Resident Profiles

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: I chose Texas Tech Health El Paso because it's next to my hometown Juarez, Mex. This program felt like a perfect fit since the first day I started working here and I wanted to continue serving an area with a high Hispanic population.
Favorite things about El Paso: The mountains, the weather, Mexican culture.
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy watching and playing any sport, but my favorite ones are golf, basketball and tennis.
Plans after residency: Right now, I am planning to work as a neuro-hospitalist as I am still undecided about my fellowship.
Something unique or interesting about myself: I used to be a black belt in karate and won several national tournaments.
I have also travelled to more than 15 countries. 

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: During the interview, the faculty and residents were so friendly. Thus, I was very impressed with Texas Tech Health El Paso's warm and supportive working environment. Besides that, I chose it because of its very diverse patient population.
Favorite things about El Paso: I like the magnificent mountains. And I don't need to do lawn mowing, leaf collecting or snow plowing.
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, cooking and traveling.
Plans after residency: I want to apply for a fellowship and finally become an academic neurologist.
Something unique or interesting about myself: I have rich research experience in neuroscience.

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: Texas Tech Health El Paso offered me the opportunity to train at a comprehensive stroke center with a professional and welcoming staff that also emphasized didactics.
Favorite things about El Paso: My absolute favorite thing about El Paso is the view from the Franklin Mountains of both El Paso and Juárez at night.
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy playing videogames, cooking/baking, reading and gardening.
Plans after residency: After residency, I hope to pursue a fellowship in either neurocritical care, vascular neurology, or epilepsy.
Something unique or interesting about myself: I accidentally taught my cat to play fetch and open doors.

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: It is a well-structured program with varieties of pathology and vast clinical exposure. The faculty members are approachable, friendly and supportive. I’m really excited about the residency training at Texas Tech Health El Paso and becoming a full-fledged neurologist.
Favorite things about El Paso: Mexican food and sunny weather.
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, running, working out, cooking, and spending time with my family and friends.
Plans after residency: I plan to do a fellowship in movement disorders. Something unique or interesting about yourself: One of my crazy hiking adventures is the 10 miles of Bright Angel Trail down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on a winter day with snow.

Board certified former Texas Tech Health El Paso internal medicine resident

Why did I choose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: I have been living here for about six years now and one thing I can vouch for are the wonderful welcoming people in this city and Texas Tech Health El Paso. The program is geared towards teaching at the same time is very laid back. Another advantage is diverse pathology we see in UMC of El Paso – I truly believe that the best teacher in order to become a good doctor is to learn from your patient pathologies. 
Favorite things about El Paso: Sunny days in El Paso!
Hobbies /interest: Cooking, meditating.
Plans after residency: Neurology hospitalist.
Something unique or interesting about myself: I am board certified Internal Medicine physician from Texas Tech Health El Paso IM program.

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: I chose El Paso because I was genuinely impressed by my interviewers and the program director. El Paso is also my original home and it’s an absolute dream come true to be able to come back and serve my community.
Favorite things about El Paso: The close-knit community, fantastic Mexican food on both sides of the border, safe city, plenty of outdoor activities, close to a couple lakes and the Lincoln national forest.
Hobbies/interests: Hiking, Mountain biking, Camping, Off-roading, boating.
Plans after residency: Open a local clinic serving the Borderland community.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I hiked Angels landing in Zion Utah at night.

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: I attended medical school at the Foster School of Medicine, and I was impressed by the unique patient diversity and the professionalism and educational expertise of the neurology department.
Favorite things about El Paso: The people in this city are so welcoming and kind, lack of humidity, and many great travel destinations are close by!
Hobbies/interests: Creative writing, playing piano
Plans after residency: Undecided.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: Played soccer for 15 years and used to officiate games. 

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: 
Training in a binational metropolitan area on the U.S.-Mexico border gave me the opportunity for clinical exposure to a broad range of neurological diseases and rare pathologies found distinctively in the Southwestern U.S. and just across the international bridge in Northern Mexico. 
Favorite things about El Paso: Being bicultural as a Salvadoran-American, I enjoy the strong Hispanic heritage in El Paso, including the diverse mix of U.S. and Mexican culture, food, art, and history.
Hobbies/interests: I enjoy outdoor and physical activities like hiking, calisthenics and training for obstacle course races like the Spartan Race. I also enjoy learning new languages, including French, Haitian Creole and Portuguese.
Plans after residency: After residency, I hope to pursue a fellowship in vascular neurology.
Something unique or interesting about yourself: I have done substantial work in global health for many years, which has led me to travel to Central America, Malawi and Haiti.

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: I chose Texas Tech Health El Paso for my neurology residency because of its strong academic foundation, diverse patient population, and the opportunity to serve a medically underserved community. The program offers excellent clinical exposure, supportive faculty, and a collaborative learning environment that fosters both personal and professional growth. 

Favorite things about El Paso: El Paso has an incredibly welcoming and vibrant culture. I love the warm, sunny weather almost year-round, the stunning desert landscapes, and the close-knit community feel. 

Hobbies/Interests: Outside of medicine, I’m passionate about dance and music. I also love to travel and make it a point to explore new cultures, cuisines, and languages whenever I get the chance. 

Plans after residency: After residency, I plan to pursue a fellowship in epilepsy. 

Something Unique or interesting about myself: I am a classically trained violinist with over ten years of experience.

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: I didn't choose to come to El Paso, and it's a long way from home, but so far it's the best thing that's ever happened to me!

Favorite things about El Paso: The culture is so inviting here. Everywhere I go, people are super nice, which is so hard to find in a large city. It's sunny and hot. It has everything a large city has to offer but feels like a small tight knit community.

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy playing basketball, hanging out with friends and family, exploring new things, and playing video games.

Plans after residency: I was planning on going back to my hometown in Syracuse, New York, but so far this place is tempting me to stay!

Something unique or interesting about myself: I enjoy making steaks. I also like to make light of most situations. I try to always give people a reason to smile!

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: During my interview, I was greatly impressed by the neurology residency program. The program offers many educational and clinical experiences in regards to epilepsy and stroke. 

Favorite things about El Paso: I like the sunny weather in El Paso. It stimulates me. 

Hobbies/Interests: On a personal level, I’m interested in programming, painting, horology and exercise. 

Plans after residency: After residency, I’m planning to pursue further training in either stroke or movement disorders. 

Something unique or interesting about myself: Previously I established and managed a neuroanatomy lab and have extensive work on the subjects of diffusion tensor imaging and interventional procedures.

Why I chose TTUHSC: During my interview, I felt welcomed by the faculty and residents. The atmosphere was supportive and collaborative, which made me feel confident this would be a place to grow professionally and personally. I am also impressed with dedication to resident education 

Favorite things about El Paso: Great drives into work, late sunsets. 

Hobbies/Interest: I enjoy playing basketball and relaxing with friends over video games

Plans after residency: No plans for fellowship yet. I plan to work as a neuro hospitalist.

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: I chose to come to El Paso for its familiarity and for my wife, who is also a psychiatry resident here. El Paso’s border-town nature provides a sentiment of “home away from home” as my hometown is also a border town. The people of this city have always been so hospitable and friendly no matter what side of town I have visited. Plus, the border town culture was a huge part of my upbringing and it is a privilege to serve the people of this community alongside my wife.

Favorite things about El Paso: Even though we are the furthest West in Texas one could be, the cultural diversity of food options is more than what is expected from a border town. Korean, Filipino, Japanese, Mediterranean, and more are represented in the different corners of town. Despite being here for several years now, there is always something new to enjoy.

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy taking my dog on walks, exploring new restaurants to eat at with my wife, and am trying to become more consistent with the gym. If whenever I have time, I like hopping onto comfort video games on my PC. When I really am feeling myself, I love tackling escape rooms with my wife.

Plans after residency: Although not currently decided, I have an interest in pursuing a career clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy. Though recently I have been interested in neurocritical care. Time and residency will tell which I ultimately pursue.

Something unique or interesting about myself: My family and cousins have a tradition of using some form of “Chris” followed by a middle name. Chris Ronald is myself, Christian Ronel is my brother, Chis Paolo is a cousin, and Christine Joyce.

Why I chose to come to Texas Tech Health El Paso for residency: I chose El Paso for residency in part due to the opportunity to train at a comprehensive stroke center with a large catchment area as the only academic neurology program in region. 

Favorite thing about El Paso: Daily views of the mountains, close proximity to several great national parks and skiing/snowboarding, excellent cost of living, and the lack of humidity. 

Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, board games, camping/hiking, playing and watching hockey, reading. 

Plans after residency: I plan to pursue fellowship and continue working in academic medicine. 

Something unique or interesting about myself: I taught myself to play ice hockey goalie with no prior hockey experience while studying for my first set of licensing exams.

Why I chose TTUHSC El Paso neurology residency: During my interview, this was the program that I connected with the most. The patient population looked a lot more like my home country. The attendings have excellent academic credentials; this was the program with the most structured program that helps any resident thrive. The track record of graduated residents that have continued their fellowship in prestigious institutions inspired me to come here and train.

Favorite thing about El Paso: Its calmness; its friendly people

Hobbies and Interest: I love watching soccer. I enjoy hiking whenever I get the opportunity.

Plan after Residency: Vascular neurology ± IR

Something Unique about me: I was born and raised in Ethiopia. I am a trained neurosurgeon who worked for 8 years.

Why did I choose Texas Tech?: I chose Texas Tech because it’s a border town, which feels similar to my hometown in the Rio Grande Valley. I’m excited about the chance to train in a program that values cultural competency and serving diverse patients.

Favorite things about El Paso: I’ve really grown to appreciate the mountain scenery, and I love how fresh the air feels after it rains.

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy activities like Pilates and yoga to help me stay grounded and centered outside of work.

Plans after residency: After residency, I hope to return to my hometown to work as a general neurologist, though I’m keeping an open mind about subspecialties.

Something unique or interesting: My friends tell me I’m very expressive and use lots of hand gestures when I talk.