About Us
The Rio Bravo Chachalacas is the Rio Grande Valley’s Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association. Our chapter is comprised of Emergency Nursing Professionals from South Texas. Our geographic area stretches from Port Isabel on the Gulf of Mexico as far west as Laredo.
This chapter represents nurses from the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas including Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo and Starr County and stretches as far west as Laredo! We are an official Chapter of the National Emergency Nurses Association! Our Chapter number is 438!
Meet our 2023 Officers
Chris Chizek RN, BSN, MEd, CCRN, CEN, TCRN
President
Christine A. Chizek, MEd, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN-K, CEN, TCRN is the Market Director of Professional Development for the HCA Gulf Coast Division South Texas Market. Chris is a registered nurse with over 29 years of experience as an educator, leader and clinician specializing in emergency nursing. In addition to her role with HCA, Chris is actively involved with the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and received the 2015 and 2018 Texas ENA Nursing Education Award for her work with training professionals and community members in the Rio Grande Valley.
Jennifer Volcy, MS, RN, TCRN
President-elect
Jennifer is a Rio Grande Valley native, who has used her experience to serve her community. She served 4 years as an Aerospace medical Technician in the U.S. Airforce and later transitioned to becoming a nurse and worked at the world renown University of Maryland’s Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Jennifer is one of our TNCC and ENPC instructors, and has been with DHR Health for 5 years, where she is now the Trauma Program Director.
Molly Jacob RN, MSN, CAISS, CSTR
Immediate Past President
Molly Jacob RN is a registered nurse with over 34 years of nursing experience. Currently she works as trauma registrar at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville and holds certifications of CAISS and CSTR. She has been a life-time ENA member and is part of the Rio Bravo Chachalacas Chapter #438 TNCC and ENPC instructor team.
Laurie de Leon-Escobedo MSN, MBA, FNP-C, APRN, CEN
Secretary
Family Nurse Practitioner certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and licensed by the Texas Board of Nurses. Professionally trained critical care nurse with 21 years of nursing experience ensuring high standards of culturally competent care for a wide variety of patients with diverse needs. Worked in a lead level III emergency department for 15 years and is a Certified Emergency Nurse. Currently delivering care to pediatric and adult patients in a pediatric and urgent care setting. Serving as a Clinical Assistant Professor for the School of Nursing at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. Currently a Doctorate of Nursing Practice student at the University of Texas at Austin.
Sarah Souffrant
Treasurer
Sarah is as a nurse practitioner with the Valley Baptist Medical Center – Harlingen hospitalist team. This year marks her 34th year as a nurse. Her nursing career started as a medical-surgical nurse for three years. She moved to the emergency department, where she stayed for 22 years as a staff nurse then a director. The past seven years were spent as a clinical informaticist.
Vacant
Secretary-elect
TBA
Chris Chizek RN, BSN, MEd, CCRN, CEN, TCRN
Treasurer-elect
Christine A. Chizek, MEd, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN-K, CEN, TCRN is the Market Director of Professional Development for the HCA Gulf Coast Division South Texas Market. Chris is a registered nurse with over 29 years of experience as an educator, leader and clinician specializing in emergency nursing. In addition to her role with HCA, Chris is actively involved with the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and received the 2015 and 2018 Texas ENA Nursing Education Award for her work with training professionals and community members in the Rio Grande Valley.
Daniel Ramirez
Upper Valley Director
Coming soon
Marcela Gomez-Martinez
Lower Valley Director
Coming soon