June 01, 2022

When did you join UTHealth Houston?
I joined The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in January of 2011. I was led here by a good friend of mine and former employee of UT and was fortunate enough to apply and interview the same week. My interview was with Laura Diekman from the Division of Rheumatology, where I was introduced to working in clinical trials. The training required for my position was extensive and over time I was immersed in my work and the significance of clinical studies.

Tell me about your work history here.
I started working with Dr. John Reveille for the Division of Rheumatology as a research assistant II. As a research assistant, I was assigned to two clinical trials with ankylosing spondylitis patients and a conventional study with lupus patients. My work keeps me busy from the beginning of the day until the end. The amount of information needed for each clinical trial is vast, and Dr. Reveille is an expert in treating AS patients. I am grateful for having him and Laura as mentors teaching me the different aspects of a clinical trial. I am also very appreciative of all the patients I have met over the years who have entrusted us with their care. I consider myself an avid learner, so after a year and a half I earned my first promotion to research associate, which allowed me to begin working alongside additional principal investigators in other areas of arthritis. Fast forward to the present, and I can say that I am proud of the experiences and the work that has been accomplished in our studies. Throughout the years, those experiences have shaped me into the professional I am today.

What are you most proud of accomplishing?
The thing I am most proud of is accomplishing nearly 12 years of serving the Houston community through UTHealth Houston. I am proud of having the opportunity to work alongside the many professionals in the healthcare field and sharing the common goal of achieving positive patient outcomes. My work here has allowed me to achieve my long-term vision for my career.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
One of the things I enjoy the most is coming together with a knowledgeable team to help treat our patients. It is very rewarding when a patient returns to the clinic just to remind us of how grateful they are for our work.

Why have you stayed?
The work I do is fulfilling, and I am proud to be a part of the prestige that is UTHealth Houston. My genuine interest in helping others and how those interests align with UTHealth’s vision for patient care is another reason why I have remained with this organization. Having the privilege of working with some of the best physicians and like-minded professionals has only made the journey even easier.

When you are not at work, how do you spend your time?
During my off time I enjoy outings with my family and teaching youth Christian classes on Wednesdays. I enjoy gospel and spiritual reading and belong to an evangelization Catholic team at my church. Some of my other hobbies include evening walks at my local park, and I love going to the beach.