These experienced, passionate individuals are the driving force behind our mission. Together, they work to advance the art and science of medicine for people of African descent and improve healthcare access and outcomes in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. Get to know our executive board and committee chairs.
Dr. Melanie Hafford
President
Dr. Melanie L Hafford is the Director of Bariatric Surgery at UT Southwestern’s Frisco campus. She is board certified by the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow in the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons.
Growing up outside of Atlanta, her interests in medicine and public health were cultivated at Emory University and The Medical College of Georgia. After completion of her surgical residency at UT Southwestern, she pursued specialty training in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, making her an expert in the comprehensive care of bariatric patients.
Dr. Hafford’s practice includes robotic bariatric surgery, medical weight loss, anti-reflux surgery, advanced upper endoscopy, and minimally invasive general surgery. She has been honored annually in D Magazine’s Best Doctors in Dallas and Best Doctors in Collin County since 2021, and was named a D Magazine Woman of Influence in 2022 and 2023.
She is the President of the DFW National Medical Association chapter, The C. V. Roman Medical Society, a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of over 500 black physicians in the DFW metroplex. Outside of medicine she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to new places.
Dr. Marvinia Charles
Vice President
Dr. Marvinia Charles is a highly accomplished Emergency Medicine physician who brings extensive experience and dedication to her work. Currently, she is part of an elite traveling physician team, providing critical care across various Emergency Departments in the Midwest, and she also serves our Veterans at the Dallas VA Medical Center.
Dr. Charles earned her undergraduate degree from Stony Brook University, graduating with honors, and completed her medical education at Upstate Medical University. She further honed her skills during her residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, followed by an Administrative Fellowship with Integrative Emergency Services.
Her leadership journey includes serving as the Vice President of the SNMA Chapter at her medical school, Chief Resident during her residency, Regional Vice President of the Committee of Interns and Residents, and Treasurer of the C.V. Roman Medical Society.
Dr. Charles is deeply committed to mentoring and educating future physicians and advocates for improvements in patient health and well-being. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys reading, traveling, fitness, and cherishes time spent with her family, and friends.
Dr. Michael Green
Treasurer
Dr. Green is a board certified general surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic bariatric surgery. He has performed over 3,000 laparoscopic procedures to include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric band placement and removal, bariatric revisional bariatric procedures, hernia repair, cholecystectomy, bowel resection and fistula repair.
In addition to surgery, Dr. Green offers non-surgical weight loss options and treats gastric and peptic ulcers, severe gastrointestinal reflux disease and other gastrointestinal issues.
Dr. Green’s experience and leadership in the field of bariatric surgery has placed him in a valued position to impact weight loss surgery in the DFW area by serving as Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at Medical City Fort Worth Hospital. Dr. Green’s passion for fighting the epidemic of morbid obesity began during his five years of residency training. His personal mission is to provide a lifelong solution for individuals that are battling morbid obesity and to regain quality of life through curing metabolic diseases and extending their lives.
Dr. Green is a member of the Texas Association of Bariatric Surgeons, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity, National Medical Association, Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Fellowship: Providence Hospital/Howard University, Advanced Laparoscopic General & Bariatric Surgery, 2003
Residency: University of Illinois, College of Medicine – Peoria, General Surgery, 2002
Medical Degree: University School of Medicine, 1996; Benjamin Banneker Honors College at Prairie View A& M University, 1991
Dr. Tanisha Toaston
Secretary
Tanisha A. Toaston, D.O. is a native of Baton Rouge, LA. Dr. Toaston is a proud graduate of Prairie View A&M University and Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX. She also completed her Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the Dallas Veteran Affairs Medical Center. She is Board Certified in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and with a subspecialty of Spinal Cord Injury Medicine.
She currently serves as the Medical Director at Reunion Rehabilitation Hospital of Arlington, TX. She also serves as the Spinal Cord Injury Program Director at Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital in Bedford, Texas. She is also the Medical Director of Rehab Without Walls–Dallas and Irving division. Dr. Toaston serves as a preceptor to UNTHSC medical students and as a mentor to multiple pre-med students in the DFW area.
Dr. Toaston is currently serving in her second term as the secretary of The C.V. Roman Medical Society-the DFW chapter of the National Medical Association. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She enjoys cooking, abstract painting, traveling domestically and abroad, working out, and indulging in New Orleans Saints football.
Dr. Carolee Estelle
Historian
Carolee D. Estelle, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in the Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine, and serves as the Associate Chief of Infection Prevention for Parkland Health. Dr. Estelle is Co-Director for the Housestaff Emerging Academy of Leaders, a leadership development program for medical trainees, and serves as a Colleges Mentor for medical students at the UT Southwestern School of Medical School. She has also served as the Chair of the Health Equity Committee for the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Estelle earned her Bachelor of Science at Clark Atlanta University, her medical degree at Boston University School of Medicine, and completed a residency in internal medicine at UT Southwestern, where she also received advanced training through a fellowship in infectious diseases.
Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Estelle joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2017. Dr. Estelle’s clinical interests are general infectious diseases, COVID-19 response, and emergency preparedness. Dr. Estelle serves as the Historian on the C.V. Roman Medical Society executive board within the National Medical Association, and is also a member of the Dallas County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America where she currently serves on the board.
Committee Chairs
Meet the chairs who help spearhead and operate our various programs and initiatives, from membership and fundraising to student scholarships and more.
Yolanda Hyder
Administrator
Dr. Henriette Mattis
Community Service
Dr. Camelia Rigsby
Fundraising
Dr. Gina Mullen
Gala Chair
Dr. Devin Dickson
Medical Student Liaison
Dr. Kimberly Washington
Mentorship Chair
Dr. Carolyn Riley
Resident Liaison
Dr. Latonjia Robinson-Brown
Scholarship