Our Team
The Immunization Partnership is made up of an outstanding team of knowledgeable individuals whose backgrounds comprise of public health, policy, law, and finance expertise. We value the collaboration of distinct ideas in an effort to launch advocacy initiatives, establish long-lasting partnerships, support immunization best practices, and conduct grassroots community education programs. We are all committed to the mission of eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases.

Hill Olson, J.D.
President/CEO
Hill Olson, J.D.
holson@immunizeUSA.org
Hill Olson is the President and CEO of the Immunization Partnership where she manages daily program and administrative operations. She oversees program development, implementation, and evaluation to ensure existing and emerging community needs are met.
She is a licensed attorney and certified mediator. Before joining the TIP team, Olson spent eight years working in the public health and government sector. She has experience in several leadership positions, including administering ten departments ranging from compliance and auditing to HIPAA privacy and security.
Olson earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing research and analysis and sales management from the University of Houston and her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law.

Ashtyn Hooper
Chief Development Officer
Ashtyn Hooper
ahooper@immunizeUSA.org
Ashtyn Hooper is Chief Development Officer of the Immunization Partnership where she specializes in leading development strategies. She is dedicated to improving the health of communities across the state by driving TIP’s mission forward as it works to eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases through education, advocacy and support of immunization best practices.
Prior to joining TIP, she served as Deputy Assistant Director at the City of Houston where she devised and implemented development strategies, marketing and communications plans, and operational initiatives.
Hooper received her Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ashley Beale, M.P.H.
Program Coordinator
Ashley Beale, M.P.H.
abeale@immunizeUSA.org
Ashley Beale is Program Coordinator for The Immunization Partnership. She uses her public health knowledge to coordinate projects and conduct research – ranging from state-funded initiatives like the Texas Immunizers and Stakeholders Working Groups (TISWG) to projects that explore factors contributing to immunization rates in a variety of communities throughout the state. She also provides program and administrative support for the TIP team.
Prior to joining TIP, Ashley served as Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Health Communications Fellow at the U.S. Army Public Health Center for five years. She developed print materials, created health campaigns, and generated innovative targeted messaging – contributing to the health and wellbeing of Soldiers worldwide.
Beale earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College and a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health.

Katy Gore, M.P.H.
Coalitions and Education Program Manager
Katy Gore, M.P.H.
kgore@immunizeUSA.org
Katy Gore is Coalition and Education Program Manager of the Immunization Partnership where she conducts community and provider forums to educate the public on the latest in vaccine-related science and builds the capacity of community-based immunization coalitions.
Prior to joining TIP she served as Program Analyst for the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). Her experience includes working with local health departments on raising HPV vaccination rates by guiding coalitions through a process of creating a mission and vision statement, partnership building, and the development of an action plan.
Prior to her work with HPV coalitions, Gore worked with the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) framework, which guides local health departments through a process of community engagement and strategic partnership building with the goal of creating a Community Health Improvement Plan for Accreditation of their local health department. She spent a year with AmeriCorps Community HealthCorps working with teens on health education. She also served as a Reproductive Educational Advocate at Planned Parenthood.
Gore received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education from American University and her Master of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health.

Carrie Fitch
Development Assistant
Carrie Fitch
cfitch@immunizeUSA.org
Carrie Fitch is Fund Development Assistant of The Immunization Partnership, serving in that role since November 2015. She applies her planning, writing, and administrative expertise to further TIP’s donor development and fundraising activities. Previously, she has worked in an administrative capacity in a variety of industries, including energy, finance, and other non-profits. Prior to joining TIP, Carrie was traveling the world and pursuing her passion for screenwriting.
Fitch earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia. When she’s not working, Carrie enjoys screenwriting, traveling, exploring world cuisines, healthy plant-based eating, and spending time with family and friends.

Rekha Lakshmanan, M.H.A.
Director of Advocacy and Public Policy
Rekha Lakshmanan, M.H.A.
rlakshmanan@immunizeUSA.org
Rekha Lakshmanan is Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for the Immunization Partnership, serving in that role since 2014. She oversees the organization’s state vaccine public policy as well as community engagement and capacity building for immunization coalitions. She has assisted local groups in forming coalitions and developing capacity of existing coalitions through her work for TIP’s Building Coalitions across Texas (BCaT) project.
Before joining TIP, Lakshmanan served as a Public Sector Account Executive for Merck & Co, Inc., during which time she collaborated and networked with key vaccine decision-makers and advocates encompassing local and state health departments, the CDC, vaccine coalitions, advocacy groups and large community centers to enhance immunization processes across Texas and Louisiana. She coordinated and provided strategic direction for local public sector account activities across all levels of management within Merck.
Lakshmanan received her Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas Woman’s University.

John Powell, M.B.A.
Communication Specialist
John Powell, M.B.A.
jpowell@immunizeUSA.org
John Powell is a Communication Specialist for The Immunization Partnership. He has held communication leadership positions at public institutions and news organizations. He has extensive experience leading or formulating executive and institutional communication at public research universities and state medical schools and clinics including the University of Houston, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB), and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. This includes writing speeches, op-ed pieces, legislative testimony, and magazine articles for presidents of five colleges and universities, governing board chairs, and the head of an international business association. He also served as the political media adviser for a state office holder in Texas and has taught at universities in Indiana, New Mexico, and Texas.
Powell's background also includes broadcast, print, and Web-based journalism for which he has received numerous awards, including 17 Houston Press Club Lone Star awards for Internet opinion writing. He has been a radio and television reporter, producer, and anchor and a commentator for The Red River Radio Network.

Jinny Suh, J.D.
Immunize Texas Lead
Jinny Suh, J.D.
jinny@immunizeTX.com
Jinny Suh is the Immunize Texas Lead for The Immunization Partnership. Jinny organizes community advocates from across Texas to support pro-vaccine legislation at the Texas Capitol. Prior to joining TIP she practiced biopharmaceutical patent law and studied evolutionary herpetology in graduate school.
Suh earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California, a Master of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctor from Columbia University Law School. She is the mother of two young children and lives in Austin.

Rachel Walker, M.P.H.
Program Coordinator
Rachel Walker, M.P.H.
rwalker@immunizeUSA.org
Rachel Walker is a Program Coordinator for The Immunization Partnership. In a role she’s held since May 2020, she contributes to TIP’s work to better understand factors impacting immunizations in Texas, while also working to increase community knowledge. Previously, she served as Program Assistant for TIP, working closely with the Texas Department of State Health Services to coordinate the Texas Immunizers and Stakeholders Working Groups (TISWG). Rachel has a love for the non-profit world and previously worked for an organization that served individuals with Down syndrome in Austin, Texas.
Walker earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. In her free time, Rachel enjoys running marathons, exploring the outdoors, volunteering, discovering local restaurants, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog and cat, Charlie and Ralphie.

Lacy Waller
Immunize Texas Coordinator
Lacy Waller
lacy@immunizeTX.com
Lacy Waller is the Immunize Texas Coordinator for The Immunization Partnership, where she organizes community outreach to grassroots advocates. Lacy is an experienced community organizer and advocate with a demonstrated history of working in the civic and social organization industry. She is skilled in community outreach, political consulting and campaigns, non-profit organizations, health advocacy, event planning, and research and data analysis.
Waller earned her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities from Amarillo College and continued her studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
Executive Committee
Melanie E. Mouzoon, M.D.
Board Chair
Managing Physician for Immunization Practices, Kelsey-Seybold Clinics
Erich M. Sturgis, M.D., M.P.H.
Incoming Chair
Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Allison Connally
Secretary
Community Volunteer
Brooke McNeil, CPA
Finance Chair
Tax Senior Manager, Deloitte
James E. Zucker, J.D., M.A.
Legal Chair
YetterColeman, LLP
Directors
Beth Colle, M.S., CPA
Partner
Ernst & Young, LLP
Julie Davidson, M.B.A
Senior Manager
Compensation Department, Cheniere Energy
John T. Dugan III, M.D.
Physician
Medical Clinic of Houston, LLP
Elizabeth Roath Garcia, M.A.
Manager, Studio and Gallery Programs
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Kimi Gordy, J.D., M.A.
Associate
BakerHostetler, LLP
Catherine Mary Healy, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatrics-Infectious Disease, Baylor College of Medicine
Nick Janik, M.B.A
Director of Business Development
Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital
Brandi Johnson
Regional Vice President
Medicaid Plan Marketing, Amerigroup
David R. Lairson, Ph.D.
Professor of Management and Policy Sciences
University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, School of Public Health
Ken Letkeman
Senior Vice President
Chief Information Officer, Houston Methodist
Nidhi Malpani, M.P.H.
AVP Strategy Planning
HCA Healthcare
Lindy McGee, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital
Autumn Pruette, M.D.
Pediatrician
Texas Children's Pediatrics Baytown
Kenneth Russo, M.B.A., CHEP
Chief Financial Officer/ Ethics & Compliance Officer
The Woman’s Hospital of Texas
Gwen Emmett
Director Emerita
Julie A. Boom, M.D.
Texas Children's Hospital - Houston
Maria Elena Bottazzi, M.D.
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development
William Decker, Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine
Hunter Hammill, M.D.
Women's Hospital of Texas
Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Sabin Vaccine Institute
Albert Karam, M.D.
Pediatrician
Lindy McGee, M.D.
Pediatrics Around the Bend - Houston
Melanie Mouzoon, M.D.
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic - Houston
Stanley Spinner, M.D.
Texas Children’s Pediatrics
Susan Wootton, M.D.
UT Health Science Center, Memorial Hermann