excellence in action.
LeAnn Griffin
Chaplain
Spiritual Care
LeAnn Griffin said she has waited a long time to finally discover exactly what she was “supposed to be doing.” After three years with UT Southwestern, including two residencies and coming aboard as a Staff Chaplain, she knows she has found it.
As a Staff Chaplain, she works with patients and their loved ones when they are at their most vulnerable – something the Rev. Griffin views as a privilege.
“I have the greatest job in the world. I really do cherish it,” she said.
Currently preparing to become a board-certified chaplain, the Rev. Griffin has previously worked as a senior pastor at a church in Arlington and a weekend overnight chaplain at UT Southwestern. She is preparing for the new Orange Tower to open at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital in December. “They will need more people to do pre-surgery visits, so I am now sort of the shortstop; I’m the person who responds to the pager – I do it all.”
She takes pride in attending to those who are in pain or discomfort and being there to give them encouragement.
The Rev. Griffin says that even though some days are hard, it is a privilege to be with people as they work through difficult situations and walk with them during their journey.
John O’Neal, a recent Strauss winner who nominated the Rev. Griffin, characterized her as “the one who rushes toward the fire when others are running away. She has dealt with many families and has been quietly present to pray on the units, waving through the glass at patients, calling patients to support them and then reporting back to families remotely with updates on their loved one. Families have shed tears of gratitude as she has cared for them as their loved ones recover – and sometimes do not – from serious illness. She acts as a point of connection in a world that has been disconnected from the way we knew it.”
Outside of UT Southwestern, the Rev. Griffin is active in her church and helps with many of its outreach activities, such as making food boxes for the needy as well as other community projects. She also has recently taken up glass-blowing, a hobby that requires focus and creativity. She and her wife, Kathy, have two adult sons and a daughter.
Kaffie McDowell, B.S.N., RN, RNC-OB
Registered Nurse
Labor and Delivery
Kaffie McDowell, who joined UT Southwestern as a nurse extern 28 years ago, has helped to deliver a lot of infants – some of whom were the children of her colleagues. She said she feels fortunate to participate in deliveries, which she refers to as “truly miraculous.” She serves as the primary charge nurse for her unit and believes in contributing to the culture of Labor & Delivery by creating a positive, uplifting, safe, and nurturing space to work.
Mrs. McDowell’s knowledge and long history of excellence has not gone unnoticed by her colleagues. Linda Catterton, a Registered Nurse in the Women’s Resource Center, called her nominee for the Strauss award “caring, compassionate, selfless, supportive, and a leader with a servant’s heart. What is most inspiring for me is how effortlessly she simultaneously leads the unit and lifts up each staff member so that each person feels heard and important. When we work with her, her actions inspire us to be the best version of ourselves. For me, that is the best sign of a true leader.”
Mrs. McDowell, a DIY fan who grows and roasts her own vegetables, has three children with Ronnie, her husband of 25 years.
Fatemeh Youssefi, Ph.D., RN-OCN
Oncology Certified RN
UH-Clinic, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Hematology/Oncology Infusion
Fatemeh Youssefi, an Oncology Certified Registered Nurse, is going on 14 years at UT Southwestern.
She sees nursing as ever-evolving and says UT Southwestern is a great place for an Oncology nurse.
“You learn about your patients – we spend a lot of time with our patients and learn the perspectives of those going through cancer,” Dr. Youssefi said. “We understand the unique approaches that are necessary to address a patient’s need because everyone’s situation is so different.”
She loves working with her patients and colleagues and thrives on being part of an academic medical center setting where nurses are an integral part of the collaborative decision-making process.
Dr. Youssefi is a long-standing member of the Ambulatory Nurse Clinical Ladder Committee. She facilitates in-service presentations on the Ladder, providing her peers with educational opportunities related to Oncology nursing.
Michelle Walsh, Clinical Nurse Educator, nominated Dr. Youssefi and spoke of her colleague’s tireless attitude. “Even on the busiest days, she has an outstanding, positive attitude, is a team player and inspires others in her clinic area to excel through her work as a cancer infusion nurse. Fatemeh does not have to be asked to go above and beyond; it is in her nature. She tirelessly tackles problems but always seeks consensus. The depth of care she has for her patients and her commitment to helping those who are battling cancer cannot be overstated.”
Dr. Youssefi’s Muslim faith is very important to her, and she wants to be a mentor to Muslim women. Each year, her family takes one big trip. “We’ve been to Colorado, Ireland, and Iran. Each of the trips have been my favorite because they are all unique to themselves – my favorite part about these trips are that I get to do them with my whole family.”
Amelework “Mimi” Wodajo, M.S.N., B.S.N., RN, CCRN, AGACNP
Nurse Practitioner, Apheresis
Amelework Wodajo joined UT Southwestern in June 2018 as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.
She loves her work at UTSW, especially caring for her patients, with whom she keeps close connections. “We care for amazing patients,” Ms. Wodajo said. “They are like my family.”
She also praised her colleagues, calling them “my rock,” and said they create a “wonderful, supportive environment.”
Tomas Armendariz, Nursing Manager, UH-Clinic Apheresis, observed Ms. Wodajo’s generosity of spirit and praised her attentive nature as his pick for the Strauss Award. “Given that a lot of our patients have chronic debilitating neurologic conditions, they experience bouts of varying emotions such as fear, sadness or guilt. Amelework is quick to recognize when our patients are ‘not themselves’ and spends extra time at the bedside to care for them. Patients often express their appreciation of her warmth and kindness.”
Ms. Wodajo, who travels around the world for both health care-related volunteer work and pleasure, enjoys taking long trips abroad, such as an eight-country European odyssey and visits to Ethiopia to provide medical care and health education. She is presently learning French.
Felicia Berno, B.S.N., RN-BC
Ambulatory Triage RN, Neurology
Felicia Berno, a baseball fan and Texas Rangers enthusiast, began her UTSW career two years ago as a travel nurse in Labor & Delivery. She has worked at several hospitals but chose to make UT Southwestern her professional home because it was here that she felt most like part of a team.
“I love the ambulatory world,” Mrs. Berno said. “It fits my lifestyle. My favorite is the connection that I get to make with the patients. It’s not in-person – it’s all on the phone, but I can still get to know them and recognize them. I get to make deep connections with them.”
Mrs. Berno enjoys creating tools that help her provide great care, such as the “Float Binder” she created for her clinic’s Float Pool nurses. The binder offers resources needed to be successful in Neurology. She also functions as a primary preceptor for new hires, welcoming new nurses to her clinic and helping them to learn the ropes.
“Felicia is a great problem solver,” wrote Kimberly Kelley, Ambulatory Nurse Supervisor, of her Strauss Award nominee. “She not only recognizes where there is an in issue, but she also develops long-lasting solutions.”
Mrs. Berno, along with Sean, her husband of 15 years, and their three honor-student sons, love spending time as a family on their yearly trip to Disney World.
Ashton Tolbert, B.S.N., RN
Clinical RN Educator, Clinical Education and Professional Development
Ashton Tolbert recently celebrated two years as an Ambulatory Clinical RN Educator. You may have met her in any number of committees she works with, such as the Clinical Ladder or others, or crossed paths with her on the Ambulatory Practice Council or the Ambulatory Clinical Leadership Council.
Mrs. Tolbert enjoys her role because it allows her to interact with and learn from her colleagues.
“Although I am teaching them, I am also learning from them, because they are the subject matter experts in their specialties,” she said.
Mrs. Tolbert also promotes professional development and evidence-based practice with the clinical staff by facilitating the Medical Office Assistant Ambulatory Clinical Ladder.
“Ashton is a wonderful co-worker who is always willing to help her team members,” Mari Ann Lewis, Manager of Clinical Education and Professional Development, said of her choice for the Strauss Award. “She freely gives her time to share knowledge to help in any way. She is definitely an essential piece of the puzzle on our team.”
Ms. Lewis added that Mrs. Tolbert’s helpful spirit extends beyond work hours. “Ashton is involved personally in her church and the programs the congregation supports. She promotes volunteerism through her work with the Clinical Ladder. During the pandemic, she encouraged the staff to participate in blood drives, shopping for elderly or immunocompromised people and other socially responsible activities.”
Mrs. Tolbert, a crochet aficionado who is currently working on homemade Christmas ornaments, has two daughters, ages 9 and 6, with her husband Matthew, of nearly 10 years.
Watch: Dr. John Warner congratulates the latest Strauss Award winners