Miguel C. Fernández, MD
Medical Director and Managing Director
South Texas Poison Center
Associate Professor of Surgery in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology
Board certified, Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology
Department of Surgery
UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Dr. Miguel Fernández is responsible for the operation of the South Texas
Poison Center and serves as liaison between the University Hospital and
the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr.
Fernández completed his postgraduate training in medical toxicology at
Arizona Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona College of
Medicine in Tucson, Arizona and his emergency medicine training in the
Department of Emergency Medicine, Drew Medical Center, Martin Luther
King, Jr., General Hospital, University of California at Los Angeles in
California.
In addition to his extensive medical training, Dr. Fernández has
received numerous honors and awards which include the following: Fellow
of the American College of Medical Toxicology, Fellowship in Health Care
Policy, NYU School of Public Policy/National Hispanic Medical
Association, New York and Washington DC, Fellow of the American College
of Emergency Physicians, the National Health Service Corps Scholarship
Award and the appointment by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
Tommy G. Thompson to serve on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the CDC in Atlanta.
As a medical expert in toxicology and poison control, Dr. Fernández has
been involved both nationally and internationally in the development of
poison centers. Current projects include poisoning prevention education,
telemedicine video-conferencing for emergency medicine/medical
toxicology, herbal medication toxicology, acetaminophen toxicity,
snakebite envenomizations, hyperbaric medicine, plant toxins, and US-Mexico border toxicology.
Lizette Villarreal, MA
Assistant Director
South Texas Poison Center
Faculty Associate; Department of Surgery
UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Lizette Villarreal is responsible for the daily operation and management
of the South Texas Poison Center as Assistant Director. Lizette holds a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Psychology from the University of the
Incarnate Word, and a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University
of Texas at San Antonio. Ms. Villarreal is currently working on her
dissertation for her Doctorate of Philosophy in Applied Demography at
the University of Texas at San Antonio.
As a member of the Department of Surgery faculty, her research areas of
expertise include Hispanic unintentional injury, social and economic
health disparities in minority communities, program evaluation, and
health survey research. Lizette's previous research work has focused
on the development and evaluation of school-based prevention programs in
the areas of underage drinking and impaired driving, child passenger
safety, safety belt use, injury prevention, and traffic safety. Mrs.
Villarreal's research has been published in national peer reviewed
journals, and her work is continuously highlighted at professional
conferences around the nation.
Douglas Cobb, MS, RPh, CSPI
Specialist in Poison Information III
Operations Manager
South Texas Poison Center
Doug Cobb has been employed at the South Texas Poison Center since 1996. He has a
Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Houston and a Master of
Science degree in Pharmacy Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. As
Operations Manager, Doug is responsible for call center data and technology operations. His
broad level of expertise enables him to run extensive statistical analyses related to data which is
generated by calls received at the poison center. Doug has published several articles in
scientific toxicology journals and presented scientific posters at national toxicology forums.
Leslie DeHart, RN, BSN, CSPI
Specialist in Poison Information II
South Texas Poison Center
Leslie DeHart graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the
University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She has been an
employee of the South Texas Poison Center since 2001, as a certified
specialist in poison information. Leslie has co-authored abstracts on
methanol and arsenic that have been published in Clinical Toxicology. She
compiled information on carburetor cleaner inhalation from real cases
presented to the Poison Center. The abstract titled "Blindness by Inhalation
of Carburetor Cleaners Containing Methanol among Latinos on the Texas US-
Mexico Border" won the distinguished award of best abstract of the year,
presented at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology in 2004.
Alfredo Gonzalez, RN, BSN, CSPI
Specialist in Poison Information II
South Texas Poison Center
Alfredo Gonzalez, RN, MSN earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Texas
Health Science Center San Antonio in 1984 and his Masters degree from the University
of Texas Health Science Center Houston in 2003. Alfredo has been employed with the
South Texas Poison Center since 1995.
Ricardo A. Hernandez, MD, RN, CSPI-II
Specialist in Poison Information II
South Texas Poison Center
Dr. Ricardo Antonio Hernández Jr., has been employed at the University
of Texas Health Science Center since December of 2003 working at the
capacity of a Certified Specialist in Poison Information (CSPI) for the
South Texas Poison Center.
Dr. Hernández arrived to San Antonio from Harlingen, Texas along with
his wife of 5 years Dr. Mari Liz Díaz Ocasio native of Puerto Rico.
His educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Science in Biology
from the University of Texas- Pan American in Edinburg, Associate degree
in Nursing from the University of Texas at Brownsville and a Doctoral
degree in Medicine from the Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic.
As a CSPI, Dr. Hernández's main responsibility is to answer calls that
are suspected poisonings and determine if such exposures require medical
attention. Another responsibility is constantly updating his colleagues
on any newly FDA approved medications. His ability to effectively
communicate in Medical English and Medical Spanish offers a unique
advantage to the South Texas Poison Center making him one of the few
designated to answer calls from Spanish speakers. Dr. Hernández has
served as an author and a co-author in publishing various abstracts for
scientific journals which have been presented in American and European
Toxicological conferences.
Darelle Hinson, RN, BSN, CSPI
Specialist in Poison Information II
South Texas Poison Center
Darelle Hinson graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
from the State University of New York, Downstate Medical, in Brooklyn,
New York. Darelle's experience includes; medical surgical nursing, emergency room
nursing, and nurse management. She has been employed at the South Texas
Poison Center since 1998, as a Certified Specialist in Poison
Information.
In addition to her expertise in poison information, Darelle is involved
in the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program. The purpose of the
program is surveillance and rapid detection of public health emergencies
involving possible occupational, biological, and chemical exposures.
Darelle recently co-authored an abstract in Clinical Toxicology entitled
"Latrodectus Envenomation in Pregnancy, and Antidote Availability",
which was presented at the 2007 North American Clinical Congress of
Toxicology.
George Layton, MD, CSPI
Specialist in Poison Information II
South Texas Poison Center
Dr. George Layton has been with the South Texas Poison Center since
2004. George graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana School of
Medicine, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2001 and is currently
taking his Medical Boards to pursue an Emergency Medicine Residency.
In addition to assisting the Poison Center's emergency calls, he assists
with rotating Pediatric and Emergency Residents as well as students
pursuing their doctoral degree in pharmacy. He assists with community
health fairs and school presentations. Because of his bilingual skills,
he reaches large underserved areas in our communities.
George and Colleagues have had several abstracts accepted and presented
at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology. He was asked to
present at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology in New
Orleans in 2007. He has recently been appointed to the University
Hospital-Poison Center Research committee and is currently collaborating
on various research projects.
Vivian Rivera, RN, BSN, CSPI
Specialist in Poison Information II
South Texas Poison Center
Vivian Rivera received her degree in nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio. She has worked at the South Texas Poison Center as a Bilingual Certified
Specialist in Poison Information, since 2002. As a result of a federal public health emergency
preparedness grant, each poison center now has agents who are able to work from remote sites.
Vivian is one of two specialists selected to work as a remote agent for the South Texas Poison
Center. As a remote agent, Vivian is instrumental in optimizing poison center staffing in times of
high volume calls or unforeseen poison center closures.
Cynthia Teter, PharmD, CSPI
Specialist in Poison Information II
South Texas Poison Center
Dr. Cynthia Teter received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Texas
at Austin in conjunction with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She became interested
in the field of toxicology after doing a clinical clerkship at the Poison Center, and has
been employed at the South Texas Poison Center since 1999. Dr. Teter has written several
articles that have been published in the Journal of Air Force Pharmacy and has co-written
numerous abstracts that have been published in Clinical Toxicology and presented at
international conventions. One of her abstracts entitled 'Blindness by Inhalation of
Carburetor Cleaners Containing Methanol Among Latinos on the Texas US-Mexico
Border', received recognition as the Best Scientific Abstract at the North American
Clinical Congress of Toxicology in 2004. Dr. Teter has given presentations to forensic
science students and currently serves as a preceptor for the UT Austin College of Pharmacy. She
enjoys working in the unique field of toxicology and sharing her knowledge of pharmacy
and toxicology with students who rotate through the Poison Center.
Penny Williams, RN, CSPI
Specialist in Poison Information II
South Texas Poison Center
Penny Williams has been an employee with the South Texas Poison Center
since 1995. As a Registered Nurse for over 32 years, Penny's experience
ranges from her previous positions as a Pediatric Emergency Room Nurse
at Santa Rosa Hospital for over 10 years, followed by her position as an
ER Nurse for Northeast Baptist Hospital. Ms. Williams is currently a
Specialist in Poison Information II. Her extensive background enables
her to provide emergency medical assistance, case evaluation, management
and triage recommendations concerning poisoning problems requiring
advanced knowledge of poison control.
Carmen L. Jimenez
Community Education Assistant
South Texas Poison Center
Carmen has years of superior knowledge and invaluable experience in the
implementation of education programs for school age children, adults and
the elderly. She has the ability to organize information and communicate
fluently both in English and Spanish to appeal to a variety of
audiences. Carmen has great knowledge of communities of the San Antonio
area, and the people they serve. She provides administrative support to
the Community Education Specialist and the entire South Texas Poison
Center. Carmen attends Health Fairs to educate the community all over the city
and she has been known on several occasions to give up her weekends and
holidays in order to attend health fairs.
Virginia Barrera-Garcia
Community Education Specialist
South Texas Poison Center
Virginia is an Educator dedicated to assisting some 19 counties with
poison prevention awareness programs, in an effort to reduce morbidity
and mortality due to poisoning. She coordinates presentations with
public health and non-profit agencies, public and private schools and
day care centers in both Spanish and English. Her monthly activity
calendar is always fully booked with presentations, health fairs and
trainings. When she's not teaching you can find her at her office
taking care of duties as part of the Texas Poison Center Network
Education Committee. Virginia has formalized in agreement to provide a
training experience at the STPC Education Department for the UTHSCSA
RAHC 3rd year medical students as part of a public health/community
service experience during their clerkship.
Mary Bogardus
Administrative Secretary
South Texas Poison Center
Mary has been an Administrative Secretary at the South Texas Poison Center for the past three years
and is known for her diligence and excellent performance of her duties.
Mary demonstrates an abundance of knowledge and skills of the procedures
and activities of her position.
