Meet Our Nursing Leaders
The nursing leaders at Northwest Texas Healthcare System include:
Annie Mendoza — Chief Nursing Officer
Annie Mendoza, RN, MSN, FACHE, is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience, having served as a CNO and formerly Chief Quality Officer at Mountainview Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Annie received her Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio along with her Master of Science in Nursing. She is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and is an American College of Healthcare Executives, Fellow (FACHE).
Carolyn Hudson — Director of Nursing Operations
Carolyn Hudson, BSN, is the Director of Nursing Operations at Northwest. She started at the hospital as a patient care specialist in 2004 and continued as an RN when she worked in the ICU and PACU. She returned in 2013 and worked in the NICU and ER. Carolyn advanced to a Charge Nurse role in the ER, and a Nurse Manager supervising the Nursing Resource Unit. She was then promoted to Director of Nursing Operations in 2018. With her diverse nursing background, Carolyn brings a variety of knowledge and skills to lead her departments, including the House Supervisors, Nursing Resource Unit, Vascular Access Team and Nursing Support Services.
Carolyn promotes patient safety, making quality care a top priority. She encourages staff engagement and promotes growth opportunities for all employees within the organization. She values staff input and expert knowledge for process improvement projects. Her passionate leadership style is fair and consistent and supports her processes for accountability with her staff. Carolyn focuses on communication and equipping her staff with the tools and resources required to complete their daily jobs at high quality levels.
Carolyn develops and maintains programs that deliver high quality care that is supported by evidence-based practices. She encourages staff growth and development that is reflected in day-to-day operations. Carolyn supports processes that promote safe and efficient patient throughput, while supporting organizational units’ staffing to accommodate patient care. She encourages recruitment and retention efforts from each and every staff member regardless of their role within the organization. Carolyn values the relationships she has grown within Northwest Texas Healthcare System and hopes others will share in her enthusiasm as she pridefully invites others to join the team.
Darrell Daniel — Director of Surgical Services
Tyler Morin — Director of Medical-Surgical
Tyler Morin, BSN, serves as the Director of Medical-Surgical, a dedicated and passionate leader driven to bring quality care to the community. In 2017 Tyler joined the Northwest team in the Acute Inpatient Rehab Unit as the Nurse Manager and Admissions Coordinator. During his time in Acute Inpatient Rehab, Tyler sharpened his leadership skill set by collaborating with and developing his staff. After growing the Acute Inpatient Rehab unit, Tyler was ready to take on a new adventure as the Director of Medical Surgical. His approach of collaboration and engagement with staff, creates a rewarding work environment. Tyler has a passion for professional growth, such as "Grow Your Own" a career path for Patient Care Specialist to launch their career in healthcare and move towards a goal of nursing. His hands on strategy to development and teamwork showcases within the work environment. Tyler’s passion for quality care and professional growth for his team, drives him to make Northwest a better place each day.
Denise Gouldy — Director of the Women Infant Health Department
Denise Gouldy, MSN, RNC-OB, is the Director of the Women Infant Health Department and has been at Northwest Texas Healthcare System since 1989. Denise is a native of the Panhandle Region of Texas. She has 29 years of experience in the Women Infant Health Department at NWTHS, serving most recently as a Charge Nurse on Labor and Delivery since 2003. Additionally, she has served as a clinical instructor at both West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Denise attended Amarillo College and obtained her ADN, progressing on at WTAMU to obtain her BSN and MSN. She has obtained her Certification in Inpatient Obstetrics from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses in Advanced Fetal Monitoring. She was previously a member of the HROB transport team. Denise brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role of Director of Women Infant Health.
Denise works closely with her staff and values the input each member brings to the team. Patient safety and satisfaction along with providing the best evidence based practice remains her focus. She believes that open communication with staff and physicians is integral in maintaining a successful unit and a great place to work.
Trisha Diaz — Director of Nursing Education
Trisha Diaz, BSN, RNC, is the Director of Nursing Education at Northwest. She graduated from the Amarillo College LVN program in December of 1994, then began her career in Labor and Delivery. Trisha then went on to graduate from Amarillo College ADN program and received her BSN from West Texas A&M University in 2015. Trisha is currently enrolled in the MSN program at West Texas State University.
She fell in love with Women’s Services and laboring expectant mothers. She then transitioned to the Education department as a Staff Development specialist. In 2018, she became the Manager of Women’s Services and was promoted to Director of Nursing Education in 2023.
Trisha leads the nursing education team comprised of Education Coordinators and Unite Based Educators with the goal of promoting the professional growth and development of nurses. Her favorite quote: “Sometimes change isn’t what you want, but it might be what we need. Not everything is meant to last forever.”
Debra Hetzler, BSN, RN — Director of Trauma Services
Andrea V. Gonzalez — Director of Clinical Operations
Alissa Dillard — Director of Emergency Department