New BIPAI Leadership Team is Announced

HOUSTON - (July 1, 2009) -A new leadership team has been selected to oversee the operations of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, effective July 1.

Mark Kline, M.D., who was recently named physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital and chair of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine will continue to serve as president of BIPAI. Michael Mizwa will oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization in his new role as senior vice president and chief operating officer.


In addition, Kline named senior vice presidents for program development and program administration for BIPAI, along with a vice president for finance and a chief medical officer.


Nancy Calles, PNP, ACRN, will serve as senior vice president for program development and Meg Ferris, Ph.D, as senior vice president for program administration. Joe Kanewske was appointed vice president for finance and Susan Gillespie, M.D., will serve as chief medical officer.


Other BIPAI vice presidents, who will continue in their current roles, are David Jones as vice president of the Pediatric AIDS Corps and Sebastian Wanless, M.B.Ch.B., Ph.D, as vice president of research.


"BIPAI is fortunate to have an extremely capable and experienced leadership team," said Kline. "This outstanding group of leaders, including those in each of the countries in which we work, will ensure the continued success and growth of the program."


Mizwa has served as vice president of international affairs for BIPAI since 2005, and as director of special projects for the year prior to that. He served in several positions at AIDS Foundation Houston Inc., from 1988 to 2004. From 2001 to 2004, he was chief executive officer of that organization.


He has provided over 50 local, regional, national, and international conference presentations specific to HIV-prevention and care of at-risk populations as well as organizational development and public-private partnerships. In addition, Mizwa has received numerous local, state, and national awards in HIV prevention and leadership, including the Centers for Disease Control Prevention's Price Fellowship in HIV Prevention Leadership.


Calles, assistant professor of pediatrics at BCM, is an AIDS Certified Registered Nurse with over 18 years of experience in pediatric AIDS clinical care, education, and research. She previously served as BIPAI's vice president for international program development.


Ferris, assistant professor of pediatrics at BCM, has over 15 years experience in pediatric AIDS, and served for five of those years as a clinical trials specialist for the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Ferris previously served as BIPAI's vice president for international fellowships.


Gillespie, assistant professor of pediatrics at BCM, has been serving as the country director for BIPAI's programs in Tanzania, as well as an attending physician in the program. Her interests include medical education, international adoptions and pediatric HIV/AIDS.


Kanewske has been serving as the financial analyst for BIPAI. He has seven years experience in the healthcare field related to finance, grants and contracts, and project management.

 

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.