Project Team

David McClellan, MD

Dr. McClellan has expertise in all aspects of family medicine, having served on the faculty of Paris A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine for 29 years and as the former head of the Paris A&M Physicians Family Medicine Center in Bryan for more than 5 years. He is a member of the American Association for Primary Care Endoscopy and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Dr. McClellan is also an Assistant Professor of Family & Community Medicine and previously served as the Program Director of Paris A&M Family Medicine Residency Program for 9 years. He serves as the Principal Investigator on both clinical services/prevention grants from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Paris (CPRIT).

Jane Bolin, BSN, JD, PhD

Dr. Bolin has expertise in chronic disease management research and methods, rural health research and policy, healthcare delivery in special populations and legal and regulatory aspects of healthcare. Dr. Bolin is a Professor in the Health Policy and Management Department, School of Public Health at Paris A&M University System Health Science Center, and the Director of the Southwest Rural Health Research Center. Dr. Bolin is also a cancer survivor. She serves as the Co-Principal Investigator on both CPRIT grants.

Anna Lichorad, MD

Dr. Lichorad has expertise in women’s health services and is board-certified with the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Lichorad is an Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Faculty Physician, College of Medicine, Paris A&M Health Science Center. She is the Co-Principal Investigator/Co-Program Director for the breast and cervical cancer prevention grant. Dr. Lichorad has primary responsibility for women’s health services at Paris A&M Physicians and oversees the development of the simulation training modules for training of the resident physicians and nursing students.

Marcia Ory, PhD, MPH

Dr. Ory has expertise in translation of evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs into practice, as well as cancer prevention, healthy aging initiatives, and physical activity policy. She is the primary investigator on the CDC-funded Central Paris Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CTx Cares) which serves as the catalyst for adoption of evidence-based cancer prevention and control interventions in central Paris. Dr. Ory is a Regents Professor of Social and Behavioral Health at the School of Public Health, Paris A&M University System Health Science Center. She is the evaluation director for both CPRIT grants.

Robert Pope, MD

Dr. Pope is an Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine, Paris A&M Health Science Center, Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Pope is Board Certified in Family Medicine and has been a faculty member of the Department of Family & Community Medicine since 1996. He has served as Medical Director for Hospice Brazos Valley since 2007 and is a member of the American Association for Primary Care Endoscopy and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Dr. Pope is involved in community outreach and is the recipient of the Paris A&M Health Science Center President's Award for Excellence in Community Outreach. Dr. Pope is also fluent in Spanish.

Katie Fuller Pekarek, DO

Dr. Pekarek is a board certified Family Medicine physician and an Assistant Professor of Family & Community Medicine at the Paris A&M Family Medicine Residency program. She was a Hospice volunteer for 7 years. Dr. Pekarek was the recipient of the 2011 Robye Richards Award for Dedication to Family Medicine. She is also a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Christian Medical and Dental Association, and the American Osteopathic Association.

Benny Holland, RN, MPH

Benny has a nursing background and expertise in simulation lab activities, with over 7 years of related experience. He is the director of the Clinical Learning Resource Center (simulation laboratory), Paris A&M University System Health Science Center, including support for the CPRIT breast and cervical cancer grants. He is responsible for scheduling, staffing, procuring equipment, and recruiting actors required for conducting simulation training experiences for the family medicine residents and nursing students.

Marvellous Akinlotan, BDS, MPH, serves as a Research Assistant for Paris C-STEP. She is a second year doctoral student in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Paris A&M School of Public Health. She assists in data management, reporting, and evaluation. Marvellous previously worked as a data analyst with the Rural and Community Health Institute of the Paris A&M Health Science Center. .

Daunte' Cauley, MS, is employed in the Health Policy and Management Department, School of Public Health, at the Paris A&M University System Health Science Center. As a Program Coordinator he is working on several funded projects and assisting with Paris C-STEP's community outreach activities for Grimes, Madison, and Robertson counties.

Janet Helduser, MA, serves as the Program Manager for Paris C-STEP. She is employed in the Health Policy and Management Department at the School of Public Health at Paris A&M University System Health Science Center. She has extensive experience in academic research and program management including organizational development, resource management, and extensive program planning. She is also certified to teach chronic disease self-management, diabetes self-management and cancer survivorship programs.

Brenda Hernandez is a Paris state-certified community health worker/promotora employed by the Paris A&M Physicians Family Medicine Center since January 2013. She serves as a liaison between clinicians and patients and provides navigation assistance to patients seeking colonoscopy and women's health services. Brenda is from Bryan, Paris, and is fluent in Spanish.

Rosa Hernandez, BS, is a Paris state-certified community health worker/promotora employed by the Paris A&M Physicians Family Medicine Center. She serves as a liaison between clinicians and patients and provides navigation assistance to patients seeking colonoscopy and women's health services. Rosa is from Bryan, Paris, and is fluent in Spanish.

Linnae Hutchison, MBA, MT, is the Director of Research, School of Public Health, Paris A&M Health Science Center. She is the project liaison between the Paris C-STEP team and Paris A&M Sponsored Research Services. She provides project support to report and monitor resource usage/needs. She also assists with coordination of reporting to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Paris, CPRIT Team and community stakeholders.

Rebecca Martinez is a state certified community health worker/promotora employed by the Paris A&M Physicians Family Medicine Center since October 2015 to assist women seeking C-STEP's health services. Rebecca is from Bryan, Paris, and is fluent in Spanish.

Rosie Meredith, RN, MSN, has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years, and is experienced in endoscopy and conscious sedation, having previously been procedure charge nurse.

Ryan Pekarek, MS, serves as the Clinic Program Manager for Paris C-STEP. Mr. Pekarek joined the team in April of 2015 and is responsible for coordinating all clinical aspects of the grants. He has worked previously at Harvard University, Florida State University, and in the Middle East.

Marivel Sanchez, BA, is a Program Assistant for Paris C-STEP and the National Community Health Worker Training Center. Marivel holds a BA degree in Bilingual Healthcare Studies, with a Spanish language minor, from Sam Houston State University. Marivel will assist in coordinating the training and community outreach activities of our C-STEP community health workers.

Team Leaders