FORT WORTH, Texas - Phyllis Norman, R.N., M.B.A., N.E.A.-B.C.,(HMFW) was named Executive Woman of the Year last week by Zonta, an international service organization of executive women in business. Norman was selected based on her proven track record of being a highly motivated and transforming executive leader in advancing nursing practices and excellence in patient care throughout North Texas.

'Phyllis has a proven track record of building cohesive leadership teams, developing strong shared governance models, achieving organizational goals and developing cost-effective, high-quality patient care programs,' said Barclay E. Berdan, senior executive vice president for system alignment and performance for Texas Health Resources. 'She is a brilliant colleague, champion for patients and an advocate for those who are most in need in our community. I cannot think of a more deserving professional.'

Beginning her nursing career in 1969, Norman has served in leadership roles in intensive care units, hemodialysis units and critical care. In 1987, she was appointed administrative director of patient care services at Harris Methodist Southwest Hospital where she helped design, build and open an 88-bed acute care hospital. Norman was promoted to vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at HMFW in 1995, the role she currently holds. During her tenure at HMFW, she successfully led the hospital to achieve Magnet status, the most elite designation honoring quality.

Norman has also served on numerous community boards and committees, including the American Heart Association board, the United Way Allocations Committee and the Fort Worth ISD Careers in Technology Education Advisory Committee. She has also served as an adjunct clinical instructor at the UTA School of Nursing. Annually, Norman takes a medical mission trip to Central America to improve the health of other countries.

In addition to being named Executive Woman of the Year, Norman has also been a past recipient of the YWCA Outstanding Women in Business Award, the President's Award from the Texas Nurses Association, the Great 100 Nurses Award from the DFW Hospital Council and the Outstanding Nurse in Practice and Management from Sigma Theta Tau.

About Zonta
Zonta International is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. Zonta International continues to be on the front lines of the fight for women's equal rights through local and global projects that promote economic self-sufficiency, political equality, access to education and health, and the prevention of violence against women.

About Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital
Opened in 1930, Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital is a Magnet-designated hospital, and Tarrant County's largest and busiest hospital and regional referral center. A member of Texas Health Resources, HMFW is licensed for 724 beds and provides the following services: cardiovascular; high risk and routine obstetrics and gynecology; neurosciences; orthopedics and sports medicine; rehabilitation; adult critical care and neonatal intensive care; trauma and emergency medicine; cancer care; medical/surgical; kidney transplants; occupational health; and more. The campus is home to almost 1,000 members of the medical staff, more than 4,000 employees, 200 volunteers and the new state-of-the-art 100-bed Harris Methodist Heart Center. For more information, please call 1-888-4-HARRIS, or visit www.TexasHealth.org/HMFW.

About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources in one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health care delivery systems in the United States and the largest in North Texas in terms of patients served. THR controls 13 affiliated hospitals and a medical research organization, and is a corporate member or partner in seven additional hospitals and surgery centers. THR's family of hospitals includes Harris Methodist Hospitals, Arlington Memorial Hospital and Presbyterian Healthcare System. For more information about Texas Health Resources, visit www.TexasHealth.org.