Peggy Smith

Over the last 50 years, I have directed and completely funded the Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinics, a countywide system of 8 primary and reproductive health clinics for inner city youth and, as the current CEO, have demonstrated leadership in focusing community resources to expand this program. As a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry, I participate in a variety of projects that focus on adolescent pregnancy prevention, reproductive care, and male sexual health. I successfully partner with the Harris Health System (we have 1 clinic in the Ben Taub Hospital), the Houston Independent School District and Tejano Center(we have 4 clinics on high school campuses), Harris County Commissioner’s Court (3 clinics are on the property of Precinct 1) and the Texas Legislature. With our collaborators, we help to design and implement health equity policies to reduce health disparities in this targeted population and we are a model in the state and nation. My academic focus includes aspects of STIs, outreach for male involvement, behavioral telemedicine and family planning among uninsured groups that experience health inequities. We operate school-based clinics and electronic messaging programs to reduce sexual risks behavior among adolescents and young adults. My most recent academic effort is to apply the Social Determinants of Health to underserved youth residing near our clinics and publish our findings. (Refer to recent publications). I am also involved in evaluating the adaptation of behavioral health counseling in collaboration with the BCM Department of Psychiatry using electronic platforms on public school campuses. I am an associate editor on several peer-reviewed journals. I have a leadership role with several philanthropic and state policy groups (refer to II B Section, academic and scientific participation).