Alumni & Fellowship Spotlight


Celebrating our current fellows and the alumni who continue to advance Geriatric and Palliative Medicine across the country.


Fellowship Spotlight


Miguel Saldana, DOMiguel Saldana, DO
Dr. Carmel B. Dyer Project Fellow

Hi everyone! I’m Miguel Saldana, and I’m excited to be joining the UTHealth Geriatric Medicine Fellowship after completing my Internal Medicine residency at the University of Illinois Chicago.

This year, I’m most looking forward to learning from the incredible faculty, working alongside a multidisciplinary team, and growing my skills in caring for older adults across different clinical settings. I’m especially excited to deepen my understanding of helping patients maintain their independence, function, and quality of life.

I chose Geriatrics because I love building long-term relationships with patients and families and caring for the whole person rather than just a disease. I find it incredibly rewarding to help patients navigate complex medical decisions while focusing on what matters most to them.

A fun fact about me is that my wife is an OB-GYN resident at UT Health, and we recently made the move back to Texas with our two dogs—a Shiba Inu and a Husky. Outside of medicine, I enjoy anime, gaming on my PC, the occasional cosplay, trying new coffee shops and restaurants, and traveling whenever I get the chance.

I’m excited to meet everyone and be part of the UTHealth Geriatrics family!


Fellowship Alumni


Since 2008, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Fellowship Programs have supported physicians who have gone on to build meaningful careers in clinical practice, academic medicine, research, and leadership roles across the United States and internationally.


Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Alumni
Since 2008, the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship has trained physicians who now serve older adults in academic medicine, clinical practice, research, and leadership roles across the United States and internationally.

Geriatric Fellow Alums

2025-2023

2024-2025
Ihtisham Qayum
Asna Tasleem
Keziah Thomas (Dr. Carmel B. Dyer Project Fellow)

2023-2024
Jessica Abhulimhen
(Syed) Zubair Ahmed

2022-2023
Muhammad Khan
Anna Lavrova
Eze Onyema (Dr. Carmel B. Dyer Project Fellow)

2022-2019

2021-2022
Nuzha Amjad
Delma Montoya
Turki Tallab

2020-2021
Dana Giza
Arvind Selvan

2019-2020
Khalid Alyami

2018-2016

2018-2019
Min Ji Kwak
Isabel Padilla

2017-2018
Anam Hameed
Falahat Farooqui

2016-2017
Aafia Azhar

2015-2012

2015-2016
Obianuju Amadi
Fariha Khawaja

2014-2015
Nida Ali
Eberenne Igbokwe

2013-2014
Rechelle Asirot
Renee Flores
Rodrigo Guanlao

2012-2013
Andres Pardo-Aguila
Gulzar Punjwani
Melanie Zuo

2011-2008

2011-2012
Cory Bui
Abigail Crisostomo
Kristine Ortega
Payman Zamirpour

2010-2011
Praveen Chava
Amber Zulfigar

2009-2010
Kavon Young
Adrian Zaharia
2008-2009
Faith Atai
Suparna Chhibber

Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Alumni
The Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship is dedicated to training physicians in compassionate, interdisciplinary care for patients with serious illness. In keeping with program preferences, alumni information is not listed publicly. We invite you to visit our Alumni Page to learn more about their career pathways after graduation.