Faculty
Associate Professor and Chair
Peter Catinella, M.D., M.P.H., is chair of the Department of Family Medicine – Transmountain.
He has over 25 years of experience in several renowned academic institutions, including the University of Arizona College of Medicine, the University of Utah Health, and Indiana University. Dr. Catinella has also held a number of major executive leadership roles, including positions as vice chair of primary care programs at the University of Utah and chief medical information officer at the University of Arizona’s University Physicians Healthcare.
Dr. Catinella received his medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and his Master of Public Health from the University of South Florida. He completed his residency in family medicine at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Assistant Professor
M'melo Banda, M.D., is a board certified Family Medicine physician specializing in full scope Family Medicine and General Inpatient care. She received her Doctor of Medicine from St. George University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. Following medical school, she completed her residency in Family Medicine at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma. Dr. Banda provides patient centered, outcome driven and cost effective care.
Assistant Professor
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Blake Busey, D.O., is a board-certified family medicine physician specializing in full-scope primary care and osteopathic manipulative medicine with additional expertise in chronic migraine management, auricular acupuncture and vasectomy procedure. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. Following medical school, he completed his residency in family medicine at Womack Army Medical Center. He has also served as the patient-centered medical home champion, pain management champion, medical director and clinical chief for William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Dr. Busey provides comprehensive, patient-friendly, evidence-based care. |
Assistant Professor
Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine
Assistant Professor
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Dr. Esparza was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Baylor University in 2009. Afterward, she completed a Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas. She then earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at UNTHSC-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015. She trained at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Program in San Antonio, Texas and is a board-certified family physician. Dr. Esparza has now relocated back to El Paso, Texas as a faculty member of TTUHSC El Paso's Department of Family Medicine - Transmountain. |
Nurse Practitioner
Norma Lagunas earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Ibiye Owei is a graduate of the University of Ibadan College of Medicine, Nigeria, and has a master’s in public health from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed her residency training in family medicine at the TTUHSC El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in June 2020, where she had the privilege of serving as chief resident. She is board certified in family medicine. Her research interests include prediabetes, diabetes and obesity, and she has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. She enjoys the broad spectrum of family medicine practice, medical education and community outreach programs.
Staff
Program Coordinator
Family Medicine
