Great things happen every day at Parkland. The Parkland News Flash is our way to share the positive news coverage about Parkland's premier services and showcase our participation in upcoming public events.
Parkland transplant program op-ed addresses disparities
The 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) underscored stark health disparities across ZIP Codes, including significant disparities in life expectancy. In an op-ed published by The Dallas Morning News, Parkland Health President and CEO Fred Cerise, MD, MPH, and Joseph Lockridge, MD, Medical Director of Parkland’s Kidney Transplant program, outlined how the system is responding with targeted efforts to improve outcomes in Dallas County’s most underserved communities. They highlighted Parkland’s efforts to address kidney disease through expanded access to dialysis and transplant care, as well as prevention efforts focused on diabetes and hypertension.
Parkland experts urge Memorial Day safety
Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, Parkland urged families to take extra precautions around water and open flames. In an NBC 5 article, Courtney Edwards, DNP, MPH, RN, CCRN, CEN, TCRN, NEA-BC, Director of Trauma Community Outreach, and Sarah Scoins, MSN, APRN, ACNPC-AG, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, CBRN, Burn Outreach and Injury Prevention Educator, stressed that many drownings and burn injuries are preventable and shared practical safety steps for families heading to pools, lakes and cookouts. Telemundo 39 also shared tips for a safe start to the summer season.
Addressing mental health in the Hispanic community
Mental health challenges in Hispanic communities often go unspoken due to social stigma, cultural expectations and limited access to care. The 2025 CHNA identified behavioral health as the top health concern in Dallas County, where a large Hispanic population faces significant barriers to care. During Mental Health Awareness Month, Paola Thompson, a Licensed Professional Counselor, spoke with Univision 23 and Telemundo 39 to encourage families to prioritize conversations about emotional well-being and seek mental health support early. Speaking with La Grande 107.5, Carolina Pena, a Licensed Professional Counselor, also shared practical wellness tips, including maintaining social connections, setting boundaries, prioritizing sleep, exercise and utilizing community resources.
PCCI launches new tool to address maternal health challenges
The Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI) unveiled a new tool to help tackle the maternal health crisis in North Texas. Steve Miff, PhD, President and CEO of PCCI, told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram the Maternal Outcomes Monitoring System (MOMS) dashboard will use predictive data to focus resources in areas where women are likely to experience poor maternal health outcomes. In a D CEO Healthcare article, Lance Rather, Senior Director of Product and Strategic Partnerships, and Miff shared that the goal is to reduce severe obstetric complications by 20% over the next three years.
Parkland Health | 5200 Harry Hines Blvd. | Dallas, TX 75235 US
