MEET Our team
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Ankit Sanghavi, BDS, MPHExecutive DirectorAnkit currently serves as the Executive Director of Texas Health Institute. Previously, he served as the Director of Community and Oral Health Program at THI. Ankit provides leadership and direction on all Texas Health Institute initiatives and develops collaborative efforts with its local, state, and national partners. Ankit earned a Master of Public Health from Texas A&M University in 2014 and Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences India in 2011.
His professional interests are research, innovation, and data in public health and healthcare. |
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Sherry Wilkie-ConwayChief Operating OfficerSherry joined Texas Health Institute in 1996 and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. Sherry is responsible for the organization’s operating activities, logistics, purchases, equipment, maintenance, personnel, contract management and human resources. Prior to joining Texas Health Institute, Sherry worked for Texas Hospital Association as Assistant to the Medicaid Director. She spent 20 years serving as staff to several Texas State Senators and two Lieutenant Governors. Sherry also worked as a legal assistant for four years prior to her work at the legislature.
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KARA HAMANN, CPA, CMACHIEF FINANCE OFFICERKara brings sound operational and strategic planning skills to nonprofits and small businesses. Her experience in the accounting department of a public company and as a Controller for several local nonprofits formed a solid background in financial analysis and business management. Kara’s experience leading the accounting teams at Rodeo Austin, Texas Association of School Administrators and Texas Tribune developed her interest for establishing accounting policies, procedures and internal controls. Kara earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh.
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RACHELLE JOHNSSON CHIANG, DRPH, MPHChief Research OfficerRachelle joined Texas Health Institute in 2020 as the inaugural Chief Research Officer. Previously, she served as Senior Evaluation Advisor to the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse of Mental Health and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. She brings 20 years of experience in public health at the national, state and community level, with expertise in program evaluation, health policy, chronic disease prevention, social determinants of health, school health and substance abuse and mental health. Her experience includes serving as Director of a national school health initiative at the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and positions at the National Association of State Boards of Education, Prevent Cancer Foundation and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. She began her career in public health as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica. Rachelle has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish from Ohio Wesleyan University, a Master of Public Health in International Health Promotion from George Washington University, and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Health Policy and Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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Andy Miller, MHSECHIEF Strategy and Impact OFFICERAndy joined Texas Health Institute in 2020 as the inaugural Chief Strategy and Impact Officer. Previously, he served as Head of Healthcare and Social Services Giving at The Morris Foundation in Fort Worth, TX, the President and CEO for Any Baby Can of Austin, and Executive Vice President for the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Andy drives the institute’s strategic direction and partnerships to ensure its impact in improving the health of all Texans and strengthening the state’s public health infrastructure. Andy earned a Master of Health Science Education from The University of Florida in 1997 and Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Southwestern University in 1993. His professional interests include community health, systems transformation, collective impact collaborations, and building high performance teams.
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Stephanie OndriasChief Convening and Education OfficerStephanie holds the inaugural role as the Chief Convening and Education Officer at Texas Health Institute. In her prior position as Director of Convenings and Education, she was the lead on several internal and external convenings such as the Southern Obesity Summit, Texas Primary Care Consortium Annual Summit, Communities Joined in Action National Conference, the Mountain States Regional Genetics Network, National Conference on Quality Healthcare for Culturally Diverse Populations, and more. Stephanie has been a part of the THI team since 2010 with prior experience inclusive of Sales, Event and Pre-Opening management roles at Marriott and Starwood hotel properties. Stephanie graduated from Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications with a focus in Public Relations and minor in Psychology.
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NADIA SIDDIQUI, MPHChief Health Equity OfficerNadia Siddiqui is Texas Health Institute’s inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer. Previously, she served as Director of Health Equity Programs leading a range of research, evaluation, and community programs to advance health equity at the national, state, and local levels. In her new role, as of September 2020, Nadia will work to embed health equity across the institute’s structure, process, and programs, while also working with cross-sector partners in Texas and across the nation to systemically and measurably advance health equity. Ms. Siddiqui holds a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics-Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. Her professional interests include health equity, racial and ethnic health disparities, community health, social determinants of health, cross-sector collaborations, and systems transformation.
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Dr. Dennis Andrulis, PhD, MPHSenior Research Scientist
Dr. Dennis Andrulis is a Senior Research Scientist at the Texas Health Institute. He is also an Associate Professor at the University Of Texas School Of Public Health. In his positions Dr. Andrulis leads the development of initiatives on health care for vulnerable populations, racial and ethnic disparities, and cultural competence, working at community, state and national levels. Previously, Dr. Andrulis was the Associate Dean for Research of Drexel University’s School of Public Health in Philadelphia and directed its Center for Health Equality. His current and recent work have focused on The Affordable Care Act and its implications for racially and ethnically diverse populations. Dr. Andrulis also led the development of an ACA-related Marketplace Health Equity Assessment Tool. He is currently Co-Investigator on a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Opportunity and Equity (HOPE) Initiative as part of their Culture of Health program, focusing on creating aspirational yet achievable goals for states and the nation to improve health and well-being; and PI on a multi-year project documenting the health of those who have served in the armed forces.
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SARA BARGE, MPH, MPAFFHealth Policy Research AnalystSara joined THI in the summer of 2018 and serves as a Health Policy Research Analyst. Prior work entails working the 85th session of the Texas Legislature and working for Texas Health and Human Services Commission where her main roles included analyzing federal and state laws, rules, regulations and guidance relating to Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP and TANF. Sara holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Austin and Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. Her professional interests include water resources and agriculture policy, rural health and environmental health disparities.
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Katie Bradley, MPHConvenings and Education CoordinatorKatie joined Texas Health Institute in September 2019 as Convenings & Education Coordinator. She provides support for several internal and external convenings, including the Southern Obesity Summit, Communities Joined in Action National Conference, Texas Primary Care Consortium Annual Summit, Pain & Addiction Summit, and Mountain States Regional Genetics Network Annual Summit. Previously, Katie has held various marketing, communication, and community outreach roles for both international and local nonprofits, including VisionTrust International and Compassion International. Katie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2012 and a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion & Community Health Sciences from Texas A&M University School of Public Health in 2019.
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Afrida Faria MPHHealth Policy research analystAfrida Faria currently serves as a Health Policy Research Analyst for the Health Equity Program at Texas Health Institute. In her current role, Afrida conducts data analysis and research for community health projects aimed towards health equity. Prior to joining Texas Health Institute, Afrida worked for the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care at UT Southwestern Medical Center in implementing behavioral health programs in the North Texas area. Afrida holds a Master of Public Health from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from Southern Methodist University. Afrida’s areas of interests include evidence-based program implementation, health equity, community health, and behavioral health.
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Maricel GodinhoaccountantMaricel joined the THI Family early 2018 as an Accountant. Prior to this, she worked with Toberman Neighborhood Center- a Non-Profit Organization in San Pedro, CA. Additionally, she brings over 20 years of experience as Accounting/ Payroll Manager in different settings ranging from Medical Offices, Payroll Company, Construction Companies. In her current role, she assists the CFO and Management in maintaining books of accounts, preparation of Interim Reports, ledger maintenance, bookkeeping and bank reconciliations. She has a Bachelors in Commerce Major in Accounting/Bachelors in General Sciences-University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines; Master in Business Administration-De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines.
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Calandra Jones, MPHPublic Health Research AnalystCalandra Jones is a Public Health Research Analyst for Texas Health Institute (THI). Prior to joining THI, Calandra served as regional evaluator for the Region 4 Prevention Resource Center at East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. This role involved collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data for 23 counties in Northeast Texas to enhance the state’s data repository regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. Calandra earned a Master of Public Health degree from Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Theatre from Jackson State University. Calandra’s professional interests include: primary care and prevention, community health, health equity, and behavioral health.
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Amy MInzeExecutive AssistantAmy has been a member of the THI team since May 2014. She is currently the Executive Assistant to Ankit Sanghavi. Prior to working under Ankit, she was the Executive Assistant to Camille Miller. Amy graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
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John OeffingerDirector, eLearning and TrainingJohn Oeffinger is Director, eLearning and Training for Texas Health Institute and Co-Director of TransFORWARD: Texas Transgender Health, a collaboration between Texas Health Institute and Equality Texas Foundation. He has 35 years’ experience in project management, distance education and eLearning in for-profit, association, and non-profit organizations. John currently leads or co-directs five eLearning or transgender health projects for THI developing collaborative partnerships with national, state, and community based partners. John earned his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Texas A&M University in 1976 and was named to Marquis Who’s Who in America in 1996. His primary research interests are in culturally competent transgender health, 3D immersive learning, mobile applications and data collection in health, and organizational knowledge development.
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Kenneth D. Smith, Ph.D.Senior Health Policy Research AnalystDr. Smith serves as a Senior Health Policy Research Analyst at THI. Prior work has involved convening and supporting national-level workgroups and coalitions to help build healthier communities through policy, systems, and environmental change. As Senior Health Policy Research Analyst, Dr. Smith is responsible for health policy research and leads THI technical assistance provision for community health projects. He also offers methodological expertise on all THI projects requiring economic analysis. He co-directs the Southern Obesity Summit and leads THI’s hospital community health assessment projects. Prior to joining THI, he was the interim director for the Center to Eliminate Health Disparities at UTMB. Dr. Smith received his doctorate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 1998, where he studied health economics and economic demography. An advocate for health equity and food justice, Dr. Smith serves as board chair for The Common Market Texas, an aggregator and distributor of local produce from farmers using sustainable agriculture techniques.
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Kristi Wees
PROJECTS MANAGERKristi comes to the Mountain States Regional Genetics Network (MSRGN) as a parent advocate who was part of the 2012 Consumer Task Force for Baby’s First Test. She brings previous experience working in a laboratory and research setting as a chemist as well as scientific sales and marketing experience after completing her master’s degree in chemistry from UCLA. Kristi has utilized social media in the last 10 years as she had focused on outreach to mothers, especially mothers of children with special health care needs. Kristi’s daughter was suspected of a genetic condition that was not diagnosed at birth. When not managing the projects of MSRGN, she helps other families navigate the medical system through her patient advocacy work at Empowered Advocacy.
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