Meet Our Board of Directors

Dr. Laura Kezar recently retired from a >30 year successful physiatry career at UAB's Spain Rehabilitation Center, primarily caring for people with neurologic and musculoskeletal disabilities.  She also served 11 years as the Associate Dean of Students at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in addition to 6 years on the Jefferson County Board of Health, among other roles at the regional and national levels.  She is an urban farm food gardener for donation to local food pantries, totaling >2000 pounds in 2023.  She is also an ANNO Master Gardener, helping to develop state-wide programming to facilitate donation of fresh produce from backyard and small farm gardeners to community members across Alabama.

Ms. Valerie Jones is currently employed at UAB with utilization management and is a member of the New Rising Star Church in Eastlake.  She worked at Cooper Green Hospital for 24 years, where she became a passionate advocate for marginalized and underserved people after witnessing the detrimental effects of the social determinants/disparities in healthcare.  She serves as her church's HEAL Ambassador Coordinator and is a youth leader and member of the Health and Wellness Ministry.

Mr. Gester received both MBA and JD from the University of Alabama, after which time he worked in corporate banking at AmSouth and assisted his wife in running an independent dental clinic.  He also co-founded and served as CEO of Diversified Scientific, Inc., a biotech firm in Birmingham.  He has volunteered with Eagle Scout Troup 320, the STAIR early reading program for 2nd grade students, and the Birmingham Hospitality Network.  He co-chairs the ANNO Human Resources Committee.

Mr. Kassouf, a CPA and Certified Financial Planner Professional, has practiced for over 50 years, assisting clients with accounting, tax and advisory services with an emphasis on physician practices and other professional firms.  He has served in leadership positions for professional organizations, including The Estate Planning Council of Birmingham, The Financial Planning Association of North Alabama, The Birmingham Tax Club, and The Federal Tax Clinic.  His areas of specialty include contract negotiations, compensation arrangements, entity selection, business operations, revenue cycle management, retirement plan design, insurance and educational fund planning.  In addition, his community service has included the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, The Civic Club Foundation, The Rotary Club of Birmingham and The Community Grief Support.  He chairs the ANNO Finance Committee and co-chairs the ANNO Human Resources Comittee.

Dr. Honan is a practicing cardiologist at CardioVascular Associates of the Southeast and has held a variety of positions with the American College of Cardiology (including president/governor of the Alabama Chapter, governor-elect, education committee co-chair and chair, industry chair, treasurer, Sixth district counselor, bylaws revision committee chair, public health chair), the American Heart Association (including affiliate VP of medical relations, board president, men's corporate committee, Open Your Heart chair, Living with Heart Disease conference chair, Cor Vitae society), the Birmingham Cardiovascular Society (serving as president, treasurer), and Brookwood Medical Center (Chief of Cardiology, chair of Cardiology QI committee, code committee, VP of the Department of Medicine, Medical Executive and Credentials committee, cardiac cath lab director, IRB committee).  His passion for ensuring all people have access to and education regarding healthy lifestyles fueled the development of the ANNO project.  He heads the ANNO Education committee.

Dr. Travelute, wife of Dr. Honan, currently practices internal medicine at Internal Medicine Specialists, although she previously ran a free-standing independent practice for >20 years.  She helps to promote the "family" aspect of the ANNO program, not only assisting with education by giving lectures, but co-leading line dancing at one of our community events, participating at cooking events, and assisting with outreach.  She is a former President of the Jefferson County Medical Society, member of their Ethics committee, and previously served as a counselor to MASA.

Ms. Patel is the immediate past president of the Medical Alliance of the State of Alabama, an organization for physician spouses, and has coordinated engagement of physicians and their spouses with the HOWs, driving the program forward.  She leads the Headway Project, a resource for supporting mental health of health professionals and their patients.

Dr. Mirza is a practicing cardiologist at CardioVascular Associates of the Southeast and serves on the council of the state chapter of the American College of Cardiology.  She is the lead HEAL minister at the Hoover Crescent Mosque.

Dr. Jones is a retired interventional cardiologist who practiced with CardioVascular Associates of the Southeast.  He is a certified HEAL Ambassador and has been key in developing the retired physician aspect of ANNO, pioneering development of malpractice insurance coverage that allows our physicians to lecture and teach.  He also chairs the ANNO Insurance Committee.

Mr. Jackson is the Executive Director of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.  After graduating with a degree in Business Administration and spending 2 years in Washington, D.C., he ultimately returned to join the Medical Association of the State of Alabama as the Director of Legislative Affairs, facilitating lobbying and governmental affairs activities for physicians state-wide.  He subsequently became Executive Director and is responsible for all operations of the 7,000-member association including finance, continuing medical education, membership, legal, and physician wellness.  Mr. Jackson also oversees the activities of the Medical Foundation of Alabama, the Physician’s Health Insurance Plan of Alabama (PIPA) ,and MASA Services (the for-profit arm of the Association).  He serves on the Executive Committees of the Litigation Center and the Advocacy Resource Center of the American Medical Association.

Rev. Miller is Associate Pastor of Mt. Hillard Baptist Church on the West End of Birmingham.  He was a long-time member of the Birmingham Water Works Board, and serves at the Jimmie Hale Mission and several prisons.  He chairs the Spirituality Committee of ANNO.

Ms. Porter is a retired nurse who serves as the lead HEAL minister at Mt. Canaan Full Gospel Church.  She serves on their Executive Committee and is active in ritual and service activities of the church.