Bridging the Gap Between

Health Awareness
and Action

Leadership

Officers

President

Emily Spence

-

Associate Dean for Community Health
and Health Equity
UNT Health Science Center College of
Public Health

Vice President

Tonya Sosebee

+

President and Chief Nursing Officer, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle

Secretary

Mike Sanborn

+

Chief Growth Officer and EVP, Baylor Scott and White Health

Treasurer

Chris Pedigo

+

Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy, Education and Community Health Officer, Cook Children's Health Care System

A Message From The Executive Director

Prioritizing
Strategies for Com-
munity Health

Few challenges surpass equipping individuals and families with the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to enhance their health and diminish their vulnerability to obesity and chronic diseases. While awareness is crucial, it seldom translates into sustained changes in healthy habits.

This is influenced by numerous factors, some within individuals’ direct control, while others exert control over them. For years, the emphasis has predominantly rested on educating individuals about what to do, neglecting the barriers preventing the implementation of acquired knowledge and skills. Therefore, Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration prioritizes integrating policy, systems, and environmental strategies into community health improvement plans.

Our collaboration facilitates cooperation among hospitals, the public health department, and universities, transcending their respective disciplines to assist Tarrant County residents in achieving better health outcomes. Utilizing the Spectrum of Prevention framework, we identify existing multifaceted community activities and pinpoint gaps. This ensures our efforts have the most significant impact and minimizes the risk of duplicating others’ work.

Currently, our focus includes piloting and executing healthy retail policies and strategies to enhance access to healthier foods in a significant Tarrant County healthy foods priority area. Additional details about our ongoing initiatives are available in this website’s Our Work section.

I invite you to join us on our journey. Every volunteer, supporter, and individual who learns about Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration and our mission contributes to our cause. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any inquiries.

Linda Fulmer, Executive Director

Leadership

Board of Directors

Clint Abernathy

President, Texas Health Harris Methodist
Hospital Alliance

Ajith Pai

President, Texas Health Harris Methodist
Southwest Fort Worth

Brian Byrd

Director, Tarrant County Public Health

Carol Boehnke

Vice President, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital

Gerrie Whitaker

CEO, North Texas Area Community Health Centers

Joseph DeLeon

President, Texas Health Harris Methodist
Hospital Fort Worth

Kandra Torrence

Manager, Community Outreach JPS Health Network

Catherine Oliveros

Vice President, Community Impact Texas Health Resources

Jared Shelton

President, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford

Elizabeth Merwin

Dean, University of Texas Arlington, College of Nursing and Health Innovation

Leadership

Steering Committee

Kimberlin Moore

Chairperson, Texas Health Resources

Samantha Daggett

Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center Fort Worth

Elizabeth Braht

Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center Fort Worth

Brenda Patton

North Texas Healthy Communities

Roderick Miles

Office of Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks

Courtney Barnard

Cook Children’s Health Care System

Cheryl McCarver

Arlington-Mansfield Area YMCA

Lisa Padilla

Cook Children's Health Plan

J'Vonnah Maryman

Tarrant County Public Health

Pam Frable

Texas Christian University

Joy Griffin

Texas Health Resources

Pierre Gant

Wellpoint

Beth Harrison

Texas Health Resources

Melanie Nieswaidomy

Texas Health Resources

Melissa Oden

DMO Enterprises

Becky Garner

UTA College of Nursing & Health Innovation

Marcela Nava

UTA School of Social Work

Amanda English

UT Health

Jermaca Brown

Office of Congressman Marc Veasey TX-33

Joyce Rafati

Girls to Women/Young Men’s Health & Wellness

Bethany Bragg

It’s Time Texas

Kevin McKinnon

YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth

Budgeting

Financial Disclaimer

Welcome to Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration, where hospitals, public health organizations, universities, and other community partners join forces to cultivate healthier communities. Established in 1997, HTCC emerged to conduct a comprehensive countywide assessment to uncover the community’s needs.

We love to hear from people who may be interested in:

  • Joining one of our work groups or committees.
  • Volunteering at one of the urban farms.
  • Learning more about our work.