Texas Diabetes Council Gets New Experts: What It Means for You

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has tapped a new group of experts to join the Texas Diabetes Council, a move that signals renewed attention to a health issue affecting over 11% of the state’s population. Announced on April 9, 2025, the appointments include K. Renee’ Yarbrough-Yale, a nurse with deep experience in hospital diabetes programs, alongside Dirrell Jones, Michael Kelly, and Jason Ryan, who bring legal, health education, and energy sector perspectives to the table. Their terms will run until February 1, 2031, pending Senate confirmation.

Diabetes has long been a pressing concern in Texas, where rates outpace many parts of the country. The council, tasked with advising the state legislature on diabetes-related policies, now faces heightened expectations to deliver practical solutions. With backgrounds spanning healthcare delivery, philanthropy, and corporate leadership, these appointees are poised to confront a disease that costs billions annually and touches countless lives across urban and rural communities alike.

K. Renee’ Yarbrough-Yale coordinates inpatient diabetes care at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, where she’s honed skills in patient education and clinical oversight. Her nursing credentials from Texas Christian University bolster her hands-on approach. Dirrell Jones, a trial attorney from Farmers Branch, offers a legal lens, shaped by his work with Redeem Trial Attorneys and leadership in community groups. Michael Kelly, vice president at Paso del Norte Health Foundation in El Paso, brings a public health focus, backed by a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and ties to regional health initiatives.

Jason Ryan, executive vice president at CenterPoint Energy in Houston, rounds out the group with corporate experience and a law degree from The University of Texas. His role in the energy sector might seem an outlier, but it ties into broader trends where energy companies are increasingly linked to healthcare through sustainability efforts. Together, this mix of expertise aims to bridge gaps between clinical care, policy advocacy, and community impact, reflecting the council’s multifaceted mission.

The stakes are high. Texas has seen legislative wins in recent years, like capping insulin co-pays at $25 a month for state-regulated plans, a policy the council helped push. Yet challenges persist, from uneven access to care in rural areas to the rising burden of type 2 diabetes tied to obesity. The council’s biennial plans have zeroed in on expanding telehealth, integrating mental health support, and rolling out advanced tech like continuous glucose monitors. These appointees inherit a legacy of progress but also a packed agenda.

Beyond Texas, the interplay of energy and healthcare adds another layer. Companies like CenterPoint Energy, where Ryan works, are part of a shift where firms partner with health systems to cut costs and emissions. Think solar-powered clinics or efficiency upgrades that free up funds for patient care. It’s a model seen elsewhere, from Kaiser Permanente’s renewable energy push in California to Summit Ridge Energy’s work with OSF HealthCare, saving $450,000 yearly. This cross-sector angle could shape how the council tackles resource gaps.

Not everyone sees these appointments the same way. Supporters of hospital-based care applaud Yarbrough-Yale’s role, pointing to data from places like Park Nicollet Health System, where coordinators lifted diabetes quality targets from 10.6% to 28.5% in four years. Advocates for broader public health strategies cheer Kelly’s involvement, given his track record with philanthropy-driven programs. Yet some question if a corporate figure like Ryan fits, wondering if energy ties might steer focus away from grassroots needs. Others argue it’s a smart nod to innovative funding models.

Diabetes educators and researchers also weigh in. Team-based training, backed by groups like the American Diabetes Association, has cut hemoglobin A1C levels by 2.3% in pilot studies, a metric these appointees could prioritize. Philanthropic efforts, from $50 million pledges at the University of Miami to Texas-specific grants, underscore the need for research alongside policy. The council’s challenge? Balancing these voices while keeping tangible outcomes in sight for everyday Texans.

This shake-up lands as diabetes remains a stubborn foe. Since its start in 1983, the Texas Diabetes Council has evolved from mapping care gaps to driving laws that ease insulin costs and boost education. The new members step into a landscape where over a decade of efforts has laid groundwork, but the finish line keeps shifting. Their six-year terms offer a window to build on past wins, like telehealth expansion, while wrestling with fresh hurdles like rising childhood diabetes rates.

For Texans new to this world of policy and health, it’s less about jargon and more about what hits home: cheaper meds, better clinic access, or a doctor who gets it. These appointments aren’t a fix-all, but they signal intent. Whether they deliver depends on how well this crew blends their know-how with the real-world messiness of a disease that doesn’t play favorites.