The Texas Health Physicians Group (THPG) Practice Manager Mentee and Mentor Cohort II class recently celebrated the completion of the program with a luncheon attended by THPG leaders, vice presidents and practice managers.
Nineteen participants completed the program, which launched in 2023 and focuses on building stronger organizational culture, improving employee engagement, creating a talent pipeline for leadership roles and enabling growth and development of participants.
“Mentoring requires intentionality, authenticity and humbleness, and the mentors and mentees who have participated in the program so far have shown a strong commitment and passion to carve out the time, connect and flourish,” said Kevin Smith, FACHE, CHC, RHIA, senior director, Talent, Onboarding, and Southwestern Health Resources support.
He added, “Mentoring has benefited me throughout my career, so it was exciting to work with the design team, Human Resources and THPG leadership to bring this program to life.”
The design team consisted of: Deana Lance and Monica Lu, directors, Primary Care Operations; Tracy Herrera and Julia Whatley, directors, Specialty Care Operations; and Jack Bullion, learning and leadership development consultant.
The yearlong cohort requires consistent participation and touchpoints between mentors and mentees. The program works with Texas Health Resources University and uses Fuel50 to provide a career development platform for participants to complete self-assessments.
“Participants have been able to broaden their perspectives and learn essential leadership skills that they can take back to their teams,” said Shawn Parsley, D.O., president and chief operations officer, THPG. “I’m excited to see the program continue to grow and have an even more significant impact on the organization and the communities we serve.”
THPG Practice Manager Mentee and Mentor Cohort II graduates
Mentees
- Dana Turnbow, practice manager II, Fort Worth Orthopedic Trauma Specialists
- Latonda Shearrill, practice manager I, Texas Health Heart and Vascular Specialists, Frisco
- Kelly Epps (Stewart), practice manager II, Texas Health Surgical Specialists, Fort Worth
- Patricia Ewing, practice manager I, Texas Health Adult Care, Benbrook
- Thu Nguyen, radiology manager, Texas Health Heart and Vascular Specialists, Bedford
- Risé Pace, imaging and testing manager, Texas Health Heart and Vascular Specialists, Flower Mound
- Nancy Hill, practice manager I, Texas Health Heart and Vascular Specialists, Fort Worth
- Cindy Nichols, practice manager II, Texas Center for Joint Replacement – Plano
Mentors
- Veronica Atkinson, practice manager III, Texas Health Family Care, Fort Worth
- Melissa Cummings, practice manager II, Texas Health Heart and Vascular Specialists, Sunnyvale
- Kathy Dodds, practice manager III, Texas Health Adult Care, Dallas
- Sherry Fayo, practice manager II, Texas Health Family Care, Fort Worth
- Abigail Garcia, practice manager III, Texas Health Orthopedic Specialists, Allen
- Tammi Helton, practice manager I, Texas Health Family Care, Cleburne
- Kenya Richardson, practice manager II, Texas Health Family Care, Mesquite
- Denise Rivera, practice manager II, Texas Health Family Care, Weatherford
- Wendy Safro, practice manager II, Texas Health Heart and Vascular Specialists, Bedford
- Debra Schaefer, practice manager III, Texas Health Adult Care, Plano
Looking for opportunities for professional and personal growth? My Career Journey is available to all Texas Health employees and provides helpful assessments, mentoring opportunities and goal-setting guidance.
Building relationships
Below are some of the highlights that Cohort II mentors and mentees shared about the program.
“My mentor, Mary, was instrumental in this journey, sharing her knowledge, experiences and insights that allowed me to view situations from a new perspective. Her guidance and support not only made me feel more comfortable in my position, but I also gained a new “work buddy” in the process. I am looking forward to making a positive impact on the new participants, just as my mentor did for me.”
Latonda Hunley Shearrill
“My mentor, Wendy, and I had gone through the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator course together. She and I had different personality types, which I feel served me well. I brought issues or concerns I had as a manager and she was able to offer a different perspective than my own.”
Risé Pace
“All managers could benefit from networking with each other. Bouncing ideas and experiences off each other is the key to success. We are all on the same team, so when someone I mentor succeeds, then I succeed. I made a new lifelong friendship with my mentee, Patricia, and I am thankful for that. I learned as much from her as she did from me.”
Sherry Fayo
“What is valuable about this program is the shared opportunity for both the mentee and the mentor to learn from each other. My mentee, Kelly, and I are from two different specialty worlds and across the Metroplex from each other. Despite those differences, we share way more similarities with things we deal with day to day as practice managers. I believe the greatest benefit is the connections and support that the program allows us to build with others within the organization.”
Melissa Cummings
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