HCHD Administrator Receives TPTA Award

HOUSTON (Nov. 19, 2008) – Carol Oddo, vice president of Patient and Public Affairs for the Harris County Hospital District, was recently awarded the 2008 Jeanette Winfree Award by the Texas Physical Therapy Association during its annual conference in Lubbock, Texas. The award recognizes her for years of contribution to the TPTA .   

Jeanette Winfree was a Galveston physical therapist who was one of the first women in the nation to open a private practice. She was a 1961 graduate of the University of Texas Medical Branch and was a leader in many advances in physical therapy. The TPTA award, named in her honor, recognizes extraordinary service in recipients that support and contribute to the structure of TPTA. 

Oddo has more than 27 years of experience as a physical therapist, and has served as director of HCHD's rehabilitation services. She has a master's of science degree in health care administration from Texas Woman's University. 

She became board certified in health care management and named a Diplomate of the American College of Health Care Executives in May 2002. In April 2007, she advanced to Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives. At the Harris County Hospital District, she serves as Vice President of Patient and Public Affairs. Her portfolio includes: Corporate Communications, Interpretation Services, Rehabilitation Services and Child Life, Spiritual Care, Volunteer and Guest Services, Patient and Customer Relations, Cardiopulmonary Services, HCHD Leadership Institute, HCHD Riverside Dialysis Center, HCHD Sleep Lab and the Physical Therapy Residency Program. 

Oddo continues her ties with the rehabilitation community and currently serves as Past-President of the Texas Physical Therapy Association. She is a native Houstonian and enjoys traveling, golf and cooking.  

The Harris County Hospital District is an integrated safety net health care system for the third most populous county in the United States and is comprised of three hospitals, 12 community health centers, 13 satellite homeless shelter clinics, eight school-based clinics, five mobile health units and a free-standing dental center. The Hospital District operates 975 inpatient beds and provides more than one million outpatient visits annually.