Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez

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

Early life and education Verduzco-Gutierrez was born in Wharton, Texas to a Mexican-American family. Her father was a pipe fitter by profession but chose to move the family to Rio Grande Valley to return to college and complete a Bachelor's degree. She was raised in Rio Grande Valley and graduated from McAllen High School as valedictorian. During her high school years, she ran on their cross country and track teams. When reflecting on her childhood, Verduzco-Gutierrez said some of her early role models were her pediatrician and family physician, who were both Hispanic. During her second year at Baylor, she became engaged to Leonard Gutierrez.

Career 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. 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 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 2021, Verduzco-Gutierrez received the Distinguished Member Award from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for her efforts during the pandemic. In 2024, Verduzco-Gutierrez was a co-author on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's definition of Long COVID. As of 2026, she has an h-index of 27.