Meet the Team

Roberto P. Treviño, M.D. Executive Director

DR. ROBERTO P. TREVIÑO

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Roberto P. Treviño, M.D. founded the South Alamo Medical Group (SAMG) in 1986 for the practice of primary care medicine in poor and underserved areas. SAMG eventually became one of the larger medical practices in the city with six clinics and twenty-one primary care physicians. However, increasingly dissatisfied with medical outcomes, Dr. Treviño in 1991 founded the Social and Health Research Center, Inc. (SAHRC). In 1995, Dr. Treviño incorporated the SAHRC as a 501 c (3) nonprofit to design and evaluate early-age obesity and type 2 diabetes prevention programs. This effort lead in 1997 to the development of Bienestar/NEEMA Coordinated School Health Program (BN CSHP). Dr. Treviño is the principal investigator of the three largest randomized controlled trials funded by the NIH (National Institutes of Health NIDDK) to prevent obesity and diabetes in children. Implementation of Bienestar/NEEMA CSHP in schools remarkably was shown to decrease blood glucose and obesity rates in children. Dr. Treviño also presents in his book Forgotten Children: A True Story of How Politicians Endanger Children, a willful neglect of children’s health by the Texas Legislature. The book reports in detail how political influence by special interest groups operating within the halls and chambers of the Texas Capital attempted to derail the funding and dissemination of the BN CSHP, an evidence-based school health curriculum shown to control childhood obesity and youth-onset type 2 diabetes. These two chronic diseases in children continue to be at epidemic levels in the State of Texas. Bienestar/NEEMAN CSHP, nonetheless, continues to expand and holds a bright future in the fight against childhood obesity and related chronic disease.

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Chrystal Johnson, BS, MPH Director of Operations

CHRYSTAL JOHNSON, B.S., MPH
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Chrystal was born and raised in Richmond, KY, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Service Administration with a concentration in Community Health, followed by a Master of Public Health from Eastern Kentucky University. She is married, a proud mother of two daughters, and enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.

Her journey in public health has been defined by a strong commitment to serving diverse, at-risk populations and addressing complex health challenges with empathy, resourcefulness, and a data-driven approach. With a solid background in health promotion, education, and administration, Chrystal is dedicated to creating meaningful and lasting change. She continues to leverage her expertise to positively impact communities on both a local and global scale.

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Maria Chapa, M.S.Ed. PE/Health Coordinator

MARIA CHAPA, M.S.Ed.
PE/HEALTH COORDINATOR

Maria Chapa and her family moved to Corpus Christi when her father, a strong advocate for education and a sports enthusiast, retired from the military. Maria is a mother of 2 sons and a grandmother of 1 granddaughter. With the support of both her parents, she graduated from Corpus Christi State University in 1984. In August of 1985, she went to work for the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD), where she taught Physical Education and Health for 35 years. During these years, she kept on learning and received a Master of Science in Educational Administration from Texas A&M in Kingsville in 2005 with a certification in Principalship. After 35 years of teaching for SAISD, Maria retired in May 2020. She enjoys volunteering and giving back to the community and is involved with the Hermanos Christianos Ministry. Maria also enjoys coloring and doing puzzles for meditation and relaxation!

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DAVID SALDAÑA, M.Ed. Director of Business Development

DAVID SALDAÑA, M.Ed.
SALES REPRESENTATIVE

David grew up in San Antonio and graduated from UTSA with a BS in Health Education and a Master's in Education Leadership. He has owned a small advertising and marketing business focusing on print media. David is passionate about health & fitness, education, and music. He is married to his lovely wife Debbie, has 2 children and 3 grandchildren, and is co-founder of The Krayolas rock-n-roll group.

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Melanie Arciniega, B.S. Adult Programs Coordinator

MELANIE ARCINIEGA, B.S.

NUTRITIONIST & CERTIFIED LIFESTYLE COACH

Adult Programs Coordinator

Melanie Arciniega, originally from El Paso, Texas, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics from Texas Tech University.

Her background includes research and community outreach, having worked as a Research Student Assistant at Texas Tech and as a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Intern. Through these roles, she contributed to studies on chronic disease prevention, diabetes prevention, food insecurity, and its relationship to disordered eating behaviors. She has been recognized as a TrUE Scholar, McNair Scholar, and USDA REEU Nutrition Best Scholar, presenting research at regional and national conferences. Her work has been recognized with awards such as 2nd Place in the Wellbeing Category at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Melanie is passionate about advocating for prevention strategies to diverse communities. In her free time, she enjoys challenging her body through weightlifting and resistance training. She also finds joy in reading books and cherishes spending quality time with her family.

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Gabriel Canez Cybersecurity and IT

Gabriel Canez
IT MANAGER

Gabriel was raised in San Antonio on the Northeast side. He graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in Business Administration in Cybersecurity. A long time interest in design and computers has provided him with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the IT Role. He comes from a long family history of teachers and administrators and understands the importance of Coordinated School Health. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and two children as well as time with his dog.

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