Elizabeth Perez joined Harris County Public Health Department (HCPH) as the Director of Communications, Education, and Engagement (OCEE) in 2015. Her responsibilities include overseeing the overall communication and engagement methods of HCPH, both internally and externally. Whether it be through the creation of educational videos and materials, marketing, and all forms of media, her office and staff serve as the supportive foundation to all of HCPH and the community. Her experience in both healthcare and with national campaigns, educational and communication efforts, bring a unique level of expertise and resources to serve the residents of Harris County. Before moving to Harris County, Elizabeth was a Public Health Advisor, Communication Specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington D.C. During her time at HHS, Elizabeth worked at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Office of Minority Health (OMH). At SAMHSA, Elizabeth managed their Public Engagement Platform (PEP), which oversees the agencies communication and engagement efforts with the public, including the development of mobile apps and implementing the agencies plain-language efforts. At the Office of Minority Health, Elizabeth led various communication and education efforts to diverse populations, including outreach and enrollment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), implementation of the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS), and various observances and campaigns that aimed to reduce disparities and improve the health of all populations. Prior to working at HHS, Ms. Perez worked at the National Coalition of Health Care, a think tank and advocacy group for the Affordable Care Act. Ms. Perez originally comes into the health policy and communication arena as a clinician, as she worked within the health care sector for over 8 years. As a clinician, she has coordinated various quality improvement and quality assurance measures aimed at improving quality of patient care, improving patient flow, patient safety, and cost effectiveness. She played a role in developing various policy changes within the hospital and worked on regional state policy, working with the Hospital Association of Southern California in studying and making recommendations addressing the influx of involuntary medical holds (5150s) within emergency rooms. Ms. Perez is a California native and she received her Bachelors in Radiation Sciences, emphasizing in health administration and research, and a Masters in Public Health in Health Policy and Leadership from Loma Linda University.