Celebrating Excellence: Honoring the Winners of the “Make It Matter” Stephanie Sheffield Award

It is with immense pride and heartfelt gratitude that we announce the winners of the Stephanie Sheffield Award. Nominated by our dedicated faculty and staff, these outstanding individuals have been recognized for embodying the spirit and values of a true leader—qualities that Stephanie Sheffield exemplified every day.

Remembering Stephanie Sheffield

Stephanie Sheffield was much more than a cherished member of our UT Ortho team. She left a lasting legacy by touching the lives of her coworkers, patients, and the community at large. Known as a devoted colleague, a compassionate friend, and a steadfast advocate for our patients, Stephanie’s commitment to excellence and unwavering dedication continue to inspire us all.

Award Selection Criteria

In honor of Stephanie’s remarkable contributions, this annual award is presented to employees who demonstrate the same dedication, compassion, and advocacy that she lived by. The recipient is selected based on criteria that reflect our department’s core values:

The recipients of the Stephanie Sheffield Award are selected based on several key qualities that reflect our department’s core values. These include a commitment to promoting collaboration and fostering unity through teamwork, consistently exceeding expectations and, going the extra mile in both colleague and patient support, and demonstrating exceptional customer service. Creativity and innovation are vital, as the awardee introduces fresh ideas and solutions, while performance excellence ensures the delivery of outstanding results at the highest level. Moreover, leadership plays an essential role in inspiring and motivating others through vision and action. An unwavering dedication to the mission and values of the department, paired with flexibility to adapt positively to change and new challenges, are also integral to earning the recognition of this prestigious award.

Congratulations to Our Winners

We are honored to recognize the exemplary contributions of, along with their thoughts on winning the award:

• Mark Jensen
  “Receiving this award is one of the greatest highlights of my time at UT Physicians while celebrating 20 years since being hired by Dr. Stafford. My hope and my prayer, every day, is that I make a difference in every patient’s life that I come in contact with.” – Mark Jensen
• Tobi Espinosa
  “This award inspires me to advocate for our patients and colleagues with passion and dedication. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a legacy of care.” – Tobi Espinosa
• Marina Steshuk
  “I am privileged to work in a place where I am seen, valued, and truly belong. I hope we continue shifting our focus from ‘ME’ to ‘WE’ so together, we can Make It Matter.” – Marina Steshuk
• Veronica Serna
  “I am truly blessed to be part of Stephanie Sheffield’s legacy. This honor means more to me than words can express.” – Veronica Serna
• Stephanie Duff
  “This award is a powerful reminder of the privilege and responsibility of working in healthcare. It fuels my passion to make a lasting impact through empathy, integrity, and innovative care.” – Stephanie Duff
  

  Cypress Winner Mark Jensen

• Amanda Lacourse
  “Stephanie was dependable, trustworthy, dedicated to her work, just all the things I myself, strive to be, and I am extremely honored to have received this award in her name. It means I am doing something right; it means my coworkers can depend on me, trust me, and know confidently I am here for them and our patients no matter what.” – Amanda Lacourse

A Special Recognition to All Nominees 

While we celebrate these winners today, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the nominees. Each nominee has shown exemplary dedication and excellence, contributing significantly to our UT Ortho family. Your efforts and commitment are truly commendable, and you inspire us all to continue to strive for greatness.

Continuing the Legacy

As we honor these remarkable individuals, we reaffirm our commitment to carrying forward Stephanie Sheffield’s vision. Her spirit of compassion, advocacy, and excellence continues to guide us in every challenge we face and every patient we serve.

Congratulations once again to our Stephanie Sheffield Award winners, and thank you to all nominees for your outstanding contributions. Your work not only enriches our department but also ensures that Stephanie’s legacy endures in every aspect of our mission.

 

 

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