Gutierrez: City of Pharr’s decision to set up a public health department is paying dividends

3 months ago 95

PHARR, Texas – When Dr. Cynthia Gutierrez became public health director for the City of Pharr eight months ago she did know where to start.

The city had never had such a department and Gutierrez’s mind was racing with all the possibilities.

“I came in the first day and there was literally nothing there. I honestly didn’t do anything that first day. I just sat there thinking. There was so much to do I did now know where to start. So, the next day I came in and I did the mission, vision and core values and then it built from there.”

It’s been something of a whirlwind in those eight short months, Gutierrez said.

“I’m very proud because in that short time, we have been able to accomplish great things. Honestly, we thought that it would take several years to get to where we’re at.”

By way of example, Gutierrez referenced the revamping of Pharr’s animal control department and the funding her department has received to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s.

“We’re tackling Alzheimer’s disease and all other related dementias. We are the only recipients of a grant called Healthy Brain Initiative in Texas, in this cohort. Since 2005 there have only been two Texas recipient. We’re very proud for that.”

The big advantage of a city setting up a public health department, Gutierrez said, is that there are a lot of grants to go after.

“We have been very active in applying for grants. The sky’s the limit, because since municipalities have never applied (for grants) here in our county, there’s a lot of funding and there’s a lot of opportunities to work and see what you’d like to add.”

Another advantage to having a public health department is a city gets a seat at the table at the state level.

“Being part of the Border Health Task Force in Austin is really exciting because you’re sitting with like-minded individuals. Mr. (Eduardo) Olivarez from Hidalgo County. So are all the bigger cities from around the state. But there are not too many from this region. we’re there are cities there but not from this region. It’s exciting because we get to tell the governor eventually what we need.”

The work of Gutierrez has been noticed on the national stage. In late April, Gutierrez was given a national platform when she was asked to speak at a big healthcare conference held in San Diego and hosted by Western Governors University.

“It was a huge conference. Huge. To give you an idea, the Bill Gates Foundation had a panel on one side. Another one had Mark Zuckerberg’s foundation,” Gutierrez said.

“The AltaCair Foundation was also part of it. And we had a panel that looked at the Rio Grande Valley’s health. So, I talked about creating health departments at the municipal level to change the trajectory of health along the border.”

Gutierrez will be speaking on the same subject in Detroit in late July.

“It is the annual conference of the National Association of City and County Health Officials. So, all the top health officials for every city and county in United States are going to be there. I will be speaking about creating a health department at the municipal level to tackle and change the landscape of healthcare.”

Gutierrez gives praise to Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez and Pharr City Commissioner Ramiro Caballero for they vision in setting up the public health department. She said it helps that they are both medical doctors.

“The vision of the mayor… is to create a Regional Public Health organization that can come together and have representatives of health departments in every city or at least the bigger cities (in the Rio Grande Valley) so that we can start advocating to the state, to the Department of State Health Services, to Health & Human Services, to all those departments that have funding to finally have a voice and say we need those monies.”

Before cranking up the Pharr Public Health Department, Gutierrez worked for seven years as lead epidemiologist for the Hidalgo County Health Department. Her job was to mitigate the impact of infectious illnesses in the county.

Gutierrez received her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish from UT-Pan American and she received her master’s in business administration from UT-Rio Grande Valley.

Between those degrees, Gutierrez attended Universidad Mexico-Americana Del Norte (UNAM) in Reynosa. She graduated with a degree as a medical doctor.

Gutierrez says she learned a lot working for Hidalgo County.

“I went through the whole pandemic, and we were one of the most affected counties in the United States, when we talk about the mortality rate. And so, having been there, I can tell you, one of the biggest reasons (for setting up a public health department in Pharr) was because we have very high numbers of obesity, diabetes, stroke, and many other illnesses.”

Gutierrez said it is not a matter of if there’s another pandemic, but a matter of when. “So, if we are prepared at the municipal level, then it is going to be easier to respond to any contingency.”

Gutierrez hastened to add that in setting up a public health department, Pharr is not competing with Hidalgo County.

“We’re not competing with the County Health Department. I have a great relationship with Dr. (Ivan) Melendez. As a matter of fact, he provides us with letters of support when we’re applying for grants. And Mr. (Eduardo) Olivarez as well,” Gutierrez said.

“But it’s really interesting because outside of here, organizations are looking at it and saying, you know, we’ve tried everything else. Let’s see if putting money into the cities works, because the landscape of health has not changed in 50 years. The numbers for obesity and diabetes have not changed. What if they started changing after you started (investing in public health) at the city level.”

Convinced she and her team can make a difference, Gutierrez encourages other Valley cities to get in touch and learn of the benefits of running a public health department at the municipal level.

“We are really starting to tackle big healthcare issues. Not your 5k (run) once a year and everyone goes home. But actual projects and programs that stand every year to help the community.

“Why can’t we have partnerships with the DHR, with South Texas Health System and provide, I don’t know, how many free mammograms? Not once a year when it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But, you know, ongoing, maybe 20 or 30 per month free for residents. Eventually you start getting people understanding the importance of preventative care.

Gutierrez added: “I wake up every day and it’s like, okay, we can do this. We can create new solutions. That’s the beauty about starting from zero.”

Editor’s Note: Here is a video interview with Dr. Cynthia Gutierrez at a recent Workforce Solutions forum on healthcare: