THE PROMOSALUD'S VISION IS A NATION FREE OF DISPARITIES IN HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE.

Our goals include: 1) Supporting a positive transformation of the healthcare system and building a high-value healthcare system that requires insuring the uninsured, making coverage more secure for those who have it, and improving the quality of care for all. 2) Helping to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure and workforce by addressing the critical shortage of medical personnel, including community health workers.

3) Advancing the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.

Board of Directors

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Board of Directors *

Current Staff

ANA POMAR, BOARD CHAIR

Ana is the Board Secretary for PromoSalud; she has taught students ages 4-60 in social programs, public schools, and private colleges in TX, AR, and WV. She has successfully managed professional development programs in the Austin region and supervised novice teachers and teacher trainers. Additionally, edited publications for elementary school students have served as the Education Coordinator/Teacher for Family in Sanctuary at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. She has worked as Educational Issues Director, Texas AF, and coordinated Professional Development for Educators in the state of Texas; worked at the Education Center Director, Alliance-AFT Dallas, TX, Teacher Certification Scorer National Evaluation Systems, Austin, Pflugerville Police Victim Services Counselor, assisting local police officers with cases of domestic abuse, family violence, and sexual crimes. Also, as a Spanish Instructor and Interpreter translated for doctors and nurses at the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic, Bilingual Arts and Bilingual Specialist, ESC Region XIII, Staff Representative, Education Austin, Reading Instructor for the Alternative Certification Program, Region 13 and Huston-Tillotson College, Bethany College in Bethany West Virginia as a Spanish Instructor and lately served as the Legislative staff for State Representative, Ana Maria Ramos for 2019 Legislative session. She is passionate about opportunities to serve her profession, community, and country, and currently serves in various leadership roles. She is happy to serve in this position and as a Board member of Casa Marianella.

In Memoriam

CARLOS GUZMAN, BOARD SECRETARY

Carlos Guzman was a devoted and cherished member of PromoSalud Board of Directors since 2020. It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of his passing. Carlos dearly loved this organization and supported our mission through action. Who we are, and what we are working to become, is a tribute to the work he did with our board over the past three years.

Carlos was originally from Carolina, Puerto Rico. Carlos came to Austin in 1979. He founded and operated a toy store from 1981 to 1989 and ended his business to join his wife’s Dessert business from 1989 to 2005. Carlos worked at a technology firm from 2005 to 2015 and later retired from Goodwill in 2020, and after that, lived in Austin to dedicate his time to volunteering in different causes. For many years, Carlos focused on getting to know and empathize with all kinds of human beings. After more than 40 years in this country, he wanted to focus on listening to people and making them proud to keep their language, advocating for Spanish Speakers in the various settings where he volunteered in different organizations in Austin. He was passionate about helping and was always caring for others.

Board of Advisors

AMELIE G. RAMIREZ, DR.PH.

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez is an internationally recognized cancer and chronic disease health disparities researcher and spokesperson. At the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, she is a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and the founding director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research, which studies health disparities among minorities. For 30 years, Dr. Ramirez has directed research programs focused on human and organizational communication to reduce health disparities affecting Latinos.

She directs two national research networks, Redes En Acción, which focuses on Latino cancer, and Salud America!, which focuses on Latino child obesity. She is also a member of the following: the Scientific Advisory Board, Susan G. Komen For the Cure; Scientific Advisory Board, Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade; and Board of Directors, Lance Armstrong Foundation. In San Antonio, she is a member of the Mayor’s Fitness Council and the Tobacco Prevention & Control Coalition.

JILL C. RAMIREZ

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Jill arrived in Austin after receiving her BA at UTEP and graduated with a Master of Education and Master's in Communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. Jill is currently the CEO and Co-founder of PromoSalud, Author, and Instructor of the PromoSalud Training Institute, which is a State of Texas Certification Program for Community Health Workers /Promotores de Salud. At PromoSalud, she has coordinated Manantial De Salud Dove Springs: A project focused on health promotions, funded by the City of Austin and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Affordable Care Act Community Outreach Project; and the Southeast Health and Wellness Center Community Assessment.

Her experience includes, Substitute teacher in Early Childhood Special Education, a Special Education Project Coordinator and a Bilingual Speech Pathologist for Bilingual Autism and Bilingual Special Education, Bilingual Educational Consultant for the Austin Independent School District; providing training and workshops to parents of English-Language Learners in the areas of self-empowerment, bi-literacy skills, bilingualism, biculturalism; during this term she author: “PROMESAS” a curriculum for Spanish-speaking parents. At CHILD, INC., she served as a Bilingual Speech/Language Pathologist. Additionally, Jill was a Guest Lecturer at UT Austin in a program focused on Assessment and Communication Issues in Multicultural Special Education with emphasis on autism, Bilingual Education, Parent Involvement, and Cultural and Linguistic Competency.

Her awards and recognitions include “Orgullo Latino” by Univision, the “Dennis R. Garza Lifetime Achievement” Award by LULAC District 7, nominated for “The Power of One Award” by the University of Texas at Austin Principalship Program, received a “Certificate of Recognition” by the State of Texas House of Representatives, for working with Spanish-speaking children with autism, and was inducted in the“Women's Hall of Fame” by the City of Austin. Women of the year by Amigha Hispana.

FORMER STAFF:

Haxia Sahion, Promotora

Josefina Lopez, Promotora

Agelica Orozco, Promotora

Nicole Alvarez, Promotora

Viola Jaimes, Promotora

Alejandro Velez, Coordinator

Cynthia Valadez, Promotora

Hannan Almufti, Promotora

Arleng Madariaga, Promotora

Luis Chen, Promotor

Fanny Gonzalez, Promotora

Mary Bastos, Promotora

Lourdes Chavez, Promotora

Edna, Promotora

Norma Lopez, Promotora

Adalsinda Rosales Board Secretary

Bio on the works…

ALFRED MCALISTER, PHDH.

McAlister is a professor of behavioral sciences at the UT School of Public Health, Austin campus, and an adjunct professor for the Plan II Honors & College of Communication at UT Austin. He is contributing to PromoSalud's initiative to address Latino health disparity elimination in the Dove Springs neighborhood. Professor McAlister's distinguished academic career includes positions at Harvard School of Public Health as an assistant professor and the UT Health Science Center at Houston as an associate professor in both the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health. Professor McAlister has been awarded twenty-three grants and contracts with total awards exceeding $20 mil. for projects to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer, HIV infection, diabetes, and violence. He has authored scientific articles and reports for several publications, including the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and the American Journal of Public Health.

MA. ISABEL LOPEZ

Ma. Isabel Lopez arrived in Austin from Mexico as a “DREAMER” at age 17, graduated from Johnston International Highschool and attended ACC. She is a Certified Community Health Worker Instructor for PromoSalud a State of Texas Certification Program for Community Health Workers /Promotores de Salud and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for PromoSalud.

She has served as a Promotora for the Manantial de Salud program, as a Coordinator and Federal Navigator at the Affordable Care Act Community Outreach Project, the Tomeselo a Pecho Austin (TAPA) Campaign, the Rundberg Health Innovation Program, and as well as assisting in the administrative community outreach patient navigation activities conducted by the Community Health Worker team. Additionally, Isabel worked at Lone Star Circle of Care as a Community Health Worker "Promotora" as part of the health care team, working with patients with chronic disease conditions, promoting healthy behaviors and teaching them self-management techniques to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Her work experience includes 13 years at Avance Austin as a Parent Educator/Home visitor, facilitating the Parenting Classes using the AVANCE curriculum in English and Spanish to groups of mothers in the Eastern Crescent of Austin.

She also volunteered at El Buen Samaritano as a Community Health Worker delivering the “Comenzando Bien” curriculum from the March of Dimes to expecting mothers in the Latino community in Austin. Her civic engagement includes memberships to various civic organizations such as Raza Round Table, Hispanic Quality of Life Commission and Joint inclusion Committee for the city of Austin, English Language Learners Advisory Board, Community Bond Oversight Committee and HUB Subcommittee member at AISD, LULAC District VII Dove Springs Chapter as Vice President and Youth Deputy Director, the South East Contact Team, the W.M Cannon Community Care Advisory Board, the Perez Elementary Citizens Advisory Committee, the Mendez middle school and Perez elementary PTA as well as other non-profit boards. Isabel was recognized by her peers as the Woman of the Year by both LULAC District VII and Amigha Hispana in 2019.