Ana Marizza Patiño (she/her), a native of Ciudad Acuña, a town bordering the Rio Bravo/Rio Grande in the Mexican state of Coahuila, received her Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Metropolitan University of Coahuila in 2000. After graduation, Patiño went to work in business and education until 2018 when she was presented with an opportunity to work for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).  There, she found her passion for helping members of her community as a community health worker. In 2021, she joined MCN as the coordinator of the Ventanilla de Salud at the Mexican Consulate in Del Rio, Texas, which allows her to expand her horizons working with the communities with highest needs in Val Verde, Pecos, and Terrel. 

Her extensive experiences living and working in the commercial, educational, and health areas in border communities have allowed her to establish and cement important relationships with the health authorities of these communities and with various organizations interested in supporting migrant health. Thanks to these relationships and the work with the VdS, Patiño supports high-risk border populations through in-person and virtual workshops on various health topics. She also coordinates conferences, educational activities, and health fairs in which vaccinations and tests for cholesterol, A1C, glucose, glaucoma, hypertension, and vision are offered free of charge. Another project in which Patiño collaborates is the Radz Kids summer camp organized by Vds, DSHS, and other community organizations. During Radz Kids’ week of fun, children learn about nutrition, oral health, personal safety, sexual abuse, and how to avoid kidnapping and escape from fires. Patiño is also currently part of the Cancer Taskforce, in collaboration with the Community Health Improvement Coalition, a nonprofit organization in Del Rio. As a member of the Cancer Taskforce, Patiño offers her knowledge of the community to identify both general needs of women living with cancer and organizations with local resources that can meet these needs. 

Mrs. Patiño is married and is very proud of her three children and three grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and taking long walks with her family and friends.