Riki Graves

Riki Graves has spent several years as a public advocate for her daughter, Juliana, who received a heart transplant at just 17 days old. While Riki was pregnant with Juliana, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since both surviving difficult health challenges in 2014, Riki has advocated for children like Juliana, who aren’t always able to advocate for themselves.

Riki began volunteering at Texas Children’s Hospital with the Fetal Center and Heart Center shortly after Juliana was born. Through connections with Juliana’s medical team, Riki became an active vaccine advocate working with The Immunization Partnership, Immunize Texas (now HAVEN), Voices for Vaccines, and Trust for America’s Health. Riki’s vaccine advocacy includes being invited to testify at both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives during the past three legislative sessions. She has also worked with media on public health and vaccine advocacy pieces, as well as presented to staffers on the importance of a strong vaccination policy at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

In 2022, Juliana was chosen to be the Local Hero of the Year for Texas Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network, where she was able to have a very successful fundraising campaign for Texas Children’s. Riki serves as a Board Member for Transplant Families and HAVEN, starting in 2022. She is also active on ACTION Learning Network’s FACT and CNOC Committees, the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society’s Quality Initiatives Committee, and the American Liver Foundation’s Texas Medical Advisory Committee. Riki has a Master’s in Healthcare Administration and is employed by Houston Methodist’s J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center as a Business Development Specialist for the Sherrie and Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation.

Riki is married to Chris, a retired US Army Major, and they have two children: Benjamin (12) and Juliana (9), as well as Chris’s older daughters, Ebony and Olivia. The family stays active and enjoys regular trips to the beach in Corpus Christi, as well as ski trips to Colorado.