Juan Olivares, Jr. MD

Director of Pediatrics, Vecino Health Centers

Board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Dr. Olivares earned his medical degree in 2008 from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In 2011, he completed his residency at The University of Texas Medical School in Houston, further honing his expertise in providing compassionate care to children and adolescents.

Education — Before his medical training, Dr. Olivares attended Trinity University, graduating Cum Laude in 2004. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Religion.

Background — Dr. Olivares is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Texas Pediatric Society. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and recognitions for his exceptional contributions to the medical community. In 2011, he was honored with the Gold Foundation Resident Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award. In the summer of 2005, he served as the Community Health Research Fellow. Additionally, he received the Resident Teaching Award in 2009 and 2010, underscoring his commitment to medical education and mentorship.

Dr. Olivares is fluent in English and Spanish.

Daniel Montez

Chief Executive Officer, Vecino Health Centers

Mr. Montez is the visionary founder of Vecino Health Centers, establishing the organization in 2001 alongside a group of local pastors in the Houston community of Denver Harbor. Together, they shared a commitment to address the pressing issue of limited access to medical care faced by the community’s 20,000 residents, who were often forced to rely on emergency rooms for basic healthcare needs.

Education — Mr. Montez’s academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, providing him with a strong financial and analytical skill set that he applies to healthcare leadership.

Background — Before his work to establish Vecino, Mr. Montez had over 20 years of experience in the healthcare field. Notable positions include serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Universal Health Plan, a Medicaid Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), and fulfilling various roles for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. During his tenure with the university, he was Assistant Director for the Sponsored Projects Office and served as the Administrator/CFO for UT’s Houston Recovery Campus, the largest substance abuse facility in Harris County.

In recognition of his contributions to Houston, Mr. Montez has been honored with the 2005 St. Luke’s Leadership Award from St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities in Houston, the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award in 2007, and the 2009 University of Texas School of Public Health Leadership Luminaries in Public Health Award.

Enjoli Benitez, MD

Chief Medical Officer, Vecino Health Centers

Enjoli Benitez, MD, MPH, ABFM, ABOM, is the Chief Medical Officer at Vecino Health Centers. She leads the clinical staff and has devoted much of her career to advancing community health. With a strong commitment to improving healthcare access and quality, Dr. Benitez emphasizes the importance of community medicine, adherence to care standards, and continuous quality improvement processes.

Education — Dr. Benitez earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and holds a Master of Public Health with a focus on community medicine. She is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) and the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). Following her medical training, she completed her residency in Family Medicine at the Houston Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, located at Vecino’s Denver Harbor site.

Background — Since joining Vecino in 2013, Dr. Benitez initially served as an attending physician and faculty member for the residency program, as well as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University. She has held various leadership roles throughout her tenure, including Program Evaluation Committee Chair and Faculty Leader for the Prenatal Program. In recognition of her contributions to medical education, she received the Faculty Scholar Award from the Society of Teachers in Family Medicine in 2017.

As Chief Medical Officer since 2019, Dr. Benitez is dedicated to addressing the non-medical drivers of health that impact the well-being of her patients. As a resident of the Denver Harbor neighborhood, she is acutely aware of the challenges facing her community, reinforcing her commitment to ensuring that affordable and quality healthcare is accessible to her neighbors. Under her leadership, Vecino Health Centers has been nominated as a Health Center Quality Leader for the last five years, demonstrating her dedication to excellence in patient care.

Board of Directors

Cherry Joseph strongly advocates for quality healthcare services for all individuals and populations. As program manager for the Harris Health System Board of Trustees, she keenly understands the importance of making care available to Houston’s underserved populations. She joins Vecino’s board of directors in 2023, bringing strengths in problem-solving, communication, and strategic support.

Cherry is grateful for the opportunity to contribute and impact lives through her involvement with the board of directors.

Board of Directors

Phileda Tennant grew up in rural South Texas and after witnessing the difficulties associated with a lack of access to health care in rural areas, Phileda now brings her legal expertise to Vecino’s board of directors to help ensure health care is accessible to all Houstonians.

Phileda received a BA in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Brown University, and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. She is a senior associate in the Employment, Labor & OSHA group of international law firm Vinson and Elkins LLP, based in Houston, Texas. Phileda is carrying on the V&E tradition of pro bono support for Vecino, as well as the firm’s longstanding representation on Vecino’s board of directors.

Board of Directors

Growing up in Houston’s Denver Harbor community, Angela Trautman has firsthand experience of what it means not to have access to a doctor. It’s one of the reasons she was drawn to make a difference with a career in healthcare.

A dedicated healthcare leader and licensed vocational nurse in good standing with the Texas Board of Nursing, Angela has extensive experience in service quality, process optimization, and performance management. She is the clinical documentation and coding specialist for AllCare IPA and a member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Committed to her community, she has been a guardian ad litem through Harris County Child Advocates and is currently a foster parent with close ties to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.