Meet the Team
Tera Howard MD MPH is an Obstetrician Gynecologist (OBGYN) and the founder of MentorMeMed. She has worked for 17 years to recruit underrepresented minorities in medicine and build infrastructure to support them. Her passion for this work was born through lived experience and is fueled by her love of patients, who deserve to have a healthcare workforce that represents them. Her hope is to make it “just that much easier” for those who come behind her.
Liliana Martinez is an experienced program manager with over 25 years of work in the healthcare field. This work across pharmacy, FQHC’s, oncology and HIV care provided her with insight into the critical need to increase diversity among the physician workforce. Her lived experience as a non-traditional, first-generation college student drives her passion for mentorship, community and accessibility.
Andrea Daugherty is a Healthcare IT Executive with over 18 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has consistently broken barriers in her career as the first African American female in every IT leadership position she’s earned, demonstrating her proficiency in healthcare technology and her determination and commitment to representing diversity in leadership. Andrea earned two undergraduate degrees, Business Administration and Biology, from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and CHIME Certified Healthcare CIO.
Kristin Escamilla MD is a Community and Academic Psychiatrist who has been a strong advocate for trainee and physician wellness since beginning her medical training. She is confident that medicine can be learned in a positive and supportive environment, where one can thrive instead of just survive. Mentors have made an undeniable impact on her life and career, and as a first-generation graduate, she hopes to create a lasting supportive influence on those who are along the same path as well.
Harshal Shah is the founder and CEO of The Venture Build (TVB). TVB is an operator focused venture capital company. He is also the CEO of Gateway Digital US, a joint venture with the Gateway Group of Companies.
Harshal brings more than 25+ years of executive leadership, business, and technology experience. Harshal has managed private equity, product engineering services, and healthcare and life sciences P&Ls for multi-billion-dollar technology services in the past. An entrepreneur & former healthcare co-founder, Harshal continues to be advisor to multiple start-ups & on board of several technology and entrepreneurial companies & non-profits.
