Current Residents

PGY3

Hussein Al Jobori, MD

Hussein Al Jobori, MD

Hussein Al Jobori was born and raised in Iraq. He graduated from the school of medicine at the University of Babylon. After college, he worked with US military Forces in Iraq providing medical translational services. After coming to the US, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow in clinical diabetes research at the University of Texas Health and Science Center San Antonio until he began residency. Dr. Al Jobori believes the knowledge base and training in the United States are at the forefront of medicine and science. Outside work, he enjoys his time with his family, likes travelling and fishing. His interests include gastroenterology and endocrinology. 

Andres Arboleda, MD

Andres Arboleda, MD

Dr. Andres Arboleda was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. He obtained his medical degree from Universidad Central del Ecuador and a Masters in Business Administration from Universidad de las Americas. Dr. Arboleda had a variety of great opportunities while working as a general physician; the most rewarding was working with the Ecuadorian army helping the underserved population in the Amazon jungle. Dr. Arboleda’s thirst for knowledge and new challenges brought him to the United States to certify his degree and seek for a residency program that could further develop him into the doctor he wants to become. The opportunity to work with wonderful mentors, researchers and technology in a beautiful setting made him fall in love with the UTRGV-DHR Internal Medicine program.

Dr. Arboleda has a missionary heart and acknowledges the importance of working with the patient and for the patient to promote health. His ultimate goal is to influence global health initiatives in a way to create a bridge between the U.S. and his home country of Ecuador; reaching out with resources and expertise to people in need. In his free time Dr. Arboleda enjoys exploring new places, dancing to Latin rhythms and working on his physical fitness.

Fatima Bello, MD

Fatima Bello, MD
*Chief Resident

Dr. Fatimah (Kemi) Bello was born and raised in Nigeria. She obtained her medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile- Ife, Nigeria. After graduating from medical school, she went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) at Harvard University, in Boston, MA after which she worked on multiple research studies at Joslin Diabetes Center and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in Healthcare Organization and Policy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Bello is very passionate about health disparities, particularly relating to gender, race and historically underserved communities.  In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and spending time with her family.

Ashley Cruz, MD

Ashley Cruz, MD

Dr. Ashley Cruz was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. She attended Boston University where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics. Dr. Cruz completed her medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine where she pursued global health experiences in Ghana, Bolivia and Peru. During medical school she spent a month in the Rio Grande Valley for a public health rotation and is excited to return to the area with her fiancé to continue her medical training. Dr. Cruz is passionate about working with underserved communities and has interests in women's health and global medicine. Outside the hospital she enjoys soccer, dancing, and spending time with her family.

Rex Huang, MD

Rex Huang, MD

Dr. Rex Huang was born and raised in Richardson, Texas. He attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC where became interested in medical philosophy. He then returned to Dallas, Texas and completed his medical training at UT Southwestern. He is interested in the art and history of medicine and one day hopes to find a passion for a specialty. He enjoys good stories, subtle humor, and the presence of positive people. He also enjoys good food, so he tolerates elevated heart rates for a little while each day.

Jawairia Khan, MD

Jawairia Khan, MD

Dr. Jawairia Khan was born in Pakistan but raised in Houston, TX. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, pre-med, from Baylor University in Waco, TX.  Dr. Khan pursued her medical training at Ross University. She has a keen focus on helping the underserved and hopes to make in impact with both medicine and research.  Her professional interests include cardiology, oncology, and rheumatology. She enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with her family, and training in Muay Thai boxing. She is honored to be working in a dual academic and medicine environment that allows her to pursue all of her aspirations while remaining close to home.

Stefano Pineda, MD

Stefano Pineda, MD
*Chief Resident

Dr. Stefano Pineda’s family is from Honduras. He was born in Chicago, IL and raised in Houston, TX. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX and his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada. Dr. Pineda is passionate about hospital medicine and gastroenterology. His hobbies include fishing, rock climbing, and scuba-diving.

Christian Abreu Ramirez

Christian Abreu Ramirez

Dr. Christian Abreu-Ramirez was born and raised in The Dominican Republic. He obtained his medical degree at Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra. After graduation he became an Assistant Professor at his alma matter. He was a teacher of physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry and pharmacology for medical, nursing and dental students. Simultaneously, he also worked as a Primary Care Physician for an underserved rural population in the Dominican Republic. During this time, it was where he found his passion for Internal Medicine and the importance of disease prevention and optimal management of existing conditions as a means to prolong life while maintaining the quality of it. He felt inspired by this residency program at DHR due to its great potential for growth and because of the loving people of the Rio Grande Valley. He was amazed at how polite, respectful and welcoming they all were.
When not working, Dr Abreu-Ramirez enjoys spending time with his family. He loves good food as well as reading medical journals and technology blogs. He is passionate about working with electronics. He sees himself as a computer geek to the core. He hopes to one day be a Critical Care Physician and help people in their direst of circumstances. 

Schamma Salomon, MD

Schamma Salomon, MD
*Chief Resident

Dr. Schamma Salomon entered medical school at the age of 16. After graduating from the State University Medical School in Haiti, he began working as a licensed general practitioner physician in a medically underserved community in Haiti, building a network for easier access to healthcare. Upon moving to the United States of America in 2010, Dr. Salomon worked as a patient care assistant, allied health professional instructor, physical therapy technician, dictation specialist, and volunteered with various underserved community health programs. He is passionate about evidence-based medicine within the context of cultural consideration, patient education, patient advocacy, and working with the underserved population.

Dr. Salomon speaks many languages, including English, Spanish, French, Creole and Portuguese. His hobbies include singing, dancing, reading, learning new things, connecting with nature, camping, swimming, playing soccer, cycling, and going to the gym. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, and most of all spending quality time with God, who is everything to him.

Meera Soni, MD

Meera Soni, MD

Dr. Soni was born in Austin, Texas and raised in San Diego, California. She obtained her B.S. in Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of California, San Diego. She obtained her medical degree from St. George's University in Grenada. Dr. Soni's medical interests include preventative health and Endocrinology. Outside of medicine, her interests include dancing, yoga and baking.

Daniel Varela, MD

Daniel Varela, MD

Dr. Daniel Varela was born and raised in El Paso, TX.  He completed his undergraduate studies at University of Texas at El Paso and received medical training at the University of Texas Medical Branch.  His professional interests include nephrology, physiology and academic medicine.  In leisure, Dr. Varela enjoys spending time with his family, playing soccer, cooking, and barbering.