Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, has recently appointed two new members to the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response. Announced yesterday, the appointees are Jack Franklin, Jr., M.D., a family physician from Llano, and Andrew Cortez, a battalion chief with the Corpus Christi Fire Department.

Dr. Franklin, aside from his role at Hill Country Direct Care, brings an extensive medical background to the task force. As detailed by official statements, he is engaged in various professional associations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians and Texas Medical Association. Notably, Franklin has cultivated a direct impact in his local community by directing free immunization clinics and serving as team physician for the Llano High School.

Andrew Cortez's appointment leverages his emergency services expertise. His background features a robust engagement with urban emergency services, as he assumes the role of urban emergency services chair for the Coastal Bend Healthcare Preparedness Coalition. As part of the ongoing effort in combating the opioid crisis, Cortez's experience with the Nueces County Opioid Task Force stands to enrich the task force's multifaceted approach to infectious disease management.

Together, the newly appointed members are set to enhance the task force's capacity for developing protocols and educating the public in matters of infectious disease. The task force strives to be a source of reliable information for the citizens and leaders of Texas. As per their credentials, Jack Franklin, with his medical acumen, and Andrew Cortez, with his experience in emergency services, are slated to be instrumental to this mission.