Symposium Chair:
Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Dr. Eduardo Sanchez serves as a vice president and the chief medical officer of BCBSTX. Dr. Sanchez previously served as director of the Institute for Health Policy, School of Public Health, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He is a former Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) and the Texas Department of Health (TDH).
In his role at BCBSTX, Dr. Sanchez will play a key part in helping us fulfill our mission of improving the health and well-being of our members and communities across the state.
As TDSHS Commissioner from 2004 to 2006, Dr. Sanchez oversaw the operations of the 11,500 -employee state agency responsible for public health, mental health, and substance abuse - including Texas ’health and medical responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
As TDH commissioner from 2001 to 2004, Dr. Sanchez oversaw the development of the agency ’s bioterrorism preparedness capacity following September 11, 2001 , and the anthrax scare, directed the agency ’s efforts to heighten awareness about overweight and obesity issues in Texas, and led the formation of the TDSHS from four agencies.
Dr. Sanchez, who has been a member of BCBSTX ’s Affiliate Board and the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas Board, has received numerous honors from many health-related organizations such as the Texas Health Institute, American Heart Association, and American Academy of Family Physicians. Currently, he is chair of the National Commission on Prevention Priorities, chair of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a member of numerous organizations including the Texas Medical Association, the Texas and American Academies of Family Physicians, and the Texas and American Public Health Associations.
Dr. Sanchez, a graduate of UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, holds master ’s degrees in public health from The University of Texas School of Public Health and in biomedical engineering from Duke University. He graduated from Boston University with bachelor ’s degrees in biomedical engineering and chemistry.
Co-Chairs:
Jerald L. Zarin, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.P.
Jerald L. Zarin, M.D. is an experienced managed care medical director and board certified pediatrician. In addition to his longtime pediatric practice experience in solo, small and large group environments, Dr. Zarin has been a managed care medical director for for-profit and non-profit HMOs with both commercial and Medicaid/SCHIP products. He is currently regional medical director for BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, a division of Health Care Services Corporation.
Dr. Zarin is the 2010 recipient-designee of the prestigious Vanchiere Award given annually by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Administration and Practice Management (SOAPM) to a pediatrician who has made outstanding contributions in the education of pediatricians in administrative pediatrics, practice management and reimbursement. He will receive the award in October 2010 at the Annual Meeting of the AAP. Dr. Zarin is the longtime editor of the newsletter of the AAP Section on Administration and Practice Management and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Section. He is a founding member and current chairperson of the Editorial Advisory Board of the AAP Pediatric Practice Management Online website. He is also a member of the Health Plan Liaison Committee of the Harris County (TX) Medical Society, the Practice Management and Children with Special Needs Committees of the Texas Pediatric Society and the American College of Physician Executives. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, completed his pediatric training at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital/Case Western Reserve University and earned his master in business administration degree from Houston Baptist University.
Dana Mitchell, MD
Dr. Dana Mitchell is a Louisiana native practicing as a board certified nephrologist in Houston, TX. She obtained her bachelors degree from Xavier University. As she continued her studies at graduated from Louisiana State University Medical School and completed an internal medicine residency also at LSU. She finished her nephrology fellowship training at University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2006.
Dr. Mitchell is dedicated to serving her community and passionate about medicine. Currently, she is partner of Kidney Associates, PLLC.
Speakers:
Anil U Sheth, MD
Anil Sheth is a nephrologist who has been practicing in the West Houston area for the past 27 years. He is currently the senior partner of Houston Nephrology Group, and section chief of Nephrology and peer review board member at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital. His other appointments include medical directorship of the Memorial, Katy and Cyfair Davita dialysis centers. Dr. Sheth has also been involved in clinical research for Nabi (Staphvax and Phoslo), Amgen (Cinacalcet) and Abbott (SEEK study), and has been invited to give presentations by various pharmaceutical companies.
Donald A. Molony, M.D.
Donald A. Molony, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, in the Center for Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, and Professor of Medical Subspecialties at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. In addition, he serves as Director for Problem Based Learning and Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine. He has also served as Associate Professor of Toxicology at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Associate Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology at UT-Houston.
Whitson B. Etheridge, MD
In 1980, Dr. Etheridge joined Renal Specialists as the second physician to become a member of the practice. A graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Etheridge became board-certified in Internal Medicine in 1981 and Nephrology in 1982.
June Yao, MD, PhD
Dr. Yao completed his formal medical training in China and received his Ph.D. from the Department of Pathology at Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. He received fellowship training in nephrology from the Renal Division of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Renal Unit Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Since September of 2006 he has practiced as a Nephrologist with Renal Specialists of Houston, Houston TX.
A. Osama Gaber, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Gaber is the Director of Transplantation and Vice Chair for Administration and Faculty Affairs in the Department of Surgery in The Methodist Hospital Physician Organization in Houston, TX. Before joining The Methodist Hospital Physician Organization in May, 2007, he was a Professor in the Department of Surgery and Director of the Transplant Division at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, and is still currently a Professor in the College of Nursing and Pharmacy of the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He also held the Chair of Excellence in Transplantation for the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation. He received his medical degree from the Ainshams University School of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt and completed an internship and residency in general and pediatric surgery at Ainshams University Hospital. He also completed a residency in general surgery at Boston University Medical Center and clinical and research transplant fellowships at the University of Chicago in Illinois.
Dr. Gaber has had a long career in transplantation research including being the Principal Investigator of several NIH-funded research projects, including the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes by Gene Therapy Approaches. Dr. Gaber has extensive clinical experience in managing and designing immune suppression protocols. He has also led several multicenter clinical studies, phases II-IV. Dr. Gaber was also a Councilor at Large for the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. He serves on the editorial boards of Transplantation, Cancer Molecular Biology, and Graft. Dr. Gaber is a two-time recipient of the Gift of Life Award by the National Kidney Foundation West Tennessee Chapter and the recipient of the 2002 Memphis Business Journal Health Care Physician Hero Award. Dr. Gaber has authored or co-authored more than 200 journal articles, 13 book chapters, and almost 300 abstracts that have been presented and/or published. He is an invited lecturer and presenter at numerous US and international meetings.
William E. Mitch, M.D.
Dr. Mitch graduated from Harvard Medical School and was an intern and resident at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He received fellowship training at Johns Hopkins Hospital and at the National Institutes of Health. He has served on the faculty of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Emory University School of Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine. He has always been interested in the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease and especially approaches to improve the nutritional status of these patients. Dr. Mitch has received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Heart Association, the Robert H. Herman Award from the American Society of Clinical Nutrition, The National Torchbearer Award from the American Kidney Fund, the David Hume Award from the National Kidney Foundation and the Thomas Addis Award from the International Society of Nutrition and Metabolism in Kidney Disease. He has served as the Treasurer of the International Society of Nephrology and as President of the American Society of Nephrology. Currently, Dr. Mitch serves on the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. His research is funded by the NIH with a MERIT Award and he is Director of the Nephrology Division of Baylor College of Medicine.
George Nassar, M.D.
Dr. George Nassar, obtained his M.D. from the American University of Beirut in 1988. He then completed his residency in Internal Medicine in 1992 and his fellowship in Nephrology in 1995 from Emory University, Atlanta, GA. He has served as Assistant Professor at Medical College of Virginia and McGuire Veterans Affairs Hospital, Richmond, VA, and Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX. Currently he serves as Clinical Associate at Weill-Cornell University, Professor at The Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, and Medical Director at Dialysis Access Management Centers, Houston, TX.
Dr. Nassar’s bibliography relevant to Interventional Nephrology is quite extensive and his past itinerary of Clinical Lectures and Grand Rounds related to Dialysis Access Procedures include a worldwide list of cities and medical professional audiences.
Mary Jo Loverdi, RN, MSN, CNN
Mary Jo is a Certified Nephrology Nurse who has been practicing in Houston and Texas for the past 20 years. She has experience in chronic and acute hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Mary Jo has worked as a dialysis educator as well as a compliance and quality outcomes manager. She is currently working as a nurse consultant and state monitor.
Kathleen T. Smith, RN, BS, CNN
Kathleen Smith is a registered nurse with degrees in both nursing (AA) and health care administration (BS). She has been involved in government relations for nearly thirty years, beginning as a volunteer for the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (ANNA), then in her role as Director of Legislative Services for Nursing Economics (1993-1998), where she represented a number of nursing and allied health organizations in Washington. In addition, from 1993 through 2005 she was the Program Coordinator for the annual week-long Nurse In Washington Internship (NIWI), sponsored by the Nursing Organizations Alliance.
In her current role as Vice President for Government Affairs for Fresenius Medical Care North America, a position she assumed in 1998, Ms. Smith serves as a health policy advisor to senior management of the company, and is responsible for coordinating and communicating FMCNA’s public policy positions in Washington and throughout the company.
Ms. Smith has pursued graduate studies in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, and the School of Nursing, George Mason University. She has numerous publications and presentations to her credit and her work has appeared in various nursing specialty association publications, including a number of textbooks. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Ms. Smith has served on a number of American Nurses Association (ANA) Task Forces and she has been active in the Virginia Nurses Association. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses, as well as two national awards from ANNA: the Ron Brady Memorial Award for Volunteer Leadership and the Outstanding Contribution Award.
Prior to her career in public policy, Ms. Smith held a variety of clinical, administrative, and management positions, primarily in nephrology nursing.
Mary Bates
Mary Bates is currently a CKD Clinical Nurse Specialist at Davita. She holds a BS in Nursing from the University of Texas. Mrs. Bates has more than 30 years experience in the dialysis field and has participated in clinical research with Methodist Hospital, Plaza Dialysis and DaVita for hemo-dialysis and peritoneal dialysis. She is a clinical educator/preceptor for HHD, PD and self-care dialysis for both patients and colleagues as well as the primary CKD educator in Houston for DaVita for pre-dialysis patients. Mrs. Bates has been selected to present for the National Kidney Foundation, DaVita and other renal organizations on topics including CDK treatment options and the positive impact of CKD education in pre-dialysis patients.
James Beggs, LCSW, BA Psychology, MSW
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James Beggs offers more than 11 years experience as a social worker. He holds a MSW from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan and a BA in Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Mr. Beggs is currently the champion social worker for Fresenius Medical Care in the greater Houston area and previously held the position of social worker supervisor at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital. He was a past member to the San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Ethics Committee.
Robert Austin, MD
Formerly the Director for the Pediatric Hematology Center at Upstate Medical Center. Currently, Dr. Austin serves as chairman of the advisory committee for the DeBakey High School for the Health Professions. He actively works at Project Medical Home, a program in conjunction with the Texas Children's Pediatric Associates that provides medical services to underserved areas to provide a medical home to children who would either go without care or utilize the emergency room as a source of primary care. Dr. Austin also lends his time and expertise to more than 150 students that he mentors in colleges and medical schools across the country. He was the founder of the Pediatric hematology Center at Upstate Medical Center.
Jeff Ross, DPM
Dr. Jeffrey Ross, DPM, MD, FACFAS, an Associate Clinical Professor at the Baylor College of Medicine, has been in private practice as a board certified foot and ankle surgeon for 30 years. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, a Past President and Fellow of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. Dr. Ross is Associate Chief of the Foot Service at St. Luke's Hospital. He serves as a member of the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services which advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. Dr. Ross lectures extensively on exercise, the epidemic of Type 2 diabetes, and obesity in the United States. He is a contributing editor to Runner's World and Inside Texas Running magazines. He has completed 25 marathons and a dozen triathlons.
Sharonda Alston Taylor
Dr. Sharonda Alston Taylor, MD is currently Assistant Professor (tenure-track) level at Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine and Sports Medicine. She earned a BA in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Taylor completed medical school at Johns Hopkins University in 2002 and went on to pediatric residency at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore, Maryland. While in residency, she developed an interest in adolescent health and obesity. This led her to a fellowship in adolescent medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. During her three years of fellowship, Dr. Taylor participated in the Maternal Child Health Bureau sponsored Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) program. This is a multidisciplinary curriculum with research, teaching, administrative, leadership and clinical components. During residency Dr. Taylor established the assessment protocols for obese adolescents at the Arrow Project in Towson, Maryland. Out of this activity grew an interest in the use of waist circumference to assess metabolic and cardiovascular risk in obese adolescents. Her current research examines the use of waist circumference measurements to screen for cardiometabolic risk factors such as impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension and dyslipidemia in adolescents. Dr. Taylor presented the results of these studies at the annual scientific meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine in 2008 and 2009. In recognition of her commitment to adolescent research, Dr. Taylor received the NIH Loan Repayment Program in Clinical Research for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds in 2007 and 2009. This award recognizes both the area of research and the promise of the researcher. She was the recipient of the Society for Adolescent Medicine Career Development Award in Adolescent Health in 2008. In addition to the waist circumference project, Dr. Taylor is co-investigator on a study that uses qualitative analysis to examine the psychosocial impact of obesity on Mexican/Mexican-American adolescent females. Currently, she serves on the Houston Mayor’s Childhood Obesity Task Force. Dr. Taylor is also actively involved in the development of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Childhood Obesity.
Tam V Ho, MD
Dr. Ho is a nephrologist with expertise in high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney stones, kidney failure and kidney transplantation evaluation. He is affiliated with a number of hospitals in the greater Houston area including The Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Park Plaza Hospital, and Plaza Specialty Hospital. Dr. Ho received his medical degree in 1995 from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed residencies at Baylor College of Medicine in primary care and research quality, and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in nephrology. His research interest is in diabetes. Dr. Ho speaks three languages: English, Vietnamese and Spanish.
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