Christopher Mora, who serves as a TSOPHE Board member, is a Community Health Worker with over 20 years of experience in Central Texas. His passion for public health stems from his childhood in San Antonio, where he witnessed the strength of community support. Through his work at Dell Medical School, Chris has gained valuable insights into healthcare access disparities in Texas. He plays a key role in enhancing public health education by providing culturally relevant information and connecting individuals to essential resources. Chris underscores the importance of cultural competency in fostering community engagement and achieving positive health outcomes.

Q) Can you share your journey into public health and what motivated you to become a Community Health Worker?

For over 20 years, I’ve worked in healthcare in Central Texas. Growing up in San Antonio I saw how important community was. As a child, I lived with my grandparents and my neighborhood mainly consisted of older generations. It was there that I learned the importance of striving to help others in need. I saw great examples of neighbors helping neighbors with food or school supplies. Someone always knew where to point to a resource. Many of us would carpool together in my mom’s station wagon to get to them. I’ve always been the type of person that wants to help others in need and if I don’t know the answer I will keep digging until I find one or find the right person to ask. It wasn’t until later in my professional life that someone was kind enough to pull me aside and explain that the work I was aspiring to do in the clinic had an official title of “Community Health Worker”. I’ll always be grateful for that person’s guidance and acknowledgement in showing me that part of myself. From there, I’ve learned how important my role can be in enhancing public health education and outreach. I look forward to continuing this role and always helping those in need.

Q) How has your experience at Dell Medical School shaped your understanding of population health in Texas?

My time at Dell Medical Schools has given me a deeper understanding of public health issues in Texas. I’ve seen firsthand how unequal access to good healthcare can affect people and communities. During my time I’ve been in several projects involving Covid-19 vaccinations, improving digital equity, addressing food insecurities, chronic health disease education and now health navigation for breast cancer.

Q) In your opinion, what is the current state of public health education in Texas, and what improvements are needed?

Many communities, especially those in rural areas or with limited resources, continue to face challenges in accessing accurate and culturally relevant health information. To address these disparities, we need to prioritize increased funding for public health education programs, expand access to health literacy resources, and promote partnerships between healthcare providers, community organizations, and schools.

Q) What role do you believe Community Health Workers play in enhancing public health education and outreach?

As a Community Health Worker, I believe my role is crucial in enhancing public health education and outreach. Being a trusted member of a community, I can provide culturally relevant health information in a way that resonates with folks. Additionally, can assist in breaking down some of those barriers to healthcare and connect individuals with the necessary resources. It’s my hope that I can help empower community members to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

Q) Can you discuss the importance of cultural competency in public health education and how it affects community engagement?

Cultural competency helps us all to understand and address the unique health needs and challenges that are faced by diverse communities. It’s a respect for different cultures and backgrounds. When people feel understood they feel valued. I think it’s this trust that can lead to positive outcomes with communities coming together to participate in health programs.