Governor Abbott Names Chair And Appoints Four To Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Elie Balesh, M.D. and Samantha Kersey and reappointed Suzanne Hildebrand and E’Loria Simon-Campbell, Ph.D. to the Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke for terms set to expire on February 1, 2025. Additionally, the Governor named Hildebrand chair of the council. The council is charged with developing an effective and resource‐efficient plan to reduce the morbidity, mortality and economic burden of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the State of Texas.
Elie Balesh, M.D. of Houston is a radiologist and attending physician at Houston Radiology Associated – Houston Methodist Hospital, and is a double board-certified, dual fellowship-trained cardiovascular and interventional radiologist in private practice. He is a member of the Society of Interventional Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology, Texas Radiological Society, and the American and Texas Medical Associations. Balesh received a bachelor’s degree in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University and a Doctor of Medicine from Yale University. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine, residency in Diagnostic Radiology, and a fellowship in Cardiovascular Imaging at the Massachusetts General Hospital—Harvard Medical School. Additionally, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Biodesign and Digital Health Innovation at the Texas Medical Center and a fellowship in Interventional Radiology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Samantha Kersey of Dickinson is a senior account specialist at Isto Biologics. She previously served as a phlebotomy and apheresis technician for Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Kersey received a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Suzanne Hildebrand of Live Oak is a retired legal administrator. She has previously served on the Live Oak City Council and as a member of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Additionally, she is the founder and past president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Texas. Hildebrand received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas Tech University.
E’Loria Simon-Campbell, Ph.D. of Houston is an assistant professor at Sam Houston State University – School of Nursing. She currently serves as chair of the School of Nursing Testing Committee and Leadership Succession for the Nursing Honor Society at Sam Houston State University. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association – Region 9, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and Sigma Theta Tau International. She is also a Fellow of the Association of College and University Educators. Simon-Campbell completed the pre-nursing program at Sam Houston State University, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Prairie View A&M University, and a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from The University of Texas at Tyler.