She navigated the US alone. Now, a UNT Health Fort Worth strategist guides others

July 5, 2026 - 23:14

Annabel Luna-Smith remembers arriving in the United States alone, navigating a new language and an unfamiliar healthcare system without a guide. That experience, born from her immigration from Venezuela, now fuels her work as a community health strategist for UNT Health in Fort Worth. Instead of letting the isolation she felt define her, she uses it to build bridges for others facing similar hurdles.

Her role focuses on breaking down the barriers that keep people from getting medical help. Many residents, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, struggle with complex paperwork, language gaps, or simple fear of the system. Luna-Smith steps into that gap. She helps families find doctors, understand insurance forms, and connect with social services that address housing or food insecurity.

The work is personal. She recalls the loneliness of figuring out bus routes and clinic hours on her own. Now, she trains community workers and volunteers to spot those silent struggles. Her approach is not about grand gestures but about steady, patient guidance. She listens first, then acts. For a mother worried about her child's asthma or an elderly man confused by a prescription, she becomes the translator of a system that often feels cold and indifferent.

Luna-Smith believes that health is not just about treating illness but about creating a sense of belonging. By turning her own hard road into a map for others, she is slowly reshaping how Fort Worth cares for its newest residents.