Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Jose Almeda, M.D., Lauren Ramsey, and Leila Williams, D.O. to the Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force. These appointments are made with terms ending at the discretion of the Governor. Additionally, Abbott appointed Tiffany Jones-Smith as the chair of the task force. The purpose of the Task Force is to manage the implementation of Texas’ plan for the prevention, early screening, diagnosis, and management of chronic kidney disease while educating healthcare professionals.

Jose Almeda, M.D. from McAllen, currently serves as a transplant surgery director at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance. He is affiliated with the Texas Surgical Society, the American Society of Transplant Surgery, and the Austin Surgical Society. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Mary’s University and medical degrees from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Lauren Ramsey, from Argyle, is employed as a nurse practitioner at DFW Kidney Care Clinic. Ramsey has a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Texas Woman’s University and a Master of Science from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Leila Williams, D.O. is based in Austin and is the deputy chief medical director at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. She is part of the Texas Medical Board and the American Academy of Family Medicine Physicians. Williams is a military veteran, having served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. Her educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences.

Tiffany Jones-Smith from San Antonio leads the Texas Kidney Foundation as president and CEO. She has contributed to a Delphi Consensus and Systematic Review on the diagnosis, education, and care of patients with APOL1-associated nephropathy. Jones-Smith is active in multiple coalitions related to healthcare and is a member of several organizations including the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Her academic achievements comprise a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Foreign Service from Baylor University, a certificate in linguistic fluency from L’Universita per Stranieri, and various leadership credentials from prestigious institutions. Jones-Smith is also pursuing the Global Healthcare Leaders Program at Harvard Medical School.