Contact Information

Gina Hardalo Pepchinski has been involved with Project DOCC Houston as a parent teacher volunteer since 2003. She is the mother of an adult son who has diagnoses of autism, apraxia and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Upon his initial diagnosis of autism, Gina began using her professional skills as a reference librarian to provide information and referral to other families through the PDD-IDA parent support group. She served as vice president of that organization for over 10 years. Gina is a native of Massapequa, New York who has lived in Houston since 1982. In addition to a Masters in Library Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin, she has a BA from Cornell University and an MA in Hispanic Linguistics from Indiana University. She has worked as a reference librarian for Houston Public Library and Houston Community College.

(832) 455-8785 | elainehime@projectdocchouston.org

Elaine Hime is the Program Director of Project DOCC, Delivery of Chronic Care, and coordinates DOCC at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and DOCC at The University of Texas Medical School Houston (UTMSH). Beginning in 2002 as Program Director, Elaine formulized Project DOCC at BCM from a volunteer project into a non-profit organization, secured funding, increased the roster of parent teachers and expanded DOCC to UTMSH in 2008. Elaine also serves as a DOCC parent teacher and enjoys training pediatric residents. In 1993, Elaine developed The Resource Guide for Parents of Children with Disabilities, Houston and Surrounding Areas and has updated, bartered for the Spanish translation and reprinted The Resource Guide for the past 18 years in partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital. Elaine has served on several state and local advisory councils concerning services for families of children with special health care needs and Medicaid Managed Care and is currently an appointed member on the Children Policy Council with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Elaine Hime and her husband Jim are the parents of three adult children including their youngest son Rutherford who has multiple disabilities and is medically fragile. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Zoology, Elaine enjoys caring for her dogs and has worked for the Houston Zoo in the Education Department as an Evening Specialist.

Safieh Hill currently serves as Senior Corporate Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Keane Group, Inc. Safieh has over a decade of experience as a corporate attorney, having worked in house with oil and gas companies and as an Associate Attorney at Locke Lord LLP in Houston and brings extensive corporate governance experience to our Board of Directors.

281-690-6173 | desireecollins@projectdocchouston.org

Bonnie Smith, RN, BSN, is Principal/VP of Sales & Marketing for Reach Healthcare Services (formerly The Care Group). She has worked in the home healthcare industry since 1985 and held positions in clinical management, program development, and marketing/business development. Her experience is primarily related to program development to meet the complex care needs of chronically ill/disabled children and adults in their home. This has included educating healthcare professionals and payers on viable care options in the home setting. Bonnie has participated in event planning and educational conference planning committees such as Case Management Society of America and Association for Rehabilitation Nurses.

Robin Powell, CPA holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA, both from the University of Houston Central Campus. Robin has 20 years of Corporate and Tax Accounting experience and 14 years of nonprofit Accounting experience and works with multiple charities in the Houston area.

Dr. Sherry Sellers Vinson has been an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and a Developmental Pediatrician at both The Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital and The Harris Health Developmental High Risk Clinic since July 1997. She graduated from Texas Tech Medical School, did her residency in General Pediatrics at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, and completed a fellowship in Developmental Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has board certification from The American Board of Pediatrics in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities as well as having a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education with a Reading Specialization Certificate. Dr. Vinson taught public school for ten years and is the Program Director of the BCM Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Residency. Over the years she has participated in various clinical research projects funded by Autism Speaks, The Simons Foundation, and pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, Roche, Seaside Therapeutics, Alcobra, Neuren, and Zynerba.

Mailing address
Project DOCC Houston

4502 Woodside St.

Houston, Texas 77023

projectDOCChouston@gmail.com

(832) 455-8785