UTMB Lifestyle Coaches

Hanaa
Hanaa Sallam, MD, PhD, CDCES
Dr. Sallam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health and Health Disparities at School of Public and Population Health. She is the Director of the diabetes prevention program (DPP) at UTMB. Dr. Sallam received her MD/PhD from the Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. She has over 20 years of research and education experience in the fields of gastrointestinal motility, diabetes and obesity. As a lifestyle coach, Dr. Sallam delivers the CDC-accredited DPP to people with prediabetes. She succeeded to have UTMB’s DPP receive full recognition from CDC, making UTMB the first academic institution in the greater Houston area to receive such honor. As a Master Trainer SelectTM, she trains lifestyle coaches. As a certified diabetes care and education specialist, she developed the Intensive Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (iDSMES) program providing prolonged coaching for people with diabetes. Dr. Sallam’s is passionate about helping more people with prediabetes or diabetes achieve their lifestyle goals.
Gary Bradshaw, MHA

Gary Bradshaw is a Program Manager for the Department of Population Health and Health Disparities at School of Public and Population Health.  He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX., before coming back to Houston and starting his career in healthcare.  During the past twenty years he has earned his master’s degree in healthcare administration from Texas Woman’s University, while working in breast cancer research, developing hormonal and chemotherapy strategies for multiple cancers, and learning how to help hospitals in their mission to provide better care for patients.  Gary is certified to facilitate the Health Coaches for Hypertension program, Geri-Fit, Walk with Ease, Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs (CDSMP), Diabetes Self-Management Programs (DSMP), Toolkit for Active Living with Chronic Conditions, and the Diabetes Prevention Program.  His hope is to continue helping the department by cultivating a culture of learning and supporting the instructors so we can reach across all of southeast Texas and beyond. 
Ferguson
Monique Ferguson, PhD
Dr. Monique Ferguson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, a medical educator in the School of Medicine, and a certified lifestyle coach in the Diabetes Prevention Program at UTMB. Additionally, Dr. Ferguson is a wellness advocate and is active in educating the community on prevention and treatment of chronic diseases through spiritual and physical fitness. As a lifestyle coach, her goal is to facilitate sustainable changes to nutrition, physical activity, and mindfulness practices that lead to improved healthcare outcomes and well-being. “In truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good (healthy) habits are the key to all success….” Og Mandino, author of the Greatest Salesmen in the World.
Alice Williams, MS, LBSW

Alice Williams is the Manager for Communications and Community Initiatives in the Sealy Center on Aging.  She is a licensed Social Worker with over 30 years of experience serving older adults in the community and in long-term care settings.  She provides education programs for older adults and family caregivers throughout Galveston County at senior centers, churches and community health events.  Alice is certified to facilitate the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), Diabetes Self- Management Program (DSMP), Toolkit for Active Living with Chronic Conditions and GeriFit.   Her goal is to guide people in becoming better managers of their own health so they can tackle life’s challenges with confidence and wisdom.         
Allyson Mark , MPH

Allyson Mark is a Research Coordinator for the Patient Education Programs Programs. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from the University of Texas at Austin before pursuing her Masters in Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She is certified to facilitate the Health Coaches for Hypertension program, Geri-Fit, Walk with Ease, Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs (CDSMP), Diabetes Self-Management Programs (DSMP), Toolkit for Active Living with Chronic Conditions, and the Diabetes Prevention Program. She is a Master Trainer, certified by the Self-Management Resource Center, for the Chronic Disease Self-Management and Diabetes Self-Management Programs. Allyson coaches several of these evidence-based health education courses with older adults and is the lead instructor for the Bright Bodies program for children with obesity. As an instructor, Allyson hopes to help individuals learn self-management techniques to better control their health and make lifestyle changes.