Faculty & Staff

Teresa has 15+ years of experience in the delivery of Infection Prevention for various healthcare settings. CIC certified since 2009 and recognized for excellence in operations, leadership, regulatory readiness and staff development. Teresa's background is in public health with experience at the local and state levels.

Email: teyork@utmb.edu
Phone: (409) 772-0463

Irene has been with UTMB for 20+ years and joined the Infection Control & Healthcare Epidemiology team in 2024. She performs the administrative functions for the department.

Email: imgalici@utmb.edu
Phone: (409) 772-3192

Femi is a dedicated public health professional with over nine years of experience in hospital settings. He has more than one year of specialized experience in infection prevention and joined UTMB in 2025. He holds a Master of Public Health from Purdue University, with a concentration in Family & Community Health and Environmental Health. He brings a strong commitment to patient safety, health education, and community wellness, leveraging both clinical and public health expertise to improve healthcare outcomes.

Email: omakinye@utmb.edu

Phone: (409) 772-0467

Shanique is an experienced Epidemiologist with four years in the field. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences in 2018 and a Master of Public Health in 2022, complemented by a Certification in Infection Control. Currently, she serves as an Infection Preventionist specializing in high level disinfection and sterilization, applying her expertise to enhance public health outcomes.

Email: sdessuma@utmb.edu

Phone: (409) 266-1927

Haley joined the Infection Control and Healthcare Epidemiology team in 2024 and is supporting the John Sealy Hospital within the Galveston Campus. In addition to having 5 years of Infection Prevention and Control experience in the hospital setting, she has completed her Master's in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology as well as earned her Certification in Infection Prevention and Control.

Email: hlgallag@UTMB.EDU

O'Shaunna has been with Infection Control & Healthcare Epidemiology since 2005. She covers the Clear Lake campus

Email: osgriffi@utmb.edu
Phone: (409) 772-0467
Pager: (409) 645-5962

Email: chclee@UTMB.EDU

Phone: (409) 772-0468

Lowell has 3 years of experience as a registered nurse in different specialty areas. In 2018, he earned his Master's in Public Health in Epidemiology from UT Health School of Public Health and his BSN from UTMB in 2021. In 2024, Lowell transitioned to the Infection Preventionist I position supporting Jennie Sealy Hospital within the Galveston Campus.

Email: lklevo@utmb.edu

Ellen has been with Infection Control and Healthcare Epidemiology since 2019 and is currently providing infection prevention support at the League City campus.

Email: qiuli@utmb.edu
Phone: (832) 505-0600

Alexa joined the Infection Control and Healthcare Epidemiology team in 2024 and is covering the Galveston campus. She earned a Master’s in Public Health from the Ponce Health Sciences University in Puerto Rico with a concentration in Environmental Health. She has over 3 years of public health experience in the state of Texas working as an Epidemiologist during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Email: amnazari@UTMB.EDU

Phone: (409) 772-0481

Mischelle Rios has 18+ years of service at UTMB with 13 of those being in Infection Control & Healthcare Epidemiology.

Mischelle serves as the Data Management Specialist for the department.  She is responsible for Public Health Reporting, manages hand hygiene forms and data distribution, and assists with HAI surveillance.

E-mail: mirios@utmb.edu
Phone: (409) 772-5535

Rachel has been with Infection Control and Healthcare Epidemiology since 2023 and is currently covering the Clear Lake and Angleton Danbury Campuses. She has practiced Infection Prevention in various healthcare settings and obtained her Certification in Infection Control in 2022. She has a background in public health with experience at the federal, state, and local levels. 

Email: raroby@utmb.edu

Phone: ADC (979) 319-3236 | CLC (832) 632-7611

Brenda has been with Infection Control & Healthcare Epidemiology since 2002 and currently covers SICU, Internal and Family Medicine, Dialysis, Staff and Student Education.

Email: btyler@utmb.edu
Phone: (409) 772-0469
Pager: (409) 643-9974