Residents
PGY1 Residents
- Alejandro Aquino, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Aquino was born in Pharr, TX, and was raised in Rio Bravo, Mexico, and the RGV. He earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University. He then continued his studies to earn a master's degree in public health from TTUHSC. He spent a year working in New York for the NYU/CDC program targeting the underserved youth. He returned home to the RGV to complete his medical degree at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine.
He enjoys time with his family, playing with his 3 dogs, and loves to travel to different countries to immerse himself in their culture and cuisine. His interests in medicine range from quality healthcare to the communities to the importance of teaching patients about the information that is provided. He expects to continue his career at the RGV where he plans to become part of the faculty and collaborate with the brilliant minds that will become part of the UTRGV family.
- Francisco Cabral, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Cabral was born and raised in Sonora, Mexico. His parents, unconditionally compassionate, inspired him to choose a life of service. He completed medical school at Universidad de Montemorelos, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. During medical school and after graduation, he volunteered in medical brigades in underserved communities in the north of Mexico. His passion for the cardiovascular system led him to perform as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Missouri, where he investigated the mechanisms underlying vascular stiffness and vascular dysfunction.
He is excited and passionate about serving the people of the Rio Grande Valley and being part of the UTRGV DHR family. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Cabral loves to spend time with his wife Yatziri, play soccer, go fishing, and make "carnita asada" with good friends and family. He will pursue a fellowship in cardiovascular disease.
- Arup Ganguly, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Arup Ganguly was born in India and grew up in the city of Bangalore. He completed his medical education at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. His interest in Internal Medicine grew in the final year of his studies and he had the opportunity to rotate through teaching hospitals in Arizona and Florida. These rotations helped solidify his interest in this field and he then took the USMLE exams. He is thrilled to be part of the family at UTRGV-DHR and hopes to form great relationships with his peers and patients.
Outside of the hospital, he enjoys playing the harmonica, working out, video games, and cheering on his favorite soccer team, Tottenham Hotspur.
- Diana Gavilanes, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Gavilanes was born and raised in Ecuador. She completed her medical degree from Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador in 2019. She worked in the Ecuadorian Amazon helping indigenous communities to receive proper medical attention and raise healthcare awareness. Upon graduation, she started studying for the USMLE steps, and decided to move to Delray Beach, Florida. She participated in various observerships and externships in Florida and Texas and volunteered for 6 months in VITAS.
She also has various publications and is interested in pursuing a Fellowship in Rheumatology.
Dr. Gavilanes enjoys spending her free time with family, friends and her dog Coco. In her spare time, she likes to read about philosophy and watch documentaries about history. She also enjoys outdoor activities, working out and exploring new restaurants.
- Khairiya Cam Haj-yahya, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Haj-yahya was born in New York City but has spent most of her life living in the Rio Grande Valley and considers Texas to be her home. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine and is excited to pursue her passion for preventative medicine and public health in the RGV.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Haj-yahya enjoys painting, traveling, hiking, and watching scary movies.
- Sri Charitha Koneru, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Koneru was born and raised in Andhra Pradesh, India. She obtained her medical degree at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Tamil Nadu. After graduating she moved to the USA. She did multiple rotations in Chicago, Dearborn and Dallas. She got an opportunity to work on various research projects in cardiovascular health with amazing mentors at Baylor Scott & White, Plano TX.
She is excited to start her Residency at UTRGV and work with the unique and diverse population in the valley. Outside of medicine, she also enjoys cooking, exploring new cuisines, traveling, podcasts, and spending time with her family.
- Jose Anibal Lowery, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Lowery was born in Honduras. He graduated from Universidad Catolica de Honduras and became the first doctor in his extended family. He discovered his passion for Internal Medicine at the beginning of his clinical rotations. After obtaining his medical degree, Dr. Lowery moved to Houston to study for the USMLE exams.
Before joining the UTRGV family, he worked with his mentor, completed several externships, and participated in research and volunteer activities at Houston Medical Center. He enjoys building rapport with patients and working with underserved communities.
Outside the Hospital, he enjoys going to church and spending time with his family and friends with whom he has a very close relationship. His hobbies are playing guitar, going to the beach, and exploring new places.
- Patricio Marcos Gonzalez, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Patricio Marcos was born and raised in Mexico. He earned his medical degree from Universidad de Monterrey, Mexico. Since his early years in medicine, he had the opportunity to participate in a year-long observership program at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston TX. Afterward, he joined Zambrano Hellion Hospital to work as a research assistant in Cardiology. After graduating he worked as a research fellow in Retinal diseases and clinical studies, where he received a postdoctoral fellow in this area.
Now doing Internal Medicine in UTRGV and DHR, happy and excited of being part of this excellent group that received him as family, and ready to excel in the care of patients.
Outside of the hospital, he loves spending time with family and friends. His hobbies include playing football soccer, playing piano, and eating delicious food.
- Swecha Potharaj, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Potharaj was born in Kerala and was raised in different parts of south India. She obtained her medical degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum. After graduation, she worked as medical officer in the fields of Dermatology and Nuclear medicine. This experience led to her pursuing a Diploma in “Dermatology in Clinical practice” from University of South Wales, UK. After moving to California in 2017, she decided to pursue USMLE inspired by the quality of medical training here. During that process she had the opportunity of rotating at different facilities in California and Florida.
She is excited to begin her medical training at UTRGV- DHR and to be a part of the wonderful team of physicians that provide for the underserved population here in the valley. Her interests in crude health promotion, preventive medicine, Rheumatology and Endocrinology.
Outside medicine, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and exploring new places with her husband, learning Kathak and Yoga
- Hector Preciado, MD
-
PGY1
Hector Preciado was born in Brooklyn, NY but moved to Texas as fast as he could. He arrived in McAllen at a young age and attended school in McAllen ISD. He’s a life-long Memorial Mustang and Longhorn as he attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he obtained a Bachelors of Science in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. After college, he volunteered in the Emergency Department at DHR, worked as a scribe, then attended medical school at La Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine. During his last two years of medical school, he completed his clerkships in McAllen, TX and Tucson, AZ.
He’s excited to return home to complete his residency in Internal Medicine at UTRGV-DHR. Nowadays when he’s not studying, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends or BBQing smoked meats. Besides medicine, he’s passionate about fitness, reading novels, sports and competitive video games. After residency, he hopes to work in a teaching position, showing medical students and residents the ins and outs of Internal Medicine.
- Kirk Reeves, DO
-
PGY1
Dr. Reeves was raised in Austin, Texas. He obtained his medical degree from Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas. He is excited about the opportunities that training in the RGV has to offer. He enjoys exercising, bowling, video games, and spending time with his friends, family and two cats.
- Laura Rincon-Rueda, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Rincon was born and raised in Colombia. She obtained her medical degree from Universidad Industrial de Santander in Bucaramanga, Colombia. After graduation, she had the opportunity to work as a general practitioner in the cardiology practice in her home country.
Following her dream of becoming a doctor in the United States, she moved to Charlotte, NC where she got involved in community service aimed to improve the access to health care for underserved communities. Outside of medicine, she loves spending time with her family, traveling, and exercising.
- Gloria Rodriguez, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Rodriguez was born in Mexico City and raised in Monterrey, Mexico. She obtained her medical degree from Tecnologico de Monterrey. After graduation, Dr. Rodriguez joined an Institutional Review Board at her alma mater. There, she became interested in bioethics and public health. She also assisted in coordinating the internal medicine clerkship for medical students and worked as a general practitioner.
Dr. Rodriguez has a strong interest in clinical research and nephrology. She is passionate about understanding the social determinants of health in patients with chronic diseases. After completing her training in internal medicine, she plans to pursue a career in nephrology.
In her free time, Dr. Rodriguez loves spending time with her two brothers and doing Pilates. She enjoys meeting new people, attending musical theaters, watching motorsports, and learning art history.
- Percy Thomas, MD
-
PGY1
Born and raised in Muscat, Oman to Indian parents. She enjoyed multicultural influences throughout childhood. She went to India for Medical school at Rajiv Gandhi University of Medical Sciences, after which she decided to travel, this allowed her an insight into the blend of cultures & cuisines and their influences on people's behavior and their health. She worked as a budding physician in Australia and the United Kingdom where she met her husband, they then moved to the United States and finally chose to settle in the valley because of its similarity with her own Indian culture.
She is keen on providing services to underserved populations where she wants to promote healthy living and obesity & cancer prevention. On her free time, she makes short and sometimes long trips to explore the world with her husband and kids.
- Krystal Vega-Martinez
-
PGY1
Dr. Vega was born and raised in Saint Germain, Puerto Rico. She attended the American University of Antigua, where she obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree. During her training, she completed 2 years of clinical rotations through Florida International University in Miami, Florida.
Upon graduating, Dr. Vega spent 1 year serving the communities of New York City and Long Island for Essen Health Care and Vital Medical Practice. She then moved to the Rio Grande Valley, Texas to pursue her Graduate Medical Education in our Internal Medicine Residency Program.
In her free time, Dr. Vega enjoys spending time with her two cats, working out, and going to the movies. She is also passionate about traveling; her favorite pastimes include going to the beach, visiting the beautiful sights of her home country, and exploring the part of the world she currently calls home.
- Aneeq Yasin, MD
-
PGY1
Dr. Aneeq Osman Yasin was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He went on to pursue his medical education at Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi, Pakistan. Upon graduation he moved forward with the USMLE journey and actively worked in research, most notably with the Lymphoma Research Group at The Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!).
Dr. Yasin is excited to pursue his residency at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley DHR, where he hopes to become a well-rounded and highly skilled physician. The academic teaching, research opportunities, and exposure to a high needs population in the valley drew him to the program. He enjoys spending time with his parents, siblings, nephew and niece. His other interests are in formal, street, and vintage fashion. He also writes and records Rap/R&B music outside of medicine.
