‘Salute to Nurses’ program recognizes five members of the UTMB nursing community

Four UTMB nurses and one nursing student have been recognized as part of the Houston Chronicle's "Salute to Nurses," an annual awards program that honors the contributions of nurses across the Greater Houston healthcare community.

Now in its 26th year, the program coincides with National Nurses Week and recognizes nurses who demonstrate excellence in patient care, leadership, education, and community service. Nurses are nominated by colleagues, patients, hospitals, clinics, schools and community members. Final selections are made by a panel of experts.

"We are proud to celebrate the recognition of our UTMB nurses in the 'Salute to Nurses' program," said Jerry Mansfield, vice president and chief nursing executive at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health). " Each of these individuals has distinguished themselves in our profession, our health system, and the academic community. Their profiles highlight their key contributions including passion, meaningful difference, collaboration, calling, lifelong learner, care, support, and presence. How fortunate for UTMB to have such talent among our nursing and interprofessional teams."

Award recipients are honored in a special Houston Chronicle editorial section and at a formal Salute to Nurses luncheon held during National Nurses Week. Honorees receive public recognition for their achievements and are acknowledged alongside peers who are making meaningful differences in patient care and the profession.

"The Salute to Nurses provides an important opportunity to recognize and celebrate nurses and nursing students whose work reflects the highest standards of care, education, and service," said Kristen Starnes-Ott, PhD, dean ad interim of the UTMB School of Nursing. "UTMB nurses have been regularly honored through the program, underscoring the institution's commitment to excellence in nursing and its long-standing role in shaping the future of the profession. The 'Salute to Nurses' stands as a meaningful tribute to nurses' essential contributions to healthcare in the Houston/Galveston area and beyond."

The UTMB nurses recognized with the "Salute to Nurses" award are:

Jenny Alexander

A nurse coordinator for health services with UTMB Health's Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) at Giddings State School, Jenny Alexander has built a 24-year career there defined by dedication, adaptability and compassion.

Alexander has navigated significant changes throughout her career, including the transition to electronic medical records, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing operational updates, while continuing to provide care for students.

Alexander earned her associate degree in nursing from Blinn Community College in 2022 and then passed the state board exam, becoming a licensed registered nurse.

"My proudest career achievement is obtaining my registered nurse degree," Alexander said.

Alexander has been providing care at Giddings State School since 2002, where she has served in numerous roles, including psychiatric clinic nurse coordinator, immunization nurse coordinator, and Code Blue trainer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a key role in coordinating and administering vaccinations for staff and students. She has served in her current position as nurse coordinator for health services since 2023.

"I credit my success at Giddings to the strong collaboration and support of my fellow nurses and TJJD staff," Alexander said.

Allegra Baccinelli

In her role at UTMB as a nursing program manager, Allegra Baccinelli focuses on developing and strengthening competency-based orientation tools for Nursing Service to help ensure nurses are prepared to deliver safe, high-quality patient care.

A registered nurse, she collaborates with clinical leaders and educators to align nursing competencies with

evidence-based practice, regulatory requirements, and organizational goals. Her work supports standardized education, clinical excellence, and workforce readiness across nursing services.

Baccinelli's decision to pursue nursing was shaped by meaningful personal experiences early in her life.

"Serving as the primary caregiver for two family members earlier in my life helped uncover my passion for caring for others," Baccinelli said. "These experiences led me to choose nursing as a career so I could help people and make a meaningful difference."

She earned a bachelor of science in nursing and a master of science in nursing education from Aspen University.

"One quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that resonates deeply with me is, 'To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded,'" Baccinelli said. "My goal is always to make a meaningful difference, even if it is for just one person at a time."

Jessica den Herder

Jessica den Herder's career reflects a strong commitment to lifelong learning, clinical excellence, and service.

She earned a bachelor of science in nursing from Texas Tech University in 2013 and quickly recognized a desire to continue advancing within the profession. She pursued graduate education at UTMB, earning a master of science in nursing in 2018 and becoming a nurse practitioner.

Shortly after completing her degree, she began working in pulmonary and critical care, where she developed advanced clinical expertise while caring for some of the most medically complex patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, den Herder served on the front lines, working up to 12 consecutive days to ensure patients received critical, lifesaving care. That experience further strengthened her clinical skills and reinforced her commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care.

"Nursing is more than a career to me. It is a calling," den Herder said. "I am deeply grateful for the trust my patients place in me and truly honored when they recognize my work, because caring for others is what I love most."

In December 2020, she accepted a position in the UTMB Home-Based Primary Care Program, where she provides care to patients with complex medical needs in their homes. Den Herder has received the Excellence in Nursing Award, a President's Cabinet Award and earned a DAISY Award nomination.

In addition to her clinical role, she demonstrates a strong commitment to education and mentorship by serving as a clinical instructor for the UTMB School of Nursing's population health course, supporting the next generation of nurses.

Sarah Hibbs

Sarah Hibbs' nursing career was shaped by early exposure to healthcare, a deep commitment to education, and a passion for leadership and lifelong learning.

Hibbs attended a high school focused on health sciences, where she gained early immersion in multiple aspects of patient care. That interest continued after graduation through volunteer work at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan, Texas, where she supported the education department with planning and administrative projects.

Seeing firsthand the breadth of nursing responsibilities and the impact nurses had across care settings guided her decision to pursue nursing in college. Hibbs earned her bachelor of science in nursing from UTMB in Galveston and went on to complete a master of science in nursing education from Texas Woman's University in Houston. She earned her doctor of nursing practice in healthcare systems leadership from Chamberlain University in Houston.

Her academic journey was complemented by professional certifications, including certified nurse educator and nurse executive-board certified, as well as credentials in forensic nursing education, interprofessional education facilitation, hearing and vision screening, and educational technology.

"I am truly a lifelong learner," Hibbs said. "More than just alphabet soup at the end of my name, these certifications showed my commitment to improving my nursing knowledge and staying current in my specialties. Nursing is an ever-evolving field, and I enjoy learning new strategies and tools to bring the profession to life for my learners."

Her career experiences demonstrate adaptability, resilience, and sustained leadership under pressure.

"Completing my terminal degree in nursing with distinction during the COVID-19 pandemic was a very proud accomplishment," Hibbs said. "Managing the professional strain of working as a nurse manager during a pandemic while completing my degree on time was a significant achievement."

Amirah Abu-Tair

Amirah Abu-Tair, a student in the UTMB School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, was named a recipient of a Salute to Nurses scholarship.

Before pursuing nursing, she earned a bachelor's degree in supply chain management from the University of Houston in 2016. She said her decision to change careers was driven by a lifelong desire to care for others and by her experiences as a mother.

"Nursing school has challenged me in so many ways, but it has also reminded me of how strong and determined I can be," Abu-Tair said. "I hope one day my children look back and see that their mom did not give up.

"The area of nursing I am most interested in pursuing is labor and delivery. That area is very personal to me. I chose it because I do not want any mother to feel the way I felt when I gave birth in Jerusalem and had a bad experience."

The experience helped her understand how deeply a nurse's care, support, and presence can affect a mother during one of the most vulnerable moments of her life.

"I want to be the kind of nurse who makes women feel safe, heard, cared for, and supported during childbirth," Abu-Tair said.

Receiving a "Salute to Nurses" scholarship is especially meaningful for Abu-Tair.

"It means so much to me not just because of the financial help, but because it feels like recognition for all of the hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance it took to get here," Abu-Tair said. "It reminded me that even when the road is difficult, it is still worth it."

She also expressed gratitude for UTMB faculty and staff, including one special mentor.

"Dr. Mathew's support and belief in me has truly meant so much during this journey," Abu-Tair said.