Mega Doctor News
The future of healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley is brighter than ever as 65 new medical residents begin their training through the South Texas Health System (STHS) GME Consortium.
Representing diverse backgrounds and cultures from around the world, these physicians-in-training will gain hands-on clinical experience while helping meet the region’s growing healthcare needs.
“The arrival of these talented new residents strengthens our healthcare workforce and reinforces our commitment to developing the next generation of physicians,” said Youssef Majed, MD, Designated Institutional Official and Chief Academic Officer, STHS GME Consortium. “As they train alongside our experienced physicians and care teams, they will play a vital role in expanding access to high-quality care while helping shape the future of healthcare in the Valley.”
On July 1, 2026, 65 new physicians-in-training officially began their residency education at South Texas Health System’s acute care hospitals, becoming part of the STHS GME Consortium’s growing family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, transitional year and newly established general surgery residency programs.
“The growth of the STHS GME Consortium’s residency programs over the last three years reflects STHS’unwavering commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the Valley by training and retaining talented physicians,” said Dr. Majed. “What began with two programs has evolved into a thriving graduate medical education consortium that continues to expand opportunities for aspiring physicians while strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce. The addition of our new general surgery residency program and the arrival of 65 new residents mark exciting milestones in our mission to shape the future of healthcare in South Texas.”
The incoming class includes 65 physicians-in-training across five residency programs: 10 first-year family medicine residents, 20 first-year internal medicine residents, 10 first-year emergency medicine residents, 13 transitional year residents and 12 first- and second-year general surgery residents.
Throughout the year, residents will rotate through STHS McAllen, STHS Edinburg, STHS Children’s and STHS Heart, training in dynamic clinical environments dedicated to delivering high-quality, compassionate care.
Through a variety of inpatient and outpatient specialties, they will gain direct experience caring for diverse patient populations and managing a wide range of medical conditions.
Their training is further enriched through key academic and clinical partnerships with Texas A&M University, ASAS Health and Nuestra Clínica del Valle, providing a comprehensive, community-focused educational experience.
Each resident will be paired with experienced faculty mentors who will provide guidance and support throughout their training. In addition to their clinical education, residents will participate in community health initiatives that deepen their understanding of public health and the social factors that influence health outcomes, particularly in the medically underserved communities of the Valley.
Residents will also have access to innovative research opportunities, allowing them to contribute to advancements in medicine while enhancing their academic and clinical development.
“These residents represent the future of healthcare, and we’re honored to be part of their journey,” said Emma Montes-Ewing, Chief Executive Officer, STHS McAllen. “As they care for patients, serve our communities and grow into tomorrow’s healthcare leaders, they will leave a lasting impact on the Valley. We hope many will choose to build their careers here, helping ensure local families have access to the high-quality care they deserve for generations to come.”
“The continued growth of our graduate medical education programs reflects our commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce across South Texas,” added Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Edinburg and STHS Children’s. “By expanding residency and fellowship opportunities and attracting talented physicians from around the world, we are creating a pipeline of future healthcare leaders dedicated to serving our communities. With each new class of residents, we move closer to building a healthier future for the Valley.”
The STHS GME Consortium’s incoming class of residents includes:
Family Medicine:
Roaa Aggad, MBBS, King Abdulaziz University College and of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Saudi Arabia
Aslin Betancourt-Barreto, MD, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina, Mexico
Salma Jamali, MD, University Aleppo Faculty of Medicine, Syria
Genesis Nathaly Kuzhel, MD, Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina Luis Razetti, Venezuela
Carlos Manuel Martinez Lara, MD, Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de la Habana, Cuba
Mounira Mefti, MD, Universite Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-Ouzou Faculte de Medecine, Algeria
Katherine Muñoz, MD, Universidad de Guadalajara Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico
Andres Omana Zambrano, MD, Universidad del Zulia Facultad de Medicina, Venezuela
Vanessa Cynthia Sanchez, MD, Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Dominican Republic
Yinelsi Ramirez, MD,Universidad Catolica Tecnologica del Cibao Escuela de Medicina, Dominican Republic
Internal Medicine:
Mustafa Alfarwati, MD, University of Damascus Faculty of Medicine, Syria
Ibrahim Yousef Alzubi, MD, Mu’tah University Faculty of Medicine, Jordan
Ghazala Anjum, MBBS, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Pakistan
Claudia Barrios Hernandez, MD, Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Margitt Marie Canaan, MD, Universidad Iberoamericana School of Medicine, Dominican Republic
Abraham Cisneros Montoya, MD, Universidad Cientifica del Sur Facultad de Medicina Humana, Peru
Kaleb Eric Combs, MD, The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, United States
Felipe Diaz, Jr., MD, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, United States
Obiora Emmanuel Egbo, MD, Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla
Amell Franceschi Torres, MD, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina, Mexico
Jose Alberto Hernandez, MD, Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla
Osama Kaplan, DO, University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, United States
Alejandra Leon Rivera, MD, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina, Mexico
Nelson Louis, MBBS, KMCT Medical College, India
Carlos Jose Ramos Batista, MD, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Dominican Republic
Iad Hamad Sadig Mohmod, MBBS, University of Khartoum Faculty of Medicine, Sudan
Kapish Sharma, MD, Windsor University School of Medicine, Saint Kitts and Nevis
William Soto, MD, Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Dominican Republic
Omar Yusef Soutari, MD,Penza State University Medical Institute, Russia
Alberto Jose Thielen, MD,Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Dominican Republic
Emergency Medicine:
Bryan Allred, MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, United States
Tanya Barton, MD, Ross University School of Medicine, Barbados
Samantha Casey, MD, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts and Nevis
Alicia Flores, DO, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, United States
Alexander Lash, MD, St. George’s University, Grenada
Roberto Lopez, MD, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico
Nickolas Ortiz, DO, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, United States
Kaelan Patel, DO, University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, United States
Katherine Rall, DO, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, United States
Zachary Wade, MD, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, United States
General Surgery:
Sophia Elizabeth Dover, MD, Universidad Austral Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Argentina
Emmanuel Franco, MD, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, United States
Marla Libier Gonzalez Lizarraga, MD, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina, Mexico
Depp Parikh, MD, Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, United States
Araceli Cuaranta, MD, Universidad Nacional de Rosario Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Argentina
Neggar Aryan, MD, Shashid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Ismael Guajardo, MD, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina, Mexico
Ruby Red Ramos, DP, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, United States
Parker Groneman, DO, Berkshire Medical Center Pittsfield, United States
Michelle Mathew, DO, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, United States
John Toms III, MD, Orlando Health, United States
Haldo Treviño II, MD/MPH, UT Southwestern Medical Center, United States
Transitional Year:
Laura Carillo, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin, United States
Harri Chelvan, MD, St. George’s University, Grenada
Kelly Dong, DO, Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, United States
Hamaad Gohar, MD, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, United States
Udyam Kumar, MD, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Australia
William Machado, MD, Ross University School of Medicine, Barbados
Ashley Massias, MD, Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Argentina
Romil Nahar, MBBS, Terna Medical College, India
Kevin Peyra, MD, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, Philippines
Natasha Quailes, MD, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, United States
Paola Reyes Vazquez, MD, Universidad de Guadalajara Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico
Andres Rios, MD, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, United States
Addison Sayon, MD, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Philippines
STHS is proud to welcome the 65 physicians-in-training joining the STHS GME Consortium’s five residency programs to their new home in the Valley, with the hope that many will choose to build their careers and serve the region’s communities long after completing their training.
To learn more about the STHS GME Consortium, visit southtexashealthsystem.com/gme-consortium.
