Dr. Charles F. Mild is a board-certified cardiologist and experienced clinical research investigator specializing in cardiovascular medicine and metabolic health. With over three decades of medical experience, Dr. Mild has served as Chief of Cardiology and Acting Medical Director of the Catheterization Lab at Valley Diagnostic Medical and Surgical Clinic and currently practices with the Gomez Cardiovascular Group.

He has contributed to numerous Phase I–III clinical trials focused on cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, and vaccine development. Dr. Mild earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Texas School of Medicine, followed by a cardiology fellowship at the University of New Mexico.

A Fellow of both the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society for Cardiac Catheterization and Interventions (SCAI), and a past president of the American Heart Association’s Cameron-Willacy Chapter, Dr. Mild continues to advance patient care through clinical research and leadership in cardiovascular innovation.

Yaziri Gonzalez is a Medical Entomologist and Vector Control Supervisor with the City of Brownsville, where she leads mosquito surveillance and integrated vector management initiatives along the Gulf Coast of Texas. She established the first city-operated RT-PCR laboratory in the Rio Grande Valley, enhancing regional capacity for rapid mosquito-borne pathogen testing. Gonzalez coordinates surveillance, resistance testing, and public education to reduce disease risk. She holds degrees in Entomology from Texas A&M University and the University of Kentucky and is an active member of TMCA, AMCA, and NACCHO. Guided by innovation and equity, she advances science-driven public health solutions for South Texas.

Dr. Aaron Salinas is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in Edinburg, Texas. With ten years of experience in academia, Dr. Salinas plays a key role in shaping the next generation of nurses through his leadership and commitment to nursing education.

In addition to his academic role, Dr. Salinas is a practicing Nurse Practitioner, holding dual board certifications as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). He is an active member of the UT Health Rio Grande Valley team, where he provides patient care at the University Health Center. He also collaborates in consultation with a local psychiatrist and pediatrician, extending his clinical expertise across multiple disciplines in the Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Salinas is deeply involved in professional service and leadership, participating in numerous nursing and healthcare organizations at the local, state, and national levels. He currently serves on the boards of several of these organizations, contributing his experience and insight to advance the field of nursing and healthcare delivery.

Elaine has worked in the field of emergency preparedness and response, with experience in facilitating the development of the Metropolitan Medical Response System as Director of Border Health with the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council 2004-2005, managing international public health projects with the American Red Cross (Tuberculosis) 2005-2008, the Canadian Red Cross Maternal and Child Health Program in Honduras (2008-2012) and assisting the Honduran Red Cross in developing an emergency technical health unit post hurricanes ETA and IOTA (2021-2022). She also assisted in establishing a system of emergency feeding for Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine, involving shelters, mobile kitchens, and feeding stations through a network of churches in 2023.