Paula Dobbs-Wiggins, MD, elected chairwoman of Parkland Board
Elections became effective Aug. 1
During a July 24 special election the Parkland Health & Hospital System Board of Managers unanimously elected Paula Dobbs-Wiggins, MD to serve as its chairwoman and Jesse Vallejo, RN, as vice chair. Robert D. Martinez, JD, who was not part of the special election, will continue to serve as secretary.
Dr. Dobbs-Wiggins succeeds Winfred Parnell, MD who twice was voted chair by his peers. Dr. Parnell, who was appointed to the Board in 2012, has announced his resignation after seven years of distinguished service effective Aug. 31. A new appointee has not yet been named.
Dr. Dobbs-Wiggins was named to the Board in November 2013. She is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and is in private practice in Dallas. She is as an ordained minister, member of Saint Luke “Community” United Methodist Church, and retired Professor of the Practice of Pastoral Care at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.
Dr. Dobbs-Wiggins received her bachelor’s degree in Biology (cum laude) from Harvard College in Cambridge, MA and her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston. She completed her residency in Psychiatry at Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital in Dallas. She is a member of a number of professional organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, North Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians, Dallas County Medical Society, Black Psychiatrist Association, C.V. Roman Medical Society and NAMI/Dallas, among others.
Vallejo was named to the Board in September 2015. He is a Registered Nurse at Children’s Health in Dallas in Clinical Program Development and manages Neuroscience Service programs and the Center for Cerebrovascular Disorders in Children. Prior to joining Children’s in 2015, he served as a critical care nurse educator, employee health coordinator and administrative supervisor at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Rockwall. In addition, Vallejo was a Registered Nurse at Forest Park Medical Center and Medical City Dallas Hospital, among others.
Vallejo earned his Registered Nurse degree from Garden City College, Garden City, KS. He is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the Association of Nursing Professional Development.
Martinez was appointed to the Board in February 2016. He is a litigator with experience in a diverse range of civil, criminal, arbitration and regulatory arenas. He is also a community leader with extensive board service including leadership, public speaking and general counsel roles. Martinez is in private practice at Robert D. Martinez, PLLC. He also serves in an Of Counsel role to the Fort Worth law firm of Broude Smith Jennings & McGlinchey, PC.
Martinez began his litigation career as a Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, serving in the Department’s Dallas Field Office and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Martinez has chaired the board and continues to serve on the board ex officio, as General Counsel, of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce. He received his juris doctor from Wayne State University School of Law in Detroit, Michigan. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Wayne State University in Detroit.
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