Lucia A. Villarreal is a Referral Specialist at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Brownsville, with 12 years of experience in public health and 9 years in social work. She began her career as a Community Health Worker, building a strong foundation in community outreach and health education. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, she has worked in diverse settings and with various populations, including individuals, families, veterans, and patients receiving palliative and hospice care. Lucia’s current work focuses on identifying social determinants of health across various projects and helping participants navigate barriers that impact their health outcomes.