Naisha Mercado and Shawnda Southerland have been named recipients of the Temple Faculty Physicians (TFP) C.A.R.E.S. Award for November 2025. The award, which stands for Compassion, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence, and Service, recognizes exceptional contributions by clinical and administrative staff at Temple.
Southerland is a member of the Medical Assistant Float Pool. She was nominated for her commitment to service and positive influence on her team. According to her nomination: “Shawnda has been working in Pediatrics for quite a while, and she was recently asked to join us full-time—and we’re forever grateful. Her caring nature is evident in every interaction, whether she’s supporting a colleague or stepping in to help wherever needed.
Shawnda is the kind of team player who makes everyone around her feel better. She listens deeply, offers help without being asked, and always finds ways to lift others up. Her positive attitude and unwavering support create a ripple effect throughout the team, fostering a culture of collaboration and trust.
Her commitment to service goes beyond completing tasks: it’s about making people feel seen, supported, and valued. Shawnda exemplifies the true spirit of this award, and it’s a privilege to recognize the impact she makes every day.”
Mercado works as a Receptionist/Scheduler in the OB/GYN department. Her nomination highlighted her dedication to teamwork: “Naisha consistently goes above and beyond in supporting her team. She collaborates with professionalism and respect, communicates effectively, and readily steps in wherever needed—demonstrating strong teamwork, reliability, and dedication.”
Both employees were nominated by their peers and endorsed by TFP leadership for their roles in supporting patients and colleagues across Temple’s healthcare teams.
A note from Temple University Hospital also announced that Labor & Delivery services have moved from the Main Campus at Broad & Ontario to its new women & families hospital.
