Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation

To contact any faculty or physician extenders, please call 915-215-5480.

Faculty

Rajiv Rajani, M.D.
Rajiv Rajani, M.D.

Associate Professor
and Chair

Dr. Rajiv Rajani is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who is fellowship trained in Pediatric and Adult Orthopaedic Oncology. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan. He then completed his residency at Emory University, and his fellowship at the University of Florida. He is an Associate Professor and Chair of the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. He expertise especially lies in the diagnosis and treatment of all bone and soft tissue tumors of the extremities in both pediatric and adult patients. Dr. Rajani is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS). He also is a member of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS), International Society of Limb Salvage (ISOLS), the Texas Orthopaedic Association (TOA) and the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA).

Dr. Rajani served for four years on the AAOS Council on Research and Quality along with the Diversity Advisory Board. He also served on the AAOS Council of Education. Along with completing a term on the MSTS Evidence-Based Medicine Committee, he additionally has served as the MSTS Fellowship Committee Chair, spearheading the society effort to develop a fellowship credentialing pathway. He is a member of the AOA Council of Residency Directors.

His previous appointment was Vice Chair for Education and Residency Program Director for the UT Health San Antonio Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He also served on the Board for the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas.

For a list of his publications, please visit his Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JW7GalkAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

He speaks English and basic Spanish.

Adam Adler
Adam H. Adler, M.D. FAAOS

Associate Professor

Dr. Adam Adler is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who is also fellowship trained in Orthopaedic Trauma. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of New Mexico. He then completed his residency at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Hospital, and his fellowship at Stanford University. He is an Associate Professor, Director of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service and Associate Residency Program Director for the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. His practice focus includes orthopaedic trauma, adult hip reconstruction, limb deformity correction, and pelvis and acetabular surgery. He has served the El Paso community since 2016.

Dr. Adler is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), AO Trauma, and AO North America.

Dr. Adler serves on the Texas Tech/University Medical Center Field Amputation Team. He was also a vital component of treating patients and coordinating care in two mass casualty events: Hurricane Sandy (2012) and the El Paso Walmart Mass Shooting (2019).

He speaks English and basic Spanish.

Evan D. Corning, M.D.
Evan D. Corning, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Corning is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who is fellowship trained in Orthopaedics Sports Medicine. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He completed his residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and his fellowship at Barton Health/Lake Tahoe Orthopedics Sports Medicine. He is an Assistant Professor and Director of Sports Medicine in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. He is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AAOSM). He has served the El Paso community since 2021.

Dr. Corning also serves as the team physician for the El Paso Locomotives.

He speaks English and basic Spanish.

Karim A. Elsharkawy, M.D.
Karim A. Elsharkawy, M.D.

Associate Professor

Dr. Karim Elsharkawy is a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who is fellowship trained in Adult Reconstruction Surgery. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the Cairo University School of Medicine, Egypt. He completed his residency at the Cleveland Clinic in addition to a post-doctoral research fellowship. Dr. Elsharkawy also completed the Otto E. Aufranc Fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. He is an Associate Professor and Director of the Adult Reconstruction Service in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation.

His practice focus includes primary and revision total hip and knee arthroplasty procedures. He has extensive research experience in the area of joint replacement and its effects on the geriatric population. He has also co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on hip and knee replacement.

He is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the American Association for Physician Leadership. He previously served as an Assistant Lecturer at Cairo University School of Medicine, Egypt.

He speaks English, French and Arabic.

Gil Gontre, MD
Gil Gontre, M.D., FACS

Associate Professor

Dr. Gil Gontre is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who is fellowship trained in Hand Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery and Microsurgery. He earned his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Chihuahua, Mexico. He completed his residency at the University of Mexico Orthopedic Residency Program, and his fellowships as follows: Hand Surgery at the University of British Columbia and University of Mexico City; Peripheral Nerve Surgery at the Washington University School of Medicine; and Microsurgery at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is an Associate Professor and Director of Hand Surgery in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. He has almost two decades of experience as a Hand Surgeon and has served the El Paso Community since 2014.

Dr. Gontre is a member of the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM) and the American Society of Peripheral Nerve (ASPN). He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) instructor, Faculty of AO North America and Reviewer on several International Journals.

He has published more than 40 articles and book chapters, and every year presents his work in regional, national and international medical conferences. His clinical and research interest are Hand and Elbow Surgery, Upper Extremity Trauma, Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve injuries. For a list of his publications, please visit his Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yFudnEIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

He speaks English and fluent Spanish.

Dr. Ahmed Thabet-Hagag
Ahmed Thabet-Hagag, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Dr. Ahmed Thabet is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who is fellowship trained in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction and Orthopaedic Trauma. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Benha University School of Medicine, Egypt. He then went on to earn his Doctor of Philosophy in Orthopaedics there, as well as complete his residency. He completed fellowship training at the Sinai Hospital Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopaedics, Alfred DuPont Hospital for Children, Alexander Manzoni Hospital (Italy), Bern University Hospital (Switzerland), Louisiana State University and University of New Mexico. He is an Associate Professor in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, and has been serving the El Paso community since 2015.

His practice focus includes pediatric orthopaedics, limb lengthening and reconstruction, adolescent hip problems, hip preservation, bone infections, nonunion, bone defects, complex trauma, and posttraumatic reconstruction. He is an active member of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association (EOA), Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS), Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society (LLRS), Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), AO Trauma, and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA). He previously served as an Associate Lecturer at Behna University School of Medicine, Egypt.

Dr. Thabet is passionate about conducting and mentoring students in research. He has dozens of publications and several book chapters. For a list of his publications, please visit his Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=QyGqAN4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

 He speaks English and fluent Arabic.

Andrew F. Tyler, M.D., Ph.D.
Andrew F. Tyler, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Andrew Tyler is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in orthopaedic trauma. He earned his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where he also earned his Doctor of Philosophy in immunology.

He completed his internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in orthopaedic trauma from Vanderbilt University.

He is an assistant professor in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. His practice focus includes orthopaedic trauma, upper and lower extremity fracture repair, musculoskeletal infection, post-traumatic reconstruction, limb deformity correction, pelvic and acetabular surgery, and adult shoulder, hip, and knee reconstruction.

Dr. Tyler is an active member of AO Trauma, the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). He has extensive experience performing clinical and basic science research and has published multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters.

He speaks English and basic Spanish.

Norman H. Ward III, M.D.
Norman H. Ward III, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Norman Ward is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who is fellowship trained in Pediatric Orthopaedics. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He completed his residency there as well, and then went on to complete his fellowship at Duke/University of North Carolina. He is an Instructor in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, and has been serving the El Paso community since 2021.

His practice focus is on pediatric orthopaedics, pediatric fractures and trauma, limb deformity, neuromuscular conditions (such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, etc.), skeletal dysplasias, foot deformities, developmental hip dysplasia, and brachial plexus birth palsy. Dr. Ward is an active member of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

He speaks English.

Taylor M. Yong, M.D., M.S.
Taylor M. Yong, M.D., M.S.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Taylor Yong is a board-eligible orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in orthopaedic trauma. He received his Doctor of Medicine here at TTUHSC El Paso. He then completed a unique 6-year residency track at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center which included a Master of Science in Healthcare Research from the Dartmouth Institute. After residency, he completed his orthopaedic trauma fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Yong was also awarded the prestigious AO Trauma North America Jack McDaniel Memorial Fellowship, completing additional training at Universitätsspital Basel in Switzerland. His practice focus includes orthopaedic trauma, the polytraumatized patient, pelvic and acetabular surgery, and musculoskeletal infection. He is an Assistant Professor for the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. He has served the El Paso community since 2022.

Dr. Yong is an active member of AO Trauma, the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) Emerging Leaders Program. He is passionate about education, mentorship, and research. For a list of his publications, please visit his Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&tzom=360&user=KPF8XpAAAAAJ

He speaks English and has a limited-working proficiency with Spanish. 

 

Faculty Associates

Gil M. Moreu, DPM
Gil M. Moreu, D.P.M.

 Faculty Associate

Dr. Gil Moreu is a Board Certified Podiatric Surgeon. He earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (formerly Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine) and his residency in Surgical Podiatry at Dunlap Memorial Hospital. He is a Faculty Associate in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, and has been with our department since 2004. He has been serving the El Paso community since 1992.

His practice focus is on podiatry (foot disorders). He previously worked at the Bassett Foot Care Center, in private practice, the Foot Specialists of El Paso, and the William Beaumont Army Medical Center Orthopaedic/Podiatry Clinic.

He speaks English and fluent Spanish.

Rona Fagan portrait picture
Rona Fagan, R.N., B.S.N., M.A., ONC

Faculty Associate

Rona Fagan is a Certified Orthopaedic Nurse. She is a Faculty Associate in the TTUHSC El Paso Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, and has been with our department since 1989. She is an integral part of not only our department, but the El Paso orthopaedic community as a whole.

Her practice focus is general orthopaedics. She assists in running Tech and William Beaumont faculty clinics, coordinating patient surgery and care here and at our affiliated hospitals, and providing patient education pre- and post-op. She plays an active role in resident education and support, among the many other hats she wears. Rona has been serving the El Paso community since 1971.  She previously served as a nurse in the United States Army and the Hospitals of Providence in Infection Control and Critical Care.

She speaks English and basic Spanish.

Physician Extenders

Monica Duran using white coat
Monica Duran, PA-C

Advanced Practice Provider

Amanda Herrera portrait picture
Amanda Herrera, CPNP-PC

Advanced Practice Provider

Gabriela Hildenbrand, FNP-BC, RNFA
Gabriela Hildenbrand, FNP-BC, RNFA

Advanced Practice Provider

Gabriel Mendoza Marquez, RN, AGACNP-BC
Gabriel Mendoza Marquez, RN, AGACNP-BC

Advanced Practice Provider

Joseph Miller, FNP-BC
Joseph Miller, FNP-BC

Advanced Practice Provider

Tionay Mota, M.P.A.S., PA-C
Tionay Mota, M.P.A.S., PA-C

Advanced Practice Provider

Margarita Pedroza, M.S.N., R.N., CPNP-AC
Margarita Pedroza, M.S.N., R.N., CPNP-AC

Advanced Practice Provider