CARE TEAMS
Meet your Medical Care Team
Dr. Gary Vollenweider, MD
Dr. Vollenweider joins us as a volunteer physician after retiring from private practice. He brings 32 years of experience as a board-certified Family Physician. He is a Baylor University graduate and attended our own University of Texas Southwestern medical school in Dallas. He completed his family medicine residency at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. While he has many outside interests such as woodworking and flyfishing, his main passion remains medicine. He is proud to be a part of the Indian Health Service and to serve the Indigenous people.
Karima Jooma, PA
Karima Jooma graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas in 1997, and an Associates at Brookhaven College at Farmers Branch, Texas in 1999. Karima has been serving the Native American community for over 25 years at Texas Native Health, where she has built strong bonds with her patients over the years. She has a kind, compassionate nature, and a laugh that fills the room.
Caroline Hermann, FNP
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Caroline Hermann is a preceptor for UT Southwestern and University of North Texas. She has resided in Dallas, Texas for 22 years, and has served the Native American community of North Texas with UITCT for over 6 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Caroline is also a Certified Nurse Midwife, and highly favored among the patient community and her coworkers alike. Her interests include yoga, researching alternative healing modalities, and cooking.
Anthony Douthit, PA
Anthony Douthit was born and raised in the DFW area, originally hailing from Arlington, TX. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Texas Women's University in community health. His healthcare journey began as a hospital corpsman in the Naval Reserves and continued as a firefighter/paramedic for 10 years. In 2021 Anthony returned to school to pursue his master’s in physical assistant studies, a decision fueled by his passion for improving community health. Following his graduation from the University of North Dakota's PA program in 2023 he worked for the Bureau of Prisons briefly before coming to Texas Native Health. He enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and three wonderful kids in addition to hiking, camping, and attending local church activities. As a proud member of the Choctaw Nation, Anthony is deeply grateful for the support he received during his education. He considers it an honor to give back to the Native American community.
Amber White, RD
Amber White is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with over 10 years of experience. She completed her dietetic internship through St. Louis University and her master’s in nutrition from Alabama University. Her previous experience includes training on insulin pumps, private practice, and working in an endocrinology medical office. She continues to serve the American Indian/Alaskan Native population for over 8 years at Texas Native Health, recently taking over as head of the Diabetes Program. Her current position allows her to teach through many different avenues including cooking classes, group, and individual appointments. When she is not working, she is homeschooling and spending time with her 3 children and husband. She enjoys walking, cooking and spending time with friends.
Sadie Morris, Lab Technician | Vaccine Coordinator
Originally from the corner of Northeast Oklahoma, Sadie Morris is a federally recognized citizen of the Cherokee Nation tribe. She and her family relocated to Texas in 2017. Sadie is nationally certified as a Medical Laboratory Technician, a Phlebotomist, and also serves as the Vaccine Coordinator for Texas Native Health. She is passionate about serving the Native American community and enjoys her time at work each day. Outside of work, she is busy raising her children and loves spending time reading a good book when she can.
Meet your Patient Relations Team
Morningstar Spencer, Medical Office Manager
Morningstar Spencer is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation with lineage in Pawnee, Creek, and Seminole tribes. Originally from Lynwood, California, she and her family relocated to Dallas and eventually to Arlington, Texas where she has resided for over 20 years. Her passion for the medical field began after a diagnosis of breast cancer at a young age. Enduring the difficult and unpredictable journey of prevailing over her diagnosis is what inspired her to help others in similar situations. Morningstar now serves as the Medical Office Manager of Texas Native Health where she has been employed for over six years. She enjoys nature hikes, reading books, and spending time with family.
Jacqueline Folsom, Front Desk Receptionist
Jacqueline “Jacquie” Folsom is a proud citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Since joining Texas Native Health in 2002, Jacquie has dedicated herself to serving the Native American community. Her ability to build strong relationships with both patients and coworkers has been a cornerstone of her career. She finds joy and fulfillment in the dynamic nature of her work and the new challenges each day brings. Outside of work, Jacquie enjoys spending quality time with her family and watching a variety of sports.
Salvador Medina, Front Desk Receptionist
Salvador Medina was raised in Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona, and is finally settled in Dallas, TX. Salvador graduated from the University of North Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Psychology and Sociology. Currently, he is once more attending his alma mater with the intention of graduating with a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Prior to joining Texas Native Health in 2023, he worked as a medical scribe and medical assistant in multiple medical settings such as: emergency departments, family medicine, and internal medicine. Salvador values his work with the Native American community to the fullest degree and is grateful that he can give back through different avenues. Whenever he is not working or insanely occupied with his studies, Salvador enjoys learning different languages, meditating, reading, and spending time with his family, and his cat Vampira.
Elexia Garcia, Records and Referral Coordinator
Elexia Garcia is a proud enrolled citizen of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, with lineage in both the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, as well as the Comanche Nation. Being born and raised in Dallas, TX. Elexia has been able to see the growth of Texas Native Health since her childhood. Her professional background includes: an Associate’s degree in Personal Computer Support, and multitudes of experience within different medical and dental offices. Since she joined Texas Native health in 2022, Elexia has been serving the Native American community as the medical records technician, and has recently taken over as the referral coordinator. On her free time, Elexia is preoccupied taking care of her two amazing daughters, but enjoys spending time with family, reading, and cooking.
Sylvia Rodriguez, Patient Navigator
Sylvia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Business Administration. She currently attends Baylor University pursuing a Master's in Public Health. In 2013, Sylvia began serving the Native Community as Community Relations liaison. Her role as grown to become Certified Community Health Worker, Certified Master Gardener, grant manager and currently serves as Patient Navigator, that ensures the well-being of Texas Native Health patients. She is a published Co-author of a study of Native Americans who have been newly diagnosed with diabetes. Sylvia enjoys many activities such as: gardening, cycling, fitness, powwows, spending time with friends and family. Her commitment and dedication to the Texas Native population continues to be ongoing.
Meet your Dental Care Team
Dr. Audrey Cha, DDS
Dr. Cha was born in South Korea, and at a young age, she and her family moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil. After graduating high school in Sao Paulo, Dr. Cha moved to California and enrolled as an undergraduate student at the University of California at Los Angeles, majoring in Biology. It was during that time at UCLA that Dr. Cha decided to pursue a career in dentistry to fulfill her desire to be in a profession where she could have a positive impact on a person’s wellbeing. Dr. Cha subsequently did a one-year residency at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry.
Lacie Brown, Hygienist
Originally from Texas, Lacie Brown graduated from Boswell High School in Fort Worth, Texas. She attended Tarrant County College where she obtained her Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene. She is passionate about helping people to achieve healthy smiles and improving the overall health of her patients. Lacie has served the Native American community at Texas Native Health for over one year as the Family Dental Hygienist. She enjoys gardening, sewing, and relaxing with friends, family, and her dog, Ollie.
Meet Your Pharmacy Care Team
Dr. Pekam Takusi, Pharmacist
Dr. Pekam Takusi was born in Cameroon, West Africa. At the age of 19, she moved to Perugia, Italy to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a healthcare provider. Because of her extrovert personality, she chose a career in Pharmacy and obtained her doctorate degree in 1999. In 2002, she relocated to Texas where she obtained her license to practice in the United States. Her zeal to serve humanity and help others to improve their self esteem pushed her to becoming a Certified Professional Life Coach from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC). She utilizes these skills to be an excellent pharmacist to her patients. She truly enjoys her field of work, and lives by her saying “Serving as a pharmacist is simply being myself.”
Dr. Nancy Vesoh, Pharmacist
Born in Cameroon, West Africa, I loved both medical research and the practice of medicine, because of how it impacts the state of wellbeing and quality of life. I would very quickly realize as a teenager while shadowing a missionary doctor that the site of blood was not my forte. All that passion got diverted into the other aspect of medicine; research and pharmaceuticals. I then pursued an undergrad degree in organic chemistry, worked in biotechnology, then obtained a doctorate degree in pharmacy at the university of Maryland, Baltimore.
If not at work, it would be salsa dancing or the Kitchen; making up recipes, trying new ones, and doing best part…eating.
Meet Your Behavioral Health Team
Christopher Logan, Behavioral Health Manager
Christopher Logan aka “Logan”, LPC, LCDC is the lead program therapist for Texas Native Health. Logan graduated from UNT Dallas with his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Prior to that, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas. As a clinician, Logan has a breadth of experience that allows him great flexibility with his clients. Prior to Texas Native Health, Logan has worked in multiple venues that included psychiatric hospitals, campus counseling and managing an Intensive Outpatient Program for addiction. As a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Logan fulfills a unique role in providing mental health services to Native Americans throughout the state of Texas.
Martha Jarmon, LCSW
Martha C. Jarmon has been a clinical social worker for over thirty years, and has worked in most areas of social work. She has been largely hospital based for the majority of her career. She has experience in operating a community health agency in New Mexico, which provided services to a multi-cultural population. While there, she developed a pilot program for at risk youth in conjunction with the local school district and conducted a private mental health counseling practice. Prior to coming to Texas Native Health, Martha provided both in-home and telehealth counseling and social work services to people throughout Texas.
Mike Frazier, LCDC
Originally from Rattan, Oklahoma, Mike Frazier currently resides in Dallas, TX where he has called home for the past 63 years. He attended high school at Crozier Tech in Dallas, and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science at Texas Wesleyan University. Mike has served as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor at Texas Native Health for 14 years and has been practicing for over 40 years. He is passionate about making a difference in the lives of his Native American community and committed to maintaining close relationships with his family and friends. Mike is an avid softball player and enjoys golfing in his free time.
Ruth Thunderhawk, Crisis Response Specialist
Ruth Thunderhawk is an enrolled citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation of Lame Deer, MT, and is a descendant of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She has been a lifelong resident of the DFW Metroplex, specifically South Dallas. In her capacity as the crisis response specialist for Texas Native Health, Ruth collaborates with her colleagues to deliver trauma-informed mental health care. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science from the University of North Texas. Ruth's professional background encompasses various mental health settings, including crisis case management and working with PTSD and trauma survivors. Her expertise in crisis intervention, patient advocacy, and program development equips her to effectively serve her fellow Native American community members in her current role. Beyond her professional endeavors, Ruth finds joy in spending quality time with her family and engaging in arts and crafts.