CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare News

Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. Medical Director, St. Mary’s Clinic What do six homemade tamales, one homegrown banana and a Dollar Store ring have in common? These are symbols of gratitude for our service at St. Mary’s Clinic. I am always amazed that people who have so little look for ways to show their gratitude for…

Christmas came early for CHRISTUS Learning Center student Robert Harris. On Thursday, December 19, Harris was gifted with a new bicycle by Learning Center Educator Karl Virtue. Virtue had noticed that Harris was riding to class on a child-sized bicycle and decided to step in and upgrade Harris’ ride with an adult-sized bicycle. Harris is…

For those that are uninsured or underinsured, routine medical care, such as an annual physical, is a luxury that often never happens. At CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic, these individuals are able to take control of their health with minimal to no expense for medical care. Every Wednesday, St. Mary’s Clinic provides routine health testing for…

“Susie” appeared on the doorstep of Our Daily Bread, our homeless outreach in Galveston, with her 3 month old child, telling the staff that she had nowhere to turn. Someone on the street had given her the name and address of Our Daily Bread and told her to go there “because they will help you.”…

Annually, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare’s administrative, program and CPG clinical staff and CHRISTUS Health TLRA donate time and funds to create Thanksgiving Baskets for clients at St. Mary’s Clinic, Point of Light Clinic, and the Learning Center. These baskets feature a turkey and all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving meal. It is a great way…

Dulce Garcia, Nutritionist CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic It feels as if I am inextricably linked to the profession of dietetics. I believe everyone has a purpose, and ironically, it just happens that my name is Dulce (Spanish for sweet). I have diabetes, and I chose to be a dietitian. I was diagnosed with type 1…

CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic and Krist Samaritan are partnering together to not only heal the body, but also heal the mind. In 2019, Krist Samaritan began offering their counseling services to Point of Light patients. The need has grown so much that counselors are now available 2 days a week. According to Krist Samaritan…

On Friday, November 8, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare received a $3 million gift from CHRISTUS Health to aid in finishing construction of the new CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic building. This generous gift will allow CHRISTUS Foundation for Healthcare the ability to build a larger facility than originally planned and address issues related to Hurricane Harvey,…

For 27-year-old Daniel Griffin, Non Commission Security Officer with Central investigation & Security Solutions, the challenge of assessing and providing a safe place for both clients and staff, is never dull. A Day in Daniel’s Shoes Griffin helps clients look at things objectively all while securing their daylong stay at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread for…

Westwood Wealth Management, an investment management organization, does more than just give back. The organization invests where it counts, championing CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread’s values. Westwood Wealth Management is helping to make the homeless services facility’s intentions a reality. For 34 years, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread has worked to help the underserved population on Galveston…

From early on, Father Ian Balinomo, FLP, understood the importance of communication. He understood how communication connects people and organizations with each other. “Communication is so important,” said Fr. Ian. “Knowing this, I decided that as soon as I could, I would seek to study the English language to become the best communicator I can…

CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic is not your typical run-of-the-mill clinic. The clinic staff see an average of 65 people per day walk through their doors. Hours upon hours of preparation goes into getting the facility and medical professionals ready for your appointment. Getting Ready for You Medical emergencies are not fun. Understanding that, Director of…

On February 23, 2019, 22 volunteer medical specialists embarked on a medical mission, with Operation San Jose, travelling to Monterrey, Mexico to help children and their families find hope in their smiles. The volunteers saw more than 100 children under the age of 18. The children all suffered from various degrees of cleft palate and…

We are excited to share that CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is one of 10 Texas organizations recently awarded a grant of $800,000 from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. The grant will support collaborative and inclusive approaches to improving the well-being of communities in the Houston Metropolitan Area. The initiative focuses on increasing resilience and…

There is a dream that Juan Perez visualizes every day. His dream is to complete his high school diploma and start a promising career in mathematics or computer science. His dream is now closer than ever thanks to the CHRISTUS Learning Center and its staff. Perez is currently a student at the CHRISTUS Learning Center…

Learning is dependent on several things. Repetition, connecting existing knowledge and experience to new ideas and the application of lessons to appropriate situations are all part of the equation. Without the sum of all these parts, the world can be a difficult place to navigate. Introducing Elive For Elive Campos, the world was a strange…

Identifying yourself as poverty-stricken will not prevent you from seeking medical attention at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic. In fact, those with limited financial resources and in most cases no insurance coverage can rely on the medical professionals who work tireless hours until the last patient is seen. Treatment at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic…

If you thought telemedicine was merely a matter of convenience, think again. Telemedicine is an emergent method of accessing healthcare for people who have a lack of resources or extenuating circumstances leading to health issues. Telehealth became a part of the medical treatment at the CHRISTUS School Clinics in 2014. Ashley Montalvo Estrada has been…

Lives are being saved every day by the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics team. While clients lined around the medical unit before being called in to see the medical team, others walked away with life changing diagnoses, medicine and treatment. The CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Unit is in the business of changing lives. After a…

Prescription Assistance Program Affords Clients Better Health and Hope   CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic, one of two stand alone clinics under the CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare banner, is changing the outlook of the underserved in and around the East End community to one of hope, through reduced-cost services provided to clients. The majority of the…

Event raises $252,585 to support Foundation’s mission to bring healthcare services to under-served communities. HOUSTON (March 29, 2019) — CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare hosted its 15th annual Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, March 26.  The yearly event honors community leaders and raises funds for CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare’s healthcare programs. This year’s luncheon raised funds for…

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) students, on their psycho social rotations are incorporating their fieldwork into the CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread program. The students use their occupational therapy knowledge and practicum to help the homeless population acclimate to the community, using occupational therapy. Defining Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy is not what you think it…

On February 4, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women awarded $586,000 to 47 non-profit organizations to help children in need in the Greater Houston Area. The presentation took place at the Charity Guild Shop located at 1203 Lovett Blvd. The Charity Guild was originally founded in 1922 to support what is now the San José…

These are the two words that make, 6th grader, Mia Hernandez feel safe; Mommy and Denisse. Now 11 years old, Mia recounted an ordeal that led her to add CHRISTUS School Clinic Medical Assistant, Ms. Denisse Hardy at St. Pius V, to the likes of her mother, aligning her name with a sense of safety.…

In The Beginning I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1971 at 16-years-old, my parents and I a Judge gave me a choice, either a Boys Home or the service and I picked the Marine Corps. I am a proud member of the 103rd Battalion. My military occupational specialty (MOS) was Motor Transport and I…

When Ashley Montalvo Estrada became a part of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread, she found a sense of satisfaction that she never felt before. Why? To put it simply, it gave her a new point of view. Clearly, Ashley found her calling. She found her voice. The Alice, Texas native came to CHRISTUS through an impressive…

The Struggle of Weight Loss Weight loss is more than just a $70 billion industry in the U.S. For someone diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, weight loss is very important. It is all part of a recommended regimen of necessary changes. These changes are a part of a plan to control…

Close your eyes and imagine going blind right after birth, because of medical negligence. Couple that with a mid-facial cleft, and missing fingers and you have the beginning of a life trials, for a sweet seven-year-old. Thanks to CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare and Operation San Jose mission Dulce’s story doesn’t stop there. Dulce’s parents were…

Presented with an opportunity to support CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, US Family Health Plan (USFHP) has agreed to fund the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics ministry and the annual Nun Run as a presenting sponsor for the next two years.   USFHP provides health plans for eligible beneficiaries under the department of Defense’s TRICARE Prime program. USFHP’s dedication to these outreach programs of the CHRISTUS Foundation for…

The 14th Annual Nun Run, presented by USFHP, coordinated by The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston and the CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, helped raise $83,000 for underserved children in the Houston area. The event was held on Saturday October 13th, 2018. The charitable ride started at the Villa…

At the age of 23, Steve Gonzalez was a husband and father to three beautiful children, four, two and a one-year old. He was employed as a car washer on the north side of Houston, near Bush Intercontinental Airport. If you knew Steve, you would know the term “hard-working” does not begin to describe him.…

The Texas Vaccines for Children Program, has awarded not one, but two CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Clinics with a rating of “Excellent,” for increasing adolescent vaccine coverage. Both the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics and CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic will add the accolade to other awards they have received over the years. Healthy Living Mobile…

Eight year old Sandra Lopez’s parents brought her to St. Mary’s Clinic to update her vaccines. Thankfully St. Mary's Clinic made the difference.

It is about that time of year again: Flu season. It is a time characterized by fever, muscle and body aches, headaches, running noses and more that has led to dire consequences, like death, without the first line of defense; the flu vaccine.

CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread’s Kitchen Manager and resident cook, Cesarea Sandoval aka Cissy, is the heart of the building, evoking memories and creating new ones with every meal prepped.

Moments after Stephen Decker’s birth, Dr. Ernest Cronin was called to the maternity ward at St. Joseph Hospital, where he diagnosed Stephen with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Seven surgeries and 17 years later, Stephen’s smile is evidence that he requires no more significant procedures. A model high school senior at Alief Taylor, Stephen…

A baby born with a cleft lip/cleft palate in a poor, remote region of the Amazon has slim chances of ever affording corrective surgery, but baby “Angelica’s” mother heard a medical mission team was traveling from Houston to Columbia to perform surgeries to repair facial deformities. She knew this was her only chance to change…

Johnny M has been fighting a drug addiction for most of his life. After nearly 15 years of sobriety, he had a moment of relapse. This was the beginning of his downward spiral. His addiction resulted in marital problems and subsequently Johnny was homeless. Miserable and hungry, Johnny M sought CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread for…

Many times we have to wait and take them to an emergency care place on the weekend, just so we don’t get financially penalized for missing work. It’s one of the most difficult decisions to make, because your children come first, and knowing that they are suffering because you can’t afford to take them to…

as reported by Nipa Kamdar, RN, FNP-C A mother of a student called me because she wanted someone to check her leg for an infection. She was running a fever and had spreading redness on her calf. Although she has insurance – her deductible is high and her husband has been unemployed for several months…

excerpt from a patient letter I work, but my employer doesn’t offer healthcare and I just can’t afford health insurance for my family of four. I don’t know what we would do if we didn’t have access to Point of Light Clinic. I love, love, love Point of Light Clinic. Sister Dimalibot M.D. is the…

CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics offer all vaccinations for children two months to 18 years of age at zero-cost. Vaccinations are just as important for newly graduated high school seniors and new college students and college freshmen.

University of Texas Medical Branch Medical (UTMB) students enrolled in the School of Medicine and Masters of Public Health programs visited and toured the CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread facility, located at 2420 Winnie St. Galveston, Texas, as part of a 4-week long class called “Topics of Public Health.” The class was designed to introduce students…

CHRISTUS School Clinics ‘Bodies in Motion’ completed another successful year of the month-long summer camp for Houston-Galveston area children on June 28th at Christo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory.

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard R. Torres to the position of President and Executive Director, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare. Torres will begin on Monday, June 11, 2018. 

When you cannot afford most medical assistance it adds a whole new dimension to avoiding the doctor. Affordability compounded with obvious signs that medical assistance is needed patients almost never submit and schedule a visit. In addition a diagnosis can sometimes feel very personal and lead to a patient feeling alone with their diagnosis. But CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinic is changing that.

The Nun Run is a 40-mile, Blue Knights police-escorted motorcycle ride. The event that raises funds for 19 CHRISTUS School Clinics in Houston’s underserved communities.

Seven year-old Dulce has been battling the odds her entire life. At birth, doctors left her under a heating lamp too long, causing her to go blind when her cornea’s dried out. Along with her blindness, she was born with a mid-facial cleft and missing fingers on her hands. Her parents, living in Puebla, Mexico,…

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare hosted its 14th annual Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, March 20. The yearly event honors community leaders and raises funds for CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare’s healthcare programs. This year’s luncheon raised funds for the Foundation’s community clinics – CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic in Houston’s East End and CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic…

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare in collaboration with the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word-Houston announced a major initiative to improve the health and well-being of underserved and low-income residents in Houston’s East End with an unveiling of the renovation of the St. Austin Community Center. Renovating St. Austin Center will allow…

Almost 12 years ago, after surviving, an almost fatal case of the flu, walking pneumonia, and a two-week hospitalization, Mrs. Robinson, found CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics for her health care and vaccination needs.  Since 2005, Mrs. Robinson, regardless of her fears of needles, vowed to receive a flu shot every year to protect herself…

A story shared from the daily workings of CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic as they offer access to Christ’s love and healing through compassionate healthcare.   After suffering a severe case of pancreatitis, an over nine month coma and several abdominal surgeries, Laura was left with Type 1 Diabetes and a colostomy. Laura has no source…

Help Support CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare. Be a part of our Twitter Challenge! Follow @CHRISTUSFdn Help us reach our goal of 1,000 followers by November 30th and an anonymous donor will donate $5 per follower, that totals to a $5,000 donation! Join our online community to stay in the know on exclusive news and updates…

Riding to keep children healthy! Saturday, October 14, marked the 13th Annual Nun Run. More than 250 participants took to the roads for the 40-mile, Blue Knights police escorted motorcycle ride from St. Austin Center in Houston to Topwater Grill in San Leon. A fun-filled day was enjoyed by all. The Nun Run raises funds…

CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics, one of six ministry programs supported by CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, were the recipients of the Excellence Award for ZERO Deficiencies from the Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC) for 2016. Texas Vaccines for Children Program works in collaboration with different agencies in Houston/Harris County, guaranteeing the availability of vaccines…

as reported by Sister Rosanne Popp, MD Mr. M is middle aged and homeless. While taking his medical history, I found out that he is an engineer and until recently had a job that provided health insurance. Without insurance he could no longer afford his medications for his hypertension or his chronic asthma. He was trying…

We were here then…We are here now…We will be here tomorrow. Hurricane Harvey leaves in its wake tens of thousands of people without everyday necessities. The devastation has been heartbreaking as we see family, friends and fellow southeast Texans power through difficult times.  On September 8, 1900 the Sisters of Charity stood strong while the Galveston…

We were fortunate that our facilities had little or no damage and are grateful to be able to share the following updates: CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic is open and seeing patientsand CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread in Galveston has resumed operations as well. CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic in Dickinson has minimal damage, but is open and seeing patients. CHRISTUS Healthy…

***ATTENTION*** Due to Hurricane Harvey, please note the following changes to our clinic schedules: CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic and CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic will remain closed through Wednesday. CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread in Galveston is closed through Wednesday. CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinic will remain closed through Wednesday. CHRISTUS School Clinics will be closed…

CHRISTUS St. Mary’s and CHRISTUS Point of Light clinics held two free, family-oriented Back-To-School Summer Bash and Health Fairs in July and August. These events provided close to 1,000 students with backpacks and school supplies, immunizations, and sports physicals in an attempt to get low-income families in the community ready for the upcoming school year. Various vendors,…

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare serves men, women and children of all faiths, ages and cultures

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is pleased to announce the appointment of Kara T. Hill to the position of President, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare. With over 20 years leadership in healthcare and social service organizations, Kara comes to CHRISTUS Foundation with a strong background in  organizational excellence and growth, financial administration, strategic planning and development. “We…

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful to Moody Foundation for supporting Mental HealthCare Services at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic. With the addition of these services, CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic will bring some of Houston’s most vulnerable residents coordinated care for their mind and body. Thank you Moody Foundation for your help in…

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare special thanks to The Iris & Lloyd Webre Foundation for the support of the vital CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics. Due to your generous giving, thousands of men, women, and children will be reached and offered compassionate healthcare.  CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful and truly blessed to join forces with…

Tis’ the season of giving! TPC Group presented CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare a check from the proceeds raised at the 2016 TPC Group Charity Golf Tournament to support CHRISTUS Back to School Health Fair and School Clinics. Thank you TPC Group for your generosity and support which will provide over 1,000 children with physicals and immunizations for…

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful for Bank of America’s grant to help support Our Daily Bread. With this support, we’ll be able to provide services to assist more than 9,000 homeless men and women at Our Daily Bread, a social services center in Galveston. Thank you Bank of America for the generosity which will directly…

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare serves men, women and children of all faiths, ages and cultures

Because of Your Support, CHRISTUS Clinics are on Houston Can Academy campuses!

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is extremely excited to accept Smart Financial Credit Union’s donation towards supporting Healthy Living Mobile Clinics. Thank you Smart Financial Credit Union for the generosity which will directly benefit thousands of men, women, and children that might otherwise remain excluded from healthcare.   CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful and…

No where to go but up! CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic has expanded and relocated.

CHRISTUS Point of Light clinic celebrated their new expansion and relocation with a blessing and dedication ceremony performed by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Fiorenza. Many sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word were also in attendance as Archbishop Fiorenza gave a very special and beautiful blessing of the clinic. Fiorenza thanked CHRISTUS Foundation and the Sisters…

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare serves men, women and children of all faiths, ages and cultures.

The annual March event served to honor generous community leaders Pat and Dan Breen, showcase the Foundation’s work in the community and attract new supporters. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and Houston Astro Great, Nolan Ryan, also attended the luncheon as interviewee for longtime KPRC news anchor Steve Smith. The Spring Luncheon marked its 12th anniversary, as…

(Featured Image) Gilbane Building Company’s Dan Gilbane, Business Unit Leader for Gilbane Southwest and Lisa Martin, Vice President and Director of Sales Services, present Foundation president, Les Cave and Laura Clay, RN with a generous check to support the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics.   CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful and truly blessed…

Make way for a NEW CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinic.

New Immunization Clinic Strengthens CHRISTUS Healthy Neighborhood Initiative.

Experts report that more than half the problems patients bring to emergency rooms either do not or would not require hospital-based care if an alternative source were readily available.

More than a third of American adults and nearly one child in five are now obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For the study, researchers compared the hourly pay a physician received for providing cognitive care—the bulk of a PCP’s services—against cataract extraction and colonoscopy. They found that Medicare reimbursement for physician time spent on cataract extraction and colonoscopy was 368% and 486%, respectively, of the revenue for a similar time spent on cognitive care. Essentially,…

Elise Riley, a 9-year-old third grader from Cline Elementary in Friendswood, Texas, embodies the true spirit of Christmas. Last month Elise celebrated her birthday and instead of the usual toys and games, Elise requested gifts of cash to donate to a non-profit at Christmas. Grandmother, Margie Riley, supplied a list of charities. As an organizer…

Each fall, she dons helmet and macho riding gear to lead the Houston-to-Galveston excursion to raise funds for the CHRISTUS Foundation for Healthcare.

CHRISTUS School-based Clinics expand capabilities to strengthen students' bodies, minds and spirits.

CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful and truly blessed to join forces with generous companies who represent the best of our community.

    Matthew Minson, M.D. discussed his critically acclaimed, award nominated, new book, Prepare to Defend Yourself: How to Navigate the Healthcare System and Escape with Your Life. He will talk about the inspiration for the book, which sold out its first print run in four months, and what its success says about the current…

Conditions were perfect on October 25th for the 10th Annual Nun Run. More than 300 riders took to the roads from Houston to Galveston, escorted by the Blue Knights.

Some with Health Insurance Still Prefer Charity Care

Keeping children healthy for the school year ahead

$150,000 Challenge Gift pledged to expand St. Mary's Clinic