In recognition of the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices made by health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) is proud to commemorate Texas’ inaugural COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day. Through the passage of House Bill 2166 during the 2023 Texas legislative session, March 4 – the date of the first reported COVID-19 case in Texas in 2020 – will be recognized annually as COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day.

Today, DFWHC in association with the Texas Hospital Association (THA), would like to honor and celebrate the frontline health care workers and other essential workers who demonstrated unwavering bravery in the face of a global pandemic and memorialize the 95,000 Texans who tragically died of COVID-19.

“For more than 100 years, Parkland Health has stood with Dallas County,” said Roberto de la Cruz, MD, FACP, chief clinical officer at Parkland Health. “We are as grateful for our community as we are for the opportunity to serve it. This day acknowledges the determination and resilience of our frontline workers who showed incredible strength and compassion while caring for their fellow neighbors during COVID-19. Their sacrifices turned challenges into triumphs, revealing the human aspect of healthcare.”

“Protecting the health of our community is an integral part of the UT Southwestern mission, and that was never more evident or crucial than during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said David Wyatt, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR, FAORN, FAAN, chief nursing officer at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “Our frontline workers were steadfast in their commitment to deliver compassionate, expert care to our patients and the community, while also supporting each other during an unprecedented time. We will never forget the spirit of collective responsibility and we’re proud to join with DFWHC, THA and all our partner health care institutions to honor COVID-19 heroes everywhere.”

“We’ve come a long way from those early days of uncertainty, but the one thing that endured was the unwavering commitment and resiliency of the frontline health care teams in the region,” said Andrew Masica, MD, MSCI, chief medical officer at Texas Health Resources. “I am incredibly proud of the COVID-19 heroes at Texas Health, and across our industry, who never backed down from caring for the communities we serve.”

“We thank our health care heroes for the outstanding work they performed during the pandemic and their ongoing efforts today,” said Stephen Love, president/CEO of DFWHC. “We also thank the community for their unwavering support during the pandemic.”

DFWHC invites the community and media representatives to join together in celebrating and acknowledging the local heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic and remember those who lost their lives to COVID-19.