Internal Advisors

Kimberly Fulda, DrPH

Dr. Fulda serves as the Executive Director of the North Texas Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network (NorTex); an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. As the Executive Director of NorTex, Dr. Fulda works with primary care clinicians to conduct research that is relevant to primary care practice to improve the health of the community. Dr. Fulda’s research experience includes over 17 years of coordinating and/or leading funded clinical and population health research projects.  She has served as co-investigator or principal investigator on federal, private, and intramural funded projects with a primary focus of understanding and reducing health disparities.

These studies have included both adults and children, including examining health services research, issues surrounding unmet health care needs for children with special health care needs, and disparities in risk for type 2 diabetes in adolescents.  Dr. Fulda also has experience working with large databases to examine public health and population based concerns.  Dr. Fulda earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University.  She completed her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Doctor of Public Health in Clinical Research from the University of North Texas Health Science Center as well as a Graduate Academic Certificate in Teaching and Adult Learning Medical Education from the University of North Texas.  Dr. Fulda currently serves on the editorial board for the Texas Public Health Journal.

Anna Espinoza, MD

Dr. Espinoza serves as the Assistant Director of NorTex and a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC).  Dr. Espinoza provides oversight for all NorTex research projects, and supervises and coordinates project-specific research associates.  She also serves as the liaison for Institutional Review Board activities at UNTHSC and organizations across north Texas.  She assists primary care providers with study implementation, coordination quality improvement activities, and training assistance.

She has experience recruiting physicians to participate in research studies and collaborating with investigators for subject recruitment at multiple sites.  In her role, she facilitates the expansion of research between the NorTex and outside organizations including hospital systems, private practices, county health systems, and federal and rural clinics.  Dr. Espinoza received her MD degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, in 1981 and completed her residency in gastroenterology in 1986. She was in the Venezuelan Navy for 16 years and reached the rank of commander. While in the Navy, she saw patients in naval bases in remote areas of Venezuela for several years and practiced as a gastroenterologist for 11 years at the military hospital in the capital, Caracas, before immigrating to Fort Worth, Texas, with her family.

Frank Filipetto, DO

Frank Filipetto, DO, is the Dean of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (HSC). Board Certified in Family Practice by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, Dr. Filipetto’s academic contributions have been recognized for his nearly 30 years of work in the field of family medicine.

Dr. Filipetto earned his degree in osteopathic medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency training in family medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). Prior to joining HSC, he spent nearly 20 years at UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine, in several academic leadership roles including Residency Director and Vice/Acting Chairman of Family Medicine. In 2007, he was named a UMDNJ Master Educator, the highest teaching recognition awarded by the University, for his contributions to medical education.

Dr. Filipetto joined HSC in 2011 as Chairman of TCOM’s Department of Family Medicine and in 2014 became the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, where he currently holds the appointment of Everett Endowed Professor. In 2017, he was named Interim Dean of TCOM, and in 2019 Dr. Filipetto became the Dean of TCOM. As Dean, Dr. Filipetto’s main objective is to work with faculty and students to develop innovative strategies to provide the students with the skillset to change the way health care is delivered. He wants medical education to emphasize its focus and resources towards health system science, which includes areas of health care policy, patient safety, professionalism, innovation, IPE, and population health, all working together to reform the delivery of health care.

While committed to academics, Dr. Filipetto practices medicine intermittently as a faculty member and preceptor in the family medicine residency program here at HSC. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, Texas Osteopathic Medical Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, of which he served as Chair of the Osteopathic Clinical Research Committee. Dr. Filipetto also serves as a member of the NorTex Advisory Board.

Dr. Filipetto is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys hunting and fly-fishing. Cruising on his motorcycle on the weekends is his way of relaxing, along with spending quality time with his wife, two daughters, and his newly rescued Saint Bernard, Enzo.

Curtis Galke, DO

Dr. Galke is the Chairman and Professor of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Galke is passionate about the concept that the root of excellent healthcare is the relationship fostered between the patient and their physician. This relationship is best cultivated in the primary care setting with the patient at the center of all healthcare decisions. Integral to wellness is access to behavioral healthcare in the primary care office.

Dr. Galke has championed the concept of Integrate Behavioral Health in Family Medicine by making it the keystone of residency training at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance family medicine residency program. Dr. Galke believes that the greatest contribution to the health of the nation comes from developing a robust and demanding curriculum to train future family physicians. Dr. Galke has been active in national professional organizations to include the Association of Directors of Family Medicine (ADFM) and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Program Directors (AFMRD). He was elected to the board of directors of the AFMRD for a two-year term and then was elected by the membership of the AFMRD to serve as the organization’s treasurer for two years.

Cindy Lopez, MPH, CPH

Cindy Lopez is the Senior Project Coordinator for NorTex in the Department of Family Medicine in TCOM at HSC. She is a recent graduate from the master’s program in the School of Public Health at HSC. Her experience includes working with the county in aiding in the efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic as well as addressing health disparities through her work with the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee reviewing maternal health records.

Ms. Lopez’s interests include community engagement and health along with her background in a clinical laboratory sparked her interest in preventative research to address health disparities.