National Public Health Week is a time to celebrate and thank those who strive to help others live their best life. That's why in 2024, we're introducing some of the women and men who serve YOU through Angelina County & Cities Health District.
Anndrea Pickett has served in the medical field for over 30 years, the last 8 of which have been spent in the heart of our community, serving as the Pharmacy Manager & Public Health Resource Center Coordinator at ACCHD. She has an open mind, an open heart and a true passion for serving others, and she is always looking to learn better ways to help the Angelina County community.
Anndrea is a wife, mother and grandmother, and she currently serves as President on the Board of Directors for the Pregnancy Help Center. In between all of that, she’s also attending classes in pursuit of a business management degree.
Lindsey Christian has always been drawn to roles that allow her to serve others so when she had an opportunity to be a part of ACCHD as the Public Health Management Specialist & Assistant Financial Director, she jumped at the chance. Within two years, she was promoted to Financial Director, and it’s in that role - serving ACCHD staff so that they may provide the crucial services needed in our community - that she finds great joy.
Lindsey holds both a Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences and a Master of Professional Accountancy from Stephen F. Austin State University. When asked what she’d like Angelina County to know about the public health services provided by ACCHD, she wrote, “We are here to help, and if we cannot help meet your needs, we will connect you with an organization that can.”
Martha Hernandez is an East Texan through and through. She graduated from Diboll High School, received an associate degree from Angelina College and then earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University. She’s one of several ACCHD staff members who are fluent in Spanish and, really, it was her desire to help the Spanish-speaking community that drew her to public health.
After serving on boards of various nonprofits, Martha was inspired to make a career change. She saw a need in the community for Spanishspeaking volunteers, and she wanted to make sure those in the community who are low-income or uninsured were having their voice heard. Now, as the Coordinator of our Children with Special Health Care Needs program, Martha and her team directly serve the community by providing family support and resources. As she says, “our daily mission and purpose is to ensure that you can live your best life!”
Patricia Vettiankal decided to join the public health cause after working at a number of covid clinics hosted by ACCHD. She joined our team in 2021 as a Public Health Management Specialist, a role she continues to play today, and added on the title of Registration Manager in 2023. Under that title, she oversees the ins and outs of the registration desk, serving as liaison between it and our Preventive Health Care (PHC) Clinic and pharmacy.
While Patricia holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting & Computer Science, her interest in healthcare has always stayed present. Many of her family members work in the field so when she saw an opportunity to make a difference in her community through ACCHD, she jumped at the chance.
As registration manager, Patricia has seen a great need for medical care and medical homes for residents in our county, and she wants the Angelina County community to know those services are available here. She says, “I work with an AMAZING team of people at ACCHD that share my passion of giving back to our community and who sincerely care about improving the health of every patient that walks through our doors. Together, we ARE making a difference in the lives of many!”
Beth Malloy, MS, RDN, LD, is a graduate of Nacogdoches High School, and she holds both a Master of Science in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics from Stephen F. Austin State University. Her journey with ACCHD began in 2006 when she accepted the role of WIC’s High-Risk Dietitian and Nutrition Education Coordinator. She served in that capacity for 12 years before stepping into the role of WIC Director in 2018.
Beth says she’s been fascinated by food as it relates to health for as long as she can remember, and she loves working with WIC families to help them build a healthy life from the start. To her, WIC is so much more than “free food.” She says, “What sets us apart is that as a key component of the program, we have trained professionals that provide nutrition education and breastfeeding support. In addition, foods provided by WIC meet specific USDA guidelines based on the participant’s category and needs. WIC is open to many incomes and families and is available from pregnancy until the child turns 5!”
After graduating from Hudson ISD, Cortney O'Bryant, LBSW, MSW earned a Bachelor and Master of Social Work Degree from Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work. She began her public health career with Woodland Heights Medical Center before joining the ACCHD team as our Public Health Social Services Coordinator, working primarily with the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) program.
Cortney finds inspiration in her desire to help others, and she’s able to do just that through the CYSHCN program where she researches and locates resources her clients need most. She describes the program like this, “CYSHCN is a very inclusive program. We work with children with various diagnoses/pending diagnoses, from obesity and diabetes to autism. If in doubt regarding your child’s eligibility for CYSHCN, don’t hesitate to make contact. We are here to help YOU.”
Erica Meza has been positively impacting the lives of mothers and their newborns as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor for Angelina County WIC for more than 15 years. After the birth of her first child, Erica’s mother-in-law encouraged her to breastfeed, offering advice and support throughout the process. She then exclusively breastfed her next two children. During those times, Erica was actually a breastfeeding participant at WIC so when an opportunity opened to support other moms and babies as a peer counselor, she jumped at the chance.
Nearly two decades later, Erica says she has learned the four most important things a woman needs when breastfeeding are education, support, encouragement and sympathy. She understands that no two breastfeeding journeys are the same and that no matter how a mother chooses to breastfeed – be it exclusively or combined with formula – her goal is to show how breastmilk in any amount is beneficial to both mother and baby. Ultimately, Erica has learned that “lifting a mom up during their breastfeeding journey is crucial.”
Vickie Jones, LVN, was born and raised in Lufkin, graduating from Lufkin High School before completing an Associate’s Degree in Radiologic Technology at Angelina College in 2004. She followed that degree up with a License of Vocational Nursing from Panola College in 2010. Vickie counts her grandmother as the inspiration for a career in healthcare, and it’s long been her goal to join the public health field. That goal was realized in September of 2023 when she joined the Angelina County WIC team.
Vickie’s personal motto is, “Children first, now and always,” and that’s the exact spirit she’s sharing with the Angelina County community. She sees WIC as a great resource tool for families, describing it as a guide to healthy food choices that can impact children long after they leave the program. Vickie is sure to point out, too, that not all rumors about WIC are true. Yes, you can still have an income and be eligible for WIC and all its benefits!
Aaron Dudley, PA-C, knew from an early age that he wanted to pursue medicine as a career. He had recently graduated from Woden High School, and he was volunteering at a mission in Bolivia as a young 20-year-old when he assisted a physician who had come there to provide medical care. Following that experience, he attended Texas A&M University in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science and then received a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Aaron has been in public health for 15 years now, and he’s certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. He says he’d like the community to know that ACCHD provides “care to those who have the least access to it, and that we are, just like any private physician’s office, a medical home where many establish care and continue in our care for many years. These patients receive quality, comprehensive care and not just a few stop-gap efforts until they can move on somewhere else.” Our work is making a real difference in the lives of our community members.
Kim Johnson, RN, has worked in the healthcare field for close to three decades. She joined ACCHD 22 years ago, and she now holds the title of Director of Nursing & Clinical Services. Kim graduated from Nacogdoches ISD in 1991 and attended Panola College for her Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and Licensed Vocational Nursing Certificate.
Kim grew up with a fascination with hospitals, so she knew she always wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives through the field of healthcare. Her area of specialties is vast, covering maternal and child health, women’s services, family planning, tuberculosis control, immunizations, laboratory and primary health care services. Kim and her team “strive to deliver quality healthcare for those that do not have access to affordable healthcare” and public health nurses like her “focus on prevention of illness, injury or disability, the promotion of health and the maintenance of all populations.”
Patricia Caraway, FNP, first stepped into the healthcare world at Angelina College where she pursued an Associate Degree in Nursing. She continued her education at Stephen F. Austin State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing, with her focus as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
After participating in clinicals at ACCHD, Patricia was inspired by the compassion and care she witnessed, so she decided to enter the realm of public health and join our team. She says, “I was so excited to learn from the other providers and see just how much of a difference they make in the lives of the people in the community. I wanted to be a part of something I view as so special.” Now, Patricia is doing just that, providing “great healthcare, including prevention services and screenings, and a wealth of education” to parents and their children!
Ann Watson, RN, attended San Augustine High School, Angelina College and Stephen F. Austin State University, and she’s been a registered nurse since 1974. Ann has worked in a number of areas since then, including the emergency room, med-surg center, family practice and public health. She’s been with ACCHD since 2009 and just like with every career phase before it, she’s been rewarded by the patients she helps.
As a Public Health Nurse Educator, Ann focuses on providing education to Angelina County residents on diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart disease and stroke, and she does that by speaking to individuals at ACCHD itself and at businesses, churches, industries, civic groups, non-profit organizations – all at no charge. Ann describes ACCHD as “the hidden jewel in Angelina County.” In her work, she visits with many people who do not seek out healthcare because they cannot pay for care but at ACCHD, there are few or, in many cases, no out-of-pocket expenses.
Ann says, “More people need to take steps to put their health and the health of their family as a higher priority in their daily lives. We are here to help, to care for their needs, to educate, to immunize, to link them to others in our community for all their daily needs…Our staff is knowledgeable, professional, friendly and always here with a smiling face to meet their needs or refer them elsewhere if needed. They just need to take the first step to qualify and let us do the rest!”
Marlene Brown, MEd., BSN, RN, has a background rich in knowledge. She received a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica and a Diploma in Medical Technology from the University of Technology in Jamaica. When she moved to the United States, Marlene then received a Bachelor in Nursing and a Master of Education from the University of Texas at El Paso, and she’s currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at the University of North Texas.
In her role as Public Health Nurse Educator, Marlene works with local organizations and businesses on creating and implementing policies that support the health of our community. One of her main goals is to support those groups in the creation of lactation support policies and application of the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite designation. She also supports local organizations that source, distribute and/or serve food in adaptation and implementation of the Food Service Guidelines. Marlene says of this work, “The preventative measures that the community put in place to protect the health of its citizens contribute to longevity, improve the quality of life and reduce health care spending.”
Sarah AdamsSarah Adams recognized at an early age the importance of access to good medical care when she witnessed her grandmother battle diabetes. She’s worked in the medical field for more than 39 years now, 21 of which have been in the public health realm with ACCHD. In that time, she’s been the Director of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Infectious Disease & Surveillance and now, Immunizations.
With the immunizations department, Sarah has helped lead public health responses in a 3-county jurisdiction for H1N1, Zika, Ebola, Hurricanes Katrina/Rita/Harvey, COVID-19 and MPox. Their daily goal, though, is to help ensure our community is safe from vaccine-preventable diseases by providing vaccines to infants, children, adolescents and adults. In addition, this department oversees a number of programs, such as the Texas Vaccine for Children (TVFC) program, performs immunization audits for area schools and daycares, and provides education and outreach.
Sarah says of ACCHD, “The Health District is working ‘behind the scenes’ daily helping ensure we have a healthy community. I believe we are stewards of our community, and we should provide the best public health services to our most vulnerable and underserved populations. While working at the Angelina County & Cities Health District, I have seen the difference we make in our community while working together for a healthier tomorrow.”
Clarisa NavaClarisa Nava began her pursuit of the healthcare field at an early age. When she was just nine years old, she had witnessed her grandmother tragically pass away from a heart attack. Clarisa says she felt helpless in that moment and because of that, she knew she wanted to equip herself with life-saving skills as she grew older.
While she was at Lufkin High School, she obtained certificates in CPR and as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She then took those skills to Lufkin Memorial Hospital where she worked as a CNA and Electrocardiogram Technician for six years. Following this, she spent three years as a Certified Pharmacy Technician at both the Medicine Shoppe and ETBHN Pharmacy, where she furthered her expertise in pharmaceuticals and medication management. In 2019, Clarisa pursued an internship with ACCHD, paving the way for her previous role of a WIC Certifying Authority. That same year, she also added to education, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Sciences from Stephen F. Austin State University. After four years working with WIC, she transitioned to her current position, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Manager.
As an Emergency Preparedness Manager, Clarisa develops, implements and evaluates emergency preparedness plans tailored to our region's unique needs and risks. She also coordinates response efforts, conducts training sessions, manages resource allocation and engages in public education and outreach initiatives. She says of this work, “Our goal is to ensure that our community is ready to face any challenge that may arise. We prioritize proactive measures, communication, and resource allocation to minimize the impact of emergencies and protect the health of our residents. By being informed, engaged, and prepared, we can work together to protect the health and safety of everyone in Angelina County during times of crisis.
Dalia GonzalezDalia Gonzalez graduated from Lufkin High School in 1998 and holds an Associate of Science degree from Panola College. Even as a young child, she recognized the need for more bilingual personnel in our community, and her role as a bilingual Eligibility Receptionist is invaluable to our team.
In that role, Dalia is responsible for all incoming applications, be it for our Preventive Health Care program or for Medicaid/SNAP. She gathers all the necessary documents from patients, verifies their coverage if needed and schedules appointments. Dalia says of her department, “We strive to help everyone that walks through our doors and if we’re unable to help, we’ll get a referral to someone who can. We want everyone to get the help they are seeking!”
Rubi Vazquez also graduated from Lufkin High School and is another invaluable bilingual team member at ACCHD. She’s been working in public health for five years now, a role she was inspired to pursue by her mother. As the Eligibility Manager, Rubi oversees the application process for all of the different programs offered by ACCHD. She’s in agreement with Dalia about the goal of this vital department, “We are here to help our patients as much as we can!”
