Welcome new faculty and staff
Augusts 2008
Teresa Craig, Senior Research Associate (Trauma)
. . . .
July 2008
Jennifer A. Becerra, Clinical Nurse (Cardiothoracic)
Renee L. Cavin, Lab Tech Assistant (Vascular Research Lab)
Krystella Gonzalez, Administrative Secretary (Transplant)
Guadalupe Gonzalez, Transplant Technician (Transplant)
Stephanie R. Lask, Vascular Technician (Vascular)
Laurie Jo Stevens, Vocational Nurse (Transplant)
Erica Tenorio, Administrative Secretary (Cardiothoracic)
Thomas C. Vorpahl, Clinical Nursing Supervisor (Vascular)
Sara Wentworth, Vascular Technician (Vascular)
. . . .
June 2008
Ebony Cavanaugh, Research Assistant (Trauma)
Jeffrey Cavanaugh, Perfusionist (Cardiothoracic)
Paula Davison, PA-C, Faculty Associate (Emergency Medicine)
Veronica Hernandez, Data Systems Coordinator (Cardiothoracic)
Don V. Nguyen, Faculty Associate (Emergency Medicine)
Rick L. Sambucini, Research Study Coordinator (Trauma)
Christopher Tilton, PA-C, Faculty Associate (Emergency Medicine)
. . . .
May 2008
Martin G. Schwacha, PhD, Assistant Professor (Trauma)
Dr. Schwacha joins us from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Surgical Research. He received his PhD from Albany Medical College, Albany NY in 1992. Postdoctoral studies in immunology were completed at the Gamble Institute, Cincinnati, OH and Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. In 1997 he joined the Surgery faculty at Brown University, Providence, RI. Dr. Schwacha's research has been presented at numerous scientific meetings and he is a member of the Shock Journal editorial board as well as an ad hoc reviewer for other professional journals.
Crystal Espinoza, Patient Coordinator (Transplant)
Michelle Ortiz, Clinical Nurse (Transplant)
Larry G. Pizzola, PA-C, Faculty Associate (Emergency Medicine)
. . . .
April 2008
Gene Dickinson, LAN Specialist (SING)
Gene's joined the computer support group as our new technician. He is a native San Antonian,
but has lived at Medina Lake for the last 20
years. In 2007, Gene graduated from UTSA
with a Bachelors Business Administration in Information Systems.
Gene's wife is an elementary school teacher, and he has two daughters - one a student at UTSA,
and the other in elementary school. His first career was more than 30 years
in the automotive industry; he really enjoys motor sports of any kind. We're glad he's joined us,
and hope he gets as much enjoyment from his new career here at the Health Science Center.
Guiming Li, MD, Asst Professor / Research (Vascular)
Dr. Li joined Surgery in April 2008, as an Assistant Professor in the division of Vascular Surgery. He received his Master's Degree in Forensic Medicine from Shanxi Medical University, China, in 1988. In 2005, he did a research internship at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colorado. He completed his research fellowship here at the Health Science Center from 2005 to 2008.
Elizabeth J. Tracy, MSN, Faculty Associate / Division Administrator (Trauma)
Elizabeth earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Austin Community College in
1992. While working as an Emergency Nurse, she returned to school,
earning her BSN in 2001, and her MSN in Administration in
Community & Health Care Systems in Nursing in 2004, both from UTHSCSA.
Before joining the Trauma Division here, she spent the previous three years as
the Trauma Program Manager at Brooke Army Medical Center.
Madhurima Rao, MD, Research Assistant (Cardiothoracic)
Theresa Gallup, Social Science Research Associate (Trauma)
Felicia Gibbs, Senior Secretary (Journal of Trauma)
. . . .
March 2008
Julie Crane, Administrative Assistant (Office of the Vice Chair for Research)
Julie joined the Department of Surgery in March as assistant to the new
Vice Chairman for Research, Dr. Steven E. Wolf. Julie has over 16
years experience with state and private universities; six of these years
have been with the HSC. She previously coordinated the Department of
Medicine's research programs under the direction of then Chairman, Dr.
Robert A. Clark (now Assistant Vice President for Clinical Research) and
recently supported Dr. Brian A. Herman, Vice President for Research and
Professor of Cellular & Structural Biology, for four years with his
research endeavors. Julie's background is in NIH grant submissions,
laboratory management, fiscal management, public relations, and
event/project coordination. When not at the HSC or spending time with
her family, Julie is involved with many community projects in and
outside San Antonio.
Diane M. Farrell, PhD, Senior Research Assistant (Vascular)
Jennifer L. Gaitan, Accounting Coordinator (Accounting)
Jeanne M. Lopez, Research Nurse (Administration)
Laurel Porter, Research Assistant (Vascular)
Deborah Rodgers, Clinical Nurse II (Transplant)
. . . .
January 2008
Rachel Cardenas, Administrative Assistant (Transplant)
Kimberly Overton, Research Nurse (Trauma)
Brad Rutledge, Vascular Technician (Vascular)
Justin B. Williams, MD, Clinical Asst Professor (Emergency Medicine)
. . . .
December 2007
Lisa M. Kelly, Project Coordinator (Research Administration)
Lisa Kelly joined the Department of Surgery's Research Administration team in December 2007 as a Project Coordinator. Ms. Kelly is responsible for assisting faculty in all phases of grant application production, processing, implementation, and reporting. In addition, she will coordinate collaborative faculty meetings and special events.
With more than eight years experience in both the public and private sectors, her research administration expertise includes grant, proposal and project management. She previously worked in the UTHSCSA Department of Psychiatry's Division of Alcohol and Drug Addiction, where she managed IRB protocols and assisted with faculty recruitment.
Ms. Kelly graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She has also taken graduate management courses at Incarnate Word and participated in a mini-MBA class offered by Rutgers University. Ms. Kelly plans to pursue a graduate degree in health care administration in the fall of 2008.
Carol Singleton, Administrative Assistant (Credentialing)
Originally from Mobile, Alabama,
Carol worked as an Administrative
Assistant in the Nursing Administration Office at Providence Hospital in Mobile.
New to San Antonio and to the Health Science Center, she originally joined our department
as a temporary, and she is excited to
be here as a permanent employee in the Credentialing office.
Carol has two daughters,
one son and seven grandchildren; in her off time she enjoys
photography, camping, fishing, working on her website, and spending time
with family & friends.
Lisa Castro, LVN, Vocational Nurse (Transplant)
Marc Koch, Professional Nurse Practitioner (Cardiothoracic)
Jeffrey H. Semler, MD, Clinical Asst Professor (General Surgery, RAHC)
Regina L. Wilson, MSN, Faculty Associate (Trauma)
. . . .
November 2007
Amanda S. Patton, Clinical Nurse (Cardiothoracic)
Amanda has been a Registered Nurse for 12 years, with a background in
surgical and medical intensive care and organ donation. She's been married for 9 years and
has a 4 year old daughter, Kaitlynne. Currently, Amanda's in graduate school and will obtain her
Bachelor's in Nursing and Master's in Nursing in December 2008.
Janis Strong, Administrative Assistant (Plastic)
Welcome back to Janis, who has rejoined Surgery from the
cosmetic and reconstructive surgery private sector.
Janis returns with her strong organizational, educational and people skills,
as well as her many years of experience
with the Plastic Surgery resident education program.
Ross E. Willis, PhD, Assistant Professor, Research (Administration)
Director of Surgical Education
Dr. Willis holds a master's degree in human factors psychology and a
doctoral degree in cognitive psychology from Texas Tech University.
After graduate school, he worked with the Air Force Office of Scientific
Research at Lackland Air Force Base conducting basic and applied
research in the areas computer-based instruction and cognitive task
analysis. He left research to co-found an e-learning company, while
keeping touch with the academic world by holding a position as an
adjunct professor at University of Houston. Dr. Willis recently chose to
pursue his love of academia full-time and joined the UTHSCSA faculty in
2007.
Paul Allen, Sr., Faculty Associate (Emergency Medicine)
Wun C. Augustin, Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)
Will D. Booker, Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)
Yongxin Chen, MD, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow (Vascular)
Alfonso Chiscano, MD, Clinical Asst Professor (Cardiothoracic)
John J. Dembrosky, Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)
Elaine James, Senior Secretary (Journal of Trauma)
Chaya Malka L. Galin, Research Nurse (Trauma / BAMC)
Marianne Gildea, Research Nurse (Trauma)
Khalilah Harmon, Administrative Secretary (GS Residency)
Dolores Huron, Patient Coordinator (Vascular)
Michelle Moore, Administrative Assistant (General Surgery)
. . . .
October 2007
Carla Minjarez, Administrative Assistant (Chair's Office)
Carla is new to San Antonio and to the Health Science Center, and joins Molly West in the Chair's
Office, to support Michelle Price, Surgery Administrator. She's recently moved to San Antonio from West Texas,
where she worked as a human resources assistant and as an administrative assistant in a drilling company.
Carla originally joined us as a temporary to assist with the workload in the Chair's Office; her cheerful
competence was so impressive, we decided to keep her!
Josie Ochoa, Administrative Assistant (Cardiothoracic)
A native San Antonian, Josie is new to the Health Science Center. With more than twenty-five
years of cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery clinical office management experience, Josie is sure to
be a valuable asset to the division of cardiothoracic surgery.
Mary Alice Ayon, Social Science Research Assoc (Trauma)
Graham Canady, Editor (Journal of Trauma)
Mark Elfman, Editor (Journal of Trauma)
Debra Lee Fraley, Clinical Nurse Specialist (Trauma)
Shawnette Garcia, Administrative Assistant (Trauma)
Erica Hagerman, Rseearch Assistant (Trauma - BAMC)
Sonia M. Rogers, Marketing Coordinator (STIPRC)
Myling Sandoval, Administrative Secretary (Residency Education)
. . . .
September 2007
Kristin Beck, Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)
Caitlin E. Brougher, Social Science Research Associate (Trauma)
Dallas Connor, Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)
Alison Gilbert, Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)
Terry Henrie, Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)
Brenda Hernandez-Johns, Nutritionist (Transplant)
Jennifer Milton, Faculty Associate (Transplant)
Edward Owens, Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine)
Mary Salazar, Faculty Associate (Surgical Oncology)
. . . .
Archive - new faculty and staff
