Fernando A. Guerra, M.D., M.P.H.
Director of Health
332 W. Commerce, Suite 307
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 207-8730
Dr. Fernando Guerra’s professional career reflects a longstanding
interest and involvement in pediatric care, public
health and health policy. He has been active with local,
regional and national forums with responsibilities including
research, program and policy development, legislative issues and
health planning.
The mission of Metro Health and its 400 employees
is to promote health and prevent disease among residents
and visitors in San Antonio and unincorporated areas of
Bexar County. Dr. Guerra oversees a budget of $37 million and
the operation of more than a dozen health locations throughout the community.
Dr. Guerra is committed to improving access to health care systems
for infants, women, children and the elderly. He is an advocate
for the prevention of domestic violence and child abuse.
He also initiated the organization of important community based
efforts for prevention of HIV infection, teen pregnancy, immunization
registries, and vaccine preventable diseases. Prior to
joining the City in 1987, Dr. Guerra was the founder and medical
director of the Barrio Family Health Clinic, and in the practice
of Pediatrics.
Dr. Guerra, as a practicing pediatrician, also serves his community
as a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), and an adjunct
professor in Public Health at the Air Force School of Aerospace
Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, and adjunct professor at
the University of Texas School of Public Health.
Education
•M.D. University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston•M.P.H. Harvard School of Public Health, Boston
•B.A. University of Texas, Austin
Professional Memberships and Community Involvement
• Urban Institute Board of Trustees
• Secretary of Health’s Advisory
Committee to Reduce Infant Mortality
• Center for Disease
Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
• Institute
of Medicine’s Board on Children and Families
• PEW Commission
on Health Professions
• American Academy of Pediatrics
Project Advisory Committee on Healthy Tomorrows
• Journal of
Public Health Policy and Practice Editorial Board
• National Association
of City and County Health Officials
• Texas Association of
Local Health Officers
• Children’s Environmental Health Institute
Board of Directors
• U.T. Health Science Center, San Antonio,
Department of Pediatrics, clinical professor
• Air Force School of
Aerospace Medicine, adjunct professor in Public Health
• National
Association of County and City Health Officials, Board of Directors
• National March of Dimes – Bioethics Committee
• Federal
Advisory Committee for the National Children’s Study
• New York
Academy of Medicine
• U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services National Vaccine Advisory Committee
Dr. Guerra has served
or is serving on the San Antonio Symphony, Board of Directors;
San Antonio Children’s Museum, Board of Directors; Witte Museum,
Board of Directors; South Texas Blood and Tissue Center
Advisory Committee; Commission on a High Performing Health
Care System, Commissioner; and the Southwest General Hospital
Board of Directors.
Honors
• James Peavy Award, Texas Public Health Association• Job Lewis Smith Award, American Academy of Pediatrics
• Public Health Leadership Institute, founding scholar
• Kellogg Fellow of the Harvard School of Public Health
• University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Ashel Smith Distinguished Alumni Award
• Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal
• Army Commendation Certificate of Achievement
• American Pediatric Society
• Jonas Salk Award, March of Dimes
• Elected to membership in the Texas Academy of Medicine, Science and Engineering
• Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and New York Academy of Medicine
