PGY-3 Residents

Medical School:  St. George’s University

Hometown:  Los Angeles, CA

Career Goals: Pediatric Hospitalist, with interest in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

One person I would like to meet and why: Kobe Bryant. I grew up a huge Lakers fan and watching their basketball games was the perfect study break during high school, college, and medical school. I always felt inspired by his work ethic, discipline, and dedication for what you love (which I always channeled towards my passion for pediatrics!)

Something you would never guess about me is:  I have lived in 4 different countries and 12 different cities (and counting) so far. And I’m terrified of birds.

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso: I wanted to train at an academic institution that supported its residents and prioritized patient care above all else. I was impressed at how TTUHSC El Paso fostered a welcoming environment and provided the opportunity to learn at a level 1 trauma center and a level 4 NICU that serves a diverse patient population. Even from virtual interviews, I was able to see the strong bond between residents and faculty and I knew I wanted to be a part of the TTUHSC El Paso family!

Medical School:  Alexandria University, Faculty of Medicine.

Hometown:  Alexandria, Egypt.

Career Goals:  I am very passionate about working in a teaching environment where I will always be able to be a part of an educational system. I have always been drawn to emergency medicine and critical care. However, I am open to exploring more about myself and pediatrics subspecialties during my residency training.
 
One person I would like to meet and why:  My future child. I can’t wait to tell them about the world that I saw and see the world from their eyes. I can’t wait to give them what we didn’t have and explore their journey with them. Any hardship that we ever been through will have a whole different meaning and purpose. To be fair to them, I hope they take their looks after their mother. 
 
Something you would never guess about me is:  I once had two rescued hawks named Angelica and Samson. I have been an advocate for wildlife since a young age. I have been involved in the rescue of chimpanzees, lion cubs, hawks, and abandoned pets. I love expressing myself through drawing and enjoy reading about diverse mythologies. I have been practicing the disciplines of martial arts since 2011. 
 
Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso:  The Sun City is the perfect place for an Egyptian. The faculty, staff and residents are very passionate about the work they are doing. They have a unique community serving advocacy and border health program. In addition to their strong teaching curriculum and diverse patient population. El Paso is considered one of the safest cities in the U.S., which was important to consider for my family.

Medical School: Xavier University School of Medicine

Hometown: Bridgeport, Connecticut

Career Goals: I aspire to be an influential pediatric oncologist who contributes to the field of research and medicine around the globe.

One person I would like to meet and why: I would like to meet Tyler Perry because I truly admire his story of coming from humble beginnings and creating a platform for underserved individuals to live out their dreams.  

Something you would never guess about me is: I played piano from the age of 7 to 17.

Why you choose TTUHSC El Paso: I chose TTUHSC El Paso because I truly love the warm friendly atmosphere, the opportunity to  serve underserved populations and become fluent in Spanish.

Medical School:  Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State, Las Cruces NM

Hometown: Los Angeles, California 

Career Goals:  I have a prominent respiratory background because I was a Respiratory Therapist before medical school so I am very interested in Pulmonology. I am also very interested in pediatric critical care because of the high acuity and diversity in pathology. 

One person I would like to meet and why:  I would love to meet former president Barack Obama. All politics aside, I find it fascinating that he had the drive to continue to pursue something that was previously unobtainable to minorities. He inspired millions of men, women and children by opening doors that had previously been locked to people of color. It is people like this that allowed people like me to continue to dream and push forward to achieve the unobtainable.   

Something you would never guess about me is: You would never guess I really enjoy old Kung-Fu flicks as well as salsa dancing. I also really enjoy the art of bonsai and so one of my favorite hobbies is to grow bonsai trees. One of my favorite bonsai I have, is a 12 in dawn redwood tree. They are some of the tallest trees in the world so I find it really cool and ironic that I have a miniature version of one. 

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso: I chose TTUHSC El Paso because my parents were immigrants from Colombia who came illegally to this country in hopes of a better future. This program is one of the few that allowed me to work directly with the wonderful underserved boarder population.

Medical School: Texas A&M Health Sciences Center 

Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas

Career Goals: To find a healthy balance between providing meaningful service to my community and  being the best husband and (hopefully!) father as I can be.

One person I would like to meet and why: My paternal grandfather, who passed before I was born. He was a revolutionary during the Quit India movement under Gandhi, even acting as a reporter for Gandhi's newspaper, the Navjeevan Trust. I would want to meet him and let him know that his hard work and sacrifice paid off.

Something you would never guess about me is: I'm a world champion Scottish bagpipe player

Why I chose TTUHSC El Paso: Due to the recent crisis of family separation and the ongoing politicization of migrant children, I felt it was my duty to train and subsequently provide care to this at-risk population at an institution known for creating exemplary heath care providers. These children deserve care and kindness, and I want to show them the best of what this country can offer.

Medical School:  University of the City of Manila

Hometown:  Quezon City, Philippines

Career Goals:  General Pediatrics. However, I am open to other possibilities such as fellowship, and I look forward to all the learning opportunities that the residency program will provide.

One person I would like to meet and why:  Lucy Maud Montgomery. She is my favorite author.

Something you would never guess about me is:  I enjoy watching old classic movies.

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso:  Having interviews done virtually was quite an experience, but even through this medium, the sense of family within the program was apparent.

Medical School: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogota, Colombia 

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia 

Career Goals: Pediatric nephrologist with an interest in hypertension.

One person I would like to meet and why: Gregor Johann Mendel because genetics is a cool subject!

Something you would never guess about me is: I wanted to be a veterinarian before medical school. At the age of 12, I adopted every animal I found on the street. At one time, we had 12 chickens, one turtle, two dogs, one cat and an aquarium.

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso: When I first came to El Paso, I loved the city, the proximity to Mexico, and the people. People are genuinely kind and friendly.

Medical School: UMHS St. Kitts

Hometown: Houston, TX

Career Goals: I want to be a pediatrician that connects with my patients and their families. I want to make an impact on the future by making sure that every kid I see is able to meet their fullest potential in life and have the tools they need to build a better world for us all tomorrow.

One person I’d like to meet and why: Stephen Hawking because his mind was such an incredible place. It would be so interesting to hear about his theories and ideas straight from him and discuss all the biggest questions in the world.

Something you’d never guess about me is: I’m an avid lover of languages. My goal is to one day be able to call myself a polyglot! On the way there, but always so much more to learn.

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso: The atmosphere and people I met were all so friendly. It seemed like a place that cared about people and kids and the residents themselves. I wanted to be a part of a place that would support me in more than my education and make lifelong friends while I’m at it.

Medical School:  University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
 
Hometown: Lake Jackson, Texas 
 
Career Goals:  General practice pediatrician.
 
One person I would like to meet and why:  Steve Irwin, if he were still alive, because I love animals and he had such a great passion for what he did.
 
Something you would never guess about me is:  I played the trumpet in high school.

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso:  Great weather, better people.

Medical School:  University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, Texas

Hometown:  San Antonio, Texas

Career Goals:  My future goal is to become an advocate for children and to work in education. I have interest in sub-specializing, however serving children in the best way possible is my ultimate goal.

One person I would like to meet and why:  I would love to meet Manu Ginobili! Growing up in San Antonio, the San Antonio Spurs is something we take a lot of pride in and watching Ginobili playing basketball was inspiring as he gave it his everything in every game.

Something you would never guess about me is:  I finished a 70.3 Ironman race while only having experienced running a 5k race prior. It's a big jump and not highly recommended. YIKES!

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso:  I chose TTUHSC El Paso because of everyone I had the privilege of meeting during my interview. Though the pandemic limited the opportunity of meeting everyone physically, I had a wonderful experience interviewing here as everyone was super friendly and personable. I felt that this location would be perfect for someone like me to develop into a well-rounded pediatrician. Great food is always a bonus as well!

Medical School:   St. Georges University School of Medicine 

Hometown:   Moreno Valley, California 

Career Goals: This was the hardest question for me to answer because I ultimately feel that any goal I set could change at any given time throughout my career. When I started college, my career goal was to be a professional baseball player. A career ending injury 3 years later ultimately led me on the path to medicine. The one constant that I believe stays no matter the environment or specialty you pursue, is the impact you can have on those around you. That is my goal with my career. To have the maximum impact on those around me whether it is my patients, my colleagues, or through medical missions.

One person I would like to meet and why:   One of the biggest reasons I chose pediatrics was that fact that my wife and I have not been able to have children. Fostering to adopt is something that we are planning to pursue during my time in residency. We have been unable to pursue it so far due to moving around so often for medical school. Being established here in El Paso now will allow us that opportunity. The one person I would like to meet is the first child that we open our home to. Since the beginning of medical school, the motivation to work hard has always been for my family and patients. The future children we open our home to has always been part of that motivation. This is the one person I have been looking forward to meeting for a long time.

Something you would never guess about me is:   “I am not throwing away my shot! Just like my country, I’m young scrappy and hungry and I’m not throwing away my shot!” If you got that reference, then you could tell that I am a huge fan of the play Hamilton. It’s funny, I did my clinical years in New Jersey not too far from Broadway. Yet, it was the pandemic that led me to watch Hamilton on Disney+. Since then, I must have watched it over ten times. Listened to the soundtrack over a hundred times and annoyed my wife with it over a thousand times.

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso:  I was watching stand-up Comedian Gabriel Iglesias, and his special was at El Paso. He talked about a place called Chicos Tacos where you could drink a taco. I knew then it was a match made in heaven. I’m just kidding. The real reason I chose this residency is more interesting than that. My interview season was during the pandemic. All our interviews were conducted online. When the season began, my wife and I had a short checklist:  

Will I be taught well and be given all the opportunities allowed in pediatrics?  Yes. Not only is everything offered but they offered two unique electives that I did not see at any other program, Border Health and New Parent. 

Is the city somewhere we can see ourselves raising a family?  Yes. El Paso is one of the safest cities in America. It has culture, and a lot of sunny days which was a big plus for my wife. 

Would I be happy with the people at the program? I thought the last question would be difficult to determine through online interviews, but I discovered quickly that the online interviews got rid of all the fluff of a program. There was no fancy dinner, there was no reliance on anything other then them showing who they were through the people that were part of the program. I enjoyed my time spent with everyone who I was afforded the time to speak. The residents spoke of hanging out not just with each other on their days off, but also with the families of the residents. No other programs faculty and residents stuck out to me like they did here. This is why TTUHSC El Paso was our dream, and now our reality.

Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston 
 
Hometown: Houston, Texas 
 
Career Goals: My goal is to provide care and education to underserved families as a general pediatrician. 
 
One person I would like to meet and why: Jeon Jungkook of BTS because he’s a talented artist who inspires me to take on every new challenge and give it my all. 
 
Something you would never guess about me is: I can recognize an episode of The Office by just one line. 
 
Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso: Everyone in the program seemed so kind and motivating creating such a welcoming environment. I’ve always wanted to move and enjoy the nature that West Texas has to offer.  

Medical School: Ross University SOM

Hometown: St. Louis, MO 

Career Goals: Still exploring subspecialties, but I desire to decrease health disparities, particularly amongst impoverished and minority children.

One person I would like to meet and why:  I would love to meet former first lady Michelle Obama! Her grace, elegance, the embodiment of a wife, mother, career mother, and overall leader is amazing. Not to mention her arms!!

Something you would never guess about me is:  I competed in the Junior Olympics for track & field. My events included 4x 100m relay, 800 m run, shot put, discus and race walking!

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso:  Navigating virtual residency interviews through COVID was challenging; however, my interview with TTUHSC El Paso, even though via webcam, felt like "home". 

Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine

Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

Career goals: Become a general pediatrician and provide care to patients in rural or underserved regions. 

One person I would like to meet and why: Oprah Winfrey. She is one of the most inspirational and motivational women in the world. There is so much to learn from her life stories, values, visions, struggles, achievements, etc. Her actions and words have supported and guided me through some tough times.

Something you would never guess about me is: I love cats and everything about them. My cat is my child!

Why you chose TTUHSC El Paso: Very kind and caring staff, faculty and residents: You can see and feel it even through the virtual interview! Also the delicious food, diverse cultures, and being in one of the sunniest locations in the United States.