Meet the Team

Team Members
	Dr. James Langabeer PhD, MBA, EMT, FAHA Leadership Dr. James Langabeer PhD, MBA, EMT, FAHA Leadership James Langabeer PhD, MBA, EMT, FAHA is a tenured full professor. He holds joint appointments at the UT School of Public Health (Health Management and Policy), the School of Biomedical Informatics, and McGovern Medical School in the department of Emergency Medicine where he also holds the title of Vice Chair of Population Health. He has recently been named Fellow of the American Heart Association conferred by the Council on Quality Care and Outcomes Research (QCOR). → read more		Dr. Tiffany Champagne Langabeer PhD, MBA, RD Leadership Dr. Tiffany Champagne Langabeer PhD, MBA, RD Leadership Assistant Professor Champagne-Langabeer focuses on the health policy and informatics components of the program. Her research on use of telemedicine and health information exchanges to improve public health. → read more
	Simone Lee Joannou, M.A Administration Simone Lee Joannou, M.A Administration Simone Joannou is our Administrative Analyst, providing novel insight into making our program run as smoothly and successfully as possible. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and her Master’s in Philosophy, focusing on Ethics in Mental Health Care.		Andrea Yatsco PhD, CADC, LCDC Program Manager, Research Scientist, Counselor Andrea Yatsco PhD, CADC, LCDC Andrea is the HEROES program manager and research scientist. She is an internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a state Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. Andrea has worked in corrections, human services, and as adjunct faculty teaching on topics of psychology, substance use, criminology, and criminal justice.
	Jessica Yaeger NCPRSS, PRS/ICPR, RSPS, PM/PRC Jessica Yaeger NCPRSS, PRS/ICPR, RSPS, PM/PRC Jessica is a National and State Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist. She is a Recovery Community Leader, Child Welfare Advocate, and has won numerous awards for her work with individuals who suffer from Opioid Use Disorder.		Kimberly Chambers, MD Clinical Director, Physician Kimberly Chambers, MD Clinical Director, Physician Dr. Kimberly Chambers is a consulting physician for the HEROES program. She is an assistant professor of emergency medicine as well as a practicing physician at both Memorial Hermann Hospital and LBJ. Dr. Chambers is one of the first emergency physicians in Texas to receive approval for maintenance and detoxification treatment of opioid addiction in the ED.

Team Members

Dr. James Langabeer
PhD, MBA, EMT, FAHA
Leadership

Dr. Tiffany Champagne Langabeer
PhD, MBA, RD
Leadership

Simone Lee Joannou, M.A

Administration

Andrea Yatsco

PhD, CADC, LCDC

Program Manager, Research Scientist, Counselor

Jessica Yaeger

NCPRSS, PRS/ICPR, RSPS, PM/PRC

Kimberly Chambers, MD

Clinical Director, Physician

Team Members
	Samuel Prater, MD Physician Samuel Prater, MD Physician Dr. Samuel Prater is a consulting physician for the HEROES program. He is the Medical Director at Memorial Hermann Hospital TMC, and is an assistant professor of emergency medicine. Dr. Prater is also the interim co-chair of the department of emergency medicine at UTHealth McGovern Medical School.		Anand Gourishankar, MBBS, MRCP Physician Anand Gourishankar, MBBS, MRCP Physician Dr. Anand Gourishankar is a consulting physician for the HEROES program. He is associate professor of pediatrics at UTHealth and an attending physician at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
	Tom Fadial, MD Physician Tom Fadial, MD Physician Dr. Tom Fadial is a consulting physician for the HEROES program. Dr. Fadial is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, as well as the Educational Technology and Innovation Officer at the McGovern Medical School. → read more		Samuel D. Luber, MD, MPH Physician Samuel D. Luber, MD, MPH Physician Dr. Samuel Luber is a consulting physician for the HEROES program. Dr. Luber is also Associate Professor, Vice-Chair Of Education And Academic Affairs, and Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education at McGovern Medical School. → read more
	Meredith O’Neal Research Team Meredith O’Neal Research Team Meredith O’Neal is the HEROES Research Assistant, providing essential data collection and analysis for the program. She will be graduating with her MA in 2019.		Paul Wood, MS Training Coordinator Paul Wood, MS Training Coordinator Paul Wood is the Training Coordinator for the Integrated Opioid Response Program which disseminates the successes of the Houston-based HEROES program to nine other locations in Texas. Paul brings experience in health informatics, hospital operations, adult education, and instructional design along with his work as an offshore paramedic to the program.

Team Members

Samuel Prater, MD
Physician

Anand Gourishankar, MBBS, MRCP
Physician

Tom Fadial, MD

Physician

Samuel D. Luber, MD, MPH

Physician

Meredith O’Neal

Research Team

Paul Wood, MS

Training Coordinator

Team Members
	Christine Bakos-Block PhD, LCSW-S Christine Bakos-Block PhD, LCSW-S Christine Bakos-Block is an alumna of the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, where she focused on interprofessional research and clinical practice in healthcare. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow with the HEROES Program. Christine lives in Houston with her husband of 18 years, 5 children, 3 dogs and 2 cats. In her capacity as a postdoc, Christine is helping to advance the goals of HEROES through expanding research and pursuing additional grant funding.		Karina Molina, BS Research Assistant Karina Molina, BS Research Assistant Karina Molina is the HEROES Research Assistant who is also known as our Gatekeeper. She helps organize appointments, handles all referrals and helps connect our patients to ongoing care in their community. She has a Bachelors in Science concentrating in Health Care Navigation.
	Tom Fadial, MD Physician Tom Fadial, MD Physician Dr. Tom Fadial is a consulting physician for the HEROES program. Dr. Fadial is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, as well as the Educational Technology and Innovation Officer at the McGovern Medical School. → read more		Samuel D. Luber, MD, MPH Physician Samuel D. Luber, MD, MPH Physician Dr. Samuel Luber is a consulting physician for the HEROES program. Dr. Luber is also Associate Professor, Vice-Chair Of Education And Academic Affairs, and Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education at McGovern Medical School. → read more
	Ma de la Luz (Marylou) Cardenas-Turanzas, MD, DrPH Senior Statistician Ma de la Luz (Marylou) Cardenas-Turanzas, MD, DrPH Senior Statistician Marylou is our Senior Statistician with vast experience in health care information analysis and synthesis. Marylou’s specific research experience includes research in health services, emergency medicine, oncology, and cancer care supporting areas such as Palliative Care and Intensive Care. She is excellent at forging new partnerships with clinical researchers both nationally and internationally.		Chad Armstrong, RSS Peer Recovery Support Specialist Chad Armstrong, RSS Peer Recovery Support Specialist Chad Armstrong is a Peer Recovery Support Specialist who is passionate about helping individuals who suffer from OUD. He is a community Faith Based Leader and also strives to help individuals overcome barriers and reach long term recovery.

Team Members

Christine Bakos-Block
PhD, LCSW-S

Karina Molina, BS
Research Assistant

Tom Fadial, MD

Physician

Samuel D. Luber, MD, MPH

Physician

Ma de la Luz (Marylou) Cardenas-Turanzas, MD, DrPH

Senior Statistician

Chad Armstrong, RSS

Peer Recovery Support Specialist


	Yvonne Reed, LCDC, CCJP, MS Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Yvonne Reed, LCDC, CCJP, MS Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Yvonne is the HEROES Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. She is a Certified Criminal Justice Professional, internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a state Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. Yvonne holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience working in the criminal justice and community and social service settings. Yvonne is passionate about serving adults and adolescents struggling with substance abuse, co-occurring disorders and behavioral issues. Yvonne is skilled at establishing positive trusting rapport with patients, with a unique ability of connecting with patients. She motivates, encourages and supports patients to live healthier life styles, live independently and strive to reach their full potential.		Shruthi Manas, MS Data Management Analyst Shruthi Manas, MS Data Management Analyst Shruthi is the HEROES Data Management Analyst. She holds a Master’s degree in health informatics and has worked on various healthcare academic projects. She is instrumental in creating and managing the HEROES database. She trains the team on using the database. She is also skilled in extracting data, and creating reports and insightful dashboards for HEROES to help the team quickly gain a meaningful understanding of the data and to make better informed decisions.