
.png)
Meet the team
DAPS thanks its team of leaders for their continued passion and efforts towards the fulfillment of our mission in providing free resources and classes to the Parkinson's community in the Dallas Metroplex.
Leisha Phipps
Executive Director
Leisha came to DAPS in 2019 as the Program Director, following many years in the nonprofit sector, as a clinical social worker, board member and volunteer. Her love for nonprofits began at The Turning Point (Rape Crisis Center) in Plano where she was the Clinical Director for services to those impacted by sexual assault and supervisor to graduate student interns. After retiring from the clinical field, Leisha applied her skills to the administrative side of nonprofits where she served on the Board of Directors at The Turning Point as Chair of Development, Secretary and President. It was here that she discovered that her passion for helping others could be used to develop, grow, and manage small nonprofits. Since her time with DAPS, she has received grant funding through the Parkinson's Foundation, expanded services and added the position of Community Liaison to the team. Leisha was promoted to the role of Executive Director in 2022 and is honored to be able to lead DAPS.
Keisha Hill
Events Specialist
Keisha comes to DAPS with over 20 years of experience in the event management field. Her background includes working with the National Institutes of Health and various non-profit organizations. She stays busy as a regular volunteer of the SPCA of Texas and PTA of her children’s schools.
Newsletter Team
Amber Shoevlin, Production Editor
Bemax Group, LLC
Board of Directors
Martha Bonilla - President
Robbie McCullough - Vice President
Marcie Salamone - Treasurer
Chuck Stewart - Secretary
Jim Armington
Mike Braitsch - Ex officio
Jared Caplan
Beth Jacobs
Joyce Logan
Steven Markel
Mike Masinelli
Wanda Wallendorf
Medical Advisory Board
Juliana Atem, NP
Neerja Bhardwaj, M.D., MPH
Michael Braitsch, PT,
Shilpa Chitnis, M.D., Ph.D.
Richard B. Dewey, Jr., M.D.
Rasheda El-Nazer, M.D.
Mazen Elkurd, D.O.
Richard L. Fulbright, Ph.D.
Dwight C. German, Ph.D.
June Levitt, Ph.D., LDT, CCC-SLP
Bradley McDaniels, PhD, CRC, DPT
Aashoo Mentreddi, M.D.
Padraig O’Suilleabhain, M.D.
Nirav Pavasia, M.D.
Alexander Peralta, M.D.
R. Malcolm Stewart, M.D.
Chad Swank, Ph.D.
Aanchal Taneja M.D
Gary L. Tunell, M.D.
Community Engagement Consultants
Drs. Charles and Susan Sterling