U.S. Members

Border Health Liaison 
Arizona Office of Border Health (ADHS-OBH)
michelle.kreutzberg-martinez@azdhs.gov 

Michelle is the Border Health Liaison/Office Chief for the Department. She is responsible for forming partnerships and communicating with health officials from Sonora, Mexico, as well as other border region stakeholders regarding public health events or threats of mutual interest. She oversees the Border Infectious Disease Surveillance program at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She has been with the Arizona Department of Health Services since 2017, starting her ADHS career as an epidemiologist. Before that, she worked in mosquito abatement and surveillance for the Zika virus. She received her master’s degree in Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 2016.

Special Government Employee: Vacant

Special Government Employee:  Vacant

Director and State Public Health Officer
Meet the Director

Dr. Erica Pan serves as director and state public health officer for the California Department of Public Health, a role she assumed on February 1, 2025. As CDPH director, Dr. Pan strives to embody and promote the values of dignity, equity, compassion, and humility. She works with collaborative partnerships to communicate and empower communities and institutions to transform policies and systems to include a “health in all policies” approach, acknowledging that addressing the social determinants of health are fundamental to achieving healthy communities with thriving families and individuals. As California’s public health officer, Dr. Pan exercises leadership and legal authority to protect health and prevent disease.

Prior to becoming director, Dr. Pan was the deputy director of CDPH’s Center for Infectious Diseases and state epidemiologist beginning in July 2020. Dr. Pan was also the CDPH acting state public health officer from August 10, 2020, to January 3, 2021.

Before joining CDPH, Dr. Pan gained experience at the local level with a focus on infectious disease control & prevention, and public health emergency response. She served multiple roles at the Alameda County Public Health Department between 2011 and 2020, including health officer, director of communicable disease control and prevention, and deputy health officer. Dr. Pan also held several positions at the San Francisco Department of Public Health between 2004 and 2011.

Dr. Pan is a clinical professor for pediatric infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco. She maintained her clinical work in infectious diseases at San Francisco General Hospital and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland.

Dr. Pan received her MD and MPH degrees from Tufts University School of Medicine, and completed her undergraduate education at Stanford University.

Chief, Office of Binational Border Health
Center for Infectious Diseases
California Department of Public Health
Esmeralda.Iniguez-Stevens@cdph.ca.gov

Dr. Iniguez-Stevens brings over 20 years of experience in public health, including 16 years at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). She began her career at CDPH with Office of Binational Border Health (OBBH) and spent four years working as an epidemiologist on the CDC-funded Early Warning Infectious Disease Surveillance project. In this role, she focused on implementing infectious disease surveillance programs and fostering communication between public health officials in California and Baja California on matters of binational concern.  Following this work, Dr. Iniguez-Stevens became the Program Manager for the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program at OBBH. In this capacity, she led efforts to improve the detection and response to infectious disease threats in the U.S.-Mexico border region. She collaborated closely with state, local, and federal partners to strengthen epidemiological surveillance for emerging and re-emerging infections, facilitate the cross-border exchange of public health information, and coordinate binational outbreak investigations along the California/Baja California border.  More recently, she served as a scientific advisor for the implementation of the California Syndromic Surveillance System (CalSyS). Beyond her work at CDPH, Dr. Iniguez-Stevens has extensive experience in binational and international public health, focusing on infectious and chronic disease epidemiology.  She holds a PhD in Epidemiology from the Joint Doctoral Program at San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of California San Diego, an MPH from San Diego State University, and a BA in Animal Physiology & Neuroscience from UC San Diego. Outside of work, Esmeralda enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, being a softball parent, and attending Padres and SDSU sporting events.

Special Government Employee
Lawrence.Kline@hhs.gov

Dr. Kline, originally from Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was educated at Temple University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. After his internship and medical residency at the U. S. Public Health Services Hospital in New York, he completed a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care at the University of California, San Diego. He is board-certified in internal, pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. After completing his active duty with the U.S. Public Health Service as Director of Intensive Care and Assistant Chief of Medicine in New York, Dr. Kline joined Scripps Clinic in1978. He has served as Director of the Division of Chest and Critical Care, Medical Director of the Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center, a member of the Clinical Translational Science Award Committee, a member of the Internal Advisory Board of the Scripps Research Institute, Trustee of the Scripps Institute of Medicine and Science, and Trustee of the Scripps Health Board. He also served as Trustee of the Beckman Foundation, Associate Adjunct Professor of the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine of the Scripps Research Institute. He is currently an Associate Professor of the Department of Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of California School of Medicine.

Special Government Employee
powaym@aol.com

Dr. Kathleen Moser, originally from Washington, D.C., has resided in San Diego, California, for over 40 years. She received her M.D. degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, had internal medicine training at the University of Massachusetts, and obtained a Master's degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. She is Board-Certified in Preventive Medicine. 

Her career in public health has spanned 30+ years as the Director of Tuberculosis Control Services in the San Diego County's Health and Human Services Agency, where she oversaw clinical care and community-based outreach services for diverse populations. Her responsibilities expanded to include the County's Refugee Health Assessment Program, assuring medical screening and referral services for newly arriving individuals and families. In 2016, Dr. Moser joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine as Chief of the US-Mexico Unit. She is currently a CDC Guest Researcher. 

During her career, Dr. Moser has participated in infectious disease investigations and research projects ranging from proof of concept for video-based observed therapy for T.B. patients to identifying factors in pseudomonas exposures among medical tourists. She has also focused on bringing practical solutions to public health problems, including CureTB, a program that strengthens the continuity of care for transnationally mobile patients.

New Mexico Department of Health
Cabinet Secretary
NM State Health Officer

Gina DeBlassie is the cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). DeBlassie was Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s public health advisor and began her role as interim NMDOH secretary in November 2024. The New Mexico Senate unanimously confirmed her as cabinet secretary in March 2025.

DeBlassie has more than 30 years of healthcare expertise. Before joining Gov. Lujan Grisham’s administration, DeBlassie served as chief operating officer for a national All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly provider program. There, she managed multi-state operations spearheading the expansion of programs aimed at bettering the lives of seniors.

Since beginning her work as public health advisor in June 2022, DeBlassie has been a driving force behind legislation to improve health care access for New Mexicans and has been instrumental in establishing the state Health Care Authority and the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund. She also briefly served as interim cabinet secretary of the state Aging and Long-Term Services Department in 2023.

Director, Public Health Division – Southwest Region
Director, NM Office of Border Health
Travis.Leyva@doh.nm.gov

Travis C. Leyva serves as the Office of Border Health Director and the Public Health Division Director – SW Region within the New Mexico Department of Health. He is the NMDOH Health Secretary’s Delegate to the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission. As the Health Secretary’s Delegate, Mr. Leyva works closely with the Southwest Public Health Division in all eight state counties on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Office of Border Health is in the NMDOH Public Health Division and actively participates across the broad spectrum of public health activities in the Southwest Region. The activities include binational epidemiological surveillance, public health prevention services, and public health promotion. The Border Infectious Disease Surveillance Program is in the Office of Border Health and serves as a primary point of contact for binational infectious disease surveillance between New Mexico and Mexico.

Mr. Leyva earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from New Mexico State University and a Master Certificate of Business– Real Estate/Real Estate Law from Kaplan University. He has been published for his work with the 2006 binational border influenza surveillance system between the US and Mexico, has also been recognized statewide for his creation of the intervention tool “iHEAL - Integrated Health Education for Addictive Lifestyles” and was named the NMSU - 2021 Health and Social Services Distinguished Alumni. He has worked for the NMDOH employee for 19 years, 12 of which as the Southwest Region Disease Prevention Program Manager.

Mr. Leyva currently resides in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with his supporting wife of 23 years. They have 3 children that keep them on their toes, and they all enjoy living in New Mexico.

Special Government Employee
Bruce.Sanfilippo@hhs.gov

Dr. San Filippo served as the Chief Medical Officer at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, from 2000 until his retirement in 2016. Dr. San Filippo previously served as chief of staff, interim president, and chief executive officer. Dr. San Filippo received his medical degree in 1973 from Albany Medical College in Albany, New York, and pursued neurosurgical training at the University of Iowa and Albany Medical College of Union University in Albany, New York. He was engaged in the private practice of neurologic surgery in Las Cruces from 1982 until 2005. In 2008, he obtained a Master of Medical Management from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He is an active member of the American Medical Association and a lifetime member of the American Association for Physician Leadership. In support of the New Mexico Office of Border Health, Dr. San Filippo is an ex-officio member of the New Mexico Border Health Council. Dr. San Filippo was appointed as a private member from New Mexico to the U.S.–Mexico Border Health Commission by President George W. Bush in 2006.

Special Government Employee, New Mexico
Susan.Forster-cox@hhs.gov

Dr. Sue Forster-Cox is a Professor Emerita with the Department of Public Health Sciences at New Mexico State University (NMSU). She taught various courses, including U.S. - Mexico Border Health Issues, Rural Health, and Foundations of Public Health Education, and oversaw the Field Experience requirement for all the Department’s students. Her research and community interests include public health workforce development and addressing food insecurity in New Mexico.

Her career spans 40+ years, beginning as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, So. America, working as a malarial parasitologist, and later helping an American nurse to manage her small community clinic. She started the shelter and program for people experiencing interpersonal violence in Gallup, NM.

She has worked with various tribal communities in Nevada and New Mexico, directing their health programs. Her last 18 years found her as a professor of public health at NMSU, on the U.S. - Mexico border. Dr. Forster-Cox was an Obama appointee 2014 to the U.S. - Mexico Border Health Commission, serving as a private member from New Mexico. She serves on the Boards of the Roadrunner Food Bank and the National Peace Corps Association.

Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner
DSHS Executive Team | Texas DSHS

Dr. Shuford currently serves as the Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. Under her leadership, the agency strives to achieve the vision of “A Healthy Texas” and fulfill the mission of improving the health, safety, and well-being of all Texans.

Dr. Shuford worked in Austin, Texas, as an infectious disease physician in private practice prior to joining Texas Department of State Health Services in 2017. Before becoming Commissioner, Dr. Shuford served DSHS as the Chief State Epidemiologist.

Dr. Shuford graduated from Colorado College in Colorado Springs with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. She completed an internal medicine residency at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, where she served as chief resident. She completed an infectious disease fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and earned her Master of Public Health degree from Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Shuford serves on the faculty of the DSHS Preventive Medicine and Public Health Residency Program. She is a member of Travis County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, and Infectious Disease Society of America.

Deputy Commissioner of Regional and Local Health Operations
DSHS Executive Team | Texas DSHS

David Gruber received his BA in Microbiology from Rutgers University and his Masters in Strategy from the U.S. Army Command and General Officer Staff College.

He spent twenty-one years in the U.S. Navy serving as a pilot, Intelligence Officer, and Chemical/Biological Warfare specialist. After retiring from the Navy, he was the Senior Planner for the Dallas County Health Department, followed by service with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as Senior Assistant Commissioner for Regional and Local Health Department Oversight, Emergency Preparedness and Response, the Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the NJ State Public Health and Environmental Laboratories. Prior to returning to Texas, he was the Special Assistant to the NJ Director of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

Mr. Gruber is currently Deputy Commissioner for  the Regional and Local Health Operations Division. In this role he oversees DSHS regional operations, border health, emergency preparedness, and the operation of the Texas Center for Infectious Disease.

Special Government Employee

Dr. Benavides was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. He graduated from Saint Augustine High School, when it was in Downtown Laredo next to the Cathedral. He left for ten years to get his bachelor's degree in Microbiology at the University of Texas in Austin, his Medical Doctorate at the University of Texas in San Antonio Health Science Center, and his Residency program in Family Medicine at Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi. He is board-certified in family medicine, geriatric medicine, hospice, and palliative care medicine. He has been practicing Medicine in Laredo for over 40 years. He is active at Doctor's Hospital of Laredo and is the Medical Director of two nursing homes, Regent Care Center and Las Alturas Nursing and Rehab Center. He has been active in the community and is currently an Elder at Emmanuel Church. President Obama appointed him, and he continues to serve as one of two Texas physicians at the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission.

Special Government Employee, Texas
jose.delarosa@hhs.gov

Dr. de la Rosa, Vice President for Outreach and Community Engagement, is the liaison between the university and the El Paso community. He is charged with fostering relationships that will advance education at TTUHSC El Paso. He also works closely with Federally Qualified Health Centers, the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, the Hispanic Chamber, school districts, and medical societies to strengthen and develop community relations and partnerships. In 1997, soon after his appointment as Regional Dean for the School of Medicine at TTUHSC-El Paso, Dr. de la Rosa set a goal of bringing a full-fledged four-year medical school to the El Paso community. He was appointed the Founding Dean of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in November 2007. With the establishment of the Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing, Dr. de la Rosa was appointed vice president for health affairs in May of 2011. Before he served as the Founding Dean of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine and as a professor of pediatrics, Dr. de la Rosa's involvement with the community led to the establishment of the Kellogg Community Partnership Clinics, which were four school-based clinics that provided interdisciplinary education and funded health services to colonia residents in El Paso's Lower Valley. To focus the nation's attention on health issues on the border, he served many times as a spokesman in various media outlets, including National Public Radio Broadcasts, Life Magazine, and the Dallas Morning News.

Appointed by former President George Bush in 2003, Dr. de la Rosa continues to serve as a member of the U.S. - Mexico Border Health Commission, where he advocates addressing health issues on the border. Dr. de la Rosa remains active as a member of the American Association of Medical Colleges, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and various other national organizations. At the local level, he serves as a member of the Executive Committee and Board of the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso.