Winning the Talent Game at UTHealth Houston: A Retention Success Story

Finding amazing talent is tough, but retaining them is the true test. Talent retention is all about creating a workplace where our employees feel appreciated, supported, and excited to stay. Here’s why it matters and how UTHealth Houston excels in this area.

Retaining our talented employees is about preserving our institutional knowledge, maintaining team stability, and enhancing productivity. When we have high retention rates, we build a strong culture, keep morale high, and become a magnet for top talent.

Losing key employees can disrupt workflows and create a ripple effect throughout the organization, potentially lowering morale and increasing the workload on remaining team members. UTHealth Houston understands this and knows that retention is not merely a human resources objective; it is crucial to our success.

The UTHealth Houston STAR Awards recognize employees for their dedicated service to UTHealth Houston and our community. Representatives from all seven schools, as well as clinical and administrative staff ranging from 5-45 years of service, gathered to be honored for their impact in fostering an environment where innovation, collaboration, and our mission thrive!

Our Talent Acquisition team was proudly represented by our very own Karen Motsinger, Manager of Talent Acquisition, as she completed her 30 years of service. There is no name at UTHealth Houston more synonymous with love for recruitment and research than Karen Motsinger. She possesses an innate ability to understand the unique skills and qualities required in the field of research and identifies candidates who possess a genuine curiosity and thirst for knowledge.

"Without a doubt, it is the amazing people at UTHealth Houston that make all the difference in my working here! UTHealth Houston embodies such a high energy of progress and achievement that everyone wants to be a part of. What sets UTHealth Houston apart, for me, is the world-class research and clinical knowledge here! I have the best job at UTHealth Houston! Not only do I have the enjoyment of hiring researchers, but I also have the great distinction of reading our research work. Where else could you find that if you made "one phone call," you could be in touch with the top disease or disorder expert in their field? The most rewarding part of my career is being a part of the process that helps individuals find their passion through their work and matches job candidates to opportunities that change their lives! “said Motsinger.

UTHealth Houston has reinforced its retention efforts by launching the Internal Mobility Careers Page and Talent Tuesday sessions. The Internal Mobility Careers Page provides a dynamic platform for employees to explore new opportunities, build their career paths, and grow within the organization. Additionally, the Talent Acquisition team introduced Talent Tuesday, offering employees one-on-one sessions with a recruiter for resume assistance, interview preparation, and personal branding.

When we prioritize talent retention, we’re building more than a workforce—we’re creating a team that’s loyal, motivated, and ready to go the extra mile.

At the end of the day, it’s about showing our people they matter. When we invest in our teams, they’ll invest right back in us, and that’s a win-win.