This announcement was first sent to all HMSL employees by CEO Michael Garcia on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
It is with a mix of gratitude and admiration that I announce the upcoming retirement of Janet Leatherwood, vice president and chief nursing officer. She will retire on Jan. 31, 2025 – after 24 years of dedicated service not only to Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, but to our community.
Janet joined HMSL as chief nursing officer in December 2001. Throughout her tenure, Janet has been a guiding force among our nurses, focusing on patient-centered care. She has led with compassion, integrity and an unwavering commitment to excellence, leaving an incredible mark on our organization and the lives of countless patients. Under her leadership, our nursing team has grown and achieved many milestones, including our initial Magnet® Designation from 2017-2021 and our redesignation from 2021-2025. She helped develop the HMSL Palliative Medicine service line, the first palliative medicine program to receive DNV accreditation in Texas in 2019. Janet was also the executive leader of the successful initiative to achieve Gold Beacon Award status for Houston Methodist. Currently, both medical and surgical ICUs are Silver Beacon designated by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She has been with HMSL through nearly all of our expansions, thoughtfully prioritizing the well-being of both our patients and employees at every stage of our growth.
Janet has been the executive sponsor of the Houston Methodist Education Council since 2015 which culminated in the achievement of the system accreditation of the Nurse Residency Program from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. She is also currently a member of the University of Houston-Sugar Land School of Nursing Advisory Board and a Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services consultant for several countries, including Mexico, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Over the years, Janet has been more than a leader – she’s been a champion for our patients, our nursing team and our culture. Her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion is inspiring and contagious. I’m still not over her incredible dance routine from this year’s DEI fashion show. The performance was filled with joy and brought smiles to everyone in the audience. This moment perfectly reflects who she is – someone who encourages us all to embrace the fun, celebrate our differences and build a community where everyone feels valued. Whether mentoring staff, advocating for better care, or cheering on the Houston Astros, Janet has made a lasting impact on our organization.
Please join me in thanking Janet for her 47 exceptional years of nursing service and wishing her the very best in her well-deserved next chapter.
Michael Garcia
Chief Executive Officer
Houston Methodist Sugar Land
Ann says
thank you for your service