Surgery Education
Welcome to our new 2011-2012 Interns, Residents & Fellows
- General Surgery Residency Program | Visit Program Page
- Plastic Surgery Residency Program | Visit Program Page
- Critical Care (Trauma) Fellowship | Visit Program Page
- Find a resident or fellow
General Surgery Residency Program:
Naser A. Aboud, MD |
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MD, Al-Nahrain University College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq, 2007
Dr. Aboud earned his M.D. from al-Nahrain University College of Medicine in
Baghdad, Iraq, in 2007. During the last two years of his medical education at
al-Kadhimiyah Hospital, the affiliated university hospital, and just as the city
of Baghdad was swept by a raging flame of insurgency and violence, Dr. Aboud
volunteered in the emergency department to assist in the process of relieving
the incoming surge of casualties that crippled the acute health care system
there. It is during that time that the sparkle of becoming a surgeon lit up as
his ultimate clinical ambition. After graduation in 2007, he traveled to Jordan
where he did a clinical attachment in general surgery with the Jordan University
Hospital in Amman. By 2008, Dr. Aboud arrived in Beirut, Lebanon, where he was
able to enroll in a clinical observership in al-Makassid Hospital, a hospital
affiliated to the American University of Beirut. In December 2009, Dr. Aboud
achieved his dream to arrive to the United States; his first station was Salt
Lake city, Utah. Working hard in his recertification process, he finished all
his USMLE steps in less than 8 months while working as a research associate with
the American University and Regional Pathologists (ARUP) - a reference
laboratory affiliated to the University of Utah. His involvement in research,
however, did not hinder his passion and ambition in the field of general surgery
and acute care, thus he was keen on getting himself more integrated in the
American surgical health care system by volunteering- and shadowing in the
division of vascular surgery at the University of Utah Hospital for almost an
entire year. Dr. Aboud enjoys reading and writing English poetry and prose; he
has openness towards different cultures, which is reflected in his studying of
Eastern and Western schools of philosophy and tradition. A huge Salvador Dali
aficionado, he is an avid gallery stroller in the wards of modern art; he enjoys
running and hiking, and has just participated in Salt Lake City Marathon in
April, 2011.
Andrew Adams, MD |
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MD, American International School of Medicine, Georgetown, Guyana, 2004
Dr. Andrew Adams is a native of Guyana . He completed medical school at the
American International School of Medicine in Georgetown , Guyana. Dr. Adams is
interested in pursuing a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery. He also wants to
be involved in promoting easy access to quality healthcare , especially to
underserved patient populations.
John Admire, MD |
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MD, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 2011
John Admire grew up in Denton, Texas. He attended UT- Austin for his undergraduate degree in
Biology. John attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston,
completing his degree in 2011. John is interested in surgical trauma and critical care and plans to
pursue a fellowship in this area after the completion of residency at UTHSC San Antonio.
Raman Babayeuski, MD |
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MD, Belarussian State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus, 2004
Dr. Babayeuski is a native of Minsk, Belarus. He graduated from Belarusian State
Medical University and received his medical degree in 2004. He completed his
intern year at the Minsk Regional Clinical Hospital in 2005 and passed the
certification exam. Dr. Babayeuski has been working as a general surgeon since
August, 2005. He passed the Board Qualifying Exam: 'Surgery' in 2008. He is
interested in pursuing a fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopy and aiding in
medical education throughout his career.
Joel Leon Becerril, MD |
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MD, Universidad Panamericana, School of Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico, 2008
Dr. Leon-Becerril native of Xochimilco (Mexico City), Mexico, received his MD
degree in 2008. In 2007, he finished 1 year of rotatory internship at Dalinde
Medical Center; during this year he visited Methodist DeBakey Heart and
Vascular Center at Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX, and the Nephrology and
Gastroenterology department at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago,
IL. After his internship, in 2008 he finished one year of Social Service in one of
the poorest regions in Latin America – 'The Mountain Region' –
in the state of
Guerrero, where he was the primary care physician of the Rural Clinic located
in the town of Tlaquiltepec. During that year, besides giving primary care to
the inhabitants of the community and taking care of the medical emergencies, he
developed strategies to improve quality of healthcare and prevention of highly
prevalent medical issues among the community, especially against dengue fever.
After medical school he was a Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the
Methodist Research Institute where he was involved in cardiovascular surgery,
transplant and assist devices clinical trials. Currently Dr. Leon-Becerril works
as a Surgical and Research Assistant of a plastic surgeon in Mexico City. His
major interests in the surgical field are cardiac and vascular surgery. He loves
spending time with his wife, family and friends; he also is a huge fan
of soccer, snorkeling, hiking, road trips and cooking.
Brandon Bonds, MD |
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MD, UT School of Medicine San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 2011
Brandon was born to a working class family in Sour Lake, TX. As the second of
five children, he was the first in his family to attend college when he
enrolled in Lamar University. It was here that he decided to pursue a career
in medicine. Brandon began volunteering at the local hospital and, under the
guidance of the trauma surgery team, chose to become a surgeon. After
graduating from UTHSCSA School of Medicine, he stayed to complete a residency
in General Surgery. Married with two young boys, Brandon spends most of his
free time teaching his boys to play the guitar and dreaming of forming a
family rock band.
Sayl Bunyan, MD |
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MD, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq, 2006
Dr. Bunyan is a medical graduate of Al-Kindy College Of Medicine, Baghdad
University. As an Iraqi medical student living inside Iraq during the war,
Dr. Bunyan
and his family had to face a lot of challenges that threatened their lives
everyday, but his will to graduate and become a doctor downgraded all the
difficulties. Throughout all his pre-medical and medical curriculum, Dr. Bunyan ranked
always high among his class, including first nationwide in national Iraqi public
exams,and third among his medical graduation class. In October 1999, he
represented his country at the National Parliament Of Youth, held in
Paris, France, in the Environment workshop, discussing and explaining the
consequences of wars on environment and general health.
Dr. Bunyan completed his
Internships in Iraq and Jordan. He also did a sub-internship in General Surgery at
the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant, OK, and in
Internal/Family/Occupational Medicine in Texas suburbs. He spent some time
observing in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at the UTHSC-Houston, Memorial
Hermann Hospital. His ambition is to become a General Surgeon with high
educational and professional standards, and to persue a fellowship in
Hepatobiliary and Transplantation. In addition to his career, Dr. Bunyan likes to spend
time with family and friends, teaching his son swimming and soccer. Dr. Bunyan enjoys
playing dominos, and has a special interest in Arabic poetry and travel.
Jerry Cheriyan, MD |
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MD, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, India, 2003
I am passionate about surgery and feel that no journey is too long. I am
committed to achieving my intended goals. I am loyal to colleagues, the
institution and the profession and I am grateful to the teachers who have guided
me through my career so far. In a challenging environment I realise the
importance of a sound work ethic and effective communication within a team
structure. I can effectively prioritize and organise my workload.
I am aware of my limitations and aim to work hard as trainee to achieve my
potential. I am confident of making a significant positive impact in a training
programme.
I am a keen sportsman and enjoy and play a wide range of sports and games. I was a member of my college teams for football, hockey, handball and chess. I continue to play squash and tennis regularly at the local club now.I also enjoy listening to and playing the guitar. I have a diploma in Children's Art and enjoy Philately. I was also the treasurer of the junior doctors' mess in Swindon and take a keen interest in organising social activities.
Pedro Pablo Gomez, MD |
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MD, Instituo de Ciencias del la Salud (Ces), Medellin, Colombia, 2006
Dr. Gomez graduated from Universidad CES in 2006. He completed a year of social service in Chinchina,
a small town located in the heart of Colombia's coffee zone. Dr. Gomez returned to Medellin where he
worked with his father as a Surgical Assistant in his Urology practice and teaching Physiology in his Alma
Mater for a year and a half. In the fall of 2009, he joined the UTHSCSA department of Surgery/Trauma as
a Research Assistant where he was responsible for initiating, implementing and monitoring various
clinical research projects. Pedro Pablo enjoys photography, going to the movies, learning from
different cultures and spending time with family and friends.
Saif Flayeh Hassan, MD |
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MD, University of of Baghdad College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011
Dr. Hassan graduated from Baghdad College of Medicine in 2006. Living in
Baghdad during the height of the war was very dangerous and caused Dr. Hassan
many hardships, but he persevered and had a very successful academic career
there. Due to safety concerns, Dr. Hassan was forced to relocate to Amman,
Jordan, where he finished his internship at Jordan University Hospital. He then
got the opportunity to come to Texas to participate in an elective course at
Texas Heart Institute and there he became increasingly interested in surgery.
Most recently, Dr. Hassan spent 2 years at Texas Children's Hospital as the
Pokorney Clinical Research Post Doctoral Fellow of the Division of Pediatric
Surgery, Michael E. Debakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine.
There he has written and published numerous studies that have been presented at
local, national and international meetings. His interest now lies in pursuing a
career in Pediatric Trauma Surgery. He is an avid basketball player, billiard
enthusiast, and new fan of everything 'Texan', including horseback riding. He
also enjoys writing Arabic poetry.
Rayaad C. Hosein, MD |
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MD, University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medical Science, St. Augustine, Trinidad Y Tobago, 2005
Dr. Hosein was born in Trinidad and attended the University of the West Indies
in the Faculties of Natural & Medical Sciences. Before his medical education, Dr
Hosein worked at the Environmental Management Authority in Trinidad where he was
a Technical Coordinator in Pollution Prevention and Control. While in medical
school, he represented his faculty as the Chairman of the Medical Sciences
School Association. He also conducted clinical research in the Community Health
department in his third year. After he graduated, he worked in his country's
level 1 hospital in the emergency room and attained the position of shift
coordinator.
John Lahourcade, MD |
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MD, UT School of Medicine San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 2011
Born and raised in San Antonio, Dr. Lahourcade attended the University of Texas
at Austin, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biology in 2006.
After college, he returned to his hometown to attend the University of Texas
School of Medicine San Antonio where he received his medical degree in 2011.
Dr. Lahourcade plans to pursue a career in general surgery but has not ruled out
a fellowship for specialty training.
Roberto Martinez, MD |
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MD, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 2011
Dr. Martinez was raised in El Paso, Texas and began his undergraduate studies at
The University of Texas at El Paso before transferring to Fordham University in
the Bronx, graduating in 2006. For medical school, he attended Jefferson
Medical College in Philadelphia, receiving his medical degree in June of 2011.
Dr. Martinez is currently undecided what direction his career will head in but
maintains a strong interest in academics.
Ashley McGinity, MD |
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MD, UT School of Medicine San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 2011
Ashley Corley grew up in Waco, Texas. She attended Samford University for her
undergraduate degree in Sports Medicine. She attended medical school here at the
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, completing her degree in
2011. Ashley is interested in surgical oncology and endocrine surgery and plans
to stay involved in academic medicine throughout her career.
Fernando Medina, MD |
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MD, Universidad Central de Venezuela – Luis Razetti, Caracas, Venezuela, 2011
Dr. Medina Graduated in 2007 from The Luis Razetti School of Medicine of
Venezuela's Central University in Caracas. He received The 'Dr. José Izquierdo'
Award, granted by the Department of Morphologic Science for outstanding
performance in Anatomy and Neuroanatomy.
After graduation he worked for a year working with the underserved populations
of the inner city of Baruta in Caracas and also the costal population of the
town of La Sabana in Venezuela.
Luke Putnam, MD |
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MD, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico, 2010
Dr. Putnam grew up in Manhattan Beach, California, and was an engineering
undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University. Upon graduating, he moved to
Managua, Nicaragua, to start a nonprofit development organization called Manna
Project International. Dr. Putnam then pursued his medical degree at the
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico, where he graduated as the
Valedictorian. Outside of work, he enjoys skiing, surfing, and spending time
with his nephews and nieces.
Caesar A. Ricci, III, MD |
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MD, University of Texas School of Medicine San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 2010
Caesar A. Ricci III is a native of Dallas, Texas. He graduated from the UTHSCSA
School of Medicine in May 2010. Before starting medical school, he worked as a
Spanish interpreter at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. He obtained a B.S in
2001 and MPH in 2003, both from Texas A&M University. In addition to his
interests in surgery, he has been involved in global health programs that have
recently led him to travel to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Chad, where he
worked with Sudanese refugees escaping the violence in Darfur.
Gabriela Szalayova, MD |
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MD, Universita Komenskeho, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2006
Dr. Szalayova was born and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia. She attended Medical School at
Komensky University, and completed her first year of surgical residency at Cyril and Method
University Hospital. She settled down in San Francisco bay area after marriage and began to
pursue her dream in surgery again. Meanwhile she has served as Clinical Safety Manager for a
silicon valley based high-tech company to deploy clinical trial technology for European Union
countries. Subsequently she did clinical observer-ships at the Rush Medical Center, Department
of Cardiothoracic surgery in Chicago and at UCSF, Department of General Surgery. In addition
she has worked briefly as a postdoctoral research fellow at UConn Health Center in Department
of Gastroenterology on basic science research project involving targeted mitochondrial uptake by
Huh7 liver cells. She is an avid chess player, as well as enjoys painting, walks with her dog,
photography and sometimes get on a motorcycle ride with her husband.
Yatzmellie Vega-Bonet, MD |
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MD, Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, 2011
Dr. Vega-Bonet was born and raised in Rincon, Puerto Rico. She obtained a Bachelors of Science in
Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campu; graduating with Magna Cum
Laude honors in 2007. Then, in 2011 she received her MD from the Universidad Central del Caribe School
of Medicine at Puerto Rico and was selected as a member of the Gamma Chapter of the Alpha Omega
Alpha Honor Medical Society. Throughout the course of her studies, Yatzmellie spent time serving her
community and volunteering in health care fairs with organizations such as the Association of Students of
Medicine of Puerto Rico (AEMPR), 'Iniciativa comunitaria-Medicina Urbana' and Aguada Presbyterian
Church. Her current professional interests include performing breast cancer research and pursuing
fellowship training in surgical oncology. Besides medicine, she enjoys spending time with her family and
loves to cook, write and skate.
Russell Zwiener, MD |
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MD, St. Matthew's University School of Medicine, Grand Cayman Island, 2011
Dr. Russell Zwiener was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Spring, Texas, a suburb just north of Houston.
He completed his undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em Horns!) with a
Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2005 before completing his medical degree at St. Matthews University in
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands B.W.I. in 2010. While in high school, Russell was a volunteer firefighter and
received his EMT. As an undergrad he received his paramedic and worked at Brackenridge Trauma Center
in Austin Texas. In addition in his interest in surgery, he enjoys all things Texas Longhorns, spending time
with his fiance', skiing, visiting his parents on Lake Travis, SCUBA and hunting on the family ranch in south
Texas. Russell is engaged to Jaime Gele, a landscape architect, and will be getting married in October 2011
in Georgetown, Texas.
Urology Preliminary Residents:
Eminajulo Adekoya, MD
MD, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, 2011
Raveesh D. Richard, MD
MD, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 2011
Jeffrey T. White, MD, PhD
MD, Louisiana State University, New Orelans, LA, 2011
Dr. White is a native of New Orleans, LA and attended Rice University,
graduating with a BS in bioengineering in 2004. He returned to New Orleans for
medical school as an MD/PhD student and completed a doctorate of philosophy
in 2009 and medical doctorate in 2011. His dissertation developed a gene
regulatory network for development of a specialized cell of the glomerulus, the
podocyte. Dr. White is interested in the application of developmental biology to
adult and pediatric urologic diseases. In his free time, Dr. White enjoys
playing rugby, cooking, traveling and watching the New Orleans Saints.
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Residency Program:
Critical Care (Trauma) Fellowship:
Delfino Randy Garza, MD |
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Biosketch
MD, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Medicine, 2005
Residency, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – El Paso, 2011
Dr. Garza completed his medical degree at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio in 2005 and completed his residency training at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center –
El Paso in 2011. He is currently a fellow in the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program with expected
completion in June 2012.
