Research

Dr. Alfredo Cepeda Jr. MD is a Plastic Surgery Research Fellow at University of Texas-Houston McGovern Medical School. He attended the University of Texas A&M International University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and minored in Chemistry. He went on to obtain his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He began his General Surgery training at University of Texas-Houston McGovern Medical School where he successfully completed 2 years of his training prior to taking a 2-year research sabbatical and matriculating in the Master of Science in Clinical Research Degree Program at McGovern Medical School.

Dr. Cepeda’s research focuses include craniofacial surgery and pain management therapies in cleft palate patients. During his research sabbatical he has published several manuscripts and presented at state, national, and international conferences.

In his free time, Dr. Cepeda enjoys music, food, exercise, and spending time with his cats. He is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Chioma Obinero, MD is a general surgery resident and future Plastic Surgery Research Fellow at the University of Texas-Houston McGovern Medical School. She was born in Nigeria, where she lived for 8 years before relocating to the United States. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Hispanic Languages and Literature from Stony Brook University, where she also fulfilled all of her pre-medical requisites and graduated with honors. After her undergraduate training, she took time off to work as a medical assistant before ultimately pursuing her medical degree from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. She began her training in General Surgery at the University of Texas-Houston McGovern Medical School amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. She plans to take a 2-year research hiatus to contribute meaningfully to the field of Plastic Surgery while also working toward a Master of Science in Clinical Research.

Dr. Obinero has many hobbies and interests outside of work, including dance, yoga, reading, cooking, and traveling. She is goal-oriented, setting long-term goals for herself not just in work but also with her hobbies. Currently, she hopes to master her yoga headstands within the next year.

Joe Tran is a Research Assistant at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School. He was a Sturgis Fellow at the University of Arkansas, dual-majoring in Finance and Accounting within the Honors College. After a career in energy hedge funds, he pursued medicine and graduated in Premedical Sciences at Columbia University.