Board

Jean Dols, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, University of Incarnate Word, Board Chair

Dr. Jean Dols is Associate Professor and adjunct faculty member of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Incarnate Word at San Antonio since 2010. She is a healthcare professional with more than 25 years as a transformational leader in Nursing, Quality Management, Patient/Staff/Nursing Education, Strategic Planning, Information Technology, Grants, Research, and Outsourced Services. Dr. Dols received her PhD of Nursing from the Texas Woman’s University at Houston.

Bernice Joseph, MPH, The Rose, Vice Chair

Bernice Joseph joined The Rose in 2010. As Chief Operating Officer she is responsible for all finance and operations of the organization, including management of clinical and support services, human resources, finance, budgeting and accounting. Ms. Joseph received her Master of Public Health degree in Health Care Economics from the University of Texas at Houston.

Johnna Lenamon, BS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Secretary/Treasurer

Johnna Lenamon joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) in 1992. As Regional Director she is responsible for maintaining the HMO & PPO Provider Networks, negotiating contracts with professional providers along with evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of the various professional networks and their providers in the Southeast Texas Region. Lenamon received her Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Deborah Ganelin, MHSA, Memorial Hermann Health System

Deborah Ganelin joined Memorial Hermann Health System in 1988. As Associate Vice President, Community Health, she is responsible for establishing the Community Benefit Corporation’s directions, strategies and goals, and presenting measurable outcomes that justify the continuing community benefit support by the Healthcare System of programs that are visible and impactful, including ten school-based health centers, three school-based mobile dental programs, and an ER navigation program spanning the majority of Memorial Hermann emergency rooms. Ganelin received her Masters of Health Services Administration from the Arizona State University at Tempe.

Stephanie Kilty, BS, Community Health Choice Inc.

Mrs. Kilty is currently Marketplace Sales Manager for Community Health Choice (CHC), Inc. where she oversees sales and marketing for all individual commercial marketplace products including new business and product development and implementation, develops strategic marketing initiatives, budgeting and forecasting for individual marketplace products and has served as Network Quality Manager. Ms. Kilty previously worked as a Senior Account Manager for USI Southwest where she worked with producers to forecast, budget and build strategy and assisted with the expansion of client base by 43% in 6 months. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Houston. She is a licensed agent and member of Houston Business Coalition on Health, National Association of Health Underwriters and the Houston Association of Health Underwriters.

Katharine Luther, RN, MPM, Institute for Healthcare Improvement

Mrs. Luther currently serves as Vice President of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) where she manages overall work related to cost, quality and value; oversees specific programming around reducing cost, improving quality, ICU care and leadership topics; and serves as a liaison and IHI representative to key organizations with similar missions to coordinate objectives and work streams. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College, nursing degree from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Shadyside and a Master in Public Management-Health Care Administration from Carnegie Mellon University. Luther is a Registered Nurse in Texas and Pennsylvania and is a Certified Professional in Health Care Quality (CPHQ). Among her awards in improvement led activities, Ms. Luther received recognition as a Thomson Top 100 Performance Improvement Leader. She has authored/co-authored numerous publications, abstracts and presentations in her respective areas of expertise.

Shreela V. Sharma, PhD, RD, LD, University of Texas School of Public Health

Dr. Sharma is Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health (UT SOPH). She has served at UT SOPH as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology, Assistant Director of the Dietetic Internship Program and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance. Among her numerous honors and awards, Dr. Sharma was a nominee for the Annual Excellence Award in Teaching at UT SOPH and the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award, College of Education at the University of Houston. She has authored/co-authored numerous publications, abstracts and presentations with major research emphasis on 1) behavioral epidemiology with a focus on chronic disease prevention among children and adults from low-income, ethnically diverse populations, 2) design, implementation and evaluation of interventions promoting nutrition and physical activity in preschool, schools and family- and community-based settings and 3) measurement of nutrition and physical activity among children and adults. Dr. Sharma holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology with a minor in Biostatistics and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Texas School of Public Health. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the Seth G.S. Medical College in Bombay, India and her Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of Iowa. She is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian in the State of Texas.

Jennifer Small, PhD, AuD, MBA, CCC-A, Harris Health System

Dr. Small holds a Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Florida-Gainesville, MBA from the University of Houston, and a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Small currently serves as VP of Ambulatory Care Services with Harris Health System. She was previously with Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital as manager of Clinical Operations in the Department of Ophthalmology and the Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital as Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Rehabilitation Services and Child Life. Dr. Small brings a wealth of knowledge to Gateway to Care in the healthcare arena.

Cassandra Smith, BBA, MBA, CPA, JD

Cassandra Smith is an attorney with Winstead PC and a Certified Public Accountant.  She represents institutional and non-traditional lenders and administrative agents in connection with the planning, negotiation, and documentation of syndicated credit facilities, real estate secured loans, equipment loans, working capital loans, asset-based loans, loan sale transactions, loan workouts, participations, and dealing with distressed real estate.  She also represents lenders on various types of commercial real estate projects such as financing for acquisition, development, and construction of multifamily, lot development, office, retail, industrial, and mixed-use projects.  Prior to joining Winstead PC, Cassandra worked at the US Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington D.C. and as a CPA for PricewaterhouseCoopers both in Houston, Texas and Austin, Texas.

Brian Stoker, BBA, CFP, Amegy Bank of Texas

Brian Stoker joined Amegy Bank 17 years ago. As Senior Vice President he manages community lending and not for profit banking offering expertise to area community development corporations, churches, businesses and people working to help communities improve and prosper. Mr. Stoker received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas.