Mega Doctor News
It should come as little surprise that long-term employees contribute to the stability and reliability of a company.
That’s especially true of tenured staff in a hospital setting, where their years of experience enables them to manage complex medical situations effectively, identify potential issues quickly and make informed decisions, which results in improved patient outcomes.
In the past, it was common for individuals to stay at the same company for prolonged periods of time, decades even.
Today, the median length of time employees stay with an organization is 4.1 years, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the healthcare field, however, the average time an employee remains at a job is about 2.8 years, with a sizable portion of employees leaving within their first year.
But that isn’t the case at South Texas Health System. About 32% of the healthcare organization’s 3,400-plus employees have been with STHS for five years or more.
In December 2024, STHS hosted a special tenure awards luncheon to celebrate nearly 300 employees who reached employment milestones of five years or more, with nearly 40 of them completing 25 years or more of service with STHS.
“Whether providing quality, compassionate care directly to patients or working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our facilities run efficiently and effectively, the unwavering dedication and loyalty of our long-time staff like the ones who reached important employment milestones in 2024 has allowed STHS to shine as a nationally recognized leader in healthcare in South Texas,” says Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Edinburg and STHS Children’s. “It’s an honor to work with such a devoted team that takes great pride in meeting the healthcare needs of the people of the Rio Grande Valley.”
During a special tenure awards luncheon, STHS leaders paid tribute to employees who reached tenure milestones of five, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 45 years.
System Human Resources Director Melva Hernandez was among those being recognized. Celebrating her 45th year with STHS, she began her career at McAllen General Hospital, which would go on to become STHS McAllen, on March 12, 1979.
“There have been a lot of changes over the last 45 years, but what remains constant is how good the company has been to me,” says Melva. “There have been challenges, of course, but I have always been committed to the company’s success and, most importantly, to being an example for my team.”
Beginning as a unit clerk at the facility level, Melva eventually moved into to the human resources department. She initially worked as a secretary before becoming a recruiter, a role that saw her traversing the country in search of exceptional nurses to join the STHS Family.
During that time, she completed her degree, which equipped her with a deep understanding of human resources and led to her becoming the System Human Resources Director.
“Throughout the entirety of my career, there have been many memorable moments but, as cliché as it sounds, what has been my absolute favorite thing is the people I have crossed paths with during my time with STHS,” shares Melva.
Among four employees recognized for 40 years of service to STHS is Anabelia Pena, the registration manager for all seven STHS freestanding emergency departments (FEDs). She began her career with the healthcare system on September 4, 1984, at then McAllen Methodist Hospital.
“I started in emergency registration, where I learned the value of registration accuracy. I then worked my way up to admissions supervisor, where I had the opportunity to oversee and help register patients.” shares Anabelia. “Thanks to that experience, I now oversee the registration process for our seven FEDs.”
As her career blossomed, so did her love life. In 1989, Anabelia married fellow STHS employee Oscar Pena Jr., who worked in the central supply department at then-McAllen Medical Center (now STHS McAllen).
“In the span of 40 years, that has been the most memorable moment of my time with STHS,” says Anabelia, who welcomed a daughter in 1993 and a son in 1997, both born at STHS McAllen. “The last four decades with STHS have been exciting as well as rewarding! I feel so blessed to be part of such a devoted, caring and compassionate healthcare system.”
The expertise, compassion and consistent presence of the nearly 300 all-star employees like Anabelia and Melva, many of whom have dedicated decades to STHS, have helped STHS shine as the largest integrated network of care in the Rio Grande Valley.
“Our long-tenured employees have been essential to our growth over the years,” says Emma Montes-Ewing, Chief Executive Officer, STHS McAllen. “These employees have the deep expertise, institutional knowledge and steadfast dedication necessary to provide quality, compassionate patient care consistently, which has allowed us to create the efficient workflows and processes necessary to streamline patient care delivery across the system’s 12 facilities. We’re grateful for their loyalty to STHS.”
The passion, inspiration and talents of South Texas Health System’s employees is invaluable to its mission of serving the Rio Grande Valley. If you’d like to learn more about STHS and how its facilities can provide a place for you to thrive and continue your professional development, visit jobs.uhsinc.com/south-texas-health-system.
