How Tina Vidal-Duarte leads a nationwide humanitarian network

When hurricanes, floods or wildfires devastate communities across the United States, one of the first organizations to mobilize is Health Council for Development and Reconstructiona division of CDR Companies specializing in emergency and public health services. Led by Tina Vidal-Duarte, CDR Health aims to redefine what it means to deliver health care to people when and where they need it most.

“We are boots on the ground,” says Vidal-Duarte. “Our mission is to intervene when access to traditional health care collapses, to make sure that even in the face of complete loss, people can still get urgent, ongoing care.”

CDR Health operates throughout the continental United States, providing health care services through government agencies and partnerships with federal, state and local authorities. Its teams respond to a range of emergencies, hurricanes, wildfires, winter storms and floods, while also providing specialized care to refugees, rural populations and individuals with disabilities or chronic conditions.

CDR Health grew out of CDR’s emergency management expertise and emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, which laid the foundation for its current model: a large-scale medical logistics and healthcare delivery system designed for disaster areas.

Vidal-Duarte explains that the company is usually activated 5 to 7 days before a major disaster makes landfall. “We start by preparing medications, assembling clinical teams, and coordinating with local officials to ensure continuity of care,” she says. “By the time the storm passes, we are already on site, ready to operate mobile medical units and temporary clinics.”

The first 30 to 60 days after a disaster strike are critical. During this time, local hospitals and pharmacies are often damaged or inaccessible. CDR Health steps in to provide primary and urgent care, pharmacy, prescription renewals, and general health support to residents who may otherwise go without care.

“For many patients, the problem is not just storm injuries, but the disappearance of their doctor’s office,” explains Vidal-Duarte. “We are there to help someone who needs insulin, heart medication or wound treatment when every nearby clinic is closed.”

The company’s doctors also treat the secondary wave of injuries that follow disasters, chainsaw cuts, falls, infections and dehydration. “People underestimate how serious the cleaning phase is,” she says. “We are dealing with the consequences, the hidden losses that come once the headlines fade.”

Beyond disasters, CDR Health provides health care to refugees and migrants through government contracts, offering screenings, immunizations and ongoing medical management for vulnerable populations. It also operates home and rural health care programs, expanding medical access to underserved communities even in normal times.

“Our mission is about equality,” says Vidal-Duarte. “Whether you live in a city or on the edge of a wildfire zone, you deserve consistent, high-quality care.”

To maintain this access, CDR Health maintains a core team of licensed health care professionals and leverages a national roster of contract physicians who can be activated within hours. The company’s operational strength lies in its coordination with other departments in CDR companies, particularly engineering and emergency management, to build and equip mobile clinics, shelters and supporting infrastructure in the field.

“We have the advantage of being part of a family of companies that can actually build what we need,” Vidal-Duart points out. “If we need a clinic in a parking lot within 48 hours, our specialist teams can make that happen.”

This integrated model allows CDR Health to operate quickly and scale efficiently, serving disaster victims, first responders, long-term recovery teams, and local governments looking for sustainable solutions.

Ultimately, Vidal-Duarte views CDR Health as a healthcare provider and partner in recovery. “When someone’s world is turned upside down, we want to be the calm in the chaos,” she says. “We strive to save lives and help people rebuild.”

From the ashes of wildfires to the flooded streets of hurricane zones, CDR Health continues to stand on the front lines of crisis response, an unwavering presence where healthcare meets humanity.