Volunteer Health Clinic

Leadership

Board of Directors

The Volunteer Healthcare Clinic Board of Directors guides our organization, governs financial decisions, and ensures that our programs are aligned with our Mission. They are valued advisors and active ambassadors for the Clinic. The Board of Directors volunteer their time, talents and expertise and we are very thankful for their support.

Staff

Marci Roe, Executive Director

Ms. Roe has a bachelor's degree in business from the University of North Texas and over 20 years experience in business and non-profit management. After 13 years in the corporate world, she left her job as a Senior Project Manager and Vice President at First USA Bank to join the Peace Corps, where she did business development work for a women's development center in Nepal. Upon her return, she made a career change to the non-profit sector and has been working in various roles at the Clinic until her appointment as Executive Director in February, 2010. She has been with the Clinic since April, 2006.

".. everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it." - Musings from Andy Rooney

Kelly Smith, Program Director

Kelly is responsible for the Clinic's volunteer program as well as many fundraising efforts. She has a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and has been in nonprofit management for 10 years. Before joining the Clinic, she worked in development for the Austin Children's Shelter as the Corporate Giving Manager. Prior to moving to Austin, Kelly was the Program Manager for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. She and her husband, Patrick, stay active by running marathons, golfing and traveling as much as possible. She has been with the Clinic since February, 2010.

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." - Emily Dickinson

Aaron DeLaO, Director of Social Services

Aaron is a graduate of the University of Texas. Prior to his work at the Clinic, he worked in several non-profit capacities including work with adult literacy and elementary school tutoring programs. He is bilingual in Spanish, enjoys volunteering within the community and is very knowledgeable about local resources within Travis County. Aaron also serves as board Vice President for the Lone Star Association of Charitable Clinics (LSACC), continually advocating for the importance of Texas' charitable clinics. He has been with the Clinic since June 2008 and has lived in Austin for over five years. He and his girlfriend, Joelle, enjoy spending time with their rescued dog, Travis.

"Power is only important as an instrument for service to the powerless" - Lech Walesa

Francisca Alvarado, R.N., B.S.N., OCN, Charge Nurse, Chronic Disease Management Clinic

Francisca holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. She holds the credentials of Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) where she has dedicated her practice for 19 years. Francisca first began as a volunteer with the Clinic in the late 90's and transitioned to a staff member for the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program in 2000. As a charge nurse she coordinates the visits and services of the patients in the Monday night CDM Program. The Monday Night clinic was developed in 1999 to increase the care of patients with diabetic, endocrinology, or hypertension issues. In her free time, she enjoys taking her two year old Yorkie "Plumitas" to the park and spending time with her friends and family.

"We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own" Author Cesar Chavez

Kathy Kraft, R.N., F.N.P.-C, Charge Nurse, Walk-In Clinic

Kathy is a Family Nurse Practitioner with a Master's Degree in Nursing. Her nursing career spans over 26 years and includes work in critical care, post-anesthesia care and critical care transport in Texas, California and Mexico. She is also a certified lymphedema therapist, a massage therapist and certified legal nurse consultant. She has been with the Clinic since 1996, starting as a volunteer nurse and later becoming charge nurse. In her free time she enjoys kayaking, traveling, reading and napping.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Melissa DeHaan, R.N., Charge Nurse, Walk-In Clinic

Melissa has a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin as well as an engineering degree from Cornell University. She joined the VHC staff in June, 2011 with 6 years nursing experience. Melissa currently works as a Charge Nurse at the Northeast Community Care Clinic in Austin. She spends her free time playing Chopin and Beethoven on her piano, reading books, attending yoga classes, cooking, hanging out with her five-year-old son, Gustavo, and volunteering with the Lilith Fund.

"God gave us humans everything we need to flourish, but he's not the one who's supposed to divvy up the loot. That charge was upon us." James Farmer

Nancy Guillet, R.N., M.S.N., Medical Case Manager Nurse

Nancy was a practicing physician in general medicine and surgery in her home country of Nicaragua and brings a wealth of medical knowledge with her. Upon moving to the U.S. six years ago, she completed her nursing degree and went on to earn an Advanced Public Health Nursing degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently works as an instructor in clinical nursing at the UT's School of Nursing. Nancy volunteered as an interpreter and as a nurse at the Clinic while she completed her schooling. She recently joined the VHC staff in June, 2011. Nancy works with many community organizations for health promotion programs among Latinos in Austin. She enjoys listening classical music.

"A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." - Roald Dahl

Dolores Flores, Monday Night Pharmacy Tech

Dolores has been working as a pharmacy tech for 20 years and works during the day at Medical Park Tower pharmacy. She has been with the Clinic since 2000 as our Monday night pharmacy tech. She enjoys bike riding, movies, shopping and spending time with her family..

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Olivia Colunga, Tuesday Night Pharmacy Tech

Olivia has been a pharmacy technician since 1997 and received her training on the job at what was then known as Eckerd drugs. She always knew she wanted to be in the medical field and thought about pursuing nursing, but it was being pharmacy tech that won out! Olivia has been with VHC since 2000. She is a native Texan who was born in Brownsville and moved to Austin when she was eight. For fun, she enjoys listening to music and dancing.

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." - Marilyn Monroe

MJ Garza, Thursday Night Pharmacy Tech

MJ has been with VHC since 2001 as a pharmacy tech on Thursday evenings. MJ has an artistic side and enjoys making jewelry. She is also an amateur photographer, and her favorite subject is Austin's building graffiti and art.

"at our best we are all teachers" - Maya Angelou

Mary Steele Nordstrom, Office Manager

Mary, who grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana, has been in Austin since 2003. She earned a degree in Spanish from Indiana University, and she also did some graduate work at UT. Prior to joining the VHC staff as Office Manager in March 2011, Mary worked as an interpreter volunteer during our evening clinics. She does private Spanish tutoring for teen and adult students and enjoys yoga, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Michael, and their two dogs, Sugar & Leche.

"I think we can't go around measuring our goodness by what we don't do - by what we deny ourselves, what we resist and who we exclude. I think we've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create and who we include." - Pere Henri from "Chocolat"