More than 700 attendees turned out for the DFW Hospital Council’s (DFWHC) 77th Annual Awards Luncheon on Friday, October 24 at the Loews Arlington Convention Center and Hotel. The event served as an opportunity for North Texas hospitals to honor residents and executives who have dedicated their lives to improving healthcare in the community.

The Honorable Lyndon L. Olson, Jr. was presented the Distinguished Health Service Award, an honor dating back to 1948. DFWHC also presented the 2025 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year award to Christina Mathis, CEO of Medical City Las Colinas; and the Kerney Laday, Sr. Trustee of the Year Award to John P. Boswell of Cook Children’s Health Care System.

“We were thrilled by the turnout to this year’s Annual Awards Luncheon,” said Stephen Love, president/CEO of DFWHC. “It was our privilege to honor Lyndon L. Olson, Jr., Christina Mathis and John P. Boswell for their great leadership. They were all fully deserving of the awards. We also received great compliments on this year’s keynote speaker.”

Dr. Stephen Trzeciak, the author of “Compassionomics,” served as the keynote. Trzeciak shared his story of going through burnout as a hospital physician, and how compassion was the key to his recovery. His book and its evidence-based arguments were detailed during the event. Since the book’s publication in 2019, his arguments have become revolutionary in the healthcare field, inspiring medical schools across the country to make “compassion” a part of the curriculum.

The luncheon opened with the introduction of 30-plus Chairs of the North Texas hospitals’ boards of trustees. The National Anthem was performed by Lauren Al-Jabri, an Arlington-based opera singer who was trained in Italy.

Young Healthcare Executive of the Year nominees presented awards this year included Matt Malinak of Baylor Scott & White Health; Graham Torres of Children’s Health; Cody Hunter of Methodist Health System; Chad Collins of Texas Health Resources; and Sean Gilmore of Ut Southwestern.

Vanessa Walls, DFWHC Chair and Chief Market Executive of the Northern Market for Children’s Health, served as Master of Ceremonies. Jon Roth, president/CEO of the Dallas County Medical Society provided the Invocation while Kathryn Keaton, program director at Tarrant County Medical Society, provided the Benediction.

Platinum Sponsors included Hall Render, Forvis Mazars and ShiftKey. GroupOne Background Screening, Konica Minolta and Oncor served as Gold Sponsors, with Legacy Health serving as a Silver Sponsor. Hospital Platinum Sponsors were Children’s Health, Medical City Healthcare, Scottish Rite for Children and Texas Health. Baylor Scott & White Health and UT Southwestern served as Gold Sponsors.