Congratulations to Mary Senkel for winning the Department of Pediatrics’ Advanced Care Provider Excellence Award!
Mary Senkel is selected for this years Advanced Care Provider (ACP) Excellence Award. The ACP Excellence Award honors the outstanding contributions made by an Advanced Care Provider (ACP) through exemplary practice, leadership, service, and education by meeting the following criteria:
- Support and development of ACP functionality through role modeling, education, and mentorship.
- Exceptional clinical knowledge.
- Exemplary relationships with both patients and team members.
- Unwavering commitment to care for all patients at all times.
- Commitment to advancing practice by leadership contributions made at local, state, or national level.
Mary is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, and the UT Health School of Nursing. She holds a Master and a Post Master of Science degree in Nursing, and is certified as both a family and an emergency room nurse practitioner. She has been a member of the McGovern Medical School Division of Child Safety and Integrated Care since 2014, where she directs our subspecialty “CARE Clinic”. The CARE Clinic provides medical, social and mental health care to child maltreatment victims and children at risk of maltreatment, as well as social and mental health services to adult caregivers.
As the director of the CARE Clinic, Mary has been the key driver of our Division’s vision to improve the problem of child maltreatment in our community through an intensive, comprehensive model of outpatient care.
Under her leadership, the clinic team ensures that vulnerable children receive consistent medical care, including ensuring follow up with other subspecialists when required. She is a strong advocate for our clinic families, and her familiarity with community resources rivals that of any social worker. She organizes an annual Christmas drive for our neediest families, maintains a clinic donation supply center, and has visited families in their homes. She coordinates care for children and families with other clinics, home health agencies, therapy providers, and Children’s Protective Services.
Mary is championing the “No Hit Zone” program in our facilities to educate staff and the public about the adverse effects and alternatives to physical punishment. She designed the UT branded flyers and posters promoting the No Hit Zone. Mary presented a workshop at the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children on effective ways to support and counsel caregivers struggling with parenting. She is also the principal author of a guide on communication between medical and non-medical professionals in child maltreatment cases.
Congratulations Mary and thank you for your hard work and dedication!