Mission of Mercy names new executive director

Mission of Mercy has chosen long-time Corpus Christi resident and insurance executive Leo Barrera to serve as executive director of the Texas Mobile Medical Program. Barrera, a Laredo native, is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

“I’m extremely proud of the current team that has been put in place in Corpus Christi,” Hank Konerko, Ph.D, chief executive officer for Mission of Mercy, said. “They have provided the organization with the talent and commitment to continue our mission. Leo is an outstanding community representative who will ensure our future success in providing ‘healing through love’ in the Corpus Christi area.”

Following graduation, Barrera enjoyed a successful 34-year career in the insurance industry with a specialty in group medical programs for small and large employers. He was affiliated with major health carriers in the region and worked his way into management positions that allowed him to hire, train and manage sales departments and negotiate provider contracts. He has been active in legislative affairs affecting the health insurance industry and maintains memberships in professional organizations.

For the previous three years, Barrera served on a volunteer basis on Mission of Mercy’s Coastal Bend Leadership Council, an organization that helps guide the Texas Program, raising funds and community awareness. Barrera is a member of the City-County Health District Advisory Board, Goodwill Industries Human Resources & Benefits Committee, Coastal Bend Association of Health Underwriters (Legislative Chair) and Rotary Club of Corpus Christi.

Mission of Mercy, founded in 1994, operates mobile healthcare programs in Maryland/Pennsylvania, Arizona and Texas. The Texas program held its first mobile clinic on Sept. 17, 2007, following an invitation by then-Bishop Edmond Carmody, who recognized the need for its services. Since that first clinic day through March of this year the Texas program has provided 11,804 free physician visits and 11,540 free prescription medications.

Mission of Mercy provides healthcare to people who are “falling through the cracks” in the healthcare system. These are people who work, do not qualify for public assistance, do not receive health insurance from their employers and cannot afford the high cost of healthcare. These are people who must either go untreated or turn to hospital emergency rooms for care.

Mission of Mercy provides a medical home to these people so they can receive the preventative care needed to keep them out of hospital emergency departments, thus saving hospitals and the community the cost of unreimbursed hospital emergency department costs.

The Mission of Mercy Texas Mobile Medical Program continues to seek support from individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations and accepts donations online at www.amissionofmercy.org.