Dell Ingram-Walker

Originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Dell Ingram-Walker has now been a resident of the Temple area for over two decades. Dell has worked at Baylor Scott & White since 1999. Today, she is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of McLane Children’s Baylor Scott & White Medical Center.

A self-proclaimed “city person,” Dell initially thought she wouldn’t stay in the Central Texas area for long. When her husband received military orders to relocate to Fort Hood, she was still in the process of finishing her B.S. in Health Care Management at the University of Alabama.

“I called my mom and said, ‘There’s nothing here – we’re going to do our three years here and leave.’ But the reason I stayed is because of Baylor Scott & White. I came here thinking that I would do one thing, but found so many learning opportunities in research, finance and operations. This was the perfect organization for me to grow. I knew my husband would be deployed, but I was staying here and growing my career.”

Upon moving to the area, Dell began an administrative internship at Baylor Scott & White, and then moved on to a full-time position as a financial analyst in pediatrics in 1999. She would later go on to manage all pediatric specialties as the organization continued to grow. Dell also earned her MBA from Texas A&M University – Central Texas.

Despite her initial hesitation to live in the area, Dell has grown to love her local community and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

“You can get to a lot of places quickly with no traffic, and we are right smack dab in the middle of every major city you want to go to for shopping, entertainment or sports.”

Dell and her husband currently live in Nolanville. They considered moving to Round Rock but chose to stay in the area because of their connection to the community.

“Temple has a small-town atmosphere and a true community feel. It’s a nice place to work and to raise your family, and the pace is much slower. The cost of living here is great too – you can get more for your money.”

“Temple looked very different 20 years ago,” she continued. “There is much more diversity in the people that work here now. I love the culture and the diversity – it’s a different feel.”

Dell says that Temple has also grown exponentially as a health care hub. When she first moved to the area, Pediatrics only had one building. The growth in the McLane Children’s Hospital and clinics alone has been tremendous, and Dell is proud to work at an organization that attracts top medical talent from across the country.

Dell’s husband recently retired from the military after 28 years and enjoys the company of many other veterans in the area. “We have many military families here, and people come from all over. I appreciate the different viewpoints. I love it here and I didn’t think that I would. I love the small-town atmosphere and I love the people.”

When she’s not busy working or spending time with her family, Dell enjoys volunteering in her community. As a member of the Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors, she helps provide stability and resources for families of sick children. She is a proud member of the Temple Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, along with 200,000 other women in chapters around the world who are involved in community service. She is also an active member of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, a mothers’ organization tasked with raising our next generation of great leaders and philanthropists.