Patricia Aitson

Medical Photographer Patricia Aitson began her career at UT Southwestern in the former Department of Medical Illustration. Now working in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Ms. Aitson provides medical and scientific photographs of plastic surgery to support the Department’s functions. She’s a great believer in “community.” A Native American whose mother was Navajo and whose father was Kiowa, she was nurtured to appreciate the elderly and took care of her own grandparents in their senior years. At UT Southwestern, she says, “I’m a part of an outstanding and diverse community of health care professionals who provide exceptional care to all people.” Ms. Aitson thinks co-workers would describe her as fun-loving because she likes to laugh and to make others laugh. She looks forward to UT Southwestern’s future evolution: “I envision us being one of the top 10 medical institutions in the world.”

Prodip K. Ash

Prodip K. Ash, a Senior Technician, says his claim to fame is being a member of a team at an institution that’s world-renowned in biomedical research. He’s in a place he wants to be and is also proud that he’s considered reliable. “I’ve barely missed a day in the last 25 years. I know that my contribution to what we do here is small, but I like being part of a team that is doing big things.” Mr. Ash, who emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1990s from his native Bangladesh, hopes his colleagues would describe him as “always being willing to help in extra tasks, and with a great attitude.” Before coming to the U.S., he earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Rajshahi. Away from work, he likes to travel with his wife, Malobika, and his daughter, Pronita.

Gloria Daniel

Gloria Daniel, a Senior Administrative Assistant in the Department of Pathology, supports five faculty members and three fellows in their academic pursuits and research. It’s a calling that has grown from her first job as a Senior Clerk Typist, and one with increasing responsibilities. “Tasks and goals are always changing around here,” she says. “When those changes occur, we adapt to them. In the end, don’t all of us just hope to make a difference for the patients, and for our colleagues?” Describing her personality as “bubbly,” Ms. Daniel says she motivates her colleagues with a sense of humor and a quiet sense of her faith. Taking in the celebration of UT Southwestern’s first 75 years, she enjoys knowing she’s working in a place that can be at the center of health care. “I think we will be the hub of innovation as we move forward, in technology, in medicine, and in discovering new ways to cure patients,” she says.

Chris Davenport

It’s been more than a couple of decades since Senior Business Analyst Chris Davenport began his career at UT Southwestern as a Programmer. But, today, he looks back on it and knows he made the right choice in 1993. Mr. Davenport’s job is to support the reporting and analysis needs of UTSW Health System clinical users. It turns out to be a great job. Being able to meet so many interesting people in both technical and clinical areas, he says, makes his job extremely rewarding. “It’s also fun, flexible, and satisfying work that allows me to contribute to the mission of patient care,” he adds. A self-described problem-solver, Mr. Davenport likes working at a place where resolving issues is the order of the day. “I envision UT Southwestern will continue being innovative, and focus on illness prevention,” he predicts. He and his wife of 40 years, Karen, have two children and four grandchildren. As for outside hobbies, he loves bluegrass music and plays the banjo. People might be surprised to know, he adds, that he’s much younger than he looks.

Donna Drury

Donna Drury, Director of the Transplant Services Center, started working at UT Southwestern in 1992 as a Transplant Technician. That first week, then-Center Director Ellen Heck asked Ms. Drury where she saw herself in her job in five years. “I expect to be Director of the Transplant Services Center,” she boldly replied. Proof that setting goals can work, that did eventually come true – even if not in Ms. Drury’s then-hopeful time frame. Her job has her providing administrative oversight of the full-service eye and tissue bank, which recovers, processes, stores, and distributes ocular and tissue allografts for transplantation. Describing herself as focused, goal-oriented, and dedicated, Ms. Drury makes it a point to give back both on the clock and off-duty. She currently serves as Chair of the Board for the Eye Bank Association of America. A fitness enthusiast, she enjoys road biking, mountain biking, and triathlons.