Dr. Peggy Smith continues to serve teen health needs in Houston for more than 50 years

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- As Women's History Month comes to an end, ABC13 introduces a woman who's been passionate about teen health for more than 50 years.

She was hired in 1972 to close the first teen health clinic in Houston, but after seeing the need, she's fought not only to keep it open but also to expand it to now seven locations in our area. ABC13 took a tour of one clinic located in the Third Ward on Cullen.

It's also where we met Dr. Peggy B. Smith. She's the director of Baylor's Teen Health clinic and knows these walls well, with more than 54 years of experience as a professor in the OBGYN department. She explained how this is where her passion for health care started.

"This population has no voice, you know that. So, I immediately started looking at ways to continue the funding, expand the mission, and provide meaningful ways to provide health care to uninsured youth 13 to 24 years of age. For about 30 years, we did a lot of maternity," Smith said.

With a lot of preventive health care, Smith said, they're providing access to things like contraception.

Dr. Smith said that, over the years, their research has shown that all their services have been working. She said they were able to reduce the teen pregnancy rate, and eventually it led to expansion. They now offer a wide range of health care services, and they've expanded their clinic locations throughout the inner city.

"I was looking at the statistic today, and one of our clinic sites, 43% of the population in that neighborhood don't have a medical provider, which translates, they may have been born at a hospital, maybe public or private, but the opportunity to really see a PCP or having a primary care physician does not exist," Smith said.

Taking a closer look at the numbers, ABC13 has highlighted the educational status of the population the clinics serve, and in one neighborhood, 39% of patients don't have a diploma compared to 21% in Harris County.

Dr. Smith said the data is very helpful when it comes to the health clinic's job placement program for those interested in a career in health care, and over the years she's heard several success stories.

"Sometimes I feel like the chihuahua jumping up and down. Because, as you probably know, this is a bubble that most people don't ever get in. And so I'm constantly educating people about the issues that my patients have. So one is I feel I'm selling, but two, I feel that I'm educating," Smith said.

Smith has been educating people for a long time. In fact, some may remember her weekly appearances on 'Good Morning Houston.'

"What I've learned in my older self is to be more patient, to understand that there are a lot of people who influence decisions. I've also learned to try to tell your story in a way that develops consensus," Smith said. "I truly believe in where I am in my life, and this is somewhat personal as well, but kind of what I hear on Sunday I want to do on Monday, because the things that I hear, I see a contemporary application, and so for me giving an opportunity to pay forward and give back based on my beliefs is very rewarding."

And just like the services provided here, Dr. Smith said she, too, has evolved. While she still lectures, her focus has really become policy, politics, and most importantly, funding, because she truly believes in every patient who walks through these doors.

"But you look at them, and they really are smart. They didn't choose their circumstances where they live very well, and that's life, so they're great kids. I like them. You know, someday they'll take care of me," Smith said.