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Get to Know Our Staff: Marida Williams, Psychology

Get to Know Our Staff: Marida Williams, Psychology

by | Apr 23, 2025 | Psychology, Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a mental health navigator for the Psychology department. I assess patients’ mental health risk through consultations and interventions to provide families with resources for their children.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I get to meet new patients and help them in their care journeys toward achieving mental health stability.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
I have made connections with the staff and physicians, which helps ensure that all patients receive quality care.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I have a passion for helping others, so it feels like health care naturally chose me.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
Whenever a patient has mental health needs, I am the first person who connects with their family. Because of this, I get to set the tone for the level of care they will receive at Scottish Rite from the rest of the staff.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. We create memories together that will last a lifetime.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can sing.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I am originally from Detroit, Michigan. The hotter weather and new experiences brought me to the DFW area.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would choose to go to Ghana. I would love to experience the culture there and take my kiddos with me.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I choose salmon. I know how to prepare it a thousand different ways, and I would never get tired of eating it.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
I think people should watch “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2” because those movies explain mental health in a great way.

What was the first concert you attended?
I saw Allen Stone in Chicago, Illinois in 2013.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
The Peach Cobbler Factory in Richardson.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Coco Jones

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
You should enjoy life to the fullest and make every moment count!

From Patient to Advocate: “The Chosen” Actor Jordan Walker Ross Inspires All

From Patient to Advocate: “The Chosen” Actor Jordan Walker Ross Inspires All

by | Apr 22, 2025 | General News, Neurology, Scoliosis & Spine

Actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Jordan Walker Ross describes Scottish Rite for Children as a place of love and hope. Shortly after Jordan was born, his family brought him to Scottish Rite for cerebral palsy (CP), which affects his muscles and movements. Jordan also developed scoliosis due to his muscle weakness. After years of undergoing multiple hip surgeries, a spinal fusion and recovery in the Inpatient Unit, Jordan recalls only positive memories at Scottish Rite.

“I felt at home at Scottish Rite, even when I was about to undergo a major surgery,” Jordan says. “There was always something happening to help the patients experience something fun and memorable, regardless of whatever pain we were feeling.”

Since age 6, Jordan performed in local theaters and professional productions. However, his condition caused him to develop a limp, which impacted his ability to receive larger roles. This changed in 2018 when Jordan was cast in the TV series “The Chosen,” a historical drama based on the life of Jesus. He plays the role of Little James, who is one of Jesus’ disciples.

“The creator of “The Chosen” made my limp part of my role,” Jordan says. “I used to hide my disability, even feeling embarrassed to call myself disabled. Now, I own it.”

The role of Little James marks a turning point for both Jordan’s career and personal life. Since the success of “The Chosen,” Jordan has received roles in other films and TV shows, like “1883,” “Yellowstone” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” He credits this to a pivotal scene in season three of “The Chosen” between Little James and Jesus, where Little James asks Jesus why he hasn’t healed him of his condition.

“It was cathartic to perform that scene and to express many frustrations that I’ve had in my life,” Jordan says. After the scene aired, he recalls that people — including patients from Scottish Rite — commented how it helped them feel seen. “I was like, ‘Why don’t I see that in myself?’” he says. “I realized that I had stopped loving myself the way I did back then. Now, I am proud of who I am and what I mean to my community.”

Jordan currently uses his platform to advocate for increased visibility of disabilities in all spaces. From his podcast to public appearances, Jordan promotes self-acceptance for all through his endeavors.

“I have no idea where I would be if it wasn’t for Scottish Rite,” Jordan says. “I refer someone any time I get the chance because Scottish Rite literally changed my life.

Get to Know Our Staff: Ila Oxendine, Research

Get to Know Our Staff: Ila Oxendine, Research

by | Apr 16, 2025 | Research & Innovation, Spotlight, Uncategorized

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a cell and tissue core coordinator, and I maintain the operations of cell culture facilities at the hospital. I also work with research labs that perform various experiments and procedures. Currently, the Cellular Path Lab is enthusiastically engaging in the world of histology procedures.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
In research, learning is a never-ending process that is always engaging to me.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
To me, Scottish Rite is a special place because of the unwavering support from my colleagues. Their kindness, thoughtfulness and camaraderie has always been a source of strength to me over the past 15 years. Together, we have navigated the joys and challenges of life. I could not have reached this point or achieved this much without their support and love. I am profoundly grateful to have such caring souls by my side.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I chose health care to have the opportunity to help people. In my case, I get to do that one experiment at a time.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I care for cells that grow in little dishes. These cells will be used in future experiments to answer questions and potentially lead to more questions about the cell’s life.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I have many favorite things! I love my two fur babies, which is my dog named AnnaRose and my cat named Panda. I am very thankful for them. Also, I enjoy volunteering at Dallas Animal Services and Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.

Do you have any hidden talents?
Some people may disagree, but my talent is making people laugh in my own way.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I was already in the DFW area, because I am indigenous to the land. I am full-blooded Native American. My mother is from the Arapaho Tribe of Oklahoma, and my father is from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
First off, I need to do my travel! On my bucket list, I want to visit the Galapagos Islands, because it’s a unique place with plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would eat plain oatmeal with quinoa, hempseeds, flax meal, walnuts, pecans and a dollop of no palm oil peanut butter. I would also include fresh fruit with a strong coffee made from Kona beans. Then, I would finish my meal with a pound cake that I bake.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“John Wick” because you should never mess with someone’s dog.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
Cedar Ridge Preserve. I love all trails.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Meryl Streep. She has a very expressive face, and she is very talented.

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
There are two questions that you should ask yourself that have served me well. Is it worth the fight? If so, can you win? To me, my answer will be yes and yes!

On the Move: Chloe Races Toward Her Future

On the Move: Chloe Races Toward Her Future

by | Apr 10, 2025 | Limb Lengthening, Prosthetics & Orthotics

Previously published in Rite Up, 2025 – Issue 1

“This is me, this is who I am, and I am not ashamed of it,” says 17-year-old Chloe, of Panhandle, Texas. She lives by this motto. With hopes of competing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, she is a rising star in adaptive track and field.

Chloe was born with fibular hemimelia in her left leg. Her fibula, the small bone in her shin, was missing. Before her first birthday, she underwent a Syme’s amputation to remove her foot and ankle joint. Chloe began learning how to walk with a prosthesis.

“We did a lot of research before deciding to amputate her leg,” says Sheryl, Chloe’s mother. “We made a decision Chloe would live with for the rest of her life, not us. Whatever decision we made was never going to be an easy one, but it was whatever would make Chloe’s life easier.”

At age 14, Chloe began receiving multidisciplinary care at Scottish Rite for Children from pediatric orthopedic surgeon Corey S. Gill, M.D., M.A., and Orthotist and Prosthetist Manager Kelsey Thompson, C.P.O., L.P.O. As her care team worked alongside her to address her specific needs, Chloe transitioned from being a multisport athlete to dedicating her talents in adaptive track and field. 

She excels in running, throwing and long jumping, earning recognition as one of the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field High School Athletes of the Year.

On and off the field, Chloe’s care team supports her diverse interests. Scottish Rite prosthetists have created numerous state-of-the-art prostheses for her, including an everyday walking leg and a running blade for sprinting track events, designed to mimic the natural motion of a foot for running or jumping. Recently, the team produced a specialty prosthesis designed for long jumping, supporting her dream to go the distance and in her pursuit of Paralympic success. They also developed an adjustable heel height prosthesis to match the height of whatever shoes she chooses to wear — from cowboy boots to high heels. Chloe plans to major in kinesiology, continue adaptive track and field, and inspire other young athletes.

“Dr. Gill and Kelsey always believed in me,” Chloe says. “It feels amazing to run with kids who look like me. As long as I have my two legs, I’ll keep pushing forward and never let anything hold me back.”

Read the full issue.