Here’s a snapshot of the presentations made, events hosted, and honors received by the talented and dedicated staff of the Hogg Foundation during the month of May 2025.
Margarita Alvarez, facilities and travel specialist, Jessica Arons, executive assistant, Lexi Arons, grants manager, Alison Mohr Boleware, director of policy, Jason Castillo, policy specialist, Vicky Coffee, director of foundation initiatives, Ike Evans, communications manager, Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., senior association vice president and executive director, Krystal Mullins, senior operations associate, and Crystal Viagran, director of foundation administration, attended the Legacy of Care Showcase co-hosted by the Hogg Foundation and Prevention Institute, celebrating six years of progress from the Communities of Care initiative (COC). The convening featured moving storytelling, evaluation findings, and partner reflections on the impact of CoC on the Houston metropolitan area.
Alison Mohr Boleware, director of policy, participated in a webinar panel discussion for the Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Texas A&M Bush School of Government and Public Service. Entitled “Unlocking Systems Thinking: Tools for Transformation,” the discussion explored systems change principles.
Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., senior association vice president and executive director, Tammy Heinz, senior program officer and consumer & family liaison, and Rick Ybarra, senior program officer, delivered a plenary session at the National Association of Rural Mental Health’s annual conference. This year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Weaving Cultural Diversity and Strengths to Support Mental Well-Being,” brought together thought leaders and practitioners to explore rural mental health policy, clinical innovation, and transformative leadership. The foundation team shared insights from the Collaborative Approaches to Well-Being in Rural Communities (WRC) initiative and hosted an Information Gathering Reception, inviting attendees to share their perspectives and help shape the future direction of the next WRC initiative.
Dr. Martinez also attended the American Psychiatric Association annual conference and participated as a mentor to the Research Colloquium for Junior Psychiatric Investigators. This year’s conference theme, “Lifestyle for Positive Mental and Physical Health,” highlighted the critical impact of regular physical activity, nutrition, restorative sleep, avoidance of harmful substances, social connectedness, and stress amelioration practices in improving mental and physical health outcomes.
Elizabeth Stauber, archivist and records manager, spoke on a panel titled “HIPAA, Privacy, and Accessing Historical Medical Records” for the annual meeting of the American Association for the History of Medicine.
Elizabeth also spoke on Librarians, Archivists, and Museum Professionals as part of the “History of Health Sciences” webinar on the Dialogues on Mental Health Records project alongside Cash Kelly, graduate research assistant, who presented their landscape analysis, State School and Hospital Preservation: A Survey of the Field.