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UTRGV
UTRGV School of Medicine
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    Founded in 2013, the UTRGV School of Medicine educates students and graduate physicians, provides patient care, and performs advanced scientific research.

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    The UTRGV School of Medicine offers an innovative, competency-based medical education to create the future leaders in medicine, research, and patient care.

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    UTRGV School of Medicine (SOM) is transforming and enriching the lives of the people of the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

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    Departments and Institutes

    Departments and Institutes

    With over 15 departments and institutes, discover how the UTRGV School of Medicine is transforming medical education, patient care and research.

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  1. Home
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  3. Chairs and Directors

Chairs and Directors

Chairs

Daniel Albo, MD

Daniel Albo, MD

Chair, Department of Surgery
(956) 296-1449
Daniel.Albo@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Daniel Albo, MD


Daniel Albo, MD
Chair, Department of Surgery
Surgery
Email: Daniel.Albo@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1449


Daniel Albo, MD, joined the UTRGV School of Medicine team in March 2021 and currently serves as the Department Chair and Professor in the Department of Surgery.  In this capacity, he will help lead and develop all clinical, educational, and research programs for UTRGV.

Dr. Albo earned his medical degree at the University of the Republic, Uruguay, in 1991. He completed his General Surgery residency and obtained a PhD degree in Molecular Pathobiology at Drexel University in Philadelphia in 2000. He later completed a Surgical Oncology fellowship at the UTMD Anderson Cancer Center in 2002 before joining the Medical College of Georgia, where he helped develop a Surgical Oncology program and a multidisciplinary MD/PhD program in Oncology. He then moved to the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, in 2004. 

Dr. Albo has held leadership roles in several academic surgical societies, including being the President for the Association for Academic Surgery. His leadership has been influential in the transformation of the AAS into one of the leading academic surgical societies in the world. 

Dr. Albo is a dedicated surgical educator. He has been awarded several prestigious teaching awards, including the Golden Stethoscope, Golden Apple, and the Gene A. Guinn Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award. 

Dr. Albo has proudly served in the medical field for more than 21 years. He is a nationally and internationally renowned Surgical Oncologist (Cancer Surgeon) at UT Health RGV and is dedicated to providing the highest quality care and medical education to the RGV community.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Chelsea Chang, MD

Chelsea Chang, MD

Interim Chair, Department of Internal Medicine
Chelsea.Chang@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Chelsea Chang, MD


Chelsea Chang, MD
Interim Chair, Department of Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine
Email: Chelsea.Chang@utrgv.edu


Dr. Chelsea Hook Chang is the interim Chair for the Department of Internal Medicine at the UTRGV School of Medicine. 

Dr. Chang is a proud Rio Grande Valley native who has returned to serve her community. In 2012, she completed medical school at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. She later completed her Internal Medicine Residency in 2015 and was awarded Intern of the Year at Baylor Scott & White in Temple, Texas, where she trained. In 2015, Dr. Chang achieved board certification and began working as a primary care physician and a clinical assistant professor in Temple, Texas. 

Dr. Chang has been employed by the UTRGV School of Medicine as Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency. Her special interests include population health, preventive care, and training the next generation of physicians.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Michael Dobbs, MD, MHCM

Michael Dobbs, MD, MHCM

Chair, Department of Neurology
(956) 296-2006 (Edinburg)
Michael.Dobbs@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Michael Dobbs, MD, MHCM


Michael Dobbs, MD, MHCM
Chair, Department of Neurology
Neurology
Email: Michael.Dobbs@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-2006 (Edinburg)
Phone Alt: (956) 296-3903 (Harlingen)


Michael R. Dobbs, MD, MHCM, is the Chief Medical Officer, Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs, Professor and Chair of Neurology at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Kentucky and Harvard. He served with distinction in the US Air Force Medical Corps including an academic appointment at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. He has authored more than 50 publications including books, book chapters, journal articles, and abstracts. His book Clinical Neurotoxicology—Syndromes, Substances, Environments is a leading text in the field worldwide. He moved to UTRGV from the University of Kentucky in 2019 where he had most recently served as Associate Dean with responsibility for initiatives such as successful establishment of regional four-year medical school campuses. As program director he had led his hospital to become one of the busiest stroke centers in the United States while also building a 34 hospital Stroke Network that continues to grow and bring life-saving treatments to underserved regions in Appalachia.

As Neurology Chair, he is building a department that provides advanced clinical care, education, and research at the new Institute of Neuroscience located in Harlingen, TX. Dr. Dobbs teaches the Mind, Brain, and Behavior module for pre-clinical MS2s and it has been the highest rated module by the students for the last 3 years. He has been an institutional principal investigator on multiple clinical trials and has published original research in stroke outcomes and other topics. In early 2022, Dr. Dobbs was awarded an NIH Research Enhancement Award (R15) grant which will bring national recognition to the UTRGV School of Medicine, expose students to new research opportunities, and strengthen the overall research environment of the institution. In his spare time, he loves to explore the Rio Grande Valley with his family.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Sambandam Elango, MD

Sambandam Elango, MD

Chair, Department of Medical Education
(956) 296-1954
Sambandam.Elango@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Sambandam Elango, MD


Sambandam Elango, MD
Chair, Department of Medical Education
Email: Sambandam.Elango@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1954


Dr. Sambandam Elango serves as Chair for the Department of Medical Education at the UTRGV School of Medicine. Dr. Elango has over three decades of experience in UME and GME. Prior to joining UTRGV, Dr. Elango has worked in two medical schools in California, contributing to the development of an innovative curriculum and in the preparation for the provisional LCME accreditation.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Jimmy Gonzales, MD

Jimmy Gonzales, MD

Interim Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Jimmy.Gonzales@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Jimmy Gonzales, MD


Jimmy Gonzales, MD
Interim Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Family Medicine
Email: Jimmy.Gonzales@utrgv.edu


Jimmy Gonzales, MD, joined the UTRGV School of Medicine team in 2015 and currently serves as Assistant Professor and Interim Chair for the Department of Family Medicine. 

Dr. Jimmy Gonzales earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern. After medical school, he completed a preliminary year in general surgery at Parkland/UT Southwestern.  Dr. Gonzales then went on to complete his family medicine residency at Scott & White/Texas A&M Health Science Center.  After his residency, he completed a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Texas Tech University. 

Dr. Gonzales is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine with special qualifications in Sports Medicine. At UT Health RGV, he serves as a board-certified Family Medicine doctor who focuses on providing advanced primary care to children and adults in the RGV. 

Dr. Gonzales also serves as Director of Sports Medicine for the UTRGV Family Medicine Residency Program. Additionally, he serves as the team physician for UTRGV Athletics. 

Dr. Gonzales is passionate about his roles with UTRGV, and he looks forward to educating new and future family medicine physicians.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Nausheen Jamal, MD

Nausheen Jamal, MD

Founding Chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
(956) 296-1426
Nausheen.Jamal@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Nausheen Jamal, MD


Nausheen Jamal, MD
Founding Chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Email: Nausheen.Jamal@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1426


Dr. Nausheen Jamal is the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, Founding Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Designated Institutional Official. Dr. Jamal comes to UTRGV from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine where she has served as Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Director of the residency program. She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her residency training in Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals in New York. Dr. Jamal specializes in voice, swallowing, and airway disorders and completed her fellowship in Laryngology at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in California.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Robert Nelson, MD

Robert Nelson, MD

Chair, Department of Pediatrics
(956) 296-1430
Robert.Nelson@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Robert Nelson, MD


Robert Nelson, MD
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Email: Robert.Nelson@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1430


Dr. Robert Nelson Jr. joined the UTRGV School of Medicine team in 2014. He currently serves as Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Interim Vice Dean for Educational Affairs, Interim Assistant Dean for Clerkships, and Chair of Pediatrics. 

Dr. Nelson earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Washington, and a Master of Science in administrative medicine from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Dr. Nelson has more than 30 years of experience working in graduate medical education, and he is elated to continue preparing the next generation of physicians in the Rio Grande Valley.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Tony Ogburn, MD, FACOG

Tony Ogburn, MD, FACOG

Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
(956) 296-1543
Tony.Ogburn@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Tony Ogburn, MD, FACOG


Tony Ogburn, MD, FACOG
Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Email: Tony.Ogburn@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1543


Dr. Tony Ogburn is a professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UTRGV School of Medicine. 

Dr. Ogburn attended medical school at the University of Florida and completed his residency in OB-GYN at the University of California-Irvine. Following his residency, he worked for the Indian Health Service in Gallup, New Mexico, for six years. Throughout his career, he has advocated for improved access to health care for underserved populations. He has volunteered on Indian reservations in the United States and at a maternity hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

Dr. Ogburn was previously a professor in the Department of Obstetrics at the University of New Mexico, where he served on the faculty for 18 years before moving to UTRGV in 2015. He is currently a board-certified OB-GYN specialist at UT Health RGV and is devoted to providing accessible, high-quality care to the RGV community.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Ihsan M. Salloum, MD, MPH

Ihsan M. Salloum, MD, MPH

Chair, Department of Neuroscience
Ihsan.Salloum@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Ihsan M. Salloum, MD, MPH


Ihsan M. Salloum, MD, MPH
Chair, Department of Neuroscience
Neuroscience
Email: Ihsan.Salloum@utrgv.edu


Dr. Ihsan M. Salloum is the Sujata G. Krishnan Endowed Chair in Neuroscience, the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience, Founding Chair for the Department of Neuroscience, and Director of the Institute of Neuroscience at UTRGV.

Dr. Salloum received a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Bologna and a Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. He completed his psychiatry residency training at the Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin University and an NIH-sponsored Fellowship in Alcohol Research at UPMC’s Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Salloum’s research has been supported continuously by the NIH for over two decades. He served as a member of the National Institute of Health Scientific Review Group and as an Examiner of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He currently serves on the American Psychiatric Association (APA)’s Workgroup on Research Training. Dr. Salloum is board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology and Addiction Psychiatry and is listed in America’s Most Honored Professionals. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA, an Honorary Member of the World Psychiatric Association, and serves as President of the International College of Person-centered Medicine.

Before joining the UTRGV School of Medicine, Dr. Salloum served as Chief of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Research Division and Director of the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He also served as the Director of Research & Education, and Medical Director of the Addiction Medicine Services for the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Michael Sander, MD

Michael Sander, MD

Founding Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
(956) 296-2821
Michael.Sander@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Michael Sander, MD


Michael Sander, MD
Founding Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Email: Michael.Sander@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-2821


Dr. Michael Sander, a native of Weslaco, is the Founding Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the UTRGV School of Medicine. 

Dr. Sander earned his medical degree with honors from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. For his orthopedic surgery residency, he attended The University of Iowa Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation. He then completed his orthopedic sports fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Sander continued his medical training and obtained board certification from the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. 

Dr. Sander currently serves as a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon at UT Health RGV. He provides advanced treatment to patients with a variety of orthopedic conditions, and he specializes in helping patients regain mobility and functionality with the goal of long-term success.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Leonel Vela, MD, MPH

Leonel Vela, MD, MPH

Chair, Department of Population Health and Biostatistics
(956) 296-1534
Leonel.Vela@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Leonel Vela, MD, MPH


Leonel Vela, MD, MPH
Chair, Department of Population Health and Biostatistics
Family Medicine
Email: Leonel.Vela@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1534


Dr. Leonel Vela serves as Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Interim Chair of Population Health and Biostatistics at the UTRGV School of Medicine. 

Dr. Vela, a Pharr native, attended Stanford University for his undergraduate studies. He went on to the Baylor College of Medicine and later attended Harvard University, where he received his master’s degree in public health. 

For much of his career, Dr. Vela has focused on community health. He received training at Stanford, Harvard, Baylor, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among others. He is a leader in medical education and uses his experience to prepare students for the future of health care.  

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD

Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD

Chair, Department of Human Genetics; Interim Chair, Department of Immunology and Microbiology
Sarah.Williams-Blangero@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD


Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD
Chair, Department of Human Genetics; Interim Chair, Department of Immunology and Microbiology
Human Genetics
Email: Sarah.Williams-Blangero@utrgv.edu


Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD, is the Chair of the Department of Human Genetics at the UTRGV School of Medicine. 

Dr. Williams-Blangero is a genetic epidemiologist with over 30 years of experience in research on the genetic determinants of differential susceptibility to complex diseases, particularly in minority populations. She received her PhD in Biological Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University in 1987. Dr. Williams-Blangero joined the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (now the Texas Biomedical Research Institute) as a postdoctoral scientist in the Department of Genetics in 1987. After being promoted through the ranks to the level of Scientist, she was Chair of the Department of Genetics at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute for 15 years and also served for 2 years as the Deputy Director of the Southwest National Primate Research Center that was based at Texas Biomed. She has served as a standing member of two NIH study sections and has served on an ad hoc basis on numerous other review panels. As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Williams-Blangero has generated over $25 million in NIH funding to support her research. A leader in the conduct of human population studies, Dr. Williams-Blangero has developed research sites in Nepal and Brazil that have been active for over 30 years and over 20 years respectively. She has published more than 120 papers in the scientific literature. 

Dr. Williams-Blangero was also recruited to be the Founding Director of the South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute at UTRGV in 2014.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.


Directors

Subhash Chauhan, PhD

Subhash Chauhan, PhD

Director, South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research
Subhash.Chauhan@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Subhash Chauhan, PhD


Subhash Chauhan, PhD
Director, South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research
South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research
Email: Subhash.Chauhan@utrgv.edu


Subhash Chauhan, PhD, is the Director of the South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research at the UTRGV School of Medicine. 

Dr. Chauhan earned his PhD from the Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow, India. He later joined the University of Tennessee Health Science Center faculty, where he served as a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy and Cancer Research Center. 

Dr. Chauhan is an accomplished researcher with 24 years of experience in cancer immunology research, and he has garnered several high-award grants from the National Institutes of Health. He currently serves as Chair of the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the UTRGV School of Medicine. 

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Gladys E. Maestre, MD, PhD

Gladys E. Maestre, MD, PhD

Director, Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research
Gladys.Maestre@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Gladys E. Maestre, MD, PhD


Gladys E. Maestre, MD, PhD
Director, Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research
Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research
Email: Gladys.Maestre@utrgv.edu


Gladys Maestre, M.D., Ph.D, is a professor at the Department of Neuroscience at UTRGV School of Medicine. She is also director of the Rio Grande Valley Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research and Co-Director of the South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

She previously served as visiting professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at the G.H. Sergievsky Center in Columbia University. Dr. Maestre received a Doctor of Medicine degree from University of Zulia, her Masters in Genetic Epidemiology and her PhD in pathobiology from Columbia University. She recently completed her Masters of Arts in Neuroarchitecture from Iuav University of Venice.

Dr. Maestre is a neuroscientist who has worked with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias for more than 20 years.  She is the PI of the Maracaibo Aging Study, a unique community-based cohort of individuals who have undergone in-depth assessments for cognitive, neuroimaging, and cardiovascular traits since 1997. As PI on several NIA and Fogarty International Center funded grants, her research has explored cultural, educational, and genetic risks for Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, as well as cognitive function and health among minorities and ethnically diverse populations across the life span.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Ihsan M. Salloum, MD, MPH

Ihsan M. Salloum, MD, MPH

Director, Institute for Neuroscience
Ihsan.Salloum@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Ihsan M. Salloum, MD, MPH


Ihsan M. Salloum, MD, MPH
Director, Institute for Neuroscience
Institute for Neuroscience
Email: Ihsan.Salloum@utrgv.edu


Dr. Ihsan M. Salloum is the Sujata G. Krishnan Endowed Chair in Neuroscience, the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience, Founding Chair for the Department of Neuroscience, and Director of the Institute of Neuroscience at UTRGV.

Dr. Salloum received a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Bologna and a Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. He completed his psychiatry residency training at the Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin University and an NIH-sponsored Fellowship in Alcohol Research at UPMC’s Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Salloum’s research has been supported continuously by the NIH for over two decades. He served as a member of the National Institute of Health Scientific Review Group and as an Examiner of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He currently serves on the American Psychiatric Association (APA)’s Workgroup on Research Training. Dr. Salloum is board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology and Addiction Psychiatry and is listed in America’s Most Honored Professionals. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA, an Honorary Member of the World Psychiatric Association, and serves as President of the International College of Person-centered Medicine.

Before joining the UTRGV School of Medicine, Dr. Salloum served as Chief of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Research Division and Director of the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He also served as the Director of Research & Education, and Medical Director of the Addiction Medicine Services for the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.

Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD

Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD

Director, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute
Sarah.Williams-Blangero@utrgv.edu
  • Roles and Responsibilities

Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD


Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD
Director, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute
South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute
Email: Sarah.Williams-Blangero@utrgv.edu


Sarah Williams-Blangero, PhD, was recruited to be the Founding Director of the South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute at UTRGV in 2014.

Dr. Williams-Blangero is a genetic epidemiologist with over 30 years of experience in research on the genetic determinants of differential susceptibility to complex diseases, particularly in minority populations. She received her PhD in Biological Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University in 1987. Dr. Williams-Blangero joined the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (now the Texas Biomedical Research Institute) as a postdoctoral scientist in the Department of Genetics in 1987. After being promoted through the ranks to the level of Scientist, she was Chair of the Department of Genetics at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute for 15 years and also served for 2 years as the Deputy Director of the Southwest National Primate Research Center that was based at Texas Biomed. She has served as a standing member of two NIH study sections and has served on an ad hoc basis on numerous other review panels. As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Williams-Blangero has generated over $25 million in NIH funding to support her research. A leader in the conduct of human population studies, Dr. Williams-Blangero has developed research sites in Nepal and Brazil that have been active for over 30 years and over 20 years respectively. She has published more than 120 papers in the scientific literature. 

Dr. Williams-Blangero also currently serves as Chair of the Department of Human Genetics at the UTRGV School of Medicine.

 

Key Roles and Responsibilities

 

• Shall be directly accountable to the Dean.


• Shall be responsible for the administration of his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall hold regular meetings of the Department/Center/Institute faculty to present pertinent information and to discuss issues that may include, among others, Department/Center/Institute or SOM policies, educational, research and service programs, long-range objectives, and current problems. Chairpersons of larger Departments and Directors of larger Centers/Institutes that have been divided into Sections/Programs may elect to have regular meetings with the SectionsChiefs/Program Directors rather than with the entire faculty, with the expectation that the Chiefs will meet with their section/program faculty to present and discuss matters from the Section Chiefs'/Program Directors' meetings at regular intervals.


• Shall recruit and recommend to the Dean the appointment of faculty and other personnel.


• Shall be responsible for his/her Department's/Center's/Institute’s role in carrying out the programs that are the responsibility of SOM faculty.


• Shall be responsible for the implementation of all UTRGV and SOM policies and regulations applicable to the Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall prepare the Department/Center/Institute budget to be submitted to the Dean annually including recommendations for compensation of both faculty and non-faculty personnel.


• Shall be responsible for the budgetary control of his/her Department/Center/Institute and for the allocation of space within his/her Department/Center/Institute.


• Shall recommend faculty appointments, promotions, and tenure to the Dean and pertinent UTRGV SOM committee for review and processing.


• Shall organize the Department/Center/Institute in a way that best serves the needs of the Department/Center/Institute and SOM and provide for appropriate interaction with Department/Center/Institute faculty and between its faculty and leadership.


• Shall be responsible for the career development and mentoring of faculty members in his/her department.


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