she grew here — now, she’s helping build what’s next

Nearly two decades after starting her journey at Children’s Health℠, Mayra Garcia is shaping the future of care for generations of kids to come.

Mayra Garcia was a college student when she began her journey at Children’s Health. Here, she built her career, found cherished mentors and made lifelong friendships. Children’s Health also is where she met her husband and began their family.

For almost two decades, Mayra, a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and team leader, has dedicated herself to making life better for children. 

“I love working with kids. They’re so sweet and innocent,” she said. “Our patients go through so much at such a young age and they still smile. They’re very resilient.”

Mayra’s work is deeply rooted in helping improve patient outcomes and the ways they’re cared for, which includes considering how best to support their families and care teams. 

Recently, the expertise she’s acquired over the years earned her a spot as a project advisor for the new Dallas pediatric campus, a joint investment with UT Southwestern Medical Center.

“The new campus will be here for decades,” Mayra said. “My feedback will help shape how we care for kids for the next 50 or more years. That’s exciting.”

Her recommendations and research will influence the new campus’ design, ensuring the best possible experience for patients, their families and the team members who care for them.

“In order for us to be the best, No. 1 pediatric hospital in the nation, we have to be innovative, we have to be flexible — we have to expand with our patient population,” she said. “North Texas is growing so much, to know that Children’s Health will be able to serve all these kids is exciting.”

Like many others across the system who understand it takes everyone coming together to spark a movement of incredible impact, Mayra contributes more than her time and talent. 

For years, she also has provided ongoing support through payroll deduction gifts — an easy way for team members to make pre-tax contributions that add up over time and provide the system with a regular source of funding.

The decision to donate was an easy one since she’s seen firsthand the strides the health system is making toward growing and helping more kids in more places.

“My giving supports our kids of today and the kids of the future,” Mayra said. “This is a cool and exciting time for Children’s Health. My giving supports a place that will not only care for kids in Dallas, but also those across Texas and the country.”