2020 Healthier Texas Summit Series Speakers
Our panels are filled with health champions from a variety of sectors, all working to transform health in Texas. Take a moment to learn more about those who are contributing to the conversations taking part at the Healthier Texas Summit Series.
Patrick Brandt
Patrick Brandt is the President of Shiftsmart, Inc. He joined the Shiftsmart team in October of 2016. A veteran enterprise software...
Elizabeth Bruenig
Elizabeth Bruenig is an opinion writer at The New York Times, where she writes on Christianity, politics, and morality in public life....
William Buster
William Buster currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Community Investments. William provides oversight for the Foundation’s...
Erin Carlson
Dr. Erin Carlson is Associate Clinical Professor at University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation where she is the...
Debra Franco
Debra Franco is the Child Hunger Outreach Specialist for Baylor University's Texas Hunger Initiative (THI) McAllen office. She is responsible for...
Priscilla Garza
Priscilla has been with Goose Creek CISD for 6 years in Baytown, Texas. Her current role as Healthy Community School Coordinator is to promote...
Greg Hansch
Greg Hansch serves as Executive Director of NAMI Texas. He originally joined NAMI Texas in 2012 and he has served in the roles of Public Policy...
Syeda Hasan
Syeda Hasan covers mental health for KERA News, the NPR member station in Dallas. A Houston native, her journalism career has taken her to public...
Denise A. Hernandez
Denise A. Hernandez is a Public Administration doctoral candidate in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs at the University...
Monica Webb-Hooper
Dr. Monica Webb Hooper is Deputy Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). She works closely with the...
Ben Hubert
Ben received a Bachelor of Arts in 1984 and Master of Divinity in 1987; both from Texas Christian University. He is an ordained minister in the...
Joyce James
Joyce James began her professional career as a Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworker. She has established an impressive 40-year history in...
Paul Keeton
Paul is a Navy Veteran who served 10 years active duty time as a Navigation Electronics Technician. Paul is originally from Del Rio, TX. During...
Andy Keller
Dr. Keller is a psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in behavioral health policy and is a recognized leader in health and human...
Christine Kutnick
Christine Kutnick, CFRE runs her life based on her favorite quote “People will forget what you said, what you did but they will always remember...
Shara McClure
Shara McClure knows Texas health care. A native Texan and proud Texas A&M University graduate, she leads health care delivery operations for Blue...
Daphne McGee
Daphne McGee is a Staff Attorney in the Medical-Legal Partnerships (MLP) program at Texas Legal Services Center. Daphne works collaboratively...
Ricardo Nuila
Ricardo Nuila is a doctor, writer, and associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, where he teaches hospital medicine and...
Suzii Paynter March
Suzii Paynter March is a graduate of Baylor University, with a lifetime of experience in organizational leadership and public advocacy. In...
Dr. Eduardo Sanchez
Dr. Eduardo Sanchez serves as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Prevention for the American Heart Association (AHA), is the AHA lead on COVID-19...
Melanie Stone
Melanie Stone directs the Community Service Learning (CSL) program through the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics at The University of Texas...
Laura Strube
Educator of 32 years including classroom teacher, principal, business manager, assistant superintendent, superintendent, and employee of an...
Meme (mee-mee) Styles
Meme (mee-mee) Styles, is the President and Founder of the award-winning nonprofit MEASURE, a public education & advocacy organization that...
Dr. Nishi Viswanathan
Dr. Nishi Viswanathan is a medical doctor turned cancer researcher turned entrepreneur & business professional. She is the director of Texas...
Teresa Wagner
Dr. Teresa Wagner graduated with a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center where she is an Assistant...
Leslie Weisberg
Dr. Leslie A. Weisberg serves as the Market chief medical officer of Southwest Texas for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX). She works...
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Call for proposals
At the Healthier Texas Summit Series, each session will facilitate the discussion and sharing of best practices in improving the health of all Texans.
Please consider contributing your work to the conversation on uniting to transform health in Texas.
Texas is Best When Texans are Healthy
It's Time Texas
Every day at It’s Time Texas, we work alongside Texans committed to improving health within their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. Our goal is a Texas where everyone – no matter where they live, their age, race, or income – has the resources, support, and opportunities to prioritize health and live their best life. Through programs and partnerships designed to advance health on multiple fronts, we are shifting behaviors, practices, and policies to make health core to what it means to be a Texan.
Together, we are igniting the movement for a healthier Texas. Learn more, get involved, and give at givehealth.itstimetexas.org.
Healthier Texas Summit Series
Thank You 2020 Sponsors
Thanks to these organizations for helping to transform health in Texas!
