Physicians & Surgeons
Stephen Katz, M.D.
Transplant Surgeon
Texas Kidney Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
UT Medical School
A 1977 graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Katz completed his residency in general surgery at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh in 1984. In 1991, he completed his fellowship in immunology and organ transplantation at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston and joined the faculty as an assistant professor.
He has served as associate director of the LifeGift Organ Procurement Organization since 1999 and medical director of Organ Recovery Systems since 2004. He has also served as a member of the Cell Transplant Committee of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons since 2004.
 Charles T. Van Buren, M.D.
Transplant Surgeon
Texas Kidney Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
UT Medical School
Dr. Van Buren joined the medical staff of Memorial Hermann-TMC in 1979. In 1987, he was appointed professor of surgery at UT Medical School.
Following completion of his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1972, he performed his surgical residency at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. During 1976-77, he was chief surgical resident at West Roxbury Veterans Administration Hospital, also in Boston.
Known for excellence in teaching as well as surgery, he received the UT Medical School Outstanding Clinical Teaching Award in the Department of Surgery in 1984 and was named to the Dean’s Teaching Excellence List in 1988. He has been medical director of the LifeGift Organ Procurement Organization since 1986.
Care Coordinators
 Vonzie Barnett, RN, BSN, CPTC
Vonzie Barnett is a certified procurement transplant coordinator. He joined the Texas Kidney Institute after 10 years with LifeGift Organ Donation Center and three years with St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital.
Barnett received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from UT Medical School in 1992. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in health care administration at Texas Woman’s University.
Barnett is also on the board of directors of the local chapter of the International Transplant Nurses Society. He served two years on the UNOS Histocompatibility Committee and was a founding board member of the local chapter of the Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP).
 Erin Darbonne, RN, BSN, CNN
Erin Darbonne relocated to Texas from Louisiana in 2005 and joined the Texas Kidney Institute in 2006. She has worked in nephrology since 1996 and has extensive experience in hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, pediatric dialysis and home hemodialysis training.
Darbonne received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1995. She is a member of the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association and the International Transplant Nurses Society. She became a certified nephrology nurse in 2004.
 Jennifer L. Jeter, RN, ADN, CCTC
Jennifer Jeter is a certified clinical transplant coordinator. She joined Memorial Hermann in 1986 in the Pediatric Special Care unit. She became a kidney transplant coordinator with the Texas Kidney Institute in 1991 for both adults and children.
Jeter received an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Houston Baptist University in 1985. She received a dual Bachelor of Science degree in healthcare administration and human resources. She is a member of North American Transplant Coordinators Organization.
 Mary E. Jones, RN
Mary Jones joined the Texas Kidney Institute as a transplant coordinator in 2006. Prior to 2006, she worked with the University of Texas Department of Otolaryngology clinic as a nursing supervisor. Her area of expertise is pediatrics with an emphasis in well-child.
Jones received an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Houston Community College in 1993 and a THSP certificate in 2000. She is currently working on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
 Amy Lawless, RN, BSN
Amy Lawless joined the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in 1992. In 1996, she became a member of the Texas Kidney Institute team, working with both pre- and post-transplant patients. She is now a kidney-pancreas transplant coordinator, assisting in clinical research and working with pre and post transplant patients.
Lawless obtained a Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1992. She is a member of the International Transplant Nurses Society and has a background in home health care.
 Sean Leonhardt, RN, BSN
Sean Leonhardt has worked with the Texas Kidney Institute since July 2000. A native of Texas City, Leonhardt graduated from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Nursing in 1994 and began working as a staff nurse at UTMB’s renal transplant unit after serving as a nurse assistant in the same unit. He left UTMB in 1997 to become a coordinator at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio with their renal service as a pre-transplant coordinator.
 Barbara J. Morales, RN
Barbara J. Morales joined Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center as a graduate nurse. In 2000, she joined the Texas Kidney Institute as a renal transplant coordinator. In this role, she has worked with both pre and post transplant patients and also coordinates Living Donation transplants.
Morales earned an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Alvin Community College in 1997. In addition to her work with the Texas Kidney Institute, she is a member of the Army Nurse Corps and is a captain in the Army Reserves.
 Jan Rodwell, RN, MSN
Jan Rodwell joined Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center in 1985 as a registered nurse for the inpatient unit. She has worked in several different roles at Memorial Hermann, including working as a transplant clinician and clinical manager. In 2001, she joined the Texas Kidney Institute as a renal transplant coordinator.
Rodwell received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Texas Woman’s University in 1982. She also received her Masters of Science degree in nursing administration from UTMB Galveston in 1993. She is on the board of directors for the local chapter of the International Transplant Nurses Society.
 Stephanie Washington, RN
Stephanie Washington joined the Memorial Hermann System in 2002 to work in Hemodialysis and Intensive Care. She has been a member of the Texas Kidney Institute team since 2004 as a renal transplant coordinator.
Washington began her nursing career as a licensed vocational nurse in 1987 and completed an Associate of Science in Nursing degree in 1993. She has extensive experience working with end stage renal disease patients. In addition to her work with post-transplant patients, she serves as vice president of the Texas Medical Center Chapter of the International Transplant Nurses Society.
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