Community Advisory Board

Rev. Scott Hackler

During his ten years as a global product manager, Scott was responsible first for a $28M portfolio of General Electric external defibrillators and later for a $210M line of Medtronic neurosurgical power tools. After leaving the medical-device industry, he founded food manufacturer Halo del Santo in 2014. The company’s cocktail garnish and Mexican-style lollipops (paletas con chile) are sold or served today by specialty grocers, candy shops, bars, and restaurants in four states. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University (B.A., French and B.S., Economics) and Carnegie Mellon University (MBA). Scott is a pastor in the United Methodist Church who is currently enrolled in the MDiv program at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. He and his wife Diana are a part of Bread Fellowship in Fort Worth’s Fairmount neighborhood, where he is co-pastor.

Tal Holmes, PhD

Dr. Holmes is Associate Director, Disease Control and Prevention at Tarrant County Public Health.  His previous position was with the Illinois Department of Public Health where he served as Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, which included HIV/AIDS, STD, Immunization and Communicable Disease Sections. Dr. Holmes has also served as faculty at two major Health Science Centers, teaching and applying epidemiologic methods in public health research.  He has also managed several occupational epidemiology programs in industry, conducting studies of the impact of chemical exposures among worker populations.

In addition, Dr. Holmes has worked for a large research and development company conducting research for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Finally, Dr. Holmes served as State Epidemiologist in Arkansas.  Dr. Holmes was awarded his PhD and MPH from the University of Texas College of Public Health.  He is the author or co-author of numerous scientific publications and has received several research grants in his career.

Eddilisa Martin, PharmD

Dr. Eddilisa Martin is the Co-founder and CEO of M&B Sciences, Inc. She has over 25 years of experience in the life sciences and health care industry. Prior to joining M&B, Dr. Martin spent 17 years with Abbott Labs and AbbVie Pharmaceutical as a national clinical executive, medical liaison, and senior manager of clinical services. Dr. Martin has also previously served as a clinical pharmacy manager and utilization specialist for one of the largest health insurers in the country, and as a clinical pharmacy specialist in cardiology medicine for one of the largest hospital systems in the country.

Dr. Martin has therapeutic expertise across a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, oncology, immunology, and anti-infective pharmacology. In addition to being a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Martin is also the first African-American to receive a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. She was awarded the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy’s Sandoz Pharmaceutical Corporation Award for superior academic achievement in her doctor of pharmacy program. Dr. Martin received her Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy. She is licensed to practice pharmacy in the states of Texas and Arkansas.

Gilbert Marez, PhD

A dynamic speaker and a person committed to social justice, Dr. Marez is co-founder and pastor of Camino de Paz Christian Church in Fort Worth Texas. He is currently Director of Public Relations for Cuidado Casero Home Health and Hospice. He developed the Camino de Paz Institute as a non-profit organization in response to the needs in the community in such areas as English as a Second Language(ESL), General Education Development(GED), Computer Training, Employment Preparation Training, Home Ownership, and Marriage and Family Counseling. Presently he is establishing a school of music and youth leadership program. He served as a visiting instructor for Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Instituto Ministerial Hispano Bible Institute and is presently developing a culturally proficient Hospice program.

Dr. Marez served as board member on several United Way committees such as Public Policy, Families Way and Charitable Choice. He also served on other organizations such as Hispanic Health Professionals Association, Ladder Alliance, and National Conference on Community and Justice. Presently he serves on the board of Dancing Classrooms of North Texas, North Texas Primary Care Research, John Peter Smith Joint Council, Tarrant Area Gerontological Society, Harris Professional Advisory Group, Tarrant Area Gerontological Society and Blue Zones. He is actively engaged in the areas of politics, civil rights, gender inequality, healthcare advocacy and reform and access to prescription medication.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Gilbert received the Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling and Master of Divinity degree from Texas Christian University.  While completing the Masters of Divinity program he was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Arizona.  Dr. Marez also served as Pastor Developer of Agape Christian Fellowship in Tucson, Arizona.

Cynthia McClenny

Cynthia McClenny has over 31 years of service in clinical and community healthcare. Her experience has included direct healthcare delivery as a medical assistant, oversight of clinical and health operations as an office manager, research oversight in clinical phase 3 pharmaceutical research, and community intervention through various health outreach opportunities including Carnival de Salud, FWISD, The Nurse Partnership program, and currently the North Texas Wellness Coalition. She in her full-time work serves her beloved Fort Worth Community as a Family Health Coach with Cornerstone Assistance Network.

Cynthia has a deep-rooted passion for the under served, immigrant, and impoverished communities. Navigating her childhood and adolescent years as a child of immigrant parents, Cynthia has learned to connect families to their healthcare needs. Her cherished accomplishments include receiving a certification in Mental Health First Aid and working to complete training through the Poverty Institute. Cynthia McClenny is an advocate and empowering resource for individuals, families, and our community. 

Tasleyma Sattar, DO

Dr. Sattar is a 2005 Graduate of Nova Southeastern University COM and currently serve as Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Physician Assistant Studies. I run my own Family Practice clinic, Oakmont Wellness Center, where I focus on getting to the root causes of diseases in the Functional Medicine model of care.

I have extensive experience in treating coronary artery disease with advanced lipidology, as well as prediabetes and diabetes, hypertension and resistant autoimmune diseases. I am a 2010 STAR (Steps Towards Academic Research) Fellow through the Texas Center for Health Disparities at UNTHSC. My research interests lie in the field of health disparities as well as autoimmune disease and microbiome disorders.

Brad Walsh, MPH

Brad Walsh, MPH, has a BS in psychology from Millsaps College, and received a Masters of Public Health from the UT College of Public Health in 1993.  He worked 6½ years as Regional Epidemiologist for the Texas Department of State Health Services, doing communicable disease tracking and outbreak response.  Brad has worked 16 years for Parkland Health & Hospital System, including co-authoring the annual Dallas County Needs Assessment publications.

Mr. Walsh is a generalist, whose projects have included infectious disease, bioterrorism preparedness, toxicology, chronic disease primary and secondary prevention, youth physical activity and nutrition, gender minorities, and domestic violence.  Brad has worked with local governments, hospitals and healthcare providers, non-profit agencies and academia.  He has three peer-reviewed publications.