NRHA is saddened by the loss of our friend and long-standing Border Health Initiative partner, Frank Cantu. Frank passed away July 16 after complications from a heart attack.
Frank was a native Texan. He was born in Dallas and attended Southern Methodist University, where he received a B.B.A. and M.P.A. in financial management, personnel administration and public administration. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Division, 1st Force Reconnaissance Team, in South Vietnam, where he received two Purple Hearts and one Bronze Star with a combat V for services in Vietnam.
Prior to his recent retirement in April, Frank served as Field Director of the Border Health Division, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, dedicating over ten years in this position and working directly with health care organizations along the U.S.-México border to improve the availability and accessibility of health care services. He also served in the United States Public Health Service for 40 years.
Frank was an integral part of the NRHA’s Border Health Initiative and will be greatly missed by all of us at NRHA.