Meet the Team

Our team is committed to creating a new culture of safety in health care for Texas by challenging traditional thinking to eliminate preventable harm. We are focused on reducing medical errors and assuring Texans receive the highest quality of health care through extensive education, community outreach initiatives and quality improvement programs.

Teresa Wagner

DrPH, MS, CPH, RD/LD, CPPS, CHWI, DipACLM, CHWC

Interim
Director, Associate Professor

Dr. Wagner has a passion for helping people navigate health care. Her research focuses on health literacy, the ability for people to obtain, read, understand and use healthcare information to make appropriate health decisions and follow instructions for treatment.

Bobbie Bratton

MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CPPS, CHWI

Clinical
Executive

Bobbie is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with 25 years of nursing experience and 19+ years of advanced practice. She has a diverse practice background including family practice, student health, occupational health, acute care, and surgery. Her goal in practice is to partner with patients providing guidance and leadership towards health decisions that are safe and promote improved quality of life

Justin Burton

MBA, BSN, RN, CPPS, CPHQ, NE-BC

Patient Safety & Quality Executive

Justin is a Registered Nurse with over 18 years of hospital experience including critical care, transplant, neuroscience, data analytics, quality improvement and Risk/Patient safety. Justin has been recognized as a leader, educator, and innovator who utilizes creativity and experience to drive project management, process improvement, and patient safety.

Leslie Allsopp

MSN, MPH, PhD

Asthma 411 Faculty Partner, Assistant Professor

Dr. Allsopp’s area of focus is Asthma 411, a comprehensive evidence-based program that equips school nurses with the necessary training and resources to quickly respond to a child in respiratory distress.

Karen Ayala

BS in Public Health

Community Health Worker

Karen Ayala, holding a bachelor’s degree in Public Health, serves as a dedicated community health worker at Safer Care Texas. Her fervent commitment to community welfare drives her to specialize in aiding geriatric patients. Through her role, she ensures seamless access to essential resources, offering invaluable support to enhance their quality of life.

Leslie Reyna

MSW, CHW

Assistant Director of Strategy and Outreach

Leslie Reyna is a higher education professional with over four years of experience developing effective communication strategies. She earned her bachelor’s in Communications and double majored in Spanish. In 2021, she earned a master’s in Social Work and specialized in Community and Administrative Practice. She believes advocacy is the foundation of social work practice and that education is the tool for community growth and empowerment.

Molly O'Brien

BA in Public Relations

Business Manager

Molly O’Brien has worked in non-profits, such as long-term care facilities and private home care, acting as the liaison between patients and their loved ones. Having joined HSC’s Institute for Health Disparities in 2018, Molly now works in our SaferCare department. She oversees day-to-day activities and provides support to the SaferCare Texas team.

Kate Taylor

DNP, FNP-C, CPPS

Clinical Executive, Assistant Professor

Dr. Kate Taylor is an experienced board-certified family nurse practitioner with 22 years in health care. Dr. Taylor is active in the clinical education of UNTHSC health profession students and SaferCare Texas improving safety in care delivery. She deeply appreciates and respects older adults and her goal is to make a difference in their lives.

Jennifer Barrow

MSN

Clinical Executive

Jennifer is a Registered Nurse with over 10 years of hospital experience including emergency services, pediatrics, outpatient surgical services, Risk/Patient safety, and quality improvement. Jennifer is dedicated to improving the quality and safety of healthcare through inspiring and continuous process improvement efforts, professional experience, and transformational leadership. Jennifer aims to collaborate with healthcare leaders to keep patient safety the top priority and ensure the highest quality care is delivered to our community.

Jeff Beeson

DO, FACEP, FAEMS

Clinical Executive, Assistant Professor

Emergency Physician with 25 years of interprofessional practice starting as an Emergency Medical Technician working in rural settings, a Paramedic and Registered Nurse in Emergency Departments and Air Medical programs, to becoming an Emergency Physician whose passion lies in improving healthcare systems. A recognized leader in Integrated Healthcare Delivery focused on inter-professional teams in top-of-licensure practices that are changing the landscape for population health.

Subhash Aryal

PhD


Biostatistician


Dr. Aryal conducts statistical methodological research on topics including environmental monitoring, sample size determination and hypothesis testing. In addition, he collaborates extensively on interdisciplinary projects with researchers within and outside UNT Health Science Center

Rafia Rasu

PhD, MBA, MPharm

Health Service Outcomes Researcher

Dr. Rafia Rasu is a health services outcomes researcher. She analyzed numerous population health level state and national level datasets, EMR, and hospital quality/safety dataset to evaluate effectiveness and safety of care. She applies risk adjustment techniques with real-world evidence to make informed decisions.