For as long as she can remember, Sandra G. Lozano ('97) has only ever wanted to help people.

Growing up in Oak Cliff, Lozano told everyone she was going to become a doctor -- and today she is even more.

Lozano is trailblazing in the world of health care and helping reshape her hometown into a healthier and happier community in her role as the Dallas County public health medical director -- the first Latina to hold the position.

Between becoming certified as a safety technician, teaching parent education courses, visiting patients, attending conventions and handling interviews, nonprofit work and more -- no day ever looks the same for her.

"I just got back from delivering a car seat to a mother in Mesquite," Lozano says. "She wasn't able to make her appointment because she was working, and we try to eliminate those types of barriers."

Focusing on maternal health initiatives, Lozano earned her master's of public health from the UNT Health Science Center in 2018 -- going back to school following a career as an OB/GYN.

Before assuming her position, Lozano worked in Austin as a preventive medicine physician, researching for the state of Texas, and was recruited in 2023 by Dr. Phillip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services.

"I oversee the immunization department, STI/HIV division, our environmental department and our newly formed maternal child health department," Lozano says. "It was one of the biggest things on Dr. Huang's to-do list."

With two years under her belt, Lozano has only dented the long list of plans she has and keeps adding more to it.

Health and Heritage

Lozano's jurisdiction includes Sunset High School, where she graduated as the middle child of two immigrants. When it came to college, she had no idea what to do as a first-generation student.

Holding onto her dreams and with guidance from friends, Lozano applied to several universities and envisioned herself succeeding at UNT -- later getting into medical school with a bachelor's in biology.

Throughout undergrad, Lozano gained experience by volunteering at Parkland Health -- a large hospital and health care network across Dallas County.

On her first day there, Lozano was placed in the labor and delivery emergency room and quickly discovered her practice through immersion -- becoming infatuated with the field of gynecology and obstetrics.

"I owe it all to Parkland," Lozano says. "After that, I did a summer minority program as a translator in the labor and delivery room. Those two pieces came together, and that was basically it for me."

Inspired to learn more about the field and her own heritage, Lozano went to medical school in Guadalajara and finished her M.D., but soon returned to Texas -- completing her residency at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

For the next five years, Lozano worked as an OB/GYN in private practice but found herself struggling to connect with patients after moving back to the States, where the system operates quite differently.

"In Mexico, it's almost like your doctor is your friend," Lozano says. "That feeling is lacking here, and I missed it."

Lozano went back to school for a master's degree to develop a better understanding of the complex environmental and external factors that influence health care in the U.S. so she could try to restore this connection.

"Everybody's background is different. We should be helping and treating people differently to meet their needs," Lozano says. "It really opened up my eyes."

Only the Beginning

Since beginning her tenure, Lozano has reconnected with her patients through various outreach programs and initiatives -- providing access to those struggling to receive important health care-related resources.

To bring these developments to fruition, she works a hectic schedule of days, nights, weekends and holidays.

"I can't just go home and turn on Netflix," Lozano says. "I always have to be doing something."

Even with little free time, Lozano is feeling more fulfilled than ever and continues to look forward.

"I have a lot of ideas," Lozano says. "I want to make this division really robust, bringing as many services and eliminating as many barriers for women as possible."

Lozano hopes she is an example to inspire little girls just like the one within herself, because at the end of the day, she just wants to help people feel better.