Staff

John R. Litaker, PhD, MSc, MMedSc.

Dr. Litaker holds multiple degrees including a doctorate in health outcomes research (University of Texas at Austin), a master of public health (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), and a master of medical science degree (University of Hong Kong).  He has served as a lead facilitator for over 50 meetings.  He is a skilled facilitator that uses the defined process for a meeting to engage and seek input from participants, keep the meeting on time, and meet the pre-defined objectives of the meeting.  He is also a skilled writer, having authored dozens of reports including: after action reports, proceeding documents, gap analyses, research studies, academic papers, peer-reviewed articles, and book chapters.  He has worked in hospital administration, research, and as a consultant to hospitals and public health agencies.  Dr. Litaker currently serves as the President of the American Friends of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Treasurer and Secretary of the World Affairs Council of Austin, and on the advisory board of the Texas International Business Council.

Debra Stabeno, MPH

Ms. Stabeno holds a business administration degree (University of Texas at Austin) and a master of public health degree (Tulane University).  At the Litaker Group, she has served in a project support role on dozens of projects involving facilitation and stakeholder input.  She has served as a project manager on the Texas Healthy Babies initiative and has provided facilitation and note-taking services for multiple projects including 19 focus groups related to the after action assessment of the novel H1N1 influenza pandemic.  Ms. Stabeno has over thirty years of experience in public health practice with twelve years in executive leadership positions (deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner) at the Texas Department of State Health Services. In her last position, Ms. Stabeno was the lead executive for the health and medical response efforts for hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the initial pandemic influenza planning for the state. 

Martha McGlothlin, MA

Ms. McGlothlin is a speech-language pathologist by training and holds both a bachelor and master degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.  She is the former director of community preparedness for the Texas state health department.  She has extensive experience in conducting stakeholder engagement process meetings, with project management, and is a skilled facilitator.  At The Litaker Group, she has been responsible for meeting process development, facilitation, and note taking at dozens of focus groups and stakeholder meetings. She served as co-facilitator and note taker for multiple focus groups related to the after action assessment of the DSHS response to the novel H1N1 influenza pandemic.  Ms. McGlothlin is responsible for all venue management activities including venue identification, vendor relations, meeting set-up, and day-to-day operations during the meeting.

Mariah Ramon, BA

Ms. Ramon holds a bachelors degree from the University of Texas at Austin.  She is the former Texas Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Coordinator.  In this role she was responsible for working with federal, state, regional, and local officials on SNS preparedness activities.  During the novel H1N1 pandemic she was responsible for medical countermeasure distribution and the creation of a plan to include private pharmacies to distribute state stock of antiviral medications.  At The Litaker Group she has been primarily responsible for project management activities related to facilitation services for the Department of State Health Services and the Department of Aging and Disability Services.  In addition, she is responsible for coordinating project activities and internal and external project support.

Jennie Chou, RPh, PhD

Dr. Chou is a pharmacist by training who also holds a doctoral degree in pharmacoeconomics from the University of Texas at Austin.  Dr. Chou is a skilled researcher, with particular experience with data collection and data analysis – both with qualitative and quantitative data.  She has worked as a medical researcher at the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and as a pharmacy manager in oncology.  She works with the Litaker Group conducting research, data analysis, and project management.

Virginia Headley, PhD

Dr. Headley is a microbiologist by training.  She has extensive public health experience, both at the Texas Department of Health laboratory services section and the Illinois Department of Public Health.  At the Litaker Group she served as a facilitator and lead researcher on a public health evaluation project to assess newborn screening and immunization practice for hepatitis B, rubella, syphilis, and HIV in newborns.  Currently, she serves as the county epidemiologist for Williamson County, Texas.  She holds a doctoral degree in microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Karen Hasty, MEd

Ms. Hasty holds a master of education degree from Lynchburg College (Virginia).  She is responsible for administrative and support services for the Litaker Group, including all client related reimbursement activities.  She is the primary point of contact responsible for contracts related to hotels and other meeting related vendors.  She is responsible for the business office.