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January as it marks the beginning of a new year, is by far one of the most exciting months! Children start new school semesters, adults may begin new jobs in new locations, and everyone is setting resolutions to make this year better than the last. Depending on your industry, there are quite a few cities you may find yourself moving to in the new year. With new cities come new opportunities, new experiences, but also for those who suffer from allergies, new allergens and triggers to be aware of. Corpus Christi is one such city you may find yourself in!

If you’re looking for a city with jobs that provide the chance to get into a good industry and grow your career, Corpus Christi is a great choice. The industries present around the city are eclectic, from basic retail jobs to industrial engineering tasks. Below, we’ll discuss three of the top industries and employment opportunities in Corpus Christi, Texas, to showcase the rich options available.

Healthcare

One thriving industry in the Corpus Christi area is healthcare, which is an umbrella covering various positions. For instance, healthcare jobs include physicians, nurses, or medical assistants. Even dentists, pharmacists, and allergists are part of the healthcare industry.

Whichever position you desire, you can check multiple local organizations for availability, such as Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Corpus Christi Medical Center, and CHRISTUS Health. Corpus Christi Allergy Associates also has job openings from time-to-time. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay updated. So, as you can see, Texas isn’t a bad place to start if you want to impact the medical industry.

Construction

If you’d prefer a career in the construction industry, Corpus Christi has ample opportunities to explore. Local construction companies in the area include BHP Engineering and Construction, H&S Constructors, Repcon, Kiewit Corporation, Turner Industries, and MMR Group. Working construction in Corpus Christi, you’ll frequently complete jobs for other thriving industries such as oil and gas, chemical, and more. Besides basic construction, some of these companies also offer engineering or metal fabrication jobs, making the career opportunities more diverse.

Oil and Gas

A guide to the top industries and employment opportunities in Corpus Christi, Texas, must cover oil and gas. Perusing the local job listings, you might find openings from companies such as Koch Industries, Flint Hills Resources, Nine Energy Service, and CITGO. In fact, the CITGO Corporation building on Oak Park Avenue is less than a 25-minute drive from any of our temporary housing in Corpus Christi. Suffice it to say that if you want a career in the oil and gas industry, Corpus Christi is an area worth looking into.

Top 5 Things to do in CC:

1. Our Floating Museum Is Stockpiled With History

The USS Lexington (or “The Blue Ghost,” if you’re feeling ominous) is an aircraft carrier used during several battles of World War II. Nowadays the behemoth carrier sits guard over North Shoreline Blvd as the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay, allowing guests to experience the living conditions of wartime along with some modern day enhancements like an IMAX Theater and flight simulator.

2. We Don’t Mind If You Drive on The Beach

Just south of Corpus Christi is the Padre Island National Seashore, the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world. What that means is that when you visit, you’ve got 130 thousand acres of undeveloped natural dunes, grasslands and sandy beaches to explore at your leisure. Drive down the beach to kill walking time, climb the observation tower and hunt for rare birds, fish for sharks or search for shells. Your perfect summer day is waiting.

3. Get Your Eye Patch and Peg Leg Ready, Matey

During Buccaneer Days (or Buc Days if you’re in a hurry), over half of the city shows up to party their pirate hats off. We’ve got rodeos, a carnival, BBQ tailgating, an illuminated night parade, kids’ activities, and plenty of pirate puns.

4. Not Scuba Diving Is Not an Option

Petting a stingray at the aquarium isn’t cutting it? How about a scuba diving adventure then? At Ascuba Venture or Copeland’s Inc. you’ll learn how to safely navigate snorkeling and freediving ventures so you can eventually visit the mysterious underworld of sea creatures yourself. The Padre Island National Seashore is home to the largest Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle nesting ground in the U.S. From April to July, volunteers scout the shoreline for nests so the eggs can be brought to the National Seashore incubation facility for protected care until they hatch and it’s time to go back to the sea.

5. And This One Time, Picasso and Andy Warhol Stopped By

You know… metaphorically. The Art Museum of South Texas features permanent exhibits by dozens of local artists from throughout the southern Texas region. But the coolest feature of the museum is its constantly rotating collection of fine art in a variety of different mediums from world-renowned artists.

Maybe you’ve discovered these allergens:

Residents of Corpus Christi love our oceanside city for so many reasons. From a thriving downtown district to the Gulf breeze and beautiful coastal landscape, it’s no wonder the population of the Sparkling City by the Sea is experiencing extraordinary growth. While seaside living can result in decreased seasonal allergies as compared to inland locations (thanks, ocean breeze!), our residents – both new and seasoned – may still battle airborne allergens that can diminish their quality of life.

The new growth and promise of spring bring tree pollen counts that peak in March and April but can linger through late May. The trees that most affect our area include oak, hackberry, and ash. Live oak pollen is especially visible and problematic during this time, as it can coat cars, pets, sidewalks, and backyard grills in a fine yellow powder. Warm, dry, and windy conditions help spread any pollen that has been released into the air.

Early summer welcomes grass pollen to the forefront of the allergy forecast. Frequent lawn mowing churns everything up and throws the pollen and even dust into the air as well.

Fall finds the kids going back to school, the start of football season, and relief that the dog days of summer are over. Many people take advantage of the dip in temperatures by heading outdoors to take advantage of all the Coastal Bend has to offer. Unfortunately, weed pollens also like to come out and play in the fall. Ragweed is the worst offender. It can grow taller than a person and produces a ton of potent pollen. Weed pollen usually peaks in October and begins to lessen in November.

Living in Corpus Christi does not doom you to suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) forever! If you find yourself experiencing persistent allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and congestion around the same time(s) each year for weeks or even months at a time, you may be one of the many Texans battling seasonal allergies. Corpus Christi Allergy Associates will guide you through the process of identifying your allergy triggers. Based on your allergens and symptoms, an individualized treatment plan will address your needs. Medication can work wonders in some patients. Others select traditional immunotherapy (allergy drops) or cluster immunotherapy (allergy shots), which builds up your body’s immunity to an allergen over time. Come in to see us before your allergy symptoms start for the season so we can help you win the allergy battle!

How we can treat you:

Biologics – Allergy and immunology treatment options continue to expand, thanks in large part to a drug class called biologics. Derived from living organisms, these medications can target specific components of the immune system and prevent inflammation that causes a variety of conditions. Corpus Christi Allergy Associates’ specialists stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in the field. We offer several biologics that provide a beacon of hope for some patients whose conditions, including severe asthma and eczema, have not responded well to traditional treatments.

Allergy Shots – When allergy medicine and avoidance do not provide sufficient relief, allergy shots can make all the difference in a patient’s quality of life. They are not a quick fix, but many people find them to be well worth the time and effort. They can desensitize your immune system to pollen (trees, grass, weeds), insect stings, pet dander, dust, mold, and cockroaches. Removing these allergic reactions can result in relief from asthma, eczema, ear issues, and sinus troubles exacerbated by allergies.

Allergy Drops – Oral allergy drops have proven safe and effective for patients facing rhinitis, asthma, and eczema caused by airborne allergens including grass, pollen, ragweed, pet dander, mold, and dust mites.

Meet our providers

Dr. Jurairat Molina is a board-certified allergist who moved to Corpus Christi in 2017 after practicing in Austin and other parts of Texas for more than 20 years. Dr. Molina has quickly established her practice and has a strong patient following because of her approach to medicine and her practice philosophy. Dr. Molina enjoys teaching and working with medical students and residents. She has been part of community faculty staff at UTMB since 2010. She enjoys working with a diverse group of patients and team members. Dr Molina believes in providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, ensuring that patient needs, and values guide all clinical decisions.

Melissa Gisell Saldivar is a certified Nurse Practitioner and resident of Corpus Christi, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, TX and her Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, TX.

We look forward to serving you in 2023.