Health and Human Services Council
Bylaws | Guiding Principles | Meeting Agendas and Information
The Health and Human Services Council assists the executive commissioner in developing rules and policies for the commission. The nine members of the council are appointed by the governor.
Council Members
Jerry Kane, Corpus Christi
Jerry Kane is chairman of the Health and Human Services Council. Kane is president and chief executive officer of Sam Kane Beef Processors. He has served on the board of the Southwestern Meat Packers, was vice chairman of the National Meat Association and was a board member of the American Meat Institute. He serves as vice chairman of the Texas Water Foundation and is a chairman for the Coastal Regional Water Planning Group with the Texas Water Development Board. Kane is a past member of the Texas Health and Human Services Coordinating Council and previously served on the State of Texas Natural Resources Advisory Council. He served 18 years as chair of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission and served as chair of the Texas Department of Human Services until September 2004. He is chairman of the Corpus Christi Airport Board. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Kathleen Angel, Austin
Kathleen Angel is the director of global benefits and international compensation with Dell. She serves on the board of Round Rock Medical Center and St. David's Healthcare Foundation. She is on the board of directors of the National Business Group on Health. Angel received a bachelor's degree from Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Massachusetts.
Maryann Choi, Georgetown
Dr. Maryann Choi of Georgetown is the chief executive officer of AmKoHealthcare, Inc, a global healthcare solutions provider. She is formerly chief medical officer for Harden Healthcare. She is board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics and ABHPM certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is a member of the American Geriatric Society, the American Medical Association and the American Medical Directors Association. She received a bachelor's degree and a medical degree from Han Yang University in Korea. She also received a Masters in Public Health Texas A&M University School of Rural Public Health and Masters in Computer Science from Hofstra University in New York.
Karen Harris, Lakehills
Karen Harris of Lakehills is founder and CEO of Medicine for the Heart Ministries Inc. She is an ordained Christian minister, a volunteer belief therapist certified by Therapon Institute, and a teacher for Women Wanting Wisdom Ministries. She is past vice president of the C.A. Whittier Medical Auxiliary, past regional coordinator of Women's Neighborhood Prayer International, and a past board member of the Citywide Women's Prayer organization of San Antonio. Harris received a radiology science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is certified in theology from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta and Biblical counseling from the Therapon Institute.
James "Richard" Barajas, Fort Worth
James “Richard” Barajas of Fort Worth is executive vice president and chief credit officer of Southwest Bank. He is a board member of Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County and Fort Worth Country Day School, and a past board member of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Texas Bankers Association Service Company and Leadership Fort Worth. He is also a past board member and past chairman of the James L. West Alzheimer’s Center and Child Study Center of Fort Worth. Barajas received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Wesleyan University.
Leon Leach, Houston
Leon Leach, PhD, is executive vice president and chief business officer at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In this role, Leach provides executive leadership for finance, business development, marketing, facilities, human resources, information systems and technology commercialization. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors of MD Anderson Services Corporation, a non-profit subsidiary facilitating partnerships to further the MD Anderson mission.
Before joining MD Anderson in 1997, Leach spent 25 years in various executive leadership positions at Cornerstone Physicians Corporation, CareAmerica Health Plans Inc., Prudential Insurance Company of America, the Prudential Health Care Plan (PruCare), and Prudential Real Estate Affiliates.
Leach recently earned a PhD in health management and policy from The UT School of Public Health. In 2006, Leach served as the Sid Richardson Visiting Fellow at Rice University James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, focusing on health policy and economic incentives that influence the quality and cost of healthcare.
Manson B. Johnson, Houston
Manson B. Johnson is the pastor of Holman Street Baptist Church. He serves as dean of the Independent Missionary Baptist General Association of Texas and is economic development commissioner of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. Johnson serves as a senior ranking member of the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas, is a member of the Baptist Ministers Association of Texas and the Union Baptist Association of Texas. Within the local community, Johnson is on the board of the South Central YMCA, a member of the oversight committee for Houston Independent School District and a board member of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. Johnson received a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University.
Teresa Durkin Wilkinson, Midland
Teresa Durkin Wilkinson is a registered nurse and partner at Ben-Mar Partners. She is past chair of the Aging and Disability Services Council and a board member of Midland Memorial Hospital, First National Bank of Midland and the First Bancshares of Texas Inc. She is also a board member of the Midland College Foundation and Jenna Welsh Wildlife Sanctuary Development Committee, chair of the Midland 2020 Committee and a special events volunteer at the George Bush Childhood Home. Wilkinson received a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University a Master of Business Administration from New York University, and a nursing degree from Midland College.
Thomas Craig Wheat, Dallas
Thomas Craig Wheat of Dallas is owner of a pediatric private-duty nursing company based in Dallas called Pediatric Home Healthcare. Wheat also owns a Dallas based printing and promotional product company called The Connally Group. He is a member of Pediatric Home Healthcare Advisory Board and Pediatric Home Healthcare Board of Directors. Wheat is a life member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and a former volunteer of The American Cancer Society of Dallas, The Myocarditis Foundation, The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in Dallas and The Dallas Race for the Cure. He attended Texas Tech University where he played tennis and received both his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and his master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.