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Texas Medical Board Biographies

 

Sherif Z. Zaafran, M.D.

Sherif Z. Zaafran, M.D.

Sherif Z. Zaafran, M.D. 

Sherif Z. Zaafran, M.D., of Houston, is the President of the Texas Medical Board. He is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist and is the Vice-Chair of the Clinical Governance Board for US Anesthesia Partners for the Gulf Coast region as well as a member of the Clinical Governance Board for US Anesthesia Partners Texas. He serves on the Board of Directors of Lucid Lane and is a member of the FDA Analgesia and Anesthesia Drug Product Advisory Committee. He has also served as subcommittee chair on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pain Management Taskforce. He is also a delegate for the Texas Medical Association (TMA), Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, delegate and Fellow for the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and a member of the TMA delegation to the American Medical Association. Zaafran studied biochemistry at The University of Texas at Austin and finished medical school and residency at The University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston. He is the current chair of the Texas Medical Board.

 

   

Sharon J. Barnes
Sharon J. Barnes

Sharon J. Barnes

Sharon J. Barnes, of Rosharon, is the Chief Human Resources Officer for the San José Clinic in Houston as she held various HR and technical roles at Freeport LNG and the Dow Chemical Company, respectively. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the American Chemical Society; and she is a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County. Additionally, she is a member and former board secretary for the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. She holds a foundation board seat for CHI St. Luke's - Brazosport and she is a former board member of the United Way of Brazoria County. Barnes is also in her second term as board member for the Baylor University Alumni Association, "The Baylor Line Foundation". A former city council member in Lake Jackson, Barnes received a Bachelor of Science degree in bio-chemistry from Baylor University and a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix.

   

Devinder S. Bhatia, M.D.

Devinder Bhatia, M.D.

Devinder S. Bhatia, M.D.

Devinder S. Bhatia, M.D., of Houston, is a Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon. He is the founder, CEO, and president of Southeast Texas Cardiovascular P.A., and is certified by the American Board of thoracic surgery and currently serves as chief of cardiovascular surgery at HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the Federation of State Medical Boards. He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Society for Vascular Surgery, and the Harris County Medical Society. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Houston Symphony and is a former board member of the Health Museum. Bhatia received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Arkansas and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

   

Michael E. Cokinos

Michael E. Cokinos

Michael E. Cokinos

Michael E. Cokinos, of Houston, is founder and President of Cokinos Energy Corporation. He serves on the Board of Directors at South Texas College of Law in Houston and is a Board Director of the Greek Orthodox Legacy Fund and a member of the Houstonian Club. Additionally, Cokinos is the former mayor pro tem and city councilman of Hunter's Creek Village, substitute teacher for Spring Branch I.S.D., past chairman and police commissioner of the Memorial Village Police Department and a member and past chairman of the Texas A&M University at Galveston Board of Visitors. Cokinos received a Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University and is a graduate of the Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business Executive Management Program.

 

George L. De Loach, D.O.
George L. De Loach, D.O., P.A.

George L. De Loach, D.O.

George L. De Loach, D.O., of Livingston, is a physician and chief of surgery at CHI St. Luke’s Livingston, and owner of Big Thicket Orthopedics. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, Texas Orthopedics Association, and the American Osteopathic Association. De Loach received a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

   

James S. Distefano, D.O.

James S. Distefano

James S. Distefano, D.O.

James “JD” S. Distefano, D.O., of College Station, is a board certified physician at Cornerstone Sports Medicine. He also serves as a team physician for Texas A&M Athletics. Distefano honorably served in the United State Air Force. He is a member of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, and the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine. In addition, he is a volunteer physician for the Special Olympics. Distefano received a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology from Northeast Louisiana University, and a Doctor of Osteopathy from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

 

Kandace B. Farmer, D.O.

Kandace B. Farmer, D.O.

 

Kandace B. Farmer, D.O.

Kandace B. Farmer, D.O., of Highland Village, is a radiologist and breast imaging specialist in diagnostic radiology at Rose Imaging Specialists. She is a member of the Texas Medical Association, Society of Breast Imaging, American College of Osteopathic Medicine and the American Osteopathic College of Radiology Mammography Committee. Additionally, she is a member of The Links Incorporated, past member of the North Texas Women Business League and past volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club. Farmer received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and she completed her breast fellowship training at Johns Hopkins University.

   

Robert Gracia
Robert Gracia

Robert Gracia

Robert Gracia, of Richmond, is a realtor at Clayton Nash Real Estate. He is a member of the Texas Realtor Association, the National Realtor Association and a life member of the International Police Chief Association. He is the chairman of the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission and a board member of Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels. Gracia previously served the City of Rosenberg for 36 years as the city's longest tenured Police Chief and as City Manager. Gracia received a Bachelor of Science in business management from LeTorneau University, and graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 152nd Session, Wharton County Junior College Law Enforcement Academy, and the Champions School of Real Estate.

 

   

Tomeka M. Herod

Tomeka M. Herod

Tomeka M. Herod

Tomeka Moses Herod, of Allen, is the president of The Wilkins Group, Inc. She is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, who honored her with a Quest for Success Award and she is also a member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Council, Black Contractors Association and the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association. In addition, she is a member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a board member of the Parent Teacher Association, and an active volunteer with the Children’s Ministry at One Community Church as well as a former Board Member of the Community Council of Greater Dallas. Herod received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Sam Houston State University, where she is a life alumni member, and a Master of Arts in Electronic Media from Southern Methodist University, where she previously served as chair of the African American Alumni Associates.

   

Robert D. Martinez, M.D.

Robert D. Martinez, M.D.

Robert D. Martinez, M.D.

Robert D. Martinez, M.D., of Mission, is the chief medical officer and chief physician executive at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg and senior executive vice president of DHR Health. He is a member of the Texas Medical Association, American Medical Association, and multiple community organizations. He has served as co-chair of the Ryan Gibson Leukemia Advocate and Research Group, member of the Texas Alzheimer’s Association and the Texas Workforce Solutions Board of Directors. Martinez received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and biology from the Southern Methodist University and a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where he also completed his internal medicine residency.

   

LuAnn Morgan

LuAnn Morgan

LuAnn Morgan

LuAnn Morgan, of Midland, is retired after over 40 years of service in the electric utility industry and volunteering for nonprofits. She began her career with TXU Electric, eventually becoming District Manager serving 11 West Texas Counties. Upon early retirement, she became an adjunct instructor at The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) in Statistics and Marketing, served three terms on Midland City Council, and served as a past gubernatorial appointee of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. She has served as president and campaign chair of United Way of Midland, Chair of Economic Development for the Midland Chamber of Commerce, Finance for Boy Scouts of America, Senior Services Chair and Rotary International Exchange Program Chair. She is a Leadership Texas graduate and co-founding member of two nonprofits, Midland Humane Coalition and Communities in Schools of the Permian Basin. Morgan received a Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from UTPB.

 

Jayaram B. Naidu, M.D.

Jayaram B. Naidu, M.D.

Jayaram B. Naidu, M.D.

Jayaram B. Naidu, M.D., of Odessa, is a physician and president of Naidu Clinic and an assistant clinical professor for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He has been in private practice as an internist for over 40 years. He is a member of the Texas Medical Association, Ector County Medical Society and the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center Advisory Board and a past board member of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he is a former gubernatorial appointee of the Chronic Kidney Disease Task force. Naidu received a medical degree from the Guntur Medical College in Andhra, India in 1966, and completed his residency Internal medicine at the A.C. Logan Memorial Hospital in New York.

   

Satish Nayak, M.D.

Satish Nayak

Satish Nayak, M.D.

Satish Nayak, M.D., of Andrews, is a family physician, obstetrician and gynecologist at Nayak Clinic. He is a member of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Medicine, Texas Association of Family Physicians, and the Texas Medical Association. He currently serves as the vice president of the Yeriwah Mega Foundation and is a trustee for the Hindu Association of West Texas. Nayak received a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Karnataka University, a Doctor of Medicine in Obstetrics & Gynecology from Mangalore University, a Doctor of Medicine in family medicine from Westchester County Medical Center, and a Doctor of Medicine in Transitional Medicine from the University of Maryland.

   

Manuel “Manny” Quinones, Jr., M.D.
Manuel “Manny” Quinones, Jr., M.D.

Manuel “Manny” Quinones, Jr., M.D.

Manuel “Manny” Quinones, Jr., M.D., of San Antonio, is a family physician with Health Texas Medical Group of San Antonio. He is a member and former president of Bexar County Medical Society and is currently on their Board of Directors and Board of Ethics. Additionally, he is a member of the Texas Medical Association and the Clinical Faculty at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Medicine and has served on multiple local community boards including, The Witte Museum and the American Red Cross. Quinones received a Bachelor of Arts in biology from St. Mary’s University and a Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine.

 

Jason K. Tibbels, M.D.

Jason Tibbels

Jason K. Tibbels, M.D.

Jason K. Tibbels, M.D., of Bridgeport, is the president and co-founder for the Institute of Patient Safety and Quality of Virtual Care PSO. In addition, he serves as the chief quality officer for Teladoc Health, Inc. and as the executive medical director for Solaris Hospice. He is a member of the Texas Medical Association, Montague-Wise County Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. He also serves as a youth basketball coach. Tibbels received a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from the University of North Texas and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

   

David G. Vanderweide, M.D.
David G. Vanderweide, M.D.

David G. Vanderweide, M.D.

David G. Vanderweide, M.D., of League City, is a board certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in Webster, Texas. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, a member of the AMA, TMA and Harris County Medical Association. He received his bachelor's degree with high honors from Texas A&M University, his doctorate with honors from Baylor College of Medicine and completed his orthopedic residency at Baylor College of Medicine. He is the Chief of Staff at Houston Physicians' Hospital and is a solo practitioner in general orthopedics.