Texas Health Action (THA) is a community informed non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to culturally affirming, quality health services in a safe and supportive environment with an expertise in serving LGBTQIA+ people and people impacted by HIV.
THA operates Kind Clinic and Waterloo Counseling Center, offering sexual wellness and mental health services across Texas.
At Texas Health Action, the pursuit of health justice is central to our mission. We believe that everyone deserves equitable access to healthcare. Our programs are designed to break down barriers to care by providing culturally affirming services, advocating for inclusive policies, and addressing the systemic inequities that disproportionately affect LGBTQIA+ individuals and people impacted by HIV.
This commitment to health justice forms the foundation of our strategic plan. By advancing our mission and addressing healthcare disparities, we aim to create a transformative impact across Texas. Through collaboration, education, and innovation, we are building a future where dignity, respect, and access to quality care are guaranteed for all.
We take responsibility for ourselves and those we serve.
Everyone deserves care, compassion, and respect.
We foster trust in all relationships, from patients to partners.
We drive forward-thinking healthcare solutions.
We honor the diverse identities and experiences of our community.
We pursue the highest standards in everything we do.
Christopher has always leaned into his passion for improving healthcare access and initiatives for the betterment of Texas residents. This journey has led Hamilton to serve in leadership roles where he has had the opportunity to create and launch successful healthcare, education and advocacy programs for a number of organizations.
Hamilton joined Texas Health Action in 2018 as CEO and since that time has worked to grow the sexual health and mental health services offered by Texas Health Action programs, Kind Clinic and Waterloo Counseling Center. Hamilton led the expansion of Kind Clinic to physical locations in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio, as well as the development of a stand-alone virtual service to provide sexual health services to people across Texas. In 2021 he led the organization through a merger with Waterloo Counseling Center to integrate behavioral health services.
Prior to Texas Health Action in 2018, Hamilton held numerous leadership positions over nine years within the Ascension Seton Healthcare system. Most recently, he served as the director of Oncology Service Line where he spearheaded the development of an oncology service line in partnership with the newly established LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.
Outside of his day-to-day responsibilities, Hamilton has given his time and counsel to several boards including Chairing the Investment Committee of One Voice Central Texas, the City of Austin Boards and Commissions HIV Planning Council, and the Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse.
Megan Brunson has served as Chief Operating Officer of Texas Health Action since 2019. Under her leadership, THA has expanded its clinical footprint across the state—including Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Virtual Services—while scaling operations to support nearly 30,000 patients annually through programs like Kind Clinic and Waterloo Counseling Center.
Megan’s
20 years in healthcare leadership have focused on strengthening operations across inpatient, outpatient, home health, and nonprofit settings—work that has centered on building strong teams and expanding organizations, programs, and services. She believes that access is the most important element of care, and that there should be no wrong door to enter the healthcare system. For Megan, reducing barriers is essential to ensuring people feel supported and comfortable engaging in care.
Before joining Texas Health Action, Megan served as the National Director of Operations for Amputation Prevention Centers of America, where she led the development of specialty surgical and outpatient clinic programs across the country to reduce complications and prevent amputations for patients with complex conditions like diabetes. That experience reinforced her belief that timely, accessible care is key to long-term health outcomes—a principle that continues to guide her leadership today.
Megan’s life, education, and career have followed what she calls a “warmer-weather migration,” beginning in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she grew up, then to the Seattle area, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Puget Sound. She later received her MBA from Colorado State University, spent five years in San Francisco, and ultimately settled in Austin.
Megan shares Texas Health Action’s passion for advancing health justice and is dedicated to making high-quality, affirming care accessible to all. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending lazy afternoons by the pool with her husband, Kelly. They live in Southwest Austin with their two cats, Mac and Jules.
Juan Benitez has served as Chief Advancement Officer of Texas Health Action since January 2023, leading the organization’s philanthropic growth, advocacy efforts, and statewide marketing and creative strategy. Under his leadership, THA has strengthened its position in the highly competitive sexual health and PrEP landscape—expanding fundraising efforts, modernizing communications, and elevating the THA and Kind Clinic brands across Texas.
Juan brings a strong background in mission-driven communications and movement building. Before joining THA, he led statewide messaging and media strategy for Workers Defense, and previously managed communications and fundraising for Vivent Health during its merger with AIDS Services of Austin.
Before joining Texas Health Action, Dr. Bauer held clinical and executive leadership roles at a federally qualified health center in Cincinnati and an Ohio nonprofit focused on LGBTQIA+ and HIV care. Most recently, as Chief Medical Officer at The HealthCare Connection, he expanded HIV and PrEP programs, launched hepatitis C treatment services, developed substance use programs including medication for opioid use disorder, secured federal Ryan White and Ending the HIV Epidemic funding, and partnered with the Ohio Department of Health on minority health initiatives and mpox outbreak response.
Dr. Bauer earned his medical degree from the University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his internal medicine residency at Wright State University, and an infectious diseases fellowship at The Ohio State University. He also holds the HIV Specialist™ credential from the American Academy of HIV Medicine.
Juan brings a strong background in mission-driven communications and movement building. Before joining THA, he led statewide messaging and media strategy for Workers Defense, and previously managed communications and fundraising for Vivent Health during its merger with AIDS Services of Austin.
Zeus is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over fifteen years of experience implementing a variety of digital tools and programs for hospitals and clinics in the Austin community.
Originally from the east coast, he received his Bachelor of Science from Messiah University and Masters in Healthcare Administration from Saint Joseph’s University before migrating to Austin in 2014. He began his professional career in health education/STI prevention for high-risk adolescents, eventually moving into Electronic Health Record (EHR) consulting, virtual care operations, strategic planning and marketing.
Zeus has been devoted to improving and increasing access to healthcare in our community, working with CommUnityCare, the UT Dell Medical School, and Ascension Health. Currently, he is the Director of Digital Health at Texas Oncology. His volunteer experience includes: the Hill Country Ride for AIDS, CASA of Travis County, Meals on Wheels, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and The Austin Bulldog Rescue.
When he’s not on the hunt for Air Conditioning, Wi-fi and breakfast tacos, Zeus enjoys participating in charity runs, home renovations, community events, and spending time with his chosen family.
Juan Valdemoros is a Senior Legal Counsel with more than 15 years of experience advising global technology companies on complex commercial transactions, data privacy, cybersecurity, regulatory matters, and compliance. His work spans SaaS and technology transactions, product development, corporate governance, and cross-border matters.
Juan currently serves as Senior Legal Counsel at a leading global banking technology company, where he provides strategic legal guidance on complex commercial transactions and regulatory matters across the region. He partners with business leaders and cross-functional teams to navigate evolving legal and compliance requirements, manage risk, and support responsible growth across multiple jurisdictions.
Juan is a Texas-licensed attorney with advanced graduate education in business law, international taxation, project management, and business administration. In his free time, Juan enjoys traveling, cooking, staying active, and exploring his interests in architecture and design.
Javier is a certified public accountant (CPA) and is licensed in the State of Texas.
He received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in Accounting at Texas State University.
Following college, he spent 11 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the assurance practice where he provided audit services to clients in various industries such as banking, asset management, broker dealers, employee benefit plans, and healthcare. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Javier is currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Capital Farm Credit where he supervises accounting and financial reporting, finance, treasury services and loan accounting operations.
Javier has also been an active volunteer in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas and at Austin Rainbow Theatre. He is a die-hard college football fan and loves animals. During his spare time he likes being with his friends, playing with his dogs and enjoys theater.
Brian Hayes joined Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) in January 2019 as Director of Human Resources. DRTx is the official Protection and Advocacy Agency for Persons with Disabilities in Texas, providing legal services for clients across the State. Brian has more than 34 years of human resources management experience in both for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Public Relations from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1995 and holds professional certifications from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). After spending most of his HR career working with manufacturing, oil and gas, and petrochemical companies as well as local government organizations, Brian had the unique opportunity to lead a premiere long-term supported care program in Galveston for residents with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.
Brian’s volunteer work is extensive, serving on the Board of Directors for The HRSouthwest Conference for more than ten years, and as a general volunteer for the conference for more than fifteen years. He moved to Montgomery, Texas in May 2023 to be closer to his two adult daughters. Brian married his best friend, Rudy, in November, and they live with their 2 fur babies, Grady and Hazel. Before moving to this area, he lived in Austin for 5 years, where he served the HR community as the Chapter President for Austin SHRM in 2021. Prior to this Brian lived in the Clear Lake and Galveston areas of Houston and he served as Chapter President for Texas Bay Area SHRM in the Clear Lake area of Houston for four years. He was recognized as the Texas SHRM Distinguished Volunteer of the Year in October 2024, and in 2023 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Austin SHRM’s Excellence in HR awards program.
Brian has served as Assistant State Director for TexasSHRM (Texas State HR Council) for the past 4 years. Prior to this role, he served as District Director for District 3 for Texas SHRM, which includes Williamson County HR (WilcoHR), Austin SHRM, Brazos Valley SHRM (College Station/Bryan), Heart of Texas SHRM (Waco), Montgomery County SHRM, and HR Houston, along with CenTex SHRM. Brian has also volunteered as a mentor for AustinSHRM’s award-winning HR Mentoring Program and was recently asked to be part of the program offered by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
