Task Force of Border Health Officials

Regional and Local Health Operations

Regional and Local Health Operations

Office of Border Public Health

Task Force of Border Health Officials

The Task Force of Border Health Officials was created to advise the Department of State Health Services on policy priorities addressing major issues affecting the border region residents' health and health conditions, raising public awareness of the issues, and other health issues impacting the border region.

View the enabling legislation for the Task Force.

This advisory committee shall make recommendations to the Commissioner for short-term and long-term border health improvement plans. The short-term plan shall identify health objectives proposed to be accomplished before the fourth anniversary of the date the plan is adopted. The long-term plan shall identify health objectives proposed to be accomplished before the ninth anniversary of the date the plan is adopted. 
(From: S.B.1680 Chapter 120, Sub-Chapter C., Section 120.101)

The Task Force consists of health department directors from counties and cities along the border with a sister city in Mexico. DSHS also appointed three DSHS Public Health Regional Medical Directors to represent areas along the border that don't have local health departments. The Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives appoint two ex-officio, nonvoting legislative members to participate in the Task Force.

Vision: To promote and enhance a healthy and equitable border community.

Mission: To identify and raise awareness of binational health issues impacting border communities to enhance border public health.

Values: Creative and practical solutions through participatory leadership of Texas-Mexico border health professionals via:

  • Community
  • Communication
  • Culture
  • Collaboration

Upcoming Meetings

Meeting Date Agenda Presentations
August 13, 2025    
October 8, 2025    
December 10, 2025    

Location: Moreton Building, Public Hearing Room M-100, First Floor, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756

Future meeting dates and related information are subject to change.

Past Meetings and Materials

Archived videos of meeting webcasts are available for viewing for approximately two years from the date the meeting was posted on the website and based on the DSHS records retention schedule.

All recorded webcasts

Meeting Date Agenda Minutes Webcast Archives Presentations
June 11, 2025 Agenda   Webcast Influenza Immunizations Data Update (PDF)
Texas Border Infectious Diseases Data Overview (PDF)
Health Care Workforce in the Texas Border (PDF)
Hurricane Preparedness in the Rio Grande Valley(PDF)
April 9, 2025 Agenda Minutes  Webcast Laredo Public Health Wastewater Surveillance (PDF)
Challenges to TB control in the border region (PDF)
TFBHO Next Steps Discussion (PDF)
February 12, 2025 Agenda Minutes Webcast Immunizations Section Update (PDF)
Texas Border Health Data Overview (PDF)
89th Legislative Session (PDF)
TCEQ activities in the border region (PDF)
December 11, 2024 Agenda Minutes Webcast Influenza Immunization Data Update (PDF)
Parkinson’s Foundation (PDF)
Alzheimer’s Disease Program (PDF)
Neural Tube Defects Along the Border (PDF)
TFBHO Bylaws 2024 Update (PDF)
October 3, 2024 Agenda Minutes Webcast Influenza Immunization Data Update (PDF)
Naval Health Research Center (PDF)
NPS-OBH Drinking Water PH Assessments (PDF)
TFBHO Bylaws 2024 Update (PDF)
August 14, 2024 Agenda Minutes Webcast 2024 Operation Border Health Preparedness (PDF)
Parent ProTech (PDF)
TFBHO Recommendations Report (PDF)
June 13, 2024 Agenda Minutes Webcast Congenital Syphilis (PDF)
TFBHO Recommendations Discussion (PDF)
UCD Public Comment (PDF)
April 10, 2024 Agenda Minutes Webcast Health Care Workforce in the Texas Border Region (PDF)
Health Coordination Centers for Well-Being (PDF)
TFBHO Recommendations Discussion (PDF)
February 14, 2024 Agenda Minutes Webcast Border Immunization Ordering (PDF)
Alzheimer Association (PDF)
Texas Border Health Epidemiology and Data Overview (PDF)
TFBHO Recommendations Discussion (PDF)
December 7, 2023 Agenda Minutes Webcast Immunization Program Update (PDF)
Mosquito Vectors in South Texas (PDF)
Take all Food Allergies Seriously (PDF)
TFBHO Recommendations Discussion (PDF)
October 11, 2023 Agenda Minutes Webcast Immunization Program Update (PDF)
ASN Bridge Program Update (PDF)
Texas Border Health Data Overview (PDF)
Operation Border Health Preparedness 2023 Update (PDF)
PHIX El Paso’s Health Information Exchange (PDF)
State of the Art Health Information Exchange (PDF)
Discussion for the 2024 Recommendations Report (PDF)
August 9, 2023 Agenda Minutes Webcast OBPH CHW Training Center Update (PDF)
2023 OBHP Overview (PDF)
TFBHO Upcoming Meetings and Report Timeline (PDF)
June 7, 2023 Agenda Minutes WebCast TARC Border Health Presentation (PDF) 
Border Health Data with Notes (PDF)
Legislative Updates to TFBHO (PDF)
April 12, 2023 Agenda Minutes Webcast TFBHO Environmental Health Recommendations (PDF)
Support and Response Plan for Mosquito-Borne Diseases Along the U.S.-Mexico Border Region of Texas (PDF)
10th Annual U.S. - Mexico Regional Binational Public Health Conference Flyer (PDF)
February 9, 2023 Agenda Minutes Webcast TFBHO Subcommittee Overview (PDF)
Draft Support and Response Plan for Mosquito-Borne Diseases Along the U.S.-Mexico Border Region of Texas (PDF)
December 8, 2022 Agenda Minutes Webcast OBPH CHW Training Center (PDF)
TFBHO Subcommittee Strategic Planning (PDF)
October 13, 2022  Agenda Minutes Webcast TFBHO Agenda Item VII - 2023 Meeting Dates (PDF)
July 7, 2022 Agenda Minutes Webcast Subcommittee Recommendations (PDF)
Texas Border Health Data Overview (PDF)
May 25, 2022 Agenda Minutes Webcast Local Health Entity Data Sharing Enhancement (PPTX)
Subcommittee Recommendations (PDF)
March 31, 2022 Agenda Minutes Webcast TCEQ Scrap Tire Investigations (PDF)
Subcommittee Recommendations (PDF)
February 9, 2022 Agenda Minutes Webcast TDLR Promoting Retail Sanitation Profession (PDF)
Food Inspections, Water Quality, Microbiology (PDF)

Committee Roster

 Statutorily Mandated

Name City Job Title Term Expiration Public Health Region
Richard Chamberlain, DrPH City of Laredo Public Health Department Director September 2029 11
Esmeralda Guajardo, MAHS Cameron County Health Administrator September 2029 11
Shannon Harvill City of Harlingen Environmental Health Director September 2029 11
Steven M. Kotsatos, RS, CPM City of Mission Environmental Health, Vector, and Animal Control Director September 2029 11
Dairen Sarmiento Rangel, MBA Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Director September 2029 11
Arturo Rodriguez, DNP, MPH, CPM City of Brownsville Health, Wellness, and Animal Services Department Director September 2029 11
Veerinder “Vinny” Taneja, MBBS, MPH City of El Paso Department of Public Health Director September 2029 9/10
Niko Tapangan, MPH, RS City of Pharr Department of Public Health Director September 2029 11
Nancy P. Treviño City of McAllen Environmental Health and Code Enforcement Department Director September 2029 11

Ex-officio Appointees 

Name Membership Category Term Expiration Public Health Region
Vacant Lieutenant Governor 3 yr. term -
State Representative R.D. “Bobby” Guerra  Speaker of the House 3 yr. term 11

DSHS Appointees

Name Job Title Term Expiration Public Health Region
Emily Prot, DO, MPH DSHS Regional Medical Director- PHR 11 RMD September 2029 11
Lilian Ringsdorf, MD, MPH DSHS Regional Medical Director- PHR 8 RMD September 2029 8
Vacant DSHS Regional Medical Director- PHR 9/10 RMD September 2029 9/10

 

Committee Documents

Members and Bylaws

Reports

Committee Contact

Guillermo Zenizo Lindsey | Binational Communications Coordinator

Phone

512-865-7380

Fax

512-776-7262

Email

OBPH@dshs.texas.gov

Physical Address

Texas Department of State Health Services
Office of Border Public Health
1100 W. 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756-1962
United States