FEATURED: Dr. Jessica Guajardo Martin, Designated Institutional Officer (DIO), General Medical Education (GME), DHR Health, addresses medical residents, fellows, and pharmacy residents during the recent 2026 Resident and Fellow Graduation Ceremony by DHR Health held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. “To our graduates: you leave here more than physicians, you leave as clinicians, scholars, educators and leaders – prepared not only to practice medicine, but to shape it,” she said. “You carry forward the mission and values of DHR Health and the responsibility to serve with compassion, integrity, and excellence.”
Photograph Courtesy DHR HEALTH
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DHR Health’s 2026 Resident and Fellow Graduation Ceremony produces physicians and pharmacists dedicated to providing healing, advanced health care, research, education, excellence, and compassion close to home
“The ancient physician Hippocrates once said, ‘Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also love of humanity.’”
Marissa Castañeda
Senior Executive Vice President
DHR Health
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
Hippocrates (460 – 375 BC) was an ancient Greek physician known as the “Father of Medicine.” He revolutionized healthcare by being the first to separate the discipline from religion and superstition, teaching instead that illnesses had natural environmental and bodily causes.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Who+is+Hippocrates?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8).
During the recent 2026 Resident and Fellow GraduationCeremony by DHR Health, the gathering honored more than 30 medical residents, fellows, and pharmacy residents who successfully completed their respective medical advanced training program at DHR Health, which is one of the largest physician-owned hospital systems in the United States.
Theoccasion celebrated the accomplishments of the graduates from their Graduate Medical Education (GME) program at DHR Health during a special assembly held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance, located at 118 Paseo Del Prado.
https://www.facebook.com/MeetYouHere
“This graduation represents the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication,” said Marissa Castañeda, Senior Executive Vice President, DHR Health, who served as emcee for the prestigious event. “Over the course of their training, our graduates have demonstrated a deep love for this art. As they step into the next chapter of their careers, we know they will carry that same spirit of humanity to every patient they see and that they will help to heal.”
A medical resident is a fully graduated doctor participating in a multi-year, hands-on training program. It acts as a bridge between graduating from medical school and becoming a fully licensed, independent attending physician.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+Medical+Resident?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
A fellow in medicine is a fully licensed physician who has completed medical school and a medical residency program, but is undergoing additional, optional training in a highly specific subspecialty.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+Fellow+in+Medicine?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
DHR Health’s Graduate Medical Education(GME) graduates completed advanced training in a variety of medical specialties and completed their rigorous training under the guidance of experienced DHR Health faculty physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. This is the hands-on training doctors receive after they graduate from medical school. It turns new graduates into fully licensed, independent doctors.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+General+Medical+Education?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8'
“Today is a celebration of achievement, perseverance, strength, and purpose. It is an opportunity to recognize the physicians and pharmacists who have dedicated years of rigorous training to advancing their knowledge, refining their skills, and preparing to serve patients and communities with excellence and compassion,” Castañeda noted.
The convocationrecognized physicians and pharmacists who have dedicated years to progressive education and hands-on patient care, preparing them to serve communities across the nation with excellence, compassion, and expertise.
“Today we celebrate more than just the completion of training, we celebrate the beginning of careers dedicated to healing, compassion, and service,” said Dr. Jessica Guajardo Martin, Designated Institutional Official (DIO), General Medical Education(GME), DHR Health.
A Designated Institutional Official(DIO) is a senior leader responsible for all residency and fellowship programs at a hospital or university. They ensure all training programs meet national accreditation rules and provide a safe learning environment for doctors in training.
“Over the past three years, our sponsoring institution has experienced extraordinary growth and transformation. DHR Health supports 16 accredited (medical) residency and fellowship programs, reflecting a deep institutional investment in graduate medical education and in the future of health care for our region,” Martinsaid.
Accreditation in medicine is an independent, peer-reviewed evaluation process that validates whether a hospital, clinic, or medical education program meets rigorous national and international standards for patient safety, clinical care quality, and education excellence.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+Medical+Accredition?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
“This growth includes the expansion of new programs in neurology, psychiatry, and subspecialty fellowships such as cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, and hematology and medical oncology – broadening both clinical expertise and academic opportunity,” Martinexplained. “Through our continued partnership with the University of Houston, we have strengthened our academic foundation and elevated our role as a leader in developing physicians who will shape the future of medicine.”
Jonathan McCullers, Vice President of Health, University of Houston, and Dean of UH’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, said the graduates being honored “were shaped by one of the most dynamic and meaningful clinical environments in the country.
“It is exciting to see this group of residents trained in partnership between the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and DHR graduates, and to see them receive diplomas with the University of Houston proudly placed on them,” he said. “Today, as we mark the graduation of our third cohort of residents, this affiliation is already producing something remarkable – physicians shaped by one of the most dynamic and meaningful clinical environments in the country.”
A clinical environment is any location where healthcare workers provide direct medical care, treatment, or therapy to patients. Think of it as the “real-world”setting for medicine. It is where doctors, nurses, and specialists examine, diagnose, and heal individuals.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+Clinical+Environment+in+Medicine?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
A cohort is any group of individuals with something in common, as in “a cohort of medical students.”
“The Rio Grande Valley is not a typical training ground. You have cared for a community defined by resilience – a population that faces real barriers to access, that has been historically underserved, and that deserves the very best medicine has to offer,” McCullers said. “You didn’t just learn to diagnose and treat here. You learned to meet patients where they are. That is a gift that no classroom can fully teach, and you earned it. You are proof that this model works. You are proof that world-class graduate medical education can happen right here, in the Valley, closer to the communities that need it most.”
Dr. Manish Singh, Chief Executive Officer, DHR Health, emphasized to the graduates they were part of a unique healthcare system that continues to bring healing to South Texans never before available.
“There was at time when many patients in our region had to leave home to receive advanced medical care. There was also a time when physicians who wanted specialized training had to leave the Rio Grande Valley to pursue their careers,” Singh recalled. “Today, we’re changing that story. We’re building an academic health system where physicians can train, practice, teach, conduct research, and provide advanced care close to home. Every medical residency program we build and every fellowship we establish strengthens healthcare for this community. Every graduate walking across this stage today becomes part of that story.”
DHR Health (originally called Doctors Hospital at Renaissance) was founded by a group of local doctors in 1997. It first opened as a small outpatient surgical center. The group officially built and opened its main hospital campus in Edinburg in 2003.
He also counseled the DHR Health General Medical Education (GME)graduates to not lose sight of the human elements that are the most important resources a physician and pharmacist can provide.
“Technology, treatments, artificial intelligence, and healthcare systems will change. What should never change is your commitment to the patient sitting in front of you. Listen to them carefully. Be curious. Keep learning. Treat people with dignity. And remember that medicine is still, and always will be, a human profession,” Singh said. “And finally, I would like to thank your families and the people who supported you along the way. No one completes this journey alone. There were people who encouraged you, challenged you, sacrificed for you, and believed in you. Today belongs to them as well.”
The list of honorees and their awarded specialty are as follows:
BARIATRIC SURGERY
• Alfred López, MD, Bariatric Surgery Fellowship.
A fellow in medicine is a fully licensed physician who has completed medical school and a medical residency program, but is undergoing additional, optional training in a highly specific subspecialty.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+ia+a+Fellow+in+Medicine?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Bariatric surgery, or weight-loss surgery, is a group of procedures that alter the digestive system to help individuals with severe obesity lose weight. It is typically recommended when diet, exercise, and medications have failed, and it helps lower the risk of life-threatening conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+Bariatric+Surgery?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
• Luis Bernuy Pantoja, MD, Emergency Medicine Residency;
• Ever G. Roa, MD, Emergency Medicine Residency;
• André Wasyl Román, MD, Emergency Medicine Residency;
• Jorge A. Zapata Yordan, MD, Emergency Medicine Residency; and
• Abdul Rub Hakim Mohammed, MD, Emergency Medicine Residency.
Emergency medicine is the medical specialty dedicated to immediate diagnosis, stabilization, and treatment of unforeseen illnesses or injuries. It focuses on life-saving interventions triage, and acute care for patients of all ages, typically operating in a fast-paced hospital emergency departments or pre-hospital environments.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+Emergency+Medicine?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
FAMILY MEDICINE
• Reynier Alonso Pavón, MD, Family Medicine Residency;
• Ariel Cepero Del Sol, MD, Family Medicine Residency;
• Ramneesh Goyal, MD, Family Medicine Residency;
• Moira Emefa Gyebi-Agyepong, MD, Family Medicine Residency;
• Brian I. Paul-Odionhin, MD, Family Medicine Residency;
• José L. Rincón Paz, MD, Family Medicine Residency;
• Laura Rivero Fernández de Alaiza, MD, Family Medicine Residency;
• René Rodríguez Viera, MD, Family Medicine Residency; and
• Anna Christina Siqueira Marques, MD, Family Medicine Residency.
Family medicine is a medical specialty focused on providing comprehensive, continuous primary care for people of all ages and genders. Family physicians serve as patient’s go-to “family doctors,” treating the whole person, managing chronic conditions, and coordinating specialized care.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+Family+Medicine?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
INTERNAL MEDICINE
• Mahmoud Hamzeh Barbarawi, MD,Internal Medicine Residency;
• Rafael Cárdenas Castillo, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Andrea E. García Bautista, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Aminadab Godina Flores, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Sergio Hernández Llamas, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Jathniel Judah Panneflek, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Laura Isabel Reyes Uribe, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Majdi Salahie, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Rishika Trivedi, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Prakriti Arya, MD, Internal Medicine Residency;
• Charu Hasina Vasa, MD, Internal Medicine Residency; and
• Elisa Carolina Vélez Jerves, MD, Internal Medicine Residency.
Internal medicine is a medical field focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and non-surgical treatment of adult diseases. Doctors in this field, called internists, act as primary care providers for patients age 18 and older. They specialize in complex, chronic conditions and understanding how all the body’s systems work.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+Internal+Medicine?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
GENERAL SURGERY
• Isabel Carolina Dos Santos Marques, MD, General Surgery Residency;
• Victor H. López Martínez, MD, General Surgery Residency; and
• Mariana Juanita Rodríguez, MD, General Surgery Residency.
General surgery is a surgical specialty focused primarily on the abdomen, digestive tract, endocrine systems, and soft tissues. Far from “basic,” it demands broad anatomical knowledge to diagnose and treat everything from common ailments – like appendicitis, hernias, and gallstones – to complex surgical oncology.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+General+Surgery?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
UROLOGY
• Octavio Herrera, MD, Urology Residency.
Urology is the medical and surgical specialty focused on the urinary tract in both men and women, as well as the male reproductive system. Urologists diagnose and treat disorders of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, and adrenal glands, as well as the male reproductive system.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+Urology?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
PHARMACY
• Jennifer Villarreal, PharmD, Pharmacy Residency;
• Sreya Varghese, PharmD, Pharmacy Residency; and
• Ricco Rizo, PharmD, Pharmacy Residency.
A PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) is a professional doctorate degree required to become a licensed pharmacist. It trains students to dispense medications, manage patient drug therapies, and work with medical teams.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+PharmD+Pharmacist?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
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For more on this and other Texas legislative news stories that affect the Rio Grande Valley metropolitan region, please log on to Titans of the Texas Legislature (TitansoftheTexasLegislature.com).
TRANSCRIPT OF KEY REMARKS
DELIVERED BY DHR HEALTH
LEADERS DURING JUNE 13, 2026
GRADUATION CEREMONY
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
DHR HEALTH
Good afternoon, distinguished guests, faculty members, program directors, graduates, families and friends. My name is Marissa Castañeda, Senior Executive Vice President at DHR Health. On behalf of our organization, I would like to welcome each of you to our 2026 (medical) Resident and Fellow Graduation Ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, please join us in welcoming our Class of 2026 graduates.
(A medical resident is a doctor who has graduated from a medical school and holds an MD or DO degree, but is undergoing specialized, supervised, hands-on training in a hospital or clinic before they can practice independently.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+medical+resident?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
(A fellow in medicine is a fully licensed physician who has completed medical school and a medical residency program, but is undergoing additional, optional training in a highly specific subspecialty.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+Medical+Fellow?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
(In the healthcare field, an MD stands for Doctor of Medicine. An MD is a medical professional who has graduated from an accredited medical school and is licensed to practice traditional medicine, including diagnosis illnesses, prescribing medication, and performing surgery.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+MD?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
(A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as a DO, is a fully licensed and trained physician who can prescribe medication, perform surgery, and practice in all medical specialties, just likeanMD. While DOs and MDs complete similar medical school and medical residency requirements, DOs receive specialized training in Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment and are taught a “whole-person” philosophy that considers how lifestyle and environmental factors affect overall well-being.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+DO&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
Today is a celebration of achievement, perseverance, strength, and purpose. It is an opportunity to recognize the physicians and pharmacists who have dedicated years of rigorous training to advancing their knowledge, refining their skills, and preparing to serve patients and communities with excellence and compassion.
I would like to introduce some special guests who are joining us today:
• Dr. Manish Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Program Director for Bariatrics, DHR Health;
• Dr. Carlos Cárdenas, Chairman, Board of Managers, DHR Health; and
• Mr. Alonzo Cantú, Member, Board of Managers, DHR Health.
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
From our Graduate Medical Education program, we have:
• Dr. Scott Lillibridge, Chief Academic Officer;
• Dr. Samira Mohamed, Assistant Chief Academic Officer; and
• Dr. Jessica Guajardo Martin, Designated Institutional Official.
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
We also have several General Medical Education program directors with us today:
• Dr. Paul Dominici, Emergency Medicine;
• Dr. Naome D’Acolatse, Family Medicine;
• Dr. JoséAlmeda, General Surgery;
• Dr. Michelle Cordoba-Kissee, Internal Medicine;
• Dr. Karina Garza and Dr. René Verduzco, Pharmacy;
• Dr. Sam Serna, Diagnostic Radiology;
• Dr. Efraím Vela, Obstetrics and Gynecology;
• Dr. Kip Owen, Orthopedic Surgery;
• Dr. José Igoa, Psychiatry;
• Dr. Roberto Alejandro Cruz, Neurology;
• Dr. Wady Aude, Cardiovascular Disease;
• Dr. Asif Zamir, Gastroenterology; and
• Dr. José Cruz, Hematology & Oncology.
We also want to recognize our guest speakers that are joining us today:
• Dr. Jonathan A. McCullers, Dean and Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Houston, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine; and
• Dr. Olabiyi Akala, DHR Health Chief Quality Officer, Emergency Department Medical Director, and Associate Program Director for the Emergency Medicine Residency program.
Thank you all for being here to celebrate and honor our graduates.
Our first speaker is the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) for DHR Health, Dr. Jessica Guajardo Martin. As Designated Institutional Official (DIO), Dr. Martin provides strategic oversight for all our Graduate Medical Education programs, ensuring the highest standards of excellence in physician training, accreditation, and academic development. She is dedicated to advancing DHR Health’s mission of developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.
(Accreditation in medicine is an independent, peer-reviewed evaluation process that validates whether a hospital, clinic, or medical education program meets rigorous national and international standards for patient safety, clinical care quality, and education excellence.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+Medical+Accredition?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
(Medical clinical care refers to the active, hands-on healthcare services provided directly to patients by licensed professionals. It encompasses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and injuries, focusing entirely on one-to-one patient health outcomes rather than behind-the-scenes research.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+Medical+Clinical+Care&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome Dr. Jessica Guajardo Martin.
DR. JESSICA GUAJARDO MARTIN
DESIGNATED INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIAL
DHR HEALTH
Good afternoon. On behalf of DHR Health Graduate Medical Education (GME), it is my distinct honor to welcome you to this special occasion as we celebrate the graduation of our medical residents and fellows. Today marks not only the completion of rigorous training, but the beginning of a new chapter defined by leadership, service, and excellence in the practice of medicine and pharmacy.
(The DHR Graduate Education (GME) is an independent, ACGME-accredited medical training initiative designed to shape newly graduated physicians and pharmacists into expert clinicians. Located in the Rio Grande Valley, it trains medical professionals while expanding healthcare access in medically-underserved border communities.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+the+Graduate+Medical+Education+program+at+DHR+Health?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
(The ACGME – Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education – is the private, non-profit organization responsible for accrediting all graduate medical training programs (internships, medical residencies, and fellowships) for physicians in the United States.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+the+ACGME?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
(An expert clinician in medicine is a highly skilled healthcare professional – usually a physician – who has mastered the science, art, and cognitive reasoning of patient care. Beyond basic medical knowledge, they possess superior diagnostic abilities, a profound grasp of complex medical issues, and the wisdom to individualize treatments.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+an+expert+clinician+in+medicine?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
DR. JESSICA GUAJARDO MARTIN
To our graduates, faculty, program directors, and distinguished guests – thank you for joining us in honoring the Class of 2026. Over the past three years, our sponsoring institution has experienced extraordinary growth and transformation. DHR Health supports 16 accredited (medical) residency and fellowship programs, reflecting a deep institutional investment in graduate medical education and in the future of health care for our region.
This growth includes the expansion of new programs in neurology, psychiatry, and subspecialty fellowships such as cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, and hematology and medical oncology – broadening both clinical expertise and academic opportunity. Through our continued partnership with the University of Houston, we have strengthened our academic foundation and elevated our role as a leader in developing physicians who will shape the future of medicine.
A hallmark of our Graduate Medical Education(GME) enterprise is a strong commitment to scholarship and academic excellence, and today I would like to recognize a few outstanding achievements, beginning with those at the national level:
• Residents and faculty from our bariatric program presented at the ASMBS Annual Meeting in San Antonio, contributing to national conversations in metabolic and bariatric surgery;
• Our emergency medicine team participated in the Cord Academic Assembly in Orlando, a premier national forum for emergency medicine education;
• Faculty and medical residents across multiple programs presented and engaged at national conferences in trauma, palliative care, and speciality-specific academic assemblies; and
• At the Texas Surgical Society meeting, Dr. Mariana Juanita Rodríguez was awarded the prestigious Raleigh R. Ross Scholarship, a distinguished recognition of surgical excellence.
Our Family Medicine residents demonstrated leadership at the state level:
• Dr. José Rincón was selected as a Resident Director on the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Board;
• Dr. Moira Gyebi and Dr. Malk Sadkh completed the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Resident Leadership Experience; and
• Numerous residents presented across Texas at TEXMED, The Texas College of Emergency Physicians, and state academic symposia, reflecting strong engagement within our professional community.
At our recent 3rd Annual Discovery Day, we featured 68 poster presentations and five oral presentations by graduating residents, showcasing the depth of scholarly activity across our institution. Our programs achieved a remarkable 100 percent board pass rate, an outcome that speaks to the strength of our curriculum, mentorship, and learner dedication.
We also recognize our faculty whose leadership and mentorship continue to shape the success of our programs, including achievements by:
• Dr. RickMartínez, Associate Program Director of General Surgery Residency, and a member of the American College of Surgeons Board of Governors, as well as a counselor of the American Board of Surgery;
• Dr. Naomi D’Acolatse, Program Director of Family Medicine Residency, and recipient of the Bronze Level Program Director Recognition Award by the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors at the 2026 AAFP Residency Leadership Summit. She was also appointed as a member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Family Practice Residency Advisory Committee;
• Dr. Asif Zamir, Program Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship and American College of Gastroenterology Governor for Texas-Southern Region; and
• Dr. Natalia Hernández Bustos, Core Faculty for the Urology Residency Program, shared the International Stage with Chief Resident Dr. Octavio Herrera, presenting at the International Continence Society annual meeting in Madrid, Spain.
These distinguished clinicians are only four of the 116Graduate Medical Education (GME) faculty whose contributions reflect a commitment not only to teaching, but to advancing academic medicine and fostering the next generation of physician leaders.
What distinguishes DHR Health Graduate Medical Education is not only our academic excellence, but a deep and unwavering commitment to our community. Our (medical) residents have extended their impact far beyond clinical settings – through outreach initiatives, wellness programs, primary care services, and community engagement activities that directly serve the underserved populations of the Rio Grande Valley. This commitment to service reflects the very essence of our profession and remains one of the most meaningful aspects of your training.
To our graduates: You leave here more than physicians, you leave as clinicians, scholars, educators and leaders – prepared not only to practice medicine, but to shape it. You carry forward the mission and values of DHR Health and the responsibility to serve with compassion, integrity, and excellence. We are incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished – and we are honored to have been part of your journey. Congratulations to the Class of 2026. Let us celebrate your achievements. Thank you.
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
Thank you for your words, Dr. Martin.
Today we are honored to be joined by distinguished individuals whose dedication to medical education and healthcare excellence has helped inspire and guide future physicians and pharmacists. At this time, I would like to call upon our next speaker, Dr. Jonathan A. McCullers, from the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, to say a few words.
DR, JONATHAN A. MCULLERS
VICE PRESIDENT OF HEALTH
DEAN OF THE TILMAN J. FERTITTA
FAMILY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Jon McCullers. I am Vice President of Health for the University of Houston and the Dean of the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. I have been with UH for about two years, and I have worked during that time to develop a close relationship with DHR, something I hope will benefit not only the College of Medicine, but DHR, our now joint Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, and the patients of the Rio Grande Valley.
It is exciting to see this group of residents trained in partnership between the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and DHR graduates, and to see them receive diplomas with the University of Houston proudly placed on them. It is also great tosee more red in this room this year than we had last year.
(The University of Houston’s official colors – Scarlet Red and Albino White – are drawn directly from the ancestral coat-of-arms of General Sam Houston. The red represents courage, perseverance, and Sir Hugh (an ancestor who saved a royal bloodline), while white symbolizes the purity and compassion of dedicated service.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Why+is+Red+the+official+school+color+of+the+University+of+Houston?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
DR, JONATHAN A. MCULLERS
So, to the graduates, your families, y0ur faculty, and the entire team at DHR – thank you for welcoming me here today. It means a great deal to be with you in the Rio Grande Valley for this celebration. Today, as we mark the graduation of our third cohort of residents, this affiliation is already producing something remarkable – physicians shaped by one of the most dynamic and meaningful clinical environments in the country.
The Rio Grande Valley is not a typical training ground. You have cared for a community defined by resilience – a population that faces real barriers to access, that has been historically underserved, and that deserves the very best medicine has to offer.
You didn’t just learn to diagnose and treat here. You learned to meet patients where they are. That is a gift that no classroom can fully teach, and you earned it. I want you to know how proud the University of Houston is of each of you. From Houston, we have watched these programs grow – and we have watched you grow within them. You are proof that this model works. You are proof that world-class graduate medical education can happen right here, in the Valley, closer to the communities that need it most.
As you move forward – whether to choose to plant roots here in the Rio Grande Valleyor carry your training somewhere else entirely – take this with you: you were formed in a place of purpose. The patients you served here trusted you at their most vulnerable. Honor that. Let it guide every clinical decision you make for the rest of your career.
To the faculty and the team at DHR Health – thank you. You are the backbone of this program. Your mentorship, your standards, and your commitment to these residents made tonight possible. And to the graduates – this is your moment. The University of Houston College of Medicine could not be prouder to call you our own. Congratulations, Class of 2026. Go take care of the world.
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
Thank you, Dean McCullers. We appreciate your words and thank you for being here today. Our next distinguished speaker is Dr. Manish Singh, our Chief Executive Officer at DHR Health. Under his leadership, DHR Health has continued to expand its commitment to clinical excellence, education, and the growth of medical education programs that will ultimately strengthen healthcare for the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding communities. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Dr. Manish Singh.
DR. MANISH SINGH
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
DHR HEALTH
Good afternoon. To our graduates, your families and friends, our faculty, our partners from the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, and everyone who has helped make this possible, welcome. First, congratulations to the Class of 2026. These graduates represent some of the most essential areas of patient care, and each of you has developed the knowledge, judgment, and experience required to serve patients and communities with confidence. Today, we recognize your accomplishments and the dedication that brought you to this milestone.
Now, before I go any further, I want to acknowledge something. You have spent years learning to function on very little sleep, eating whenever someone hands you food, and answering calls at the least convenient moment possible. Some of you may find attending lifesurprisingly relaxing. Although, I should probably not make any promises. As physicians, we like to think our training is defined by big moments: the difficult operations; the challenging diagnosis; the successful resuscitation. These moments matter.
But after years of practicing medicine and working alongside physicians across the health system, I’ve come to believe that careers are built on much smaller moments: it is making one more phone call because something doesn’t seem right; it is admitting that you don’t know the answer and asking for help; it is checking on a patient before you go home because they’ve been on your mind all day. Those are the moments that define your reputation. People will remember whether you showed up, whether you listened, if you treated people with respect.
Medicine has always been a profession built on trust, and trust isn’t earned during the easy days. It is earned during the difficult conversations, the unexpected complications, and the moments when patients and families are looking to you for reassurance. As many of you know, I spend a good part of my time in the operating room, and I also have the privilege of serving as the Program Director for our Bariatric Surgery Fellowship. Teaching has reinforced something I have learned over the years.
Technical skills can be taught, knowledge can be expanded, experience comes with time. But character is different. Character shows up when nobody is watching. It shows up in how you treat the nurse who has had a long shift, the environmental services team working late into the night, the patient who may not speak your language but is trusting you with their life. Never underestimate those interactions. They matter more than you think. Some of you may stay here, and some of you will build your careersacross Texas, the country, and the world. Wherever you go, I hope you will remember this community. You learned from a community that believed in you while you were still becoming the physician you are today. That is a privilege, and it is a responsibility.
There was at time when many patients in our region had to leave home to receive advanced medical care. There was also a time when physicians who wanted specialized training had to leave the Rio Grande Valley to pursue their careers. Today, we’re changing that story. We’re building an academic health system where physicians can train, practice, teach, conduct research, and provide advanced care close to home. Every medical residency program we build and every fellowship we establish strengthens healthcare for this community. Every graduate walking across this stage today becomes part of that story.
I would also like to leave you with one thought about leadership. Many people believe leadership begins when you become a chief medical resident, a department director, or maybe even a chief operating officer. I don’t believe that. Leadership begins much earlier. It begins the first time a patient looks to you for confidence or a family asks what would you do if this were your loved one. Titles don’t make leaders. Choices and actions do. As your career progresses, you’ll discover that medicine changes constantly.
Technology, treatments, artificial intelligence, and healthcare systems will change. What should never change is your commitment to the patient sitting in front of you. Listen to them carefully. Be curious. Keep learning. Treat people with dignity. And remember that medicine is still, and always will be, a human profession. And finally, I would like to thank you families and the people who supported you along the way. No one completes this journey alone. There were people who encouraged you, challenged you, sacrificed for you, and believed in you. Today belongs to them as well.
To our graduates, you’ve completed an important chapter. You’ve earned the privilege of caring for patients and the responsibility that comes with it. Your medical residency or fellowship has prepared you to practice medicine. The decision you make from this day forward will determine the kind of physician, teacher, mentor, and leader you become. On behalf of DHR Health, thank you for choosing this profession. Thank you for the care you’ve already provided to our patients and our community. Congratulations on everything you have accomplished, and we look forward to seeing the impact each of you will make in the years ahead.
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
We now arrive at the highlight of our ceremony – the recognition of our graduating medical residents and fellows. The completion of medical residency or fellowship training represents years of sacrifice, resilience, and determination. Behind every graduate is a story of early mornings, late nights, challenging cases, meaningful patient encounters, and countless moments of growth.
These individuals not only acquired specialized knowledge and clinical expertise, but have also developed the judgment, professionalism, and compassion that defines outstanding medical practice. Today, we celebrate 35 graduates who have successfully completed their training programs and are prepared to take the next step in their respective professional journeys. To assist with the presentation of certificates and program awards, I would like to welcome Dr. Samira Mohamed, Assistant Chief Academic Officer, to present the certificates.
DR. SAMIRA MOHAMED
Our first graduate receiving a Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program Conferral of Graduate Certificate is Dr. Alfred López.
(A Conferral of Graduate Certificate is the official, legal awarding of the credential by a university. It occurs once the institution formally verifies a person has successfully completed all required coursework, met the minimum grade point average, and cleared all administrative or financial obligations. A grade point average is the average of a student’s academic grades over a specific period.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+a+Conferral+of+Graduate+Certifcate&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
(The Bariatric Surgical Fellowship at DHR Health is a specialized, one-year graduate medical education program. It trains physicians in the advanced surgical and medical management of obesity, equipping them with expertise in minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and robotic bariatric techniques.
https://www.dhrhealth.com/education/graduate-medical-education/bariatric-surgery-fellowship-program/)
DR. SAMIRA MOHAMED
Our next group of graduates will receive an Emergency Medicine Residency Program Conferral of Graduate Certificate.
• Dr. Abdul Rub Hakin Mohammed;
• Dr. Luis Bernie Pantoja;
• Dr. Ever G. Roa;
• Dr. André Vasyl Román; and
• Dr. Jorge A. Zapata Yordan.
(The DHR Health Emergency Medicine Residency is a 3-year ACGME-accredited program and the first accredited Emergency Medicine program in the Rio Grande Valley and focuses on training physicians to deliver acute, evidence-based care in a diverse border community.
https://dhrhealth.com/education/graduate-medical-education/emergency-medicine-residency-program)
DR. SAMIRA MOHAMED
Our next group of graduates will receive a Family Medicine Residency Program Conferral of Graduate Certificate.
• Dr. Reynier Alonso Pavón;
• Dr. Ariel Cepero Del Sol;
• Dr. Ramneesh Goyal;
• Dr. Moira Gyebi-Agyepong;
• Dr. Brian I. Paul-Odionhin;
• Dr. José L. Rincón Paz;
• Dr. Laura Rivero Fernández De Alaiza;
• Dr. René Rodríguez Viera; and
• Dr. Anna Christina Siqueira Marques.
(The DHR Health Family Residency Program is a three-year graduate medical education program. Founded in 2022, it trains physicians in culturally attuned, team-based care with a strong emphasis on serving the diverse and medically underserved populations of the Rio Grande Valley.
https://dhrhealth.com/education/graduate-medical-education/family-medicine-residency-program/)
DR. SAMIRA MOHAMED
We will move on to the next group of graduates who will receive their Internal Medicine Residency Program Conferral of Graduate Certificate.
• Dr. Prakriti Aria;
• Dr. Mahmoud Hamzeh Barbarawi;
• Dr. Rafael Cárdenas Castillo;
• Dr. Andrea E. García Bautista;
• Dr. Aminadab Godina Flores;
• Dr. Sergio HernándezLlamas;
• Dr. Jathniel Judah Panneflek;
• Dr. Laura Isabel Reyes Uribe;
• Dr. Majdi Salahie;
• Dr. Charu Hasina Vasa; and
• Dr. Elisa Carolina VélezJerves.
(The Internal Medicine Program at DHR Health features both a Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency and primary care clinics. The residency is a multi-year post-graduate training program designed to prepare future physicians for careers in clinical medicine, research, and administration.
https://dhrhealth.com/education/graduate-medical-education/internal-medicine-residency-program/)
DR. SAMIRA MOHAMED
Our next group of graduates will receive their General Surgery Residency Program Conferral of Graduate Certificates.
Please welcome:
• Dr. Isabel Carolina Dos Santos Marques;
• Dr. Víctor H. López Martínez; and
• Dr. Mariana Juanita Rodríguez.
(The DHR Health General Surgery Residency is an accredited, five-year training program designed to develop future surgical leaders. Residents train at the region’s first Level I Trauma Center, gaining hands-on experience in robotic surgery, surgical critical care.
https://dhrhealth.com/education/graduate-medical-education/general-surgery-residency-program/)
DR. SAMIRA MOHAMED
Our next graduate will be receiving his Urology Medical Residency Program Conferral of Graduate Certificate. Please welcome Dr. Octavio Herrera.
(The DHR Health Urology Residency Program offers a fully ACGME-accredited five-year training program designed to immerse residents in different specialty areas within urology Urologists diagnose and treat disorders of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, and adrenal glands, as well as the male reproductive system. Urologists diagnose and treat disorders of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, and adrenal glands, as well as the male reproductive system.
https://dhrhealth.com/education/graduate-medical-education/urology-residency-program)
DR. SAMIRA MOHAMED
Our next group of graduates will be receiving their completion of an American Society of Health System Pharmacists accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Certificate.
They are:
• Dr. Ricco Rizo;
• Dr. Sreya Verjis; and
• Dr. Jennifer Villarreal.
(The PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at DHR Health is a 12-month postgraduate program designed to build upon a Doctor of Pharmacy, also known as PharmD education. It transitions pharmacy graduates into competent clinical pharmacists equipped to manage medication-use systems and optimize patient therapy.
https://www.dhrhealth.com/education/graduate-medical-education/pharmacy-residency-program/)
(“PGY” stands for Post-Graduate Year. This numerical system tracks a doctor’s training stage after medical school. Doctors must complete this post-graduate training before they can practice on their own.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+Post-Graduate+Training+in+Medicine?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
DR. SAMIRA MOHAMED
Congratulations graduates and thank you. We now move into a truly special portion of our event – our individual medical resident awards. These accolades honor physicians who don’t just meet the standards of DHR Health, but completely redefine them. I would like to ask Dr. Martin to present our 2026 Medical Resident Awards.
DR. JESSICA GUAJARDO MARTIN
Our first honor of the night is the distinguished “Resident of the Year Award.” This accolade recognizes a high-performing medical resident who embodies a profound spirit of altruism and demonstrates the clear potential of a future leader in their specialty.
This is a physician whose unique combination of clinical promise of leadership, unwavering dedication, and commitment to patient-centered care truly separates them from the rest. They serve as a brilliant role model to all of graduate medical education, pursuing continuous professional excellence at all times. What makes this award so special is that the recipient was chosen by those who work alongside them every day.
As selected by DHR Health General Medical Education residents, fellows, faculty, and staff, please join me in a round of applause for our medical Resident of the Year, from PGY-5 Urology: Dr. Octavio Herrera. Congratulations, Dr. Herrera.
(A PGY-5 Urology Resident is a fifth-year medical doctor completing their final year of specialized surgical training at DHR Health.)
Our next honor highlights the critical bridge between clinical practice and scientific discovery – the Scholarly Achievement Award. Medicine advances because of those who refuse to stop asking questions. This award recognizes a medical resident who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to scholarly activity through rigorous research, quality improvement, innovation, and academic inquiry.
Their outstanding contributions help advance medical knowledge, promote evidence-based practice, and enhance patient care through deeply meaningful scholarly work, and enhance medical knowledge. Once again, voted on and selected by DHR Health General Medical Education residents, fellows, faculty, and staff, please put your hands together for the winner of the Scholarly Achievement Award – from PGY-3 Emergency Medicine, Dr. Abdul Rub Hakim Mohammed. Congratulations, Dr. Mohammed.
Our final honor this afternoon is the prestigious Designated Institutional Official’s Award, or simply, the DIO Award. This unique distinction recognizes a medical resident who has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism, leadership, integrity, and an absolute dedication to the core mission of Graduate Medical Education.
This physician has distinguished themselves through a relentless commitment to academic excellence, deeply compassionate patient care, and profound contributions to both their program and our institution as a whole. They lead by example, inspire their peers, and perfectly embody the values of lifelong learning, selected personally by myself. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm round of applause to the recipient of the DIO Award – from PGY-3 Family Medicine, Dr. JoséRincón.
(“PGY” stands for Post-Graduate Year. A PGY-3 is in their final, senior year of medical residency. They operate with graduated autonomy, meaning they can independently manage complex patient cases while still having attending physician oversight.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+PGY-3+Family+Medicine+at+DHR+Health?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
Congratulations to all of our honorees. Let’s give them another round of applause.
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
Once again, congratulations to the Class of 2026. On behalf of DHR Health and our Graduate Medical Education leadership team, thank you all for joining us to celebrate this remarkable milestone. The ancient physician Hippocrates once said, “Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also love of humanity.”
(Hippocrates (460 – 375 BC) was an ancient Greek physician known as the “Father of Medicine.” He revolutionized healthcare by being the first to separate the discipline from religion and superstition, teaching instead that illnesses had natural environmental and bodily causes.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Who+is+Hippocrates?&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
MARISSA CASTAÑEDA
Over the course of their training, our graduates have demonstrated a deep love for this art. As they step into the next chapter of their careers, we know they will carry that same spirit of humanity to every patient they see and that they will help to heal.
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