Current Residents
Class of 2026
Jarren Adam
- Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Undergrad: Utah Valley University
Medical School: A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Favorite thing about El Paso: Desert scenery
Hobbies/Interests: Video games, baseball, hiking, and other outdoor activities
Plans after residency: Considering fellowship working closely with sports and spending time with my family
Something unique or interesting about yourself: Played college baseball.
Arthur Gallegos
- Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Undergrad: UTEP
Medical School: Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
Favorite thing about El Paso: The Franklin Mountains
Hobbies/Interests: Mountain biking, motorcycles, classic car/truck shows, golfing, and working out
Plans after residency: Remaining in El Paso after training to help and give back to the people of my community
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I like to collect Harley Davidson t-shirts from cities that I have traveled to.
Douglas Holland
- Hometown: San Pedro, California
Undergrad: University of California Berkeley
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: The great outdoors
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, stand-up comedy, traveling
Plans after residency: Rural Emergency Medicine
Something unique or interesting about yourself: Used to do stand-up comedy.
Ilse Jimenez Segovia
- Hometown: Aguascalientes, MX
Undergrad: IUPUI
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: I love that the sun is always out! I think that’s why the people are super nice here!
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy being out in the sun, pool days, dancing, concerts, crocheting, reading, running, and skiing!
Plans after residency: Short term: I plan to work in an Emergency Department. Right now I’m thinking community or rural, but we shall see how I feel closer to graduation! Long term: I hope to one day be able to establish a philanthropy to help victims of domestic violence.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I am a little famous in the Texas Tech Health El Paso Family Medicine residency. Hahaha!
Devin Jones
- Hometown: Omak, Washington
Undergrad: University of Texas at El Paso
Grad School: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Medical School: Texas Tech Health El Paso Foster School of Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: The people are wonderful, the culture is beautiful, the food is amazing, and it’s always sunny
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, crocheting, traveling
Plans after residency: I hope to do global medicine, rural medicine, and Indian Health
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I have a sibling who is deaf, so I am fluent in American Sign Language.
Gabrielle Menendez
- Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergrad: Drury University
Medical School: A.T. Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: The mountains! We don’t have many of those in Missouri!
Hobbies/Interests: F.C. Barcelona and St. Louis City soccer, St. Louis Cardinal baseball, St. Louis Blues hockey, writing, and hanging out with family and friends
Plans after residency: Still undecided but considering a fellowship in Toxicology or Tactical Medicine. I also would like to work at a hospital that serves under-represented populations.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: In 2009, I attended a national identification and development soccer camp in Frisco, Texas where I played in front of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Head Coach.
Ariana Najera
- Hometown: El Paso, TX
Undergrad: American Military University
Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: The culture, the food and the people. El Paso is definitely a little desert gem!
Hobbies/Interests: Horseback riding and trying new restaurants
Plans after residency: I want to stay in this area to practice, hoping to teach residents and get involved in EMS education as well.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I was raised in Sweden and spent 20 years of my life there.
Class of 2027
Alyssa Downey
- Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Undergrad: University of Texas at El Paso
Medical School: Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: The sunsets
Hobbies/Interests: Dogs, concerts, true crime, all things spooky
Plans after residency: I will likely stick around and continue to care for people in our great community.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I’ve been to about 15-plus concerts in the last two years while wearing earplugs, of course. I even got to meet a few singers from some of my favorite bands!
Andres Flores
- Hometown: Alamogordo, New Mexico
Undergrad: New Mexico State University
Medical School: University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: The culture, great food, being close to family, and being so close to so many outdoor activities
Hobbies/Interests: I love to be outdoors fishing, camping, or hiking. Also, I enjoy playing and watching just about any sport.
Plans after residency: Stay around the area working in the community and being involved in medical education in some aspect.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I like to collect sneakers and learn about the history of those sneakers. Also, I am the king of Monopoly.
Carlos Hernandez
- Hometown: Centerville, Texas
Undergrad: The University of Texas at Austin
Medical School: Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech Health El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: The people and the food
Hobbies/Interests: Travel, weightlifting
Plans after residency: Fellowship
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I brew beer.
Nicholas Iwata
- Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Undergrad: Doane University - Crete, Nebraska
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Bradenton Campus, Bradenton, Florida
Favorite thing about El Paso: The food is amazing. Absolutely the best Mexican food I have had in the USA. Very friendly place.
Hobbies/Interests: Travel, golf, fishing, reading, and music
Plans after residency: Community medicine, good chance in a rural area. More travel, golf, and fishing.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: While studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, I met and fell in love with my wife.
Patrice S. Lamey
- Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Undergrad: The University of Texas at Dallas
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Lubbock, Texas
Favorite thing about El Paso: The beautiful mountains, good food, and wonderful people.
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, fiber arts, and traveling
Plans after residency: While I am undecided at the moment, I am interested in global medicine, community medicine, and working with underserved communities.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I’ve traveled to eight countries over the years, and plan to visit many more!
Joseph Lucker
- Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Undergrad: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: The people, the mountains, Chicos Tacos
Hobbies/Interests: Tennis, sci-fi, adventures
Plans after residency: Haha, I just got here. Maybe a fellowship or community work.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I make a mean quesadilla, and I lived in six different states until coming back home to El Paso.
Matthew Magee
- Hometown: Allen, Texas
Undergrad: Texas A University
Medical School: Texas Tech El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: The vibrant cultural diversity and the stunning desert landscapes
Hobbies/Interests: Fishing, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, and playing guitar
Plans after residency: To return to the North Texas area and work as a physician
James Martin
- Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Undergrad: Colorado College
Graduate School: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite things about El Paso: The high desert landscape, access to mountains and the activities they afford, and the richness of living in a transnational community.
Hobbies/Interests: Rock climbing, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, other stereotypical EM outdoor activities. Also playing music, traveling, and cooking.
Plans after residency: Finding balance between my interests in emergency medicine, global health, and outdoor activities. Spending as much time outside as possible with those who I love.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: Lately I’ve been making wool rugs on a rudimentary loom that I built.
Tiffany Nguyen
- Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Undergrad: University of Oklahoma - Norman
Medical School: Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: The people here are so welcoming and kind!
Hobbies/Interests: Weightlifting and my dog
Plans after residency: Not too sure yet
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I like to eat pizza with ketchup.
Ibrahim Salama
- Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Undergrad: University of Texas at El Paso
Medical School: Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech Health El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: The hiking trails!
Hobbies/Interests: Herpetology, weightlifting, basketball, music
Plans after residency: Establish myself within this community or one nearby
Something unique or interesting about yourself: My idea of fun is to go out into the wilderness, find the most venomous animal I can find, and catch it (catch and release, no harm done to the animals, selfies might or might not be involved).
Bryant Transtrum
- Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Undergrad: Brigham Young University
Medical School: Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech Health El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: Great people, food, and weather
Hobbies/Interests: Golf, snowboarding, and woodworking
Plans after residency: To be determined
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I learned Japanese while living in Japan for two years after high school.
Sam Warren
- Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Undergrad: The University of Texas at El Paso
Medical School: Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech Health El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: The people, sunsets, the mountains, thunderstorms, and the smell of rain
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, tinkering with my motorcycle, running, and working with my hands
Plans after residency: I want to watch my kids finish growing up, travel with my wife, spend time with my family, play with my dogs, and work just enough to have a good life.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I am left-handed and can draw, paint, carve, and sculpt pretty well without having gone through any sort of schooling or training. I still use the talent, drawing anatomical diagrams for patients about their problems often upside down while I am at the bedside.
Class of 2028
Kyle Bandy
- Hometown: Addison, TX
Undergrad: Southwestern University
Medical School: Long School of Medicine, UTHSC San Antonio
Favorite thing about El Paso: The people and the mountains!
Plans after residency: Fellowship, hopefully Tactical Medicine
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I have a BA in Accounting and went to UT Austin to complete the prerequisite courses for medical school.
Joshua Cardenas
- Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Undergrad: The University of Texas at El Paso
Grad School: None
Medical School: Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech Health El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: The kind, hospitable people and the fantastic food!
Plans after residency: I would like to pursue a fellowship after residency and then serve the El Paso community after.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I’m currently learning Japanese so I can read manga and watch anime without waiting for the English versions.
Rachael Dooley
- Hometown: Clarksville, TN
Undergrad: Austin Peay State University
Grad School: Austin Peay State University
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center SOM - Lubbock
Favorite thing about El Paso: Having family close by, the weather, the mountains, so many amazing places to go running, and Ft. Bliss!
Plans after residency: I plan to practice in a county or community hospital in Texas, ideally working with residents!
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I was stationed in Honolulu, HI, aboard a 378-foot cutter (ship) while in the Coast Guard. We traveled to Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Alaska! I also worked as a medical assistant for a plastic surgeon in Manhattan! Lastly, I taught Zumba classes at my local YMCA during grad school!
Kaisa Elliott
- Hometown: Mahtomedi, MN
Undergrad: University of Chicago
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School
Favorite thing about El Paso: 300 days of sunshine per year and authentic Mexican food!
Plans after residency: I am still deciding, but I would love to work in the community and am considering a global health/ultrasound fellowship.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I have many hobbies including boxing, salsa dancing and solo traveling!
Leon Figueroa
- Name: León Figueroa
Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Undergrad: UCLA
Grad School: Babson MBA, WMed Biomedical Masters
Medical School: Western Michigan Homer Stryker SOM
Favorite thing about El Paso: The "warm" weather and its people!
Plans after residency: Fellowship and business administration
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I love making pizzas from scratch.
Bailey Gefroh
- Hometown: Flagstaff, AZ
Undergrad: Arizona State University
Medical School: University of Arizona-Tucson
Favorite thing about El Paso: The mountains, the food, and the people!
Plans after residency: To work in rural emergency medicine, and to travel!
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I spend my free time exploring the outdoors with my dog, Boots! I love rock climbing, hiking, camping and eating good food with friends.
Mark Grant
- Hometown: El Paso, TX
Undergrad: UTEP
Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: The people, the culture, the art and the FOOD!
Plans after residency: Practice in El Paso and help my community continue to grow.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I make art and fix up motorcycles.
Taylor Kligerman
- Hometown: Flossmoor, IL
Undergrad: Warren Wilson College
Medical School: Rocky Vista COM Colorado
Favorite thing about El Paso: Food, outdoor activities, and sunny weather
Hobbies/Interests: Backpacking, travel, cooking, and gardening
Plans after residency: TBD
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I grew up in a very musical family and have two sisters who are opera singers.
Matthew Pace
- Hometown: Mesa, AZ
Undergrad: Arizona State University
Medical School: Ross University SOM
Favorite thing about El Paso: The sunshine. After freezing through Michigan winters for medical school, being back in a warm, sunny place is amazing. I’m an Arizona guy through and through, so matching here was like coming home. And of course the incredible Mexican food!
Hobbies/Interests: Mountain biking, snowboarding, chess, aquascaping, horseback riding, sleeping, playing with my kids
Plans after residency: After residency, I’m excited to jump straight into practice. My main focus is building a career I love while being more present with my family. After years of training, I’ll be ready for a little more balance. And to finally enjoy the life I’ve worked hard for.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I used to run a bounce house business back in Phoenix to help pay for college. Every weekend was a hustle. I was constantly setting up giant inflatables all over town.
Aden Springer
- Hometown: Bloomington, IL
Undergrad: Illinois State University
Grad School: TTUHSC-El Paso
Medical School: TTUHSC-El Paso
Favorite thing about El Paso: It feels like home.
Plans after residency: Catching up on traveling!
Something unique or interesting about yourself: Qualified for nationals for Olympic weightlifting in 2014 for the 77kg class.
Martyn Urquijo
- Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Medical School: Universidad de Sonora
Favorite thing about El Paso: Its rich cultural diversity and welcoming community. The city’s unique blend of Mexican and American influences is reflected in its vibrant food, music, and traditions. I also appreciate the stunning desert landscapes and nearby hiking trails, offering a perfect escape after a busy shift.
Plans after residency: Traveling the world while applying my Emergency Medicine skills from Texas Tech!
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I’ve played four musical instruments since I was 9 years old.
Andrew Wittry
- Hometown: Glidden, IA
Undergrad: Iowa State University
Medical School: A.T. Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing about El Paso: The sunshine/climate and being with my partner
Plans after residency: Possibly pursuing a sports medicine fellowship, living in a big city, and traveling as much as possible
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I won an ice cream eating contest at the Iowa State Fair.
