Current Residents
Class of 2025
Dolapo Adejumobi, M.D.
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
About me: I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Anything art related (makeup especially), you can find me there. I also love cooking for family and friends and spending time with them.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: Besides getting a well-rounded training, UTSW is ideal to me because it is clear they are fulfilling their mission of diversity, from the faculty who are training, residents being trained, and the patients being cared for. This resonates with my values. In addition, I'm glad that I'll be able to work with underserved populations while learning how best to serve and advocate for them. Therefore, the option of participating in the HEART program during my training was a strong pull to the program. Overall, I'm thankful to be able to work with this amazing institution and all its members.
Crystal Cassimere, D.O.
Hometown: Beaumont, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth, TX
About me: I was born in Beaumont, TX and attended the University of Texas at Austin. I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family & Siberian husky - Jax, reading, traveling, binge watching T.V. shows, being a foodie, and playing board games.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because of their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. During my interview and afterwards, the faculty and residents were genuinely welcoming. I knew I would get the opportunity to work with underserved communities and have access to great research and technology. UTSW being in Dallas was an added bonus!
Katherine Cranston, M.D., MPH
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Medical School: University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, MS
About me: I was born in Louisville, KY and attended Penn State University for undergrad and Thomas Jefferson University for grad school. In my spare time, I enjoy spending quality time with my boyfriend and hanging out with friends and family, or napping. I am always planning my next trip or foodie adventure! I also like running, playing Scrabble and the daily Wordle, and learning Spanish via Duolingo when I am relaxing with a good movie or the latest binge-worthy show. I am an ESTJ, a 3 wing 2, & a Gryffindor!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW for the opportunity to train at a large academic medical center as well as a community-based urban program. I ultimately wanted a diverse and well-rounded training environment with a robust and comprehensive behavioral health curriculum and to train alongside likeminded individuals passionate about addressing the social determinants of health and working with underserved populations. The opportunities to be part of the special health equity, advocacy, and research track and teach medical students were also very appealing to me and aligned with my career goals. During my virtual interview, I really felt like I jived with the residents and faculty and I liked that the residents all seemed happy and that they made it a priority to hangout outside of work. While on the interview trail, it was the commitment to diversity and inclusion at UTSW that really stood out to me! I wanted to be in a residency class with people from different paths to medicine and unique backgrounds and cultures. I got all the family vibes I was seeking after interviewing here and I am so happy to be joining the UTSW family! Dallas is such a fun city with so much culture, a great food scene, and tons to do! I am grateful for the opportunity to train and thrive here and I cannot wait to explore all the city has to offer with my class.
Fatema Dabdoub, M.D.
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Medical School: American University of Beirut
About me: I was born in Atlanta, GA and attended the American University of Beirut. I love to hike, swim, and try new outdoor activities! I also love to read.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: The program at UTSW really stood out to me because it is strongly engaged with the community and is active in primary care and public health research, all of which are areas I am passionate about. I felt at home during my interview and am very excited to relocate to and serve the Dallas community!
Jane Gu, M.D.
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
About me: I was born in Dallas, TX and attended the University of Texas at Dallas. My hobbies include rock climbing, playing music, and baking.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I was drawn to UTSW because of its emphasis on community medicine and its dedication to underserved populations. With such dedicated faculty, UTSW offers incredible training opportunities and a supportive environment. I know I will be able to grow in areas I'm most passionate about, among a family of wonderful residents.
Nicholas Holton, M.D.
Hometown: Plano, TX
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston
About me: I was born in Plano, TX and attended Baylor University. My interests include hiking, collecting vintage sports memorabilia, reading philosophy, and playing baseball.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: Growing up in the Dallas area, I have envisioned myself training at UTSW since I began my medical career. During my interview, the supportive culture and welcoming environment further solidified this desire. UTSW will provide me the opportunity to develop a comprehensive fund of medical knowledge and high quality clinical practice in both a hospital and outpatient setting. The curriculum and resources available allow me to further pursue my interests in community health, preventative medicine, and various sub-specialties. Additionally, I have the privilege to serve the DFW community and diverse patient population that helped form the person I am today.
Mahvash Husain, M.D.
Hometown: Aligarh, India
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
About me: I was born in Aligarh, India and attended the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. My interests are art, travel and food, and my favorite activities are eating, yoga, running and baking.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because the program provides the opportunity to train in both an academic and community hospital setting. I am excited to be able to serve a diverse patient population and learn about a wide range of pathologies.
Young-Jee Jung, M.D.
Hometown: Stillwater, OK
Medical School: Texas A&M College of Medicine
About me: I was born in Stillwater, OK and attended the University of Texas at Austin. Some of my favorite things to do are: exploring new walking/hiking trails with my dog, gardening, sending snail mail, writing, learning languages, and visiting new coffee shops!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I truly had a fantastic interview experience and felt welcomed at all the virtual events. Finding a residency program that felt like home is very important to me, because my family lives in South Korea, and I found that at UTSW. In addition, I was drawn to the diversity that this program continually seeks out and encourages. I am also drawn to the diverse patient population we will get to build relationships with and serve. I know that learning, living, and growing in a big diverse city will be invaluable to me not only in my growth as a new doctor, but also as an evolving person.
Aysegul Karaca, M.D., MPH
Hometown: Turkey
Medical School: Istanbul Medical School
About me: I was born and raised in Turkey and have an MPH degree from the University of Alabama. Prior to coming to UTSW I spent my first year of residency in South Dakota. My hobbies include biking, archery and art. I was an art teacher for three years, teaching water marbling, a traditional Turkish artform.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: UTSW is a great place to thrive as a medical doctor. Excellent learning experience with many exceptional faculties and many opportunities to teach as we have medical students around.
Maliha Khan, M.D.
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
About me: I grew up in North Carolina and moved to Texas at the start of college, attending the University of Texas at Dallas. I enjoy any opportunity to be outdoors and by nature, cooking, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and reading.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I really appreciated the diversity I saw on interview day as well as the available tracks and focus on behavioral health. My family lives in Dallas so I also appreciated the opportunity to come home.
Megan Lutchman, M.D.
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center Houston - McGovern Medical School
About me: I was born in Mississauga, Ontario and attended The University of Texas at Dallas. I love to run, play and watch basketball (I am a huge Phoenix Suns fan), and do anything outdoors! I also love spending time with my family, friends, and my fiancé.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because I felt that everyone I met during my interview day was incredibly kind and supportive, and wanted to help me thrive in residency and as a future family physician. I also wanted to be back in Dallas, near my family!
James Mantil, D.O.
Hometown: Coppell, TX
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine – Arkansas
About me: I was born in Dallas and grew up in Coppell. I attended Austin College for undergrad, and NYITCOM at Arkansas State University for medical school. I enjoy board games, taking my dog on long walks, cooking, and hiking. I have a different last name than the rest of my family, and sometimes I pretend I'm not related to them to joke around with them.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I wanted to attend a program that would provide me the skills and education needed to become a great primary care physician. UTSW serves a diverse group of patients in the Dallas area, and they have an excellent reputation of training knowledgeable and kind physicians that serve their communities well.
Rachel Manuel, M.D.
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
About me: I was born right here in Dallas, at the St. Paul Medical Center and attended University of Texas at Dallas. I enjoy spending time with my family, singing, songwriting, playing piano, baking, and sketching.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I absolutely loved working with the faculty and residents here during my 3rd and 4th year rotations! I knew that I would have a very rich experience here as a resident, treating the people of Dallas from all walks of life and training in this robust academic environment. I have lived in the Dallas area all my life and I am delighted and grateful to continue my training here!
Kainat Pasha, M.D.
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso
About me: I was born in Houston, TX and attended the University of Houston. I enjoy spending time with family and going out with friends, exploring new restaurants around town (a big foodie!), hiking, visiting art exhibits, practicing my Español, and painting.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: UTSW felt like home from day one. The opportunity to train in a premier academic center and a community-based urban hospital for a comprehensive residency program piqued my interest. During my interview, I was impressed by the strong faculty support, camaraderie amongst the residents, and unique specialty tracks that aligned with my areas of interest including integrative medicine and health equity and advocacy. I felt that UTSW had a strong commitment to aiding underserved/marginalized communities and this was very appealing to me. Ultimately, the dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion from the second look was what sealed the deal! I am so excited and cannot wait to officially start and join the UTSW family!
Josh Schulte, M.D.
Hometown: Anamosa, IA
Medical School: University of Iowa
About me: I was born in Anamosa, IA and attended Loras College. My interests include football, basketball, rock climbing, pickleball, paddleboarding, and hiking.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because of the great training opportunities, the people I met on interview day, and my fiancée is here as well.
Class of 2026
Gita Chandrasekhar, D.O.
Hometown: Plano, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area! I grew up in Plano and attended the University of Texas at Dallas for undergrad. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé, family, and friends, trying new recipes and restaurants, and playing the Indian classical flute. My favorite TV show is Friends. I have many Friends themed items and have completely lost count of how many times I've seen all the episodes!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I was first drawn to the UTSW Family medicine residency program when I did my primary care preceptorship here during my first year of medical school. I met several faculty and residents and everyone was so kind, welcoming, and passionate about family medicine. As a dual degree DO/MPH student, I valued training in a setting with a very diverse patient population with several social determinants of health needs. I loved UTSW Family Medicine for several reasons: it is a large academic center with expert faculty in different fields, promotes research, has unique inpatient and outpatient training experiences at Parkland and THD with distinct patient populations, and an integrative medicine track. I consider Dallas my home, and I wanted to train and serve my home community.
Sandra Chang, M.D.
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
About me: I was born and raised in Rochester, NY and attended Brown University for undergrad. I love traveling and eating all different kinds of foods. I'm also a proud plant mom! Interesting fact: I have a bartending license that I earned from a weekend class in college. I've never utilized it, but it was a fun experience learning about all the drinks mixologists can make!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I moved to Dallas right after college for an AmeriCorps VISTA position and a medical scribe position thereafter. It was my intro to Texas and I loved being able to help diverse communities navigate the complex healthcare system. I chose UTSW because I felt the faculty, residents, and institution expressed similar passions to mine in making this system more equitable. The residency program also felt like one supportive family. I'm excited to come back to the community that has so greatly influenced my career aspirations.
Atiya Chukwurah, M.D.
Hometown: New Jersey
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
About me: I was born and raised in New Jersey and attended Howard University for both med school and undergrad. My interests/hobbies include: workout classes, hair and skincare, going to the beach, amusement parks, and hanging with family and friends. Interesting fact: I was bitten by a lion cub during my trip to South Africa!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I choose UTSW because I want to train at an academic center while also practicing community medicine. The curriculum and different tracks offered here give me the opportunity to explore my many interests within Family Medicine. I'm really looking forward to exploring the city of Dallas!
Cameron Conner, D.O.
Hometown: Coppell, TX
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University- Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born and raised in Coppell, TX and attended Texas A & M University for undergrad. My interests include exercise, nutrition, sports, cooking, and video games. Interesting fact: I worked at Lululemon.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because it provides me the opportunity to train and learn with the best of the best while serving the community I grew up in. Having the support of my family and friends close by is a plus too. I feel blessed to be able to continue my education at UTSW.
Christopher Contreras, M.D.
Hometown: Naga City, Philippines
Medical School: Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Baguio City, Philippines
About me: I was born and grew up in Naga City, Philippines, and attended Universidad de Sta. Isabel. I studied nursing for my pre-med, then went to medical school, graduated, and worked as a general physician in the Philippines catering to the needs of the underserved. My hobbies include playing airsoft, muay thai, & jiu jitsu. I also enjoy playing drums, acoustic & electric guitar, and piano. I love trying new things. Live-looping and making music is a new hobby I recently discovered. I also love spending time with my family.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: While working at Parkland hospital as a nurse, I was aware of the wide breadth of pathologies and cases that I can learn both from the hospital and the clinic. UTSW Family Medicine program offers the best of both academic and community medicine maximizing exposure and learning which aligns with my personal quest on becoming the best physician that I can be, elevating patient care. Furthermore, when I did my observership with the department, I had a delightful and positive experience. I saw that the faculty are extremely welcoming, are very supportive of their residents and their well-being, and the residents, themselves, are friendly and helpful. This inspires me to want to continue to be in this kind of environment during residency training.
Anima Gnawali, D.O.
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born in Nepal but I grew up in Dallas, TX. I attended the University of Texas at Dallas for undergrad. My interests include hiking, rock climbing, live music, and cooking. I am a foodie! Interesting fact: I used to work as a Behavioral Therapist.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I appreciate the combination of community and academic medicine.
Priscilla Kha, D.O.
Hometown: Murphy, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born in Dallas, TX, grew up in Murphy, TX, and attended Baylor University for undergrad. Years ago, I was welcomed to this world by the healing hands at Parkland Memorial Hospital. After college, I was welcomed to medicine at Texas Health, and now, I am excited to return for this next chapter of my life where I will be learning at both institutions! When my orange tabby cat, Bartholomew is done giving me attention, I enjoy painting with gouache and playing with new art mediums! My active pastimes include hiking, yoga, baking, cooking, (and then eating)!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: The mission and values of the UTSW Family Medicine program matched my own personal and professional values while still offering balanced training in academic and community-based medicine, a diverse patient population, and ample opportunity for growth. The faculty and residents appeared supportive and positive, and I am looking forward to sharing these next few years with my new family.
Maryam Monga, M.D.
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
About me: : I was born in Karachi, Pakistan, grew up in Houston, and attended the University of Houston for undergrad. I like staying active and pushing myself through various activities - yoga, dance, hiking, weightlifting, and jiu jitsu! At one point, I was able to squat 1.5X bodyweight. I have, unfortunately, atrophied quite a bit since. I'm also a huge foodie, and love exploring the DFW food scene.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: Going to medical school here, I had the great opportunity to work with and get to know some of the awesome faculty and residents here at UTSW. The family medicine program is wonderful, and I'm excited to be part of it!
Areeba Mubarik, M.D.
Hometown: Daska, Pakistan
Medical School: Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
About me: I was born in Daska, Pakistan and spent the first 16 years of my life there. I then moved to Lahore with my family and then to Karachi for medical school. I enjoy watching movies with my three beautiful younger sisters, playing and watching cricket, baking, reading mysteries and crime fiction, trying new restaurants with my friends and spending time with my huge and close-knit Punjabi family. I started baking when I was 7 years old.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I believe that it's the people that make the program and on my interview day I felt that I could really connect with the residents, and I enjoyed all the interactions that I had. The opportunity to train at UTSW in a mix of academic and community settings and to serve such a diverse population piqued my interest even more. The UTSW Family Medicine program aligns with all my interests and needs, and I see myself thriving and succeeding here.
Yvonne Ofodile, M.D.
Hometown: Kaduna, Nigeria
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
About me: I was born and raised in Kaduna, Nigeria and attended Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. My hobbies include watching T.V., sharing meals with loved ones, reading novels, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. I could probably give you a detailed review of any major Nollywood movie made in the last 10 years.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I was excited about the program values and curriculum. I also really enjoyed my interactions with the residents and faculty on interview day, as well as during the open-house. I look forward to caring for such a diverse patient population, and I am thrilled that I get to live and train in the vibrant city of Dallas!
Keren Seyum, M.D.
Hometown: McAllen, TX
Medical School: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
About me: I was born in Indianapolis, IN and grew up in McAllen, TX. I attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergrad. I love to travel, spend time with my 8-month-old son, and check out new restaurants. Interesting fact: I'm double-jointed in both of my shoulders!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: As the daughter of Eritrean immigrants, I wanted to serve an Eritrean community as a physician, and Dallas is the perfect place for that! Coupled with UTSW's emphasis on community medicine, this program was the right fit for me.
Hadia Tahir, M.D.
Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Medical School: King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan
About me: I was born and raised in Lahore and attended Kinnaird College for Women. As a huge foodie, with a taste for particularly spicy food, you'll find me scavenging the latest restaurants in town. Moreover, my childhood love for anime inspired my hobbyist journey as a comic artist. I run a personal blog that pokes fun at the satire that medlife can be at times, whilst occasionally, promoting educational content on the platform as well. As they say, happiness walks on busy feet!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: UTSW is one of the most esteemed FM programs out there, also I visited Dallas during my rotations last year and fell in love with the city. In addition, to having family there-the weather, multicultural diversity, and overall vibe really reminded me of my beloved hometown Lahore, Pakistan. So it was a very natural choice!
Sundus Tameez, D.O.
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Medical School: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born and raised in Memphis, TN. I attended Emory University for undergrad and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school. I enjoy reading (especially now that I have Kindle), traveling, finding nature trails/hiking, watching murder mystery movies/shows, and trying to new restaurants. Since I completed my undergrad in Atlanta, there were quite a few movies that were filmed on my college campus. One time, while walking from one of my classes, I ran into a film crew shooting a scene for Chris Evan’s movie Gifted and got to watch Chris Evans filming the scene!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: Why UTSW Family Medicine? I chose UTSW because the program is the perfect blend for me in terms of being able to train in both an academic and community setting. I also believe the opportunities provided by the program in terms of research and overall training are unparalleled. I also wanted to train in a program focused on cultural competency and serving an underserved population.
Mubashir Wani, M.D.
Hometown: Sopore, J&K, India
Medical School: Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, India
About me: I was born and raised in Sopore, India and attanded St Joseph's School. I am a wandering soul. Visiting new places, traveling new roads and learning about new cultures excites me. I have always had a good taste for trekking and camping. Walking through woods while observing colorful birds and foliage, smelling the aroma of spruce and pine trees, and listening to a soothing running stream simply clears my mind and makes me feel good. I equally enjoy good food, watching movies, board games and sports.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: UTSW provides the perfect environment for intellectual engagement, academic skills and cultural engagement. The programs rich diversity, equity and inclusion greatly aligns with my goals! I am very excited to be starting my journey at such a wonderful institution.
Class of 2027
Bassel Abdulkarim, M.D.
Hometown: Aleppo, Syria
Medical School: University of Aleppo
About me: : I was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria, where I completed my medical school. After graduation, I moved to Montreal, Canada, where I completed a diploma in clinical research. One interesting aspect of my life is my lifelong dedication to athletics. Since childhood, I have immersed myself in the world of sports, particularly swimming. Through years of training and competition, I've had the privilege of achieving numerous championship titles in swimming. This journey has not only shaped my character but also instilled in me valuable lessons in discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. My other hobbies include basketball, football, and chess.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because of its unique blend of academic and community medicine, which aligns closely with my professional interests. The opportunity to work with a diverse patient population is particularly appealing to me as it will allow me to develop into a well-rounded physician capable of addressing the varied healthcare needs within our communities. Moreover, during the interview process, I felt a sense of relief and resonance with the institution's values and mission. Additionally, having family members residing in Dallas further solidifies my decision, as it provides me with a supportive network and a sense of belonging in the community.
Annam Ahmed, D.O.
Hometown: Greenwood, AK
Medical School: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith, AR
About me: I was born and raised in Greenwood, AR but moved around quite a bit. I spent five years in Karachi, Pakistan and a couple of years in Ann Arbor, MI before coming back to Arkansas. I attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR for undergrad. I also earned my MPH at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. In my free time, I love to experiment in the kitchen, read, and go for long walks. I also love spending time with my family, friends, and two kitties, Luna and Leo! I love to do crossword puzzles. The fastest time in which I've solved a full puzzle is 6 minutes!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: UTSW stood out for many reasons. Alongside their encompassing curriculum, I appreciated their commitment to serving underserved communities. Their emphasis on academic research and holistic training showed me that I would be able to grow into the physician I have always hoped to become. Above all, the faculty and residents were so welcoming and I knew that I found a great learning environment that would help me thrive during residency!
Hanana AlTfaili, M.D.
Hometown: Douris, Lebanon
Medical School: American University of Beirut
About me: I was born in Douris, Lebanon and attended the American University of Beirut for undergrad and medical school. My hobbies include hiking, reading, spending time with my family and friends. Interesting fact: I am an artist who can form 3D objects with dough.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: UT Southwestern's comprehensive training program stood out to me as the ideal environment to develop my skills and knowledge in Family Medicine. I am particularly drawn to UT Southwestern's collaborative and supportive learning culture, friendly environment, and diversity that was vivid during my interview and visit. The combination of these factors made this program a great fit for me.
Esha Banwatt, M.D.
Hometown: Weeki Wachi, FL
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
About me: I grew up in Weeki Wachee, FL and attended the University of Florida for undergrad and Emory University School of Medicine for medical school. I enjoy spending my free time with loved ones, exploring nature, dancing, and practicing aerial arts (eg. aerial hoop and pole). I have two black cats named Aloo and Gobi! (potato and cauliflower)
Why UTSW Family Medicine: During my interview with UT Southwestern, the residents and faculty were welcoming. I appreciated the thoughtful and engaging conversations we had. I felt that UT Southwestern would provide robust training to prepare me for whatever my future practice may look like. Dallas is a diverse city in a warm climate and these factors were important to me in my decision to rank this program highly.
Yunsha Ehtesham, M.D.
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
Medical School: UT Health Science Center at San Antonio
About me: I was born in Karachi, Pakistan but moved to Texas when I was two years old! My childhood was spent equally between Richardson, TX and McKinney, TX before heading to Austin, TX for college. I attended UT Austin for undergrad and UT Health San Antonio for medical school. I love reading! I used to be an avid reader when I was younger and have since been trying to pick it back up to what it once was before. I also enjoy working out and spending time with family and friends. An interesting fact about myself is that I like to carry around a small bag of cat food in my car to feed any strays I see during car rides!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because my interview and second look here made me feel at home. Everyone was so warm and inviting. I could tell that the family medicine program here fosters a collaborative and supportive environment which is an important aspect I was looking for. Overall UTSW aligned with all my goals of being in an academic center, receive amazing training, be surrounded by great people, and most importantly, be close to family.
Manuel Garcia-Cartagena, M.D.
Hometown: San German, Puerto Rico
Medical School: Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
About me:I was born and raised in San German, PR and attended Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico for undergrad, and Ponce Health Sciences University for medical school. My hobbies include guitar playing, video gaming, fishing and hunting. I’m an avid amateur chef.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: It gives me the chance to serve a variety of underserved populations, especially Spanish-speaking patients.
Leema Hamoudah, D.O.
Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born in Texas but grew up in Amman, Jordan. I attended the University of Texas San Antonio for undergrad and UNTHSC-TCOM for medical school. My hobbies include traveling (I visited five different countries on my honeymoon), reading, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because of its reputable Family Medicine program in a large academic center as well as its supportive and kind environment that came across on interview day.
Rachel Hughes, D.O.
Hometown: Lewisville, TX
Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born and raised in Lewisville, TX. I attended Baylor University for undergrad and the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school. I enjoy exercising, arts and crafts, cooking, baking and spending time with my family. My husband and I have the most energetic and loving 7-year-old lab named Jayton.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW for the unique combination of academic and community medicine as well as the opportunity to serve a diverse and medically complex patient population. I feel as though training at such a renowned institution will robustly equip me for my future career while maintaining an emphasis on compassionate care. I am also overjoyed to return to the DFW area where I can be near my family and establish professional relationships to aid in my long-term aspiration of practicing in the place I grew up in and call home.
William Johnston, M.D.
Hometown: San Angelo, TX
Medical School: UT Health Science Center at San Antonio
About me: I was born in Austin, TX and grew up almost exclusively in San Angelo, TX. I attended Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for medical school. I am very interested in learning new things about people and the world! I enjoy gardening, making tasty dishes, and the outdoors. Interesting fact: I can lick my elbows (separately) AND I’m willing to prove it.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because I feel like it is a place of hope and progress. The people I have met here have qualities I would like to learn from and foster for myself. I enjoyed my interview day and the time I have spent at UTSW in the past! I was especially drawn to the HEART track, which would help me serve my community more broadly!
Rasha Kakati, M.D.
Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
Medical School: American University of Beirut
About me: I was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and grew up in Beirut, Lebanon. I attended the American University of Beirut for undergrad and medical school. I love exploring my artistic side and seek to implement creativity into my life whenever possible. I enjoy playing guitar and singing, baking cookies and cakes and designs sweets with home-made icing. I also love to draw and paint and solve Sudoku puzzles. In medical school, I was a singer/guitarist in a band in medical school that regularly entertained inpatients after hours and provided the occasional campus entertainment!
Why UTSW Family Medicine:I appreciated the dedication to academia and rigorous training as well as a focus on personalized training tracks tailored to each trainee's interests. The vibrant culture of the program was evident during my interview. The residents were friendly and supportive, and the faculty was very welcoming and clearly dedicated to resident education and well-rounded training. It was natural to connect with various interviewers and I knew the training environment was healthy and supportive. I felt seen as a holistic individual and I knew that I would have various opportunities to receive the best training and education as well as the ability to grow personally and professionally.
Ragini Kondetimmanahalli, M.D.
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Medical School: UT Health Science Center at San Antonio
About me: I was born in Houston and raised in Sugar Land. I attended The University of Texas at Austin for undergrad and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for medical school. In my free time, I love to dance! I was trained in a classical Indian dance form called Bharatanatyam since the age of 5. From that came my passion for all forms of dance, whether hip hop or Bollywood, and I'm always itching to learn new choreography. When I'm not dancing, you can find me trying new recipes, finding the best coffee shops and restaurants in town or bouldering! Fun fact: I received certification in wilderness life support for medical professionals.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because of the diversity of the patient population, incredible training at Parkland, and the wonderful people I spoke to during my interview day. Everyone was so warm and welcoming and shared similar passions for advocacy and improving health equity. Additionally, UTSW has the perfect balance of both academic and community medicine with endless opportunities for research!
Nicholas Leonard, D.O.
Hometown: Longview, TX
Medical School: The University of North Texas Health Science Center – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born in Rocklin, CA which is just north of Sacramento. We lived in a lot of places in northern California but one of the prettiest areas we lived in was Lake Tahoe. We eventually moved to Longview, TX when I was 13 and we have been in Texas ever since. I attended LeTourneau University in Longview, TX for undergrad and UNTHSC-TCOM for medical school. I enjoy lifting weights and playing basketball. I love being outdoors and recently took up playing pickleball. Aside from that, I like playing video games and I recently started reading a lot more. My preferred genre is fantasy books. I was a competitive BMX racer from the age of 7-9.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because of how I felt after my interview. Everyone I talked to during the interview process seemed so passionate about the quality atmosphere and education that this program provides. UTSW has all of the resources of an academic institution while maintaining a community medicine focus which is what really stood out to me. In addition, I really value how much this program prioritized the wellness of their residents.
Hamza Uddin, M.D.
Hometown: New Jersey
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston
About me: I was born in New Jersey and raised in Texas. I attended Sam Houston State University for undergrad and University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for medical school. My hobbies include music, hiking and running. All-in-all, across my family, we care for 3 cats, 1 dog and a parrot!
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because of the impressive curriculum and elective options, the resource-rich environment, and the supportive faculty members and residents.
Bobin “Andrew” Xu, D.O.
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: The University of North Texas Health Science Center – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
About me: I was born and raised in Houston, TX. I attended the University of Houston for undergrad and UNTHSC-TCOM for medical school. I enjoy lifting weights, cooking, trying new restaurants, and music. I recently started playing pickleball last November, and I am now hooked! I competed in my first tournament earlier this month.
Why UTSW Family Medicine: I chose UTSW because the culture of the program emphasizes "family." I wanted to train at a program where people support each other to succeed and can lean on each other during difficult times. The program is also supportive of my clinical interests including sports medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine. I believe the resources and opportunities here are unparalleled!