Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez

As an associate professor, Verduzco-Gutierrez was chosen to be part of an interdisciplinary team to oversee the clinical trial of the first U.S. patient to participate in a global study of a stem cell therapy injected directly into the brain to treat stroke disability. During the COVID-19 pandemic in North America, Verduzco-Gutierrez was appointed Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In this role, she oversaw the opening of the post-COVID rehabilitation clinic in South Texas to help treat long-term effects including depression. In 2021, Verduzco-Gutierrez received the Distinguished Member Award from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for her efforts during the pandemic.

Upon earning her medical degree, Verduzco-Gutierrez completed her residency at between Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health). In October 2009, she accepted an assistant professor position in UT Health's department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. While serving int this role, she was admitted to the Program for Academic Leadership of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a three-year program aimed at developing the "academic leadership skills of early-career faculty." She also was appointed director of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Consult service at Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center and medical director of the Brain Injury and Stroke Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann. As a result of her academic accomplishments, she was inducted into the UTHealth Academy of Master Educators in 2017.

Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez (born 1979) is an American academic physiatrist and rehabilitative medicine physician. She chairs the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Long School of Medicine within the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and previously served as the medical director of the Brain Injury and Stroke Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann.