DePelchin Names New board members

DePelchin Children’s Center, Houston’s oldest and largest social service organization, welcomes three new additions to its board of directors – Martha (Marty) Braniff, Margaret McNeese, M.D, and Susan Tortolero, Ph.D. All three bring to the organization expertise in child health and advocacy.
 
Marty Braniff, a long-time advocate for children, founded Child Advocates in 1984.  Child Advocates is a non-profit organization serving abused children through the court system.  Prior to that, Braniff worked as a nurse at Ripley House and started the first art program at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center.  She has won numerous awards for both her work on behalf of children and her work as a poet and author.
 
Margaret McNeese, M.D., is a professor of pediatrics and associate dean for admissions and student affairs at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.  She also is the medical director of both the Medical School Health Services Clinic and the Texas-Mexico Health Services Border Project.  In 2006, the governor of Texas appointed McNeese to the Texas Medical Board.  Her clinical and research interests are in child abuse and neglect where she has successfully authored several books, articles, journals and abstracts on the topic.  She will be instrumental on the DePelchin Children’s Center board as it continues serving area families and children.

Susan Tortolero, Ph.D., holds a doctorate in epidemiology and currently serves as associate professor with tenure at the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston.  She also serves as director of the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research.  In addition, she is director of Center for Disease Control’s University of Texas Prevention Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.  Tortolero is an award winning teacher, prolific author and a noted researcher.  Tortolero will leverage her expertise in risk and protective behaviors, mental health among children, adolescents and minority women to ensure DePelchin Children’s Center remains a leader in these areas.  

“We welcome these three accomplished individuals to our board and look forward to the program and service advancements that are sure to follow,” said Curtis C. Mooney, Ph.D., president and CEO of DePelchin Children’s Center.  “Their impressive backgrounds and current duties will enhance our expertise and resources so that we may better serve the Houston community.”