2022 Residents
Timothy Barbosa, M.D.
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Undergrad: Walla Walla University
Hometown: Not sure I have one! But the West Coast has been my home for the last 15 years
Activities/Hobbies: I love new experiences! I avidly collect hobbies, friends, and memories. I enjoy generic good times in the genre of food, travel, music, and outdoors – but my favorite thing is learning what people are passionate about and joining in for the journey.
Why McGovern: The numbers are stacked, the people are great, and the opportunity is unmatched. – The city is growing, the cost is amazing, and the medical/legal environment of Texas is what every state should emulate. – Lots of co-residents, NASA (anyone down for Mars?), and the zoo is across the street (annual membership $83, let’s go people). – Largest medical center in the world, busiest non-militarized helipad in the western hemisphere, busiest Level 1 trauma center in the U.S. with almost the lowest mortality rate.
Interests Within EM: First and foremost: competency. Second: excellence. But niche-wise: Administration, Disaster, Space, Entrepreneurial, Flight, Policy. Plus the rest of them.
Fun Fact: I once woke up and ate an 18 egg omelette with 2 pounds of cheese then immediately fell asleep for 16 hours.
Camila Calderon, M.D.
Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Louisville
Hometown: Louisville
Activities/Hobbies: Painting, snorkeling, cake decorating and hiking with my dog.
Why McGovern: The combination of great medical training & amazing people in one of the most diverse cities.
Interests Within EM: Global health, ultrasound, and disaster preparedness.
Fun Fact: Born in Ecuador, pet parent to a bilingual rescue dog, played club basketball in undergrad.
Whitney Chandler, D.O.
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine- Auburn Campus
Undergrad: West Texas A and M
Hometown: Newton, Texas
Activities/Hobbies: Foodie, Paddle, Boarding Hiking
Why McGovern: UT Health will provide a great opportunity to practice Emergency Medicine in a variety of settings with great people.
Interests Within EM: Event Medicine, International Medicine
Fun Fact: Dogs are life
Joshua Fan, M.D.
Medical School: University of California, Riverside
Undergrad: University of California, Riverside
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Activities/Hobbies: Snowboarding, going to the gym, playing the piano, reading.
Why McGovern: McGovern offers great training in a great location. The faculty were the most outspoken about their vision for the program, and I just had a “gut feeling” about the program that I could not ignore.
Interests Within EM: Ultrasound, EMS
Fun Fact: I’m a twin. My brother and I do everything together. Everything. He was even dumb enough to still get into medical school after seeing all that I went through.
David Foreman, M.D.
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Undergrad: Union College
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
Activities/Hobbies: Soccer, Basketball, Competing Investing, Photography
Why McGovern: Residents and faculty members created a very welcoming environment that felt conducive to becoming a successful resident. Houston is an amazingly large and diverse city with a plethora of activities and places to eat on any given day. The opportunity to train in one of the busiest trauma centers in the country suggested to me that I was in for a wild ride during residency, but this is what I wanted.
Interests Within EM: Ultrasound, Social/Outreach EM
Fun Fact: I have a strong Jamaican, slightly British accent
Jon Garen, M.D.
Medical School: Tulane University
Undergrad: Tulane University
Hometown: Gilmanton, NH
Activities/Hobbies: Traveling, seeing live music, and hanging out with my dog.
Why McGovern: Houston is an exciting and quickly-growing city. I was impressed by the strength of the program and the kindness of the people!
Interests Within EM: EMS, substance abuse recovery/addiction medicine, simulation
Fun Fact: In undergrad, I studied abroad in France for a year!
Erica Goldstein, M.P.A., M.D.
Medical School: NYU School of Medicine
Undergrad: Tufts University
Hometown: Briarcliff, New York
Activities/Hobbies: Traveling, learning about other cultures, reading, writing, hiking, dancing, music and theater
Why McGovern: I was attracted to McGovern because it is dedicated to the underserved. Over half of the patients at LBJ are Spanish-speaking, and Houston is the most diverse city in the US. In addition, the EM faculty at my medical school raved about the faculty at McGovern. The attendings here are committed to innovative, evidence-based teaching and resident wellness. I am thrilled to serve at Memorial Hermann and LBJ and to train in two very different practice environments.
Interests Within EM: Global health, health management/administration, health policy, and diversity initiatives
Fun Fact: While writing this bio, I am on a plane headed to a family trip with my mom, grandmother, and brother!
Nicolas Heft, M.D.
Medical School: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University
Undergrad: Florida Atlantic University
Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida
Activities/Hobbies: Scuba, Skydiving, Travel, Reading
Why McGovern: McGovern offers tremendous opportunities for both professional and personal growth! The largest medical center in the world, cutting edge technology and the brightest minds in medicine all in one place… What more could I ask for?
Interests Within EM: Aerospace Medicine, EMS, Ultrasound
Fun Fact: I moved a lot when growing up, had 3 high schools and graduated high school in Paris, France!
Huy Hoang, M.D.
Medical School: Texas A&M College of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Texas at Austin
Hometown: Austin, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Tennis, home brewing, indoor climbing, cooking, all type of games
Why McGovern: I was drawn by the people and culture. Texas Medical Center is one of the busiest and is one of the best places to learn!
Interests Within EM: Ultrasound, Critical Care
Fun Fact: I once placed first in a statewide music memory competition; I have a twin brother in emergency medicine as well (very original, I know)
Miles Maassen, D.O.
Medical School: Midwestern University (AZCOM)
Undergrad: University of California, Los Angeles
Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Activities/Hobbies: If we run into each other outside the hospital, you will most likely find me enjoying: soccer, sand volleyball, scrabble, salsa dancing, alto saxophone, guitar, and if I’m traveling then probably airplane tetris and heelys (only in airports, I swear).
Why McGovern: Straight from the notes I took after my pre-interview dinner and interview day: “Co-residents: kind, welcoming, intelligent, hilarious, numerous (20 in each class), diverse, well-rounded, seem to be invested in becoming great doctors while also living full lives outside the hospital. Faculty: personable, encouraging, accomplished, broad and unique ranges of expertise, great balance in the utilization of proven academic strategies with an openness to embrace newer learning opportunities within FOAMed and other online resources. Facilities: the ideal balance of – Memorial Hermann, impressive Academic Medical Center; only Level 1 Trauma Center in Houston w/ a helipad – and Lyndon B. Johnson “LBJ” Hospital (well-resourced County facility; largely Spanish speaking patient population). The two seem to maximize opportunities for learning while providing exposure to anything I might encounter one day in the ED.”
This couldn’t have proven more true. My mentor told me to look for 2 qualities in a future training program: 1) lots of patients to see. 2) lots of pathology to learn about. The city of Houston and McGovern Med EM provide each of these. Houston is SO big and SO diverse (ethnically, socioeconomically, and the pathology that comes through the door) that the opportunity for excellent training is there for the taking. And that’s not even factoring in the amazing faculty and co-residents you get to work with every day.
Interests Within EM: Ultrasound, Sports Medicine, Wilderness Medicine, FOAMed, Community Outreach, Medical Education
Fun Fact: I once submitted a winning $1 bid on The Price is Right (which I feel, fairly accurately, reflects my frugal yet optimistic nature).
Taylor Martin, M.D.
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch
Undergrad: University of Houston
Hometown: Conroe, Texas
Activities/Hobbies: Movies, Sports Fandom, Scuba diving
Why McGovern: I completed an away rotation with the program and was struck by the spectrum of training experiences provided at the two primary training sites, Memorial Hermann and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. I was also impressed by how welcome the residents made me feel and the time they took to make each shift a valuable learning experience. The combination of great people and great training opportunities made it an easy choice.
Interests Within EM: Emergency Ultrasound and International Emergency Medicine
Fun Fact: As a senior in college I got to Scuba dive in the Galapagos Islands.
Serah Mbugua, M.D.
Medical School: The University of Arizona College of Medicine- Tucson
Undergrad: The University of Arizona
Hometown: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Activities/Hobbies: Cooking cuisines of different cultures, Bollywood films and dance, Outdoor exploration/fitness
Why McGovern: I loved the high volume and acuity of patients seen at both locations first. After doing my away month here, I had come to love everything about the program: The amazing faculty; the excellent hands on training I saw every day; how nice the residents were; living in the incredibly diverse and fun city that is Houston! The program had so much to offer and I knew it would be a good fit.
Interests Within EM: Toxicology; Global Health, with emphasis on helping establish EM programs where none exist.
Fun Fact: I speak about five languages (though some are rusty now) and I’m trying to learn two more! I absolutely love immersing myself in other cultures, especially in language!
Eduardo Mejia, M.D.
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University
Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago
Hometown: Huntley, IL
Activities/Hobbies: Being a dad, trail running and fitness, soccer, video games, cooking/baking
Why McGovern: The people here in the program, from faculty to residents, really had me excited to be a part of the team. I really appreciate the culture of the program and the city of Houston. There really is something for everyone’s interest here and plenty of resources to pursue your passions.
Interests Within EM: EMS and Medical Education
Fun Fact: If you’re ever lost, I’ve been told I’m a human compass
Latonia Miller, M.D.
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Undergrad: Howard University
Hometown: New York City
Activities/Hobbies: Cooking and baking, listening to music, watching movies, being outdoors, and just staying active
Why McGovern: The program is amazing, the resident camaraderie is great, the leadership that is in place is very supportive and encouraging, and Houston is a great city.
Interests Within EM: Critical Care, Prehospital, Toxicology
Fun Fact: I love cars especially vintage.
Sina Mirab, M.D.
Medical School: Texas A&M College of Medicine
Undergrad: The University of Houston
Hometown: Houston, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Fútbol, snowboarding, DJing, chess, traveling
Why McGovern: Although McGovern looked awesome on paper, I was even more impressed in person after I met all of the incredible people that come together to make this place what it is. I felt this was a place where the residents worked hard, had each other’s backs, and when the time came, blew off steam together. What more could you ask for? Oh btw, Houston’s assortment of cultures, food scene, and southern hospitality are second to none.
Interests Within EM: Ultrasound, global health, CC in the ED
Fun Fact: Just got back from Peru where I taught myself how to ride a bike after committing to bike through a National Park.
Katrina Nemri, M.D.
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
Undergrad: University of Virginia
Hometown: Houston, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Baking, traveling, playing basketball and volleyball with friends, reading.
Why McGovern: During medical school at UT, I discovered a passion for Emergency Medicine. I loved the comradery here between residents, the excellent faculty- it’s an incredible environment to learn and train.
Interests Within EM: Medical education, pediatrics
Fun Fact: My senior year of high school I did an exchange program in Jordan and at graduation King Abdullah handed me my diploma.
Jonathan Newsome, M.D.
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
Undergrad: University of St. Thomas, Houston
Hometown: Houston, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Biking, rock gymming, playing guitar and drums, trying to stay up to date on the new restaurants and breweries and coffee shops around Houston, and chilling with my doggo.
Why McGovern: As a medical student at McGovern/UTHealth, I had the opportunity to see how great the EM residents, attendings, and training facilities are first-hand. The residents are super friendly and love to teach, the attendings are brilliant, and between LBJ and Hermann, there’s just not much more you could ask for from a residency program. So, not surprisingly, I love our program and I am very excited to continue my training here! And as a side note: the Houston food scene is really, really good.
Interests Within EM: Ultrasound, PEM, academics/medical student education
Fun Fact: I learned how to fly a plane before I learned how to drive a car.
Archana Reddy, M.D.
Medical School: Texas A&M college of medicine
Undergrad: University of South Florida
Hometown: Nassau, Bahamas
Activities/Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, diving, naps with my doggo, finding new breweries
Why McGovern: Fell in love with the faculty, the residents, and the at-need patient population on my away rotation. High volume and acuity-Oh and the trauma!
Interests Within EM: Trauma and global health
Fun Fact: My arm span is longer than my height!
Drew Silver, M.D.
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Undergrad: Boston University
Hometown: Claremont, California
Activities/Hobbies: Snowboarding, surfing, going to concerts, trying all the food around town, traveling
Why McGovern: I did an away rotation here and was really impressed by how comfortable residents were with dealing with very sick patients. The residents also got along very well and spent a lot of time together outside of the hospital. The faculty were very supportive of the residents, super friendly, and very into teaching. Houston is a young city with lots to do, so much great food, and a low cost of living. I knew this was a place where I could enjoy myself outside of the hospital while also learning EM in a high acuity, supportive environment.
Interests Within EM: Administration, Global Health, Ultrasound
Undergrad: Boston University
Hometown: Claremont, California
Activities/Hobbies: Snowboarding, surfing, going to concerts, trying all the food around town, traveling
Why McGovern: I did an away rotation here and was really impressed by how comfortable residents were with dealing with very sick patients. The residents also got along very well and spent a lot of time together outside of the hospital. The faculty were very supportive of the residents, super friendly, and very into teaching. Houston is a young city with lots to do, so much great food, and a low cost of living. I knew this was a place where I could enjoy myself outside of the hospital while also learning EM in a high acuity, supportive environment.
Interests Within EM: Administration, Global Health, Ultrasound
Fun Fact: I’m a new cat dad
Michael Vu, M.D.
Medical School: UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine
Undergrad: UT Austin
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee, baking, video games
Why McGovern: Houston is a great place to train for EM as there are plenty of sick patients to learn from. The residents seemed to keep things light and had a sense of humor. If I wanted to become the best EM physician I could be all while enjoying myself, UT was the obvious choice.
Interests Within EM: EMS/Flight medicine, ultrasound
Fun Fact: I got my private pilot’s license in medical school