Dr. Charleta Guillory is the current chair of the Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB). I sat down with Dr. Guillory to learn more about her achievements, passion for infant and mother health, and her vision for TCHMB during her tenure as chair.
Dr. Guillory was selected as chair after serving as co-chair of the neonatal committee for 6 years. She is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Section of Neonatology at Baylor College of Medicine and Director of the Texas Children's Hospital Neonatal-Perinatal Public Health Program.
1. Please describe your education, specifically your medical education.
I was one of the first 2 Black female graduates (out of a mere 4 total women in the entire program) who completed my medical education at Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans, earning my MD degree in 1974. Following this, I completed a Pediatric Residency at the University of Colorado Medical Center and Louisiana State University from 1975 to 1978. I then pursued a Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics in Houston from 1978 to 1981, and I am board certified in both pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine.
My education also includes leadership and national policy training through the Gallup Leadership Institute and the American Political Science Association's Congressional Fellowship Program. I was 1 of 6 physicians in the United States to receive the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship from the National Academy of Science and Institute of medicine, where I served as a legislative assistant in the United States Senate (office of Senator John B. Breaux, LA) promoting both health policy legislation and programs.
Additionally, I earned a Master of Public Health from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in 2015, completing a thesis on the High Rate of Prematurity in African-American Women in Houston, Texas and focusing on efforts to advance programs and policies that improve neonatal health outcomes.
2. Please describe your career experience within medicine.
My very first job after completing my fellowship in 1981 was co-director of the Woman's Hospital of Texas NICU, transitioning the nursery from Level II to Level III. In addition, I directed the Texas Children's Hospital Level II Nursery for 21 years, where I established admission and discharge guidelines and coordinated quality improvement projects. My leadership experience included working with multidisciplinary teams of neonatologists, nurse practitioners, fellows, residents, medical students, and nursing staff.
Throughout my career in medicine, I have held numerous key roles that have significantly impacted maternal and child health. As the Director of the Neonatal-Perinatal Public Health Program and the immediate past Director of the Texas Children's Hospital Level II Nursery. I have managed the care of infants with complications such as prematurity, birth defects, and metabolic disorders, overseeing transfers from across Texas and beyond.
Additionally, my training through the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship, Congressional Fellowship, and Gallup Institute Leadership Course has equipped me to influence healthcare policy. As Chair of the March of Dimes State Prematurity Campaign and the State Advocacy and Government Affairs committee, I have led statewide initiatives to reduce premature births and developed materials for legislative advocacy. I also currently direct the Patient Advocacy Elective in Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, further contributing to my extensive career in educating others in neonatal healthcare.
I also chaired the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Newborn Screening Advisory Committee — championing the increase of the number of newborn screens being done by the state to help decrease infant mortality — and served 10 years on the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Perinatal Advisory Council (PAC) — designating levels of neonatal and maternal care.
Recently, I was appointed to serve on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pediatric Advisory Committee and was appointed to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Committee on Fetus and Newborn. I served as President of the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS) of the American Academy of Pediatrics for 2021 and now serve as the TPS/AAP Chapter Chair President. My commitment to improving the health of infants led to the Secretary of Health and Human Services appointing me to serve on the HRSA Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality.
Still today, I continue to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Level IV and serve on the ECMO team. My advocacy for improving maternal and infant health, especially for vulnerable populations, has been a central theme in my work. I have been dedicated to reducing infant mortality and eliminating disparities in health outcomes based on socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic factors.
3. How did you become involved with TCHMB?
I started as a member of the Expert Panel in 2011 advising Healthy Texas Babies, the state infant mortality reduction initiative housed at DSHS, and I continued as a member of TCHMB at its inception, which began officially operating as the state perinatal quality collaborative in 2013. As the group continued to evolve, I served as the Co-Chair of the Neonatal Standing Committee of the Executive Committee for over 6 years.
4. What does it mean to you to be TCHMB Chair?
Every job that I have, or have had, I approach with commitment, service, and an opportunity to improve the lives of others. I bring to TCHMB a vast variety of experiences/preparation to work in a community of like-minded experts to effect positive change. I feel both humbled and proud to have the privilege to be part of this awesome team.
I remain committed to identifying the social determinants of health and their effects on the maternal and infant population before and after NICU admission. As a leader in the field of neonatology at the city, state, and national levels, my mission is to identify and implement solutions for these adverse determining factors that impact infant and maternal health.
In my tenure as TCHMB Chair, I aim to achieve several key goals that align with best practices in maternal and child health. Firstly, I intend to reduce infant mortality rates and improve overall infant and child health outcomes, particularly focusing on addressing health disparities. By enhancing access to high-quality care for vulnerable populations, I hope to create more equitable health outcomes for all Texas families.
Secondly, I plan to implement and support quality improvement initiatives across neonatal and perinatal care units. This includes developing and refining guidelines and protocols to ensure consistent, evidence-based care for premature and critically ill infants. Collaborating with healthcare professionals, I will promote best practices and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Lastly, I hope to build collaboration and knowledge sharing among healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers. By creating a robust network of partners, we can drive innovation and ensure that Texas remains a leader in neonatal and perinatal care.
Through these efforts, I aspire to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of mothers and infants, contributing to a healthier future for Texas families and continuing to make the work of TCHMB impactful.
Written by Kirsten Handler, Communication Specialist at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin.
TCHMB is funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
