Current Residents

Amber Campo, DO

Hi! I was born and raised in Houston, TX, but completed my undergraduate at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, MI, where I played collegiate lacrosse! After receiving my BS in biology, I attended medical school at Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Medicine in Knoxville, TN. I briefly lived in Huntsville, AL, with my husband, and we loved hiking in nearby areas and in the Great Smoky Mountains!

In my free time, I enjoy staying active, whether it be running half/full marathons, lifting weights, and playing all sorts of sports (basketball, volleyball, pickleball, etc.). To be honest, I also work out because I love eating – whether it be trying new restaurants or cooking food at home. I also love spending time with my husband, whether it be taking road trips in nearby states or traveling internationally! Being closer to Houston, we get to see our families more, including my brother, who will also be at UT Health San Antonio.

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa really stood out to me due to its supportive environment and how the program trains its residents to be well-rounded physicians while being unopposed. While my interest lies in sports medicine, this program exposes and prepares me to provide the highest quality of care with a full scope of medicine to any of my patients!

Romeo Deleon, MD

Hello everyone! My name is Romeo, and I was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Growing up on the border helped me recognize the importance of full-spectrum medical care to people from all walks of life. My undergraduate studies at Trinity University allowed me to build a strong relationship with the people of San Antonio, and I am very much looking forward to serving the community. I graduated from medical school at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, where I was first exposed to the field of family medicine and the global impact of health care.

I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from the outstanding faculty at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa. I chose this program because of the welcoming nature of the residents and staff, as well as the numerous opportunities that will prepare me for any challenge my career presents. I chose family medicine because I value long-term patient relationships and enjoy the variety in both patient cases and career paths. During my free time, I enjoy sports, movies, and family time!

Alyssa Foltz, DO

Hey y’all! My name is Alyssa Foltz, and I’m from New Braunfels, TX. I completed my undergraduate studies at Texas Lutheran University before heading to Fort Worth for medical school at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

I chose Family Medicine because I love cultivating long-term relationships with patients and having the privilege to treat multiple generations within a family. I have strong interests in maternal-child health and fertility awareness-based methods. I chose CHRISTUS because of the broad, unopposed training and family-friendly environment!

I married my high school sweetheart, and we welcomed our first baby into the world during my fourth year of medical school! We love the simple things in life – like a good cup of coffee with friends or hosting brunch on Sundays after mass. Some of my favorite things to do are working out and listening to a good podcast!

Melanie McCoy, MD

I was born in Kealakekua, HI, and spent my childhood split between the Big Island and Seoul, Korea, where I experienced rich cultural and social diversity. In my later teen years, I moved to Texas, where I pursued higher education at the University of Texas at San Antonio, earning both my undergraduate degree in Biology and a master’s in Biotechnology. My academic journey continued at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where I received my Medical Doctorate and a master’s in Public Health.

During my third year of medical school, I became a mother–a life-changing moment at this time in my studies that deepened my commitment to both medicine and public health. Parenthood has only contributed to my ever-growing motivation to strengthen my community as both a physician and public health advocate. I am dedicated to addressing health disparities, mobilizing preventive care measures, and creating a healthier environment for all families and people of all abilities. I continue to carry the mosaic of influences from childhood to serve with compassion, purpose, and a hope for lasting systemic change.

I am grateful to be able to train at my first-choice program, CHRISTUS Health Santa Rosa, where I’ll learn to practice full-scope, whole health care.

Adrian Mihalcea, DO

I was born in Corpus Christi, TX, and had a developmental stutter growing up. I am a casual gamer, a Judo fan, and enjoy a good book. Learning about my open-heart surgery at 3 months to correct my VSD drove me initially to pursue medicine, specifically pediatric cardiovascular/thoracic surgery. I did my undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin, where I fell in love with neuroscience and had the opportunity to further develop my communication skills through the Lang Stuttering Institute. I obtained my Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During my preclinical years at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, I became a true believer in the power of osteopathic manipulative medicine after successfully treating community members. I decided afterwards that I wanted to pursue a more DO-friendly specialty, such as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. However, as I finished each rotation block during clinicals, I began to realize that I enjoyed treating the full spectrum of human life. This broader mindset and love for helping people through volunteering led me to choose Family Medicine as my specialty.

Getting matched with the CHRISTUS Family Medicine program was very exciting for me because of their dedication to treating the whole person and family, and their support structure for Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. I knew after getting to know the family camaraderie among the team at Santa Rosa that this program would push me to new heights and allow me to become the best family medicine doctor I can be. I hope to provide holistic care to my future patients, of all ages, allowing for a variety of treatment options, with a strong emphasis on OMT.

Jessica Moreno, MD

Hi! My name is Jessica Moreno, and I was born and raised in West Covina, CA, surrounded by my big Mexican American family. I attended Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, where I studied Biology, Humanities, and Spanish. I later moved to Chicago to obtain my medical degree at Chicago Medical School at RFUMS. I am very excited to be moving to San Antonio to pursue Family Medicine while training at my first-choice for residency!

It was not until my third year of medical school that I came to realize I wanted to pursue Family Medicine. I enjoyed all of my rotations, but especially Family Medicine, and realized I wanted to pursue a specialty that challenged me to apply my knowledge broadly. I was drawn to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa because of their full-scope unopposed training, great culture, and sense of community. I value forming relationships with my patients and enjoy seeing tangible changes in their health over time. I am also very passionate about patient advocacy and preventive medicine. I am excited to continue learning and help my patients the best I can! Outside of medicine, I enjoy dancing, cooking, and spending time with my loved ones. I grew up competitively dancing and still really enjoy taking dance classes. I also enjoy weight lifting and practicing yoga. I love cooking old family recipes and trying new recipes. My husband and I are big foodies and love trying new restaurants, especially in San Antonio!

Cecilia Nguyen, DO

Hey y’all! I was born and raised in Houston, TX, and completed my undergraduate studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. During my time there, I was lucky enough to join the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP), which ultimately helped me match into the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. I’m proud to say I’m working my way through Texas’s biggest cities — Houston, DFW, and now San Antonio! What can I say — once a Texas girl, always a Texas girl.

During my third-year clerkships, I found myself genuinely enjoying almost every rotation (which made choosing a specialty very stressful). But when it came down to it, family medicine just felt like home. I love the wide variety of patient cases, the broad scope of practice, and the continuity of care that lets you really walk alongside your patients through life’s ups and downs. I’m especially passionate about preventive medicine, lifestyle medicine, OMT, sports medicine, and dermatology.

I chose CHRISTUS Santa Rosa for its unopposed, full-spectrum curriculum that offers strong training in reproductive health, clinical procedures, and inpatient care. But what really sealed the deal for me was the genuine family atmosphere. Everyone was so welcoming and supportive to where it felt like I had found my people. I’m confident that the program’s location, training, and culture will prepare me for any path in family medicine and help me become the kind of physician patients trust, laugh with, and rely on.

Outside of medicine, you’ll usually find me lifting weights, doing Pilates, binge-watching Korean dramas, trying new sports, playing pool, and capturing memories. I firmly believe in treating yourself, whether that’s with desserts, spa days, or the occasional retail therapy session. I’m always up for trying something new, especially if it involves an adrenaline rush, like rollercoasters or skydiving!

Anika Sharma, DO

Hi everyone! I’m a proud Houston native. I went to UT Austin for undergrad (Hook ’em!) and completed medical school at Sam Houston State College of Osteopathic Medicine. Becoming a physician has been a lifelong dream, and I truly feel grateful and excited to be living that dream. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa was my top choice for residency because of its strong clinical training and, most importantly, the incredibly supportive and welcoming environment that stood out to me from day one.

I was drawn to Family Medicine because I value building long-term relationships with my patients and caring for them through every stage of life. I’m especially passionate about holistic, patient-centered care and believe in empowering patients to take charge of their health through active listening and education. My specific interests include preventive and lifestyle medicine.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, listening to music (especially Bollywood), going on outdoor walks, and traveling whenever I get the chance. I’m thrilled to be part of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa family and excited for everything this journey has in store!

Jenessa Short, MD

Hi everyone! Although I wasn’t born in San Antonio, I’ve called it home for most of my life and feel deeply connected to this community. I studied Biomedical Science at Texas A&M University before returning to San Antonio to complete both my master’s degree and medical school at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine. Since 2018 and throughout medical school, I’ve been actively involved with The Patient Institute, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering patients through education and advocacy. This experience has strengthened my commitment to compassionate, community-centered care. I chose the CHRISTUS Family Medicine program because it’s unopposed, offers outstanding training, and from the very beginning, the team truly felt like family.

I’m married and have a daughter who keeps life joyful and full of adventure. Outside of medicine, I love spending time with my family, hiking, traveling, biking, and finding any excuse to be in the snow.

Davante Wilson, DO

Hello! I was born and raised here in San Antonio. I completed a B.S. in biochemistry at the University of Texas at San Antonio and attended the University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school. I enjoy spending time with my wife and daughter, who constantly keep me on my toes. Some of my hobbies include watching sports (Go Spurs Go), working out, trying new foods, and playing video games.

I chose CHRISTUS Santa Rosa because of the family-first atmosphere and the supportive nature of everyone. There's a passion within the program to help everyone become the best version of themselves, which resonated with me. Being able to practice in an environment that is full scope will provide me tons of experience to serve a community in SA, which I'm proud to be a part of. I am honored to be part of a program that positively impacts the city I love.

Karen Barcenas-Villarreal, DO

Hey y’all! I was born and raised in Brownsville - the southernmost city in Texas! I completed my undergraduate education at Milligan College in Johnson City, TN, where I earned my B.S. in Biology and Psychology. I then moved to San Antonio and earned my MBS and DO/MPH degrees at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine. While on rotations in medical school, I quickly found that I naturally gravitated toward family medicine because I loved helping educate patients about their health and ways to prevent disease.

I chose the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Residency Program for my training because I enjoyed the encouraging family-feel between residents, faculty, and staff that I was able to experience during rotations. Additionally, the program offers unopposed, full-spectrum training that I’m confident will equip me to be the best physician possible for my future patients!

Outside of medicine, my hobbies include spending time with my wonderful husband, Josiah, and my son, Caleb! I also enjoy baking, watching movies, and visiting family and friends as often as possible.

Jonathan Bradshaw, DO

Hey! I’m Jonathan, but I usually go by Jonny. I grew up in Orem, Utah, as the 4th of 5 kids. I spent a lot of time in the mountains hiking, camping, and backpacking. In the winter, I love to ski. My love for the outdoors has never died, and I still try to get out whenever I can. I’m also an avid sports fan. I like to play and watch any and all of them. I’ve been known to have several games going on at once so as to not miss any action.

I met my wife in high school. I’ll tell you that we were high school sweethearts, but she may give you another story. We have two young and very energetic boys. I love being able to play and wrestle with them.

I went to Brigham Young University for Exercise Science and then over a state for medical school at Touro University Nevada.

I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. I want to be able to treat all members of a family, and have the knowledge to help my own family and communities, which is one of the reasons I’m so excited about family medicine. I know that CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is going to give me outstanding training and opportunities of a lifetime!

Emily Danielson, MD

Hey y’all! I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, so I am so excited to return home to continue my training. I attended medical school at the Texas A&M College of Medicine after completing my undergraduate education at UT Tyler where I played tennis. I still really enjoy playing and look forward to joining some tennis leagues in San Antonio with my husband, mom, and brother, who also play. I will also occasionally settle for pickleball...

My husband and I have two dogs, two cats, two chameleons, one 75-pound tortoise, and most importantly, one baby girl on the way! CHRISTUS Santa Rosa was my first choice because of its exceptional full-scope training. During my 4th-year audition rotation, I saw that I would be provided with a solid foundation to pursue any type of family medicine career I want. I am passionate about women’s health, preventive medicine, and the people of San Antonio. I am looking forward to training in a program that will allow me to care for the population I plan to serve for the rest of my career.

Keaton Duty, DO

Hello! I was born in Arlington, Texas, but spent most of my grade school years in Georgia before moving out to Utah to complete my undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Russian there and met my wonderful wife, Laura. We have two energetic daughters, Caroline and Jolene, as well as a dog, Roxie. We completed medical school at Pacific Northwest University in Washington, and now it’s our joy to come back home to Texas. I enjoy tennis, going to the theater, Texas Rangers baseball, reading, smoking meats, and spending time with my wife and daughters.

I love connecting with people from various backgrounds and using that connection to improve health care. Family Medicine allows me to do that every day! I chose CHRISTUS because not only do they have quality broad-spectrum family medicine training in a beautiful city with rich culture, but also a passionate faculty and incredibly bright residents. My particular interests include sports medicine, addiction medicine, and preventive medicine, and I look forward to learning all that I can from my training at CHRISTUS Health.

Briana Ortiz, MD

Hi! My name is Briana Ortiz, and I was born and raised in the small border city of Laredo, TX. I completed my Bachelor of Science and Arts at the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ’em!). Then I graduated from medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. I love experiencing new things, traveling, and going to concerts. I am a movie buff and enjoy watching films in my free time, especially at the Alamo Drafthouse. I also have an orange tabby cat named Sol that loves binge-watching reality TV shows with me.

I fell in love with Family Medicine because this profession goes beyond knowledge of the human body and instead requires a compassionate and holistic approach to patient care. I believe Family Medicine is an avenue to empower individuals and, overall, the communities we serve to lead healthier lives. I have always been passionate about preventive medicine and am excited to shape patients’ lives as a family physician. I feel fortunate to have been accepted into my first-choice residency at the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa program, as it provides unopposed full-scope care while maintaining a close family atmosphere. I am proud to join a program that not only excels professionally but also cultivates strong personal connections. The amazing faculty, residents, and coordinators made me feel so welcomed and clearly demonstrated their love for the program. I am excited about the endless opportunities to learn and grow into a well-rounded physician here!

Ambeka Rajvanshi, MD

Howdy! My name is Ambeka Rajvanshi and I was born in Utah but grew up in southern Louisiana. My journey in medicine began at Texas A&M University, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. As a proud Aggie, I stayed on at Texas A&M School of Medicine, where I graduated in 2024. Having grown up in Louisiana, I took French classes from the 3rd grade to my senior year of high school. Since then, I've always loved learning new languages and exploring new cultures! I also enjoy reading, taking care of my plants, and watching Korean and Turkish dramas.

Throughout medical school, I found myself drawn to a number of different disciplines. I enjoyed all of my core rotations and quickly realized that family medicine was the best fit for me. Building long-lasting relationships and rapport with my patients and having the opportunity to treat a diverse patient population with a wide variety of health concerns is why I've chosen to pursue a career in family medicine.

I'm very passionate about health care advocacy, lifestyle medicine and preventive care as well reproductive health. Through CHRISTUS Santa Rosa's program, I know I'll be well-equipped to practice medicine in a variety of clinical settings and be able to pursue my specific career interests. The full-scope curriculum here offers robust training in surgical obstetrics as well as outpatient and inpatient procedures. Moreover, the warm and supportive learning environment certainly creates a space conducive to collaboration.

Elijah Romero, MD

Hey y’all! Super excited to be part of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa family and would love to share a little about my life. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and went to college at St. Mary’s University. After receiving my major in biology, I attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. When I’m not cracking mediocre jokes, some of my hobbies include going to concerts (mostly classic rock), working out, playing Super Smash Bros, and going on hikes. I’m also a huge foodie and after traveling to most of Texas, I can safely say San Antonio has the best breakfast tacos and it’s not close.

A few fun facts about me is that I am a cat dad to a beautiful cat named Nezuko who also happens to be the world’s biggest diva. I can solve a Rubik’s cube in a record time of 10 minutes 42 seconds and dabble in magic in case you ever want to see a salt shaker disappear. Music is a huge part of my life so I enjoy playing drums, singing acapella, playing a little guitar, and dancing cumbias until my hips give out.

I knew I wanted to become a doctor since I was a kid after binge watching medical shows with my mom with a little bit of jeopardy in between. I was motivated to pursue family medicine specifically after seeing the challenges that people in low-income districts experience every day. Having the ability to grow with my patients through continuity of care was also a huge factor in me pursuing family medicine. Working with people of all ages was perfect for me since I’m a firm believer that everyone has a story to tell and I can learn from them to help with future patients in similar situations.

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa was my number one choice for residency because of the people of course! There is truly no community like San Antonio and hearing countless stories of people overcoming adversity inspired me to give back to my community. My family has also gone to CHRISTUS hospitals countless times and were met with the best quality of care. Witnessing the high standards this program has to ensure that the patients receive the best quality of care regardless of their background, made it a no brainer to return back home. I look forward to making a positive change in San Antonio and lastly, GO SPURS GO!

Case Samford, DO

Hello everyone! I was born and raised in a small Texas town called Smiley, just an hour southeast of San Antonio. San Antonio has always been a second home to me, and I have made many years of memories throughout my life with my family and friends in such a friendly and vibrant city! After completing my undergraduate education in biology at Texas A&M University (Gig ’em Aggies!), I went on to complete my medical education back in San Antonio at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine while also completing my master’s in public health. I was drawn to family medicine because it is a specialty where I can build strong relationships with my patients, providing long-term, personalized care based on their health, well-being, and personal preferences.

I chose the program at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa because it offers vigorous yet rewarding training in all aspects of my future patients’ care in an unopposed and supportive learning environment. It is with this training that I know I will give my patients the best care possible. Additionally, these values fuel my passions for full-scope patient care, community health, and lifestyle medicine. Outside of my training, I enjoy a good game of pickleball, trying out new foods from diverse cultures, and keeping a diverse collection of house plants happy!

Laura Solis, MD

My hometown is San Antonio, where I have lived for about 11 years. I went to college at UTSA and was fortunate to stay at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio for medical school. There are so many things I like to do. My favorite hobbies include walking in the parks, hiking trails and visiting the small towns around San Antonio, like Boerne and Fredericksburg. My husband and I enjoy cooking at home and caring for our growing garden. We have also found a great community at our church, where we like to teach catechism to the children and volunteer in ministry.

I love having opportunities for holistic care, education, and creativity in family medicine. This field allows me to nurture long-term relationships with my patients while building a strong community. CHRISTUS Family Medicine promotes unity and support among residents. They share joy and love for each other and their patients. I have also loved to see the bond between residents, faculty, and staff that makes the program feel like a family.

Lauren Wood, DO

Hello! I was born and raised in Carrollton, Texas, and went to Texas A&M University (Gig ‘em!) for both my undergrad degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. I moved to Arkansas for medical school (NYITCOM @ A-State), and I am so excited to be moving back to Texas for residency with my husband, whom I met during the first year of medical school. We have two dogs, Hank and Hazel, who love to go on adventures with us.

I worked as a scribe prior to medical school in a family medicine clinic, where I initially fell in love with family medicine. My third year rotations fully solidified my choice of becoming a Family Medicine Physician due to the patient population, broad scope and endless opportunities that are available. I had the opportunity to do a fourth year rotation with CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency. I immediately saw how well everyone got along and supported each other. I saw the full scope and unopposed training that the program offered and knew this was the program I wanted to train at. I can’t wait to get started!

David Fuhriman, MD

Hi all! I am a transplant to Texas from California. Now, before you all judge me too harshly, I will say that the first 5 years of my life were spent in Austin and Missouri City, TX. So I guess you could say I am just coming back to my roots! Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I developed a love for all things outdoors, including beach trips, hiking, backpacking/camping, trail running, lake sports, and winter sports. Additionally, I developed a strong interest in biology and physiology. Those studies, combined with a passion for helping people, sparked an interest in medicine. I completed my undergraduate degree in Microbiology at Brigham Young University and was heavily involved in bacteriophage research. As I worked with my research mentor, I met my wife, Morgan (a story for another time!), and then we moved to Houston so I could attend McGovern Medical School. During medical school, my wife and I had two children, Nick and Jenny, and they make us laugh every day. Throughout medical school, I also gained an appreciation for the scope of medicine that a family physician can pursue. I was drawn to CHRISTUS Health because of its strong emphasis on holistic patient care and the exceptional training opportunities in a great, family-friendly city. I also look forward to practicing my Spanish every day! My particular interests include sports medicine, addiction medicine, global health, and geriatrics, and I am excited to see how those passions evolve throughout my residency training here at CHRISTUS Health!

Kalli Glass, DO

My name is Kalli Glass and I’m from Gonzales, Texas. I am married to my wonderful husband, Kameron, and we have one child, Kace. We enjoy living in our small hometown and my goal is to return to Gonzales after residency to practice full-spectrum rural family medicine.

I completed my undergrad in biology at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, where I also went on to receive a Master of Arts in biology. I attended medical school at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio and after 8 years of school in San Antonio, I now consider it my second home. For this reason, I am so excited to be completing my residency at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Westover Hills in San Antonio! I am confident this program will help prepare me to be a well-rounded family medicine physician with all the necessary skills to practice in a rural setting.

Joshua Kuehne, DO

Hello there! I was raised in the rural central Texas town of Lampasas. I moved to San Antonio in 2012 to complete my undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio in kinesiology with a focus on athletic medicine. I went on to attend medical school at UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine here as well. Initially, however, I went to college with the intention of becoming an architect and civil engineer! Following my first year, I was in a near-fatal car accident that put me in the hospital for a month and several months of physical and cognitive outpatient rehabilitation. The entire experience was quite intriguing and taught me how much adversity the human body can overcome with the aid of love, support, and medicine. A little bit about myself, I love learning from nearly all subjects, from astrophysics to art history, I am an avid Dungeons and Dragons player, and most of all, I enjoy spending time and traveling with my wife and son.

I chose family medicine because I loved all my rotations and going into primary care would allow me to practice full-spectrum care. Moreover, I’ve found that in primary care, I’ll have the unique privilege and honor to empower patients with my story so they, too can improve their health and wellness and overcome significant illness. I chose CHRISTUS Santa Rosa because of the passionate faculty, supportive culture amongst the residents, opportunity to gain a wide breadth of experience, and because of San Antonio. In the past decade of living here, I discovered my calling in medicine, met my beautiful wife, started a family, and ultimately was given a second chance at life. My family and I are hoping to stay here long after residency to take care of the community that has given so much to us.

Matt Mastrodicasa, MD - Chief Resident

Hello! I was born in New York but was raised in Austin, TX. I was lucky enough to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where I graduated with a BSA in Neuroscience. Then I continued my journey into science by attending medical school, here in San Antonio, at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, Long School of Medicine. I decided to pursue a career in family medicine because of the variety of care family medicine doctors are able to perform and the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with my patients. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a great fit for my career goals due to the full-spectrum “unopposed” training that we receive, allowing me to develop a solid foundation to grow as a physician moving forward. In my free time, I love to bake, play board games, travel and try tasty foods from all over the world, and I recently found a love for gardening.

Margaret McNew, MD - Chief Resident

I was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech University in 2019 and then graduated from medical school at LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine in 2023. My husband is a pilot in the US Air Force, and we enjoy being active outdoors and never turn down a new adventure! We have two cats, Luna and Nugget, and are about to adopt a dog as the newest addition to our family. I enjoy being involved in my local church, trying new foods, weight-lifting, and binge-watching a good TV show.

I chose Family Medicine as my specialty because I value establishing life-long relationships and making genuine connections with my patients. I’m passionate about educating patients on their medical diagnoses, improving their health literacy, and maternal-child obstetrics care. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa was my first choice for residency because it is a full-scope family medicine program that offers extensive training in procedures, OB deliveries and surgical training, and a welcoming, friendly work environment! Each resident is encouraged to tailor their experience according to their career interests.

Richa Patel, DO

Hello and welcome! I was born in Gujarat, India, and moved to Colorado when I was 11 years old. Texas is my second home as I completed my undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, and medical school from UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio. I am fond of Family Medicine because I enjoy interacting with diverse patient populations from all age groups with different medical histories. My goal for choosing CHRISTUS Santa Rosa for my residency is to build on a strong knowledge base, improve my hands-on skills, connect with amazing mentors, and grow along with my peers in an unopposed program.

On a lighter note, I love living in San Antonio as it gives me the ability to enjoy multiple outdoor activities with family and friends. I like to do yoga and HIIT combination exercises daily to relax. On a weekly basis, I play basketball and/or volleyball with friends. I also draw and/or paint realistic images while listening to Bollywood music for fun. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me!

Dylan Salazar, MD

Hi everyone! My name is Dylan, and I am from Leming, TX! I majored in Biology at the University of the Incarnate Word for undergrad and attended Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso – Paul L. Foster School of Medicine for medical school. I chose Family Medicine because I really enjoyed each of my rotations throughout medical school and really appreciated the broad scope of practice and wide variety of career opportunities that FM has to offer! I am excited to begin my training with the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program as they offer full-scope, unopposed training and have a supportive, family-oriented environment!

Kaleb Starr, DO

Hello friends! I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I completed my undergraduate education at Florida State University, where I also met my beautiful wife. After two years of working as a psychiatric technician, I moved to San Antonio to attend medical school at the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine. I've wanted to be a physician since I was a little kid, so this is the realization of a lifelong dream. Since my time at Florida State, my interest has been in primary care and preventive medicine. I wanted to work in a field that allowed me to flex to the needs of my community. I like kids, I like adults, I like our more well-seasoned folks. I enjoy seeing a wide variety of health concerns. This all made family medicine a natural fit. I was lucky enough to rotate at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa several times as a medical student, and each time I was treated like family. I got to see firsthand the relationship that residents have with faculty, how compassionate everyone is at the program, and how top-notch the training is. Making CHRISTUS Santa Rosa my top choice was an easy decision.

In my free time, I enjoy living an active lifestyle with my wife and my two dogs, Jameson and Ginger. I'm an avid long-distance runner and a painfully average cross fitter. On long weekends, I enjoy backpacking and hiking in some of our great state and national parks. I'm a loyally devoted fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Fire those cannons), Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida State Seminoles, and the Houston Rockets.

Liya Thomas, DO

Hey y’all! It’s a pleasure to share a little bit about myself with you. I was born and brought up in a small state in India called Kerala. After moving to the U.S. at the age of 7 with my parents and brother, life was full of changes and new places, including cities in New Jersey and Texas. My family settled down in Allen, TX during my eighth grade and has called the DFW area home since then. I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Public Health at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. It was during those years that I gained a deep desire to pursue a career in medicine, with interests in medical missions, public health, and community outreach. I was fortunate to travel to various places for medical missions and public health study abroad trips, including Haiti, Cambodia, and Ghana. I also got to be a part of many community outreach events and shadowing opportunities. These experiences shaped my outlook on the necessity of primary care and the importance of the phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’. They also broadened my perspective on how impactful a primary care physician can be in the health of an individual, especially with a trusting and open doctor-patient relationship.

I attended medical school at Lincoln Memorial University, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. I was able to meet wonderful friends and mentors who encouraged, taught, and guided me through those years in didactics and clinical rotations. These years solidified my passion for family medicine and advocacy in primary care. It was also during this time that I got to know and get married to my husband, the best thing that has happened to me!

During my free time, I love to spend time with my husband, family and friends, cook, go on walks, try different cuisines, enjoy nature and travel.

I am so grateful to join the CHRISTUS family where I’m confident I will get the foundation I need to be a well-rounded and patient-centered family physician. This program has all the attributes I was looking for in a residency, including a full spectrum, unopposed family medicine residency experience, an emphasis on continued education and a close-knit community. Although residency is bound to be a challenging time, the people at this program have shown that it can also be a great learning experience with the right community by your side to support and encourage you through it.

Claire Yoon, MD

Hello! Although not originally from here, I am a true San Antonian at heart, and this city is like home to me. I kicked off my journey at UT Austin for my undergrad, but I couldn't wait to come back home for medical school at UT Health San Antonio. Family is everything to me, so I spend most of my time hanging out with my siblings and parents. I met my husband, who's also a native San Antonian, during our first year of medical school, and we are very excited to start our own family soon! The family vibe at CHRISTUS is what really attracted me to the program. I was drawn to a program where I felt supported not just in my professional life, but also in my personal journey. Being able to care for patients based on a value system that aligns with my own is a dream come true. I can't wait to dive headfirst into holistic patient care and create some incredible memories with my fellow interns. In my free time, I am usually hanging out with my husband and dog, exploring new places, or getting lost in a good book.