AUSTIN, TEXAS. The Texas Association of Local Health Officials (TALHO) recently recognized Galveston County Health District’s (GCHD) CEO and Health Authority with its highest accolade for public health servants

Among five finalists in Texas, Harlan “Mark” Guidry, MD, MPH received the 2009 Janet Emerson Public Health Servant Award for almost two decades of public service achievements in public health and healthcare, most recently, leading the public health response to Hurricane Ike (September 2008).   TALHO presents this annual tribute to a public health employee within a health department in the State of Texas who has demonstrated extraordinary performance with an exemplary commitment to local public health.

A native of Port Arthur with Louisiana roots, Dr. Guidry has a distinguished public health care career spanning from private occupational and correctional medicine to Director and Health Authority of the City of Beaumont’s Public Health Department to Texas Department of Health (TDH) Regional Director in Houston serving 16 counties in Southeast Texas, to Interim Associate Commissioner of Family Health for TDH in Austin to his current appointment in Galveston County.    Dr. Guidry graduated from medical school at UTMB Galveston and was subsequently trained and board-certified in Family Practice.  He completed a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston.   Dr. Guidry’s professional career includes educating healthcare professionals, strategic health planning, academic appointments, many professional associations, and a record of credible leadership and public service.  Dr. Guidry’s extensive experience includes leading public health responses to many community threats, such as meningococcal disease outbreaks, syphilis outbreaks, human rabies, West Nile Virus, infectious tuberculosis through quarantine measures, and the anthrax scares of 9/11. 

Specifically recognized during TALHO’s tenth annual awards dinner was Dr. Guidry’s extraordinary performance, critical leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment to Galveston County throughout Hurricane Ike and the recovery process.

During the public health emergency, Dr. Guidry led health and medical responses in 14 jurisdictions.  His leadership prompted public health safety actions such as issuing public health alerts and advisories; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) ambulance services; environmental inspections (e.g., food, water, septic systems, sanitation, etc.); public vaccinations; animal rescues; active surveillance of hurricane-related injuries and diseases; primary care clinic services; and health and medical support of a Galveston Island shelter. 

In accepting the award, Dr. Guidry said, “I dedicate this award to the public health employees and community partners who heroically responded to a myriad of health challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane IKE.”   Hurricane Ike is the third most destructive hurricane to ever make landfall in the United States.

Currently, Dr. Guidry leads over 300 employees that provide public health and healthcare services to the over 289,000 residents of Galveston County & Cities.  The Health District, governed by the United Board of Health and the 4C’s Clinic Governing Board, operates two (2) federally-funded community health clinics, EMS ambulance services, and a variety of public and environmental health services.

Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211 or (409) 392-0007
kkoopman@gchd.org