Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez
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MD, 2005, Baylor College of Medicine
Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez | |
|---|---|
 Verduzco-Gutierrez testifying before Congress in 2022 | |
| Born | 1979 (age 46–47)[notes 1] Wharton, Texas, USA |
| Spouse |
Leonard Gutierrez (m. 2003) |
| Academic background | |
| Education | BA, 2001, Rice University MD, 2005, Baylor College of Medicine |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | Long School of Medicine University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio |
Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez (born 1979) is an American academic physiatrist and rehabilitative medicine physician. She is a professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Long School of Medicine within the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She previously served as the medical director of the Brain Injury and Stroke Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann.
Verduzco-Gutierrez was born in Wharton, Texas to a Mexican-American family. Her father was a pipe fitter by profession but chose to move the family to Rio Grande Valley to return to college and complete a Bachelor's degree. She was raised in Rio Grande Valley and graduated from McAllen High School as valedictorian.[2] During her high school years, she ran on their cross country and track teams.[1]
Upon graduating high school, she moved to Houston, Texas to attend Rice University and earned her medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine.[3] When reflecting on her childhood, Verduzco-Gutierrez said some of her early role models were her pediatrician and family physician, who were both Hispanic.[2] While earning her medical degree, Verduzco-Gutierrez planned to return to her hometown and work as a pediatrician but she soon decided to pursue a different career after attending in a pre-clinical elective course in sports medicine.[4] During her second year at Baylor, she became engaged to Leonard Gutierrez.[5]
