How can we engage with you?
Family and Community Medicine's Community Engagement & Health Equity Committee and department volunteers participate in health fairs and outreach opportunities throughout Greater Houston. Complete the form to submit a request for our committee's involvement at your event.
Celebrate Diversity Month!
In honor of Celebrate Diversity Month, we recognized our community partners serving Greater Houston. The gallery below highlights Family and Community Medicine volunteers engaging in local initiatives with our collaborators and several diverse communities.
Our Commitment
The Department of Family and Community Medicine is strongly committed to embracing diverse cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives within our department and the BCM community. The Department's Community Engagement & Health Equity Committee is a group of diverse faculty and staff members dedicated to fostering an environment of mutual respect and promoting acceptance of all.
The Family and Community Medicine CEHE Committee works toward the development and implementation of strategies that prioritize health equity in clinics and communities served by our department. We strive to provide a more inclusive workplace regardless of cultural differences, beliefs, background, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, abilities, and more.
Some of our current initiatives include:
- Biannual CEHE-themed faculty Grand Rounds
- Dedicated CEHE lecture series for FCM residents
- Biannual CEHE Champion Award given to one faculty member and one staff member
- Interdepartmental Collaborations
- Advancement of cultural awareness and promotion of celebrations across the diversity spectrum
Our Care
Our department's clinical faculty consists of 175 individuals from all walks of life who are dedicated to treating Houston's multicultural patient populations. We offer primary care and integrated specialized care at our Baylor Medicine Family Medicine private clinics, as well as through our partnership with Harris Health. Our physicians and advanced practice clinicians provide healthcare services to diverse communities at health centers and same day clinics across Harris County, plus Ben Taub General Hospital. Family Medicine residents have the opportunity to train alongside our faculty in caring for the underserved. In addition, our department participates in community-based contracts with organizations such as Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston, Houston Recovery Center, and Santa Maria Hostel to further reach local patients in need.
Harris Health Patient Demographics
- Hispanic – 52.3 percent
- African American – 22.5 percent
- Caucasian – 17.9 percent
- Asian and other – 7.3 percent
Reference: Harris Health Facts and Figures
Our Institution
Baylor College of Medicine is a world-class research institution and academic center situated in the heart of the Texas Medical Center. The Office of Community Engagement & Health Equity has activities and programs, which all can participate in.
Our Community Engagement & Health Equity Team
The Department of Family and Community Medicine has designated health equity ambassadors and committee members who lead the department's efforts.
If you have questions or would like to get involved with the Department of Family and Community Medicine's Community Engagement & Health Equity initiatives and activities, contact our ambassadors below.
Sandra J. Gonzalez, MSSW, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Director of Behavioral Health, Baylor Medicine Family Medicine
Chair and Director of Community Engagement & Health Equity
Health Equity Ambassador, Baylor College of Medicine
Jonnae Atkinson, M.D., M.S., FAAFP
Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Vice Chair of Community Engagement & Health Equity
Health Equity Ambassador, Baylor College of Medicine
Bridget Angel, M.A.
Senior Academic Coordinator, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member
Giovanna R. Carroll, M.A., MPA, DPC, LCDC-I
Behavioral Health Associate, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member
Judith Gutierrez, M.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Primary Care Research
Health Equity Committee Member
Jacqueline Hirth, Ph.D., MPH
Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Director of Research, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member
Bharat Joshi, M.D., FAAFP
Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member
Brendon Martin, M.D.
Resident, Family Medicine Residency Program
Health Equity Committee Member
Kiara Olmeda, M.S.
Research Coordinator, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member
Yasmin Uzamere, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member
Mariana Villanueva, M.S.
Senior Research Administration Associate, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member
April Walker, M.A., LPC, NCTTP
Behavioral Health Associate, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member
Amna Waqar, MBBS
Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine
Health Equity Committee Member