Hospital staff, physicians on medical staff recognized for giving back to community

By definition, health care workers care for others each day.

But for many Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford employees and physicians on the medical staff, the service to the community doesn’t stop when they change out of their scrubs or clock out for the day.

That’s why each year Texas Health HEB honors an employee, department and a physician on the medical staff for their contributions outside of the hospital’s walls.

This year, the Texas Health HEB honorees are:

• Jenny Ellis, R.N., AOCN,: In her day job, Ellis works on the Oncology Care Unit at Texas Health HEB. She primarily educates patients and their families about chemotherapy, cancer treatments and what to expect. In addition, she works closely with the American Cancer Society on support groups and programs to help those living with cancer and serves as camp nurse for the Bluebonnet Retreat, an adult cancer camp. She also is very active with Special Olympics and Special Friends, a program that helps adult special needs athletes train and socialize.

• Dr. Rebeca Sharp is an internal medicine physician on the medical staff at Texas Health HEB. When not seeing patients in her practice, Sharp can frequently be found volunteering at Cornerstone Ministries in Fort Worth. She also mentors Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine students completing rotations with the Cornerstone clinic. She travels to Mexico for a week each year to treat indigent patients and serves as chairwoman of the board of directors of Women’s Choice Resource Center. In addition to being selected as an award winner for Texas Health HEB, she also has been recognized across the Texas Health Resources system.


• Texas Health Fitness Center HEB employees frequently can be found speaking at area community events and holding free, or low-cost, programs to improve the health of people in the area. The Fitness Center offers free memberships to military personnel on leave and gives free use of the facility to individuals needing a shower or place to go while a family member is in the hospital. The Fitness Center provides education and fitness services to breast cancer survivors and those who have suffered cardiac events.

“We are thrilled that so many of our team members actively serve their community,” said Debbie Paganelli, FACHE, hospital president. “Jenny, Dr. Sharp and all the staff of the Fitness Center are shining examples of the kinds of people at Texas Health HEB who pour their all into helping others each day. They don’t ask for praise or recognition, but I am honored to recognize the dedication and inspiration they provide to all around them.”