HOUSTON (April 6, 2026)
— Harris Health presented The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) of Houston with the Garnet F. Coleman Health Equity Award during its second annual Pathways to Health Summit on April 1. The summit is hosted by the Harris Health Sheila Lee Jackson Center for Accelerating Health Outcomes (CARE) and this year it focused on addressing heart health in the community.
“For the past few years, the Garnet F. Coleman Health Equity Award has recognized visionary leaders who expand access to equitable health care in our community. Previous honorees include the award's namesake, former State Rep. Garnet F. Coleman, along with healthcare trailblazers Elena Marks and Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia," Esmaeil Porsa, MD, president and CEO, Harris Health, told a crowd of nearly 200 summit attendees. “Today, we honor an organization whose mission turns advocacy into action — bringing public attention and accountability to the decisions that shape community health."
Most recently, TMO's strong advocacy helped Harris Health secure the unanimous approval by Harris County Commissioners Court to acquire 8.9 acres of parkland through eminent domain for the Ben Taub Hospital expansion facility that will add 100 patient rooms to its capacity.
Other collaborations over the years include:
- Advocacy for Dialysis Services: TMO collaborated with Harris Health in the early 2000s to advocate for a dedicated outpatient dialysis program aimed at patients lacking regular treatment and frequently using hospital emergency centers. This effort led to the opening of the dialysis program at the former Riverside Dialysis Center, now known as the Harris Health Dialysis Center at Quentin Mease Health Center. The program provides scheduled dialysis for medically underserved patients, significantly reducing their reliance on emergency centers.
- Support for Health System Modernization: TMO supported Harris Health's strategic facilities plan, including public advocacy for a $2.5 billion bond package in 2023 designed to modernize and expand the health system. Their efforts contributed to the bond receiving an overwhelming 73% approval from county voters.
- Environmental and Community Advocacy: TMO has been an active ally in opposing the permitting of a concrete crusher plant near Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. Leaders within TMO mobilized congregations in northeast Houston and member institutions citywide to resist the plant's opening.
- Community Engagement and Enrollment Efforts: TMO partnered with Catholic Charities and St. Anne's Catholic Church to conduct individual and house meetings to gather community input on Harris Health services. Between 2025 and 2026, they supported community education and enrollment initiatives to connect residents with Harris Health services.
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Workforce Development Initiatives: Beginning in 2009–2010, TMO initiated efforts to establish a workforce development program to help low-income workers earn associate degrees in professional fields offering living wages and advancement opportunities. Through Capital IDEA Houston, a program operating successfully for 16 years, TMO collaborated with Harris Health, Houston ISD, and Houston Community College to train and place patient care assistants and pharmacy technicians. This collaboration has seen high graduation and placement rates.
About The Garnet F. Coleman Health Equity Award: The award is named in honor of the former Texas State Rep. Garnet F. Coleman who served in the legislature for 30 years representing Houston. The award honors his continued work to advance health equity and expansion of healthcare. One of his signature accomplishments was helping create the Children's Health Insurance Program — CHIP — to expand affordable healthcare coverage for hundreds of thousands of children in Texas. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that champion health equity and take action to make it a reality.