Department of Surgery | Faculty & Staff

Faculty & Staff

Faculty

Daniel Albo, MD, PhD, FACS: Chair, Professor; Daniel.Albo@utrgv.edu

Daniel Albo, MD, PhD, FACS

Daniel Albo, MD, PhD, FACS
Chair, Professor
Surgery
Email: Daniel.Albo@utrgv.edu

Dr. Albo, a nationally and internationally renowned Surgical Oncologist, is a Tenured Professor and Chair of Surgery at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine. In this capacity, he will help lead and develop all Clinical, Educational, and Research Programs for UTRGV.

Dr. Albo previously served at AU as the Chairman of the Department of Surgery where he oversaw all clinical, educational, research, faculty development and administrative aspects of the Department of Surgery in one of the largest Medical Schools in the country. Dr. Albo also served as the Surgeon-In-Chief at Augusta University Health System. He played an integral role in the development of a matrix-style Perioperative Services organization, a multidisciplinary, horizontal integration health system that oversees all aspects of quality, efficiency, quality assessment and quality improvement in the care of all surgical patients across the health system. During his tenure, AUHS has accomplished all-time high volumes, efficiencies and quality in the Perioperative Services.

He previously served as the Director of the Cancer Center Service Line, at the Georgia Cancer Center. In his role, Dr. Albo was instrumental in the development of an integrated cancer service line model that continues to oversee all cancer clinical operations and clinical trials activities for the Augusta University Health System.

With a Certificate in Medical and Health Care Management obtained from the prestigious Jones Graduate School of Business. Rice University, Dr. Albo has almost two decades of experience in helping design and implement Matrix organizations in Surgery and Cancer in a variety of Health System models.

Dr. Albo earned his medical degree Magna Cum Laude 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 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 (BCM) in Houston, TX, in 2004. At BCM, he was first the Chief of General Surgery and Director of the Operating Room for the Houston VA Medical Center, where he developed Surgical Oncology and Minimally Invasive surgical services as well as a Colorectal Cancer Center, the latter two firsts in the VA system. He was subsequently named the Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery and the Director for Surgical Network Development, helping develop Surgical Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery services throughout the Baylor system.

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. He has been instrumental in the development of several key AAS initiatives, including the creation of highly successful international Academic Career Development courses, currently held in multiple countries worldwide.

Dr. Albo’s clinical expertise is on minimally invasive complex surgical oncology with emphasis in colorectal and hepatobiliary surgery. He has one of the highest utilization rates for laparoscopic surgery in patients with colon and rectal cancer in the US, resulting in significant outcomes advantages for patients. His clinical expertise has resulted in several awards, including the prestigious Michael E. DeBakey Distinguished Service Award Medal. Earning the recognition of his peers, he has been consistently listed in the Best Doctors in America, America’s Top Surgeons, and America’s Top Surgical Oncologist lists.

Dr. Albo is a dedicated surgical educator. He has been awarded several prestigious teaching awards, including the Golden Stethoscope, Golden Apple, Jorge I. Cué, MD, and Gene A. Guinn, MD Teaching Awards. He has developed a unique MIS colorectal re-training program that has successfully lead to the conversion of open colorectal surgical units into minimally invasive ones in several countries, allowing for a rapid assimilation of minimally invasive concepts and highly reproducible excellent clinical results. In addition, he has helped develop one of the most advanced surgical simulation curricula for the training of students and residents. He is a sought-after lecturer and has given numerous presentations, Grand Round and Visiting Professor lectures worldwide.

His research has focused on translational and health services research in surgical oncology and minimally invasive surgery. In the Health Services research arena, he has studied minimally invasive surgery (MIS) utilization patterns as well as barriers and facilitators for a widespread adoption of MIS in colorectal disease. He has extensively studied the impact MIS has in reducing the cost of care in colorectal surgery. His work has also focused on issues of health care disparities for minorities in surgical oncology. He has published extensively and is considered an expert in the development of fully integrated multidisciplinary clinical models in surgery and cancer. In the translational research arena, his work has focused on the mechanisms of tumor invasion and metastases and biomarker discovery. He has considerable expertise in the fields of perineural invasion and neurogenesis.

His work has resulted in over 100 manuscripts, multiple book chapters and several research grants and awards. In addition, he is a co-editor of the Operative Techniques in General Surgery and editor of the Operative Techniques in Colorectal Surgery textbooks.

Dr. Albo lists his family as his most significant accomplishment in life. His lovely wife since 1991 (she has tremendous patience!), Luisa, a very accomplished professional photographer and artist, and his two wonderful children, Camila (now a Medical Student at the Medical College of Georgia) and Nicolas Matías, are the light of his eyes.

Paul Berry, MD: Assistant Professor of Surgery; Paul.Berry@utrgv.edu

Paul Berry, MD

Paul Berry, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Surgery
UT Health RGV (Harlingen)
Email: Paul.Berry@utrgv.edu

Daniel Bolton, MD: Assistant Professor; Daniel.Bolton@utrgv.edu

Daniel Bolton, MD

Daniel Bolton, MD
Assistant Professor
Email: Daniel.Bolton@utrgv.edu

Christine Dahlhausen, MD: Assistant Professor; Christine.Dahlhausen@utrgv.edu

Christine Dahlhausen, MD

Christine Dahlhausen, MD
Assistant Professor
Email: Christine.Dahlhausen@utrgv.edu

Vijian Dhevan, MD, MBA, FACS: Assistant Professor of Surgery; Vijian.Dhevan@utrgv.edu

Vijian Dhevan, MD, MBA, FACS

Vijian Dhevan, MD, MBA, FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Surgery
UT Health RGV (Harlingen)
Email: Vijian.Dhevan@utrgv.edu

I was born and grew up in Asia and moved to Texas when I was a teenager. I completed my BS and MS at SFASU in Nacogdoches Texas. After obtaining my Master’s degree, I worked for a few years collaborating with researchers and then attended Texas Tech University for my MD and MBA. Upon graduating from medical school, I completed my surgical training at SIU, in Springfield, Illinois before returning to Texas to practice.

My interest lies in minimally invasive surgery, surgical oncology, and bariatric surgery. I also have a strong interest in the processes of supplying continued excellence in medicine while dealing with increasing stressors and limitations from economic and socio-dynamic variations.

I am blessed to be married to a wonderful woman that understands the demands of my profession and who has given me two wonderful boys.

Roger Galindo, MD, FACS: Assistant Professor of Surgery; Roger.Galindo@utrgv.edu

Roger Galindo, MD, FACS

Roger Galindo, MD, FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Surgery
Email: Roger.Galindo@utrgv.edu

Juan Godinez, MD: Clinical Assistant Professor; Juan.Godinez@utrgv.edu

Juan Godinez, MD

Juan Godinez, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Email: Juan.Godinez@utrgv.edu

Lorena Flores-Hernandez, OD: Assistant Professor of Surgery; Lorena.FloresHernandez@utrgv.edu

Lorena Flores-Hernandez, OD

Lorena Flores-Hernandez, OD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Surgery
Email: Lorena.FloresHernandez@utrgv.edu

Herbert Nassour, MD: Assistant Professor of Surgery; Herbert.Nassour@utrgv.edu

Herbert Nassour, MD

Herbert Nassour, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Surgery
Email: Herbert.Nassour@utrgv.edu

Duncan Ramsey: Assistant Professor; Duncan.Ramsey@utrgv.edu

Duncan Ramsey

Duncan Ramsey
Assistant Professor
Surgery
Email: Duncan.Ramsey@utrgv.edu

Henry Reinhart, MD, FACS: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Founding Program Director of General Surgery Residency Program at VBMC; Henry.Reinhart@utrgv.edu

Henry Reinhart, MD, FACS

Henry Reinhart, MD, FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Founding Program Director of General Surgery Residency Program at VBMC
Surgery
UT Health RGV Surgery & Women’s Specialty
Email: Henry.Reinhart@utrgv.edu

Dr. Reinhart was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and received his undergraduate degree in International Business from Texas Tech University. He then attended UT Southwestern medical school before going back to El Paso for his general surgery residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. During that time he was awarded the Raleigh Ross Scholarship by the Texas Surgical Society among other awards. He then went on to complete a fellowship in endocrine surgery at the Scott and White clinic in Temple, TX. He joined UTRGV SOM and UT Health RGV in 2017.  Dr. Reinhart is a member of The American College of Surgeons and the founding program director of the General Surgery residency program at Valley Baptist Medical Center.

James Sander, MD: Assistant Professor of Surgery; James.Sander@utrgv.edu

James Sander, MD

James Sander, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Surgery
UT Health RGV (Edinburg)
Email: James.Sander@utrgv.edu

Steven Toller, MD: Clinical Assistant Professor; Steven.Toller@utrgv.edu

Steven Toller, MD

Steven Toller, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Surgery
Email: Steven.Toller@utrgv.edu

Staff

Erica Moreno: Department Administrator; (956) 296-1755; Erica.Moreno@utrgv.edu

Erica Moreno

Erica Moreno
Department Administrator
Surgery
HCEBL 2.136
Email: Erica.Moreno@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1755

Maria Polanco Contreras: Assistant to the Clinical Chair; (956) 296-1449; Maria.PolancoContreras@utrgv.edu

Maria Polanco Contreras

Maria Polanco Contreras
Assistant to the Clinical Chair
Surgery
HCEBL 2.136 (Harlingen)
Email: Maria.PolancoContreras@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1449

Maria is an alumnus of the UTRGV legacy institution UT Brownsville. She graduated from UTB/TSC with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Maria has over 15 years of experience in office management. She enjoys providing administrative support for the Department of Surgery, UTRGV faculty, staff and students. Maria looks forward to continue to contribute to the growth of the Department of Surgery and the UTRGV School of Medicine. She is excited about the new opportunities the School of Medicine has to offer the Rio Grande Valley.

Mayra Garcia: Administrative Assistant II; Mayra.Garcia@utrgv.edu

Mayra Garcia

Mayra Garcia
Administrative Assistant II
Surgery
HCEBL 2.136
Email: Mayra.Garcia@utrgv.edu

Faculty & Staff Residency Programs

Department Chair

Daniel Albo, MD, PhD, FACS

Contact

Maria Polanco Contreras
Assistant to the Clinical Chair
Department of Surgery
Email Department
Phone: (956) 296-1449

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American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES)
American Thyroid Association Patient Portal
EmPowerYourHealth.org
The ACS Surgical Patient Education Program

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Surgery

Faculty & Staff

Faculty

Daniel Albo, MD, PhD, FACS

Paul Berry, MD

Daniel Bolton, MD

Christine Dahlhausen, MD

Vijian Dhevan, MD, MBA, FACS

Roger Galindo, MD, FACS

Juan Godinez, MD

Lorena Flores-Hernandez, OD

Herbert Nassour, MD

Duncan Ramsey

Henry Reinhart, MD, FACS

James Sander, MD

Steven Toller, MD

Staff

Erica Moreno

Maria Polanco Contreras

Mayra Garcia

Department Chair

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Resources

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UT Health RGV

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Harlingen

Brownsville

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