For her steadfast work promoting health and prevention, TAN Healthcare CEO Dena Hughes was honored on December 1, 2018, with the prestigious L. Joel Martinez Award, given annually on World AIDS Day by Legacy Community Health Services.
The L. Joel Martinez Award is an annual award presented to individuals who have made a difference in the lives of individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. Mr. Martinez was a staunch HIV/AIDS advocate and founder of the Center for AIDS in Houston, Texas.
Mrs. Hughes has led TAN Healthcare since 2016 as it doubled in size and transformed into a comprehensive family health center offering primary medical and behavioral health services for people of all ages. For over 20 years she has worked to improve housing opportunities and access to health services for people with HIV throughout Houston, Beaumont, Orange and surrounding communities.
Prior to joining TAN Healthcare, Hughes led the housing services division for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. She has also served as the City of Houston’s administration manager for its HIV Prevention Program and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program. She was executive director for Bread of Life, Inc., Liaison for Houston City Council, and director of advocacy for People with AIDS Coalition Houston. She also started Concept 2 Resource, a consulting firm that focuses on non-profit organizational management. She has conducted hundreds of presentations and hosted her own radio show.
Hughes is an active community volunteer and leader at the local, state and national levels. In 2011, Dena was named a recipient of President Obama’s CHAMPION OF CHANGE AWARD and was recognized locally with her own “Dena Gray” day on June 24th by Houston Mayor Annise Parker. And in 2016, Hughes was named Pride Houston’s Ally Grand Marshall.
