Esmeralda Perez

Esmeralda "Mela" Perez is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in community health and program development. As the Director of Community Health Services at CHRISTUS Health since January 2018, Mela assesses community needs and directs initiatives focused on social determinants of health. Prior roles include Senior Community Health Director at the American Heart Association, where Mela was part of the executive team responsible for market revenue and mission-related goals, and Director of Community Relations at the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, supervising a team in public relations and marketing initiatives. Mela also held positions such as Marketing Transplant Liaison at CHRISTUS Transplant Institute and Director of Career Services at the University of the Incarnate Word. Mela started their career as a Resource Development Associate for the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. Mela holds an Executive Master of Business Administration in Healthcare and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from The University of Texas at San Antonio.