From the Editor | October & November 2018
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the 2018 Healthcare Professionals edition of Tex Appeal magazine. As the new editor here, I was excited to meet so many extraordinary doctors, nurses and other medical professionals all over Bell County as we worked to bring you their stories in this issue.
Catherine Hosman, who has served as Tex Appeal’s editor for the last four years, introduced me to the county’s wealth of hospital systems as she handed me the reins to the magazine. It’s clear that healthcare professionals move here for the opportunity to work in the region’s premiere medical facilities. We are lucky to have such fine healthcare systems in our own neighborhoods.
And speaking of being lucky, the children who receive healthcare at McLane Children’s Medical Center now have the opportunity to snuggle with a canine caregiver, the new therapy dog in residence, Lorenzo. This amazing dog makes the rounds every day with his handlers, Ashley Blackmon and Leah Woodward, visiting patients in need of some TLC. Lorenzo was gracious enough to patiently pose for our cover photo, even though it was on one of Temple’s hottest summer days (story on page 30). Read up on other updates from McLane Children’s on page 26.
McLane Children’s pediatric emergency department is overseen by Dr. Dominic Lucia, who charms his pint-sized patients with a sense of humor and a wardrobe filled with superhero T-shirts. His youth was spent traveling the rodeo circuit with his parents, and he was drawn to medicine by several tragedies he witnessed in the ring (story on page 28).
Metroplex Health System has welcomed a new CEO, Kevin Roberts, who recently assumed the position previously held by Carlyle Walton. Metroplex is also going through a name change and, in January, will be known as Advent Health System (story on page 68). On page 70, read about Esteban Cortez, Metroplex’s new clinical mission integration manager, whose goal is to encourage doctors to connect with patients on a spiritual level.
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights continues to thrive and recently was granted several awards and certifications in the fields of joint and hip replacement and stroke care (story on page 40). Heidi Cantrell, Seton’s director of women’s services, gave us a peek inside the hospital’s birthing rooms and explains her role in keeping moms-to-be healthy and happy (story on page 42).
In his second year as commander at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on Fort Hood, Col. David Gibson is pleased to announce that CRDAMC was recognized for exemplary surgical safety outcomes by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (story on page 46).
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Temple is not only adding new surgical suites to its campus, but has attracted the attention of visiting physicians from as far away as Japan this year (story on page 20). The hospital is home to much-sought-after physicians like Dr. Dawn Sears, the chief of gastroenterology. She works tirelessly to advocate a healthy lifestyle to her colleagues and patients, and she is mom to three children, one of whom is challenged by global developmental delay and autism (story on page 22). The doctors of Baylor Scott & White’s Executive Healthcare Program allowed us to visit this month, explaining how their concierge-style medical program benefits everyone, from busy executives to millennials in search of personal, convenient healthcare (story on page 24).
Ever wonder how doctors learn to deal with real human bodies before they actually work on patients? Check out our story on page 74 detailing the Clinical Simulation Program, which makes use of actors, offered to medical students on the Temple College campus.
We visited Belton’s Body of Christ Community Clinic to chat with Billy Ligon, one of its co-founders. His enthusiasm and empathy for the clinic’s clients was obvious as he gave us a tour and explained how the clinic offers care for the county’s underserved population (story on page 76). For a list of other free clinics in our region, turn to page 78.
And, on a delicious note, meet Katie Hermann, owner of RoseJo’s Meals and Classic Catering in Temple. Her penchant for cooking inspired her to train as a chef at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and open her own catering businesses here. Read her story and enjoy her tasty hummus recipe for a healthy fall snack (story on page 8).
I hope you’ll enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. It’s been a pleasure to join the staff of Tex Appeal—I look forward to hearing more fascinating stories about area residents and bringing them to you in the next edition.
Stacy Moser
Tex Appeal Editor
stacym@texappealmag.com
254-774-5266