Rebekah Gregory is a Boston Marathon bombing survivor, author, and inspirational speaker. On April 15, 2013, she was near the finish line when two bombs exploded, and she shielded her 5-year-old son, Noah, with her body, resulting in severe injuries that led to the loss of her leg. Since then, she has become a prominent advocate for survivors and shares her story of resilience and strength, inspiring many through her speaking engagements. Rebekah continues to work on her recovery and has made significant strides in her journey, showcasing her determination and courage
Dr. Timothy Achor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and the Program Director of the Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center.
Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Dr. Achor specializes in Orthopedic Trauma with an emphasis on severe musculoskeletal injuries of the pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle, as well as nonunions and complications of fractures. Dr. Achor is active in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows both in Houston and at conferences nationwide.
Dr. Achor received his undergraduate degree at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He attended medical school at the Medical College of Ohio and completed a five-year Orthopedic Surgery residency at New York Medical College. He went on to complete an Orthopedic Trauma fellowship in New York City at the Hospital for Special Surgery under the direction of Dr. David Helfet.
He is an active member of many professional societies, including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Orthopedic Trauma Association, and AO Trauma North America. Dr. Achor has lived and worked in Houston since completing his training, where he has become one of the busiest orthopedic trauma surgeons in the country.
Dr. Mohin Bhadkamkar is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. A proud Texas native, he attended the University of Texas at Austin. He received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his Integrated Plastic Surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine, where he completed a Chief Resident rotation in cosmetic surgery at the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute under the direction of Dr. Rod Rohrich. He then completed fellowship training in Reconstructive Microsurgery and Complex Reconstruction at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which is consistently ranked as one of the top Plastic Surgery training programs in the country.
Dr. Bhadkamkar practices complex reconstructive surgery, including reconstruction of the head and neck, extremities, breast and trunk, as well as the full spectrum of aesthetic plastic surgery, with a passion for facial aesthetic procedures.
He is an avid sports fan and loves to cheer on his beloved Texans, Rockets, Longhorns, and Astros, in spite of the continued heartbreak they cause. He also enjoys travel, fitness, and viewing wildlife.
Dr. Bryan Alan Cotton is a Professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and the Director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program as well. He is also Co-Director of the Shock–Trauma ICU at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Dr. Cotton earned his Medical Degree at Ross University School of Medicine in Edison, NJ. He completed his residency in General Surgery at the University of Missouri Hospital & Clinics in Columbia, MO and his fellowship in Trauma & Surgical Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania & Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Cotton later earned his Masters of Public Health at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Dr. Charles S. Cox, Jr., is the George and Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in Neurosciences, Glassell Family Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Surgery and directs the Pediatric Surgical Translational Laboratories and Pediatric Program in Regenerative Medicine at the UTHealth Medical School. He directs the Pediatric Trauma Program at the UTHealth McGovern Medical School/Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. He is the Principal Investigator for the T32 Postdoctoral Training Program with the Center for Translational Injury Research (CETIR) at UTHealth.
A Texas native, Dr. Cox received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin in the Plan II Liberal Arts Honors Program. Upon graduating from the University of Texas Medical Branch, he completed his Surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Further post-graduate fellowships were completed in Pediatric Surgery at the University of Michigan, an NIH T32 sponsored clinical and research fellowship in cardiopulmonary support/circulatory support devices/bio-hybrid organs at the Shriner’s Burns Institute, and Surgical Critical Care/Trauma at UTHealth Medical School. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery in Surgery, with added qualifications in Pediatric Surgery and Surgical Critical Care.
The Pediatric Translational Laboratories and Pediatric Program in Regenerative Medicine is a multi-disciplinary effort that addresses problems that originate with traumatic injury and the consequences of resuscitation and critical care. The Program focuses on progenitor cell based therapy (stem cells) for traumatic brain injury, and related neurological injuries (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, stroke, spinal cord injury), recently completing the first acute, autologous cell therapy treatment Phase I study for traumatic brain injury in children.
The program also develops novel bio-hybrid organs using cell-based and tissue engineering approaches to trauma and injury related problems. These efforts have recently resulted in two IND based cell therapeutic studies, and three patents in the past two years. The program is funded through the National Institutes of Health, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Industry Collaboration, and philanthropic contributions.
Dr. Cox has served on scientific study sections/review groups for the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, Veterans Affairs MERIT Awards, Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, as well as National Research Programs in Canada, Singapore, and the Czech Republic. He is the author of over 200 scientific publications, 30 book chapters, and is the editor of a book entitled, Progenitor Cell Therapy for Neurological Injury.
Financial Disclosures: EMIT Corp - Equity, Royalty develop products for hypothermia. Coagulex - Equity, hand-held MEMS based point of injury coagulation assessment tools. Cellvation - SAB, Equity Royality advancing an autologous cellular therapy program for the treatment of severe traumatic brain (closed head) injury in adults and pediatric patients. Healios, KK - SAB focus on regenerativ medicien content is not related. Stram Bio - Consultant develops fluorescent molecular probes for imaging & diagnsoitc application content is not related. Havard Apparatus Regenerative - SAB, Equity/Stok Options biotechnology company that is focused on the development of organ replacement therapies, content not related.
Natalie A. Drucker, MD, MS is a pediatric surgeon at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) in the Department of Pediatric Surgery. She completed her general surgery residency at Indiana University in Indianapolis and her pediatric surgery fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at UT Houston. She is currently completing an additional one-year fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at McGovern Medical School, the Red Duke Trauma Institute, and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, in order to be able to provide more comprehensive care to the sickest infants and children. Dr. Drucker is board certified by the American Board of Surgery in general surgery and board eligible in pediatric surgery, and her specific clinical interest is in trauma, critical care, extracorporeal life support (ECMO), and pediatric vascular injuries. Her research focus is in improving care for traumatically injured children, both through clinical care and prevention. She is passionate about injury prevention, specifically related to firearm violence and child automobile passenger safety. Dr. Drucker is also interested in general pediatric surgery, including neonatal diseases, oncology, thoracic surgery, and abdominal surgery. She has additional skill and interest in performing minimally invasive surgery for patients of all sizes.
Dr. Brandy Ferguson, MD is an emergency medicine specialist in Houston, TX and has over 15 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Duke University in 2009. She is the Medical Director of Disaster Management for the Memorial Hermann Health System.
Dr. Stacey Hall, DO, is a clinical assistant professor of pediatric rehabilitation medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). She completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago in 2012. She then did a two year Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Fellowship at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, Minnesota, completing this in 2014. She received her medical degree in osteopathic medicine from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2008.
Dr. Hall cares for children with physical disabilities, cerebral palsy, spasticity and dystonia, and myelomeningocele. Her hospital affiliations include TIRR Memorial Hermann, Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, and Children’s Memorial Hermann.
Dr. Hall is also a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.
Dr. Patrick J. Kellam, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. He specializes in orthopedic trauma and adult reconstruction. He has a special interest in the management of all fractures, both acute and chronic, as well as periprosthetic fractures and post-traumatic arthritis of the hip and knee.
Kellam received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2016. He completed his residency at the University of Utah before completing two subspecialty fellowships in orthopedic trauma at UTHealth Houston and adult reconstruction of the hip and knee at the University of Utah.
Kellam is actively involved with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, the AO Foundation, and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
Dr. Gina Khraish, MD is a board certified nephrologist in Houston, Texas and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Memorial Hermann Hospital and Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. She received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Dr. Eric Meyer, MD grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina as the oldest of three siblings. He attended college at East Carolina University (home of the fighting Pirates), where he graduated with undergraduate honors and a double major in Biology and Chemistry. He stayed on at East Carolina to earn a Master’s degree in Computational Inorganic Chemistry.
Realizing that his passions lay elsewhere, Dr. Meyer attended medical school at The Ross University School of Medicine. He graduated summa cum laude and went on to complete his residency in General Surgery at the University of Arizona. At McGovern Medical School formerly the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, he completed fellowships in Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery and was later invited to stay on as faculty. Dr. Meyer is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Surgery in the Division of Acute Care Surgery.
Dr. Eric Nesrsta, MD is an anesthesiologist who graduated with his medical degree from McGovern Medical School formerly the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He completed a residency and fellowships in Pediatric Anesthesiology and was later invited to stay on as faculty.
Dr. Thaddeus Puzio, MD, MS, FACS grew up in Southwest Virginia as the oldest of two siblings. He attended college at Virginia Tech (go Hokies) and his time spent volunteering with the Fire Department and Rescue Squad solidified his dream to become a physician. He attended the Medical College of Virginia (MVC) for medical school and completed a general surgery residency at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Following residency, he completed a surgical critical care fellowship at Indiana University in Indianapolis. He then completed a second fellowship in Traumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Kristin Reeves, PT, MS is a physical therapist who received her Bachelor of Science in Health from Texas A&M University and her Master of Science from Texas Women’s University in Houston. She specializes in lower limb loss rehabilitation and has been a licensed therapist for over 20 years. Kristin was previously an inpatient therapist at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital specializing in spinal cord rehabilitation. She then transitioned to the Coordinator of Limb Loss Services. In that capacity she coordinates, treats and oversees the outpatient medical clinic that has approximately 1500 visits/year. She also ensures consistency with the other TIRR outpatient therapy clinics. She treats patients with limb loss in an outpatient setting two days per week. Her background includes clinical as well as teaching experience at schools and conferences.
Dr. James Showery earned his undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin and his medical degree at Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Medicine in his hometown of El Paso. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and a fellowship in orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. James Showery, MD has been in practice since 2016. His primary clinical interests are cervical myelopathy, spinal stenosis, spinal trauma, spinal fractures, adult spinal deformity, revision spinal surgery, degenerative spine disease, spine injuries in athletes, minimally invasive spine surgery and motion preservation.
An assistant professor at McGovern Medical School, Dr. Showery is active, both locally and nationally, in resident education. He has presented research at national and international meetings, authored several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and developed multiple ongoing research studies in spine surgery.
He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Orthopaedic Trauma Association, AO Spine North America and Lumbar Spine Research Society.
Lisa Spivey is the Top of FormBottom of FormDirector of Preparedness Operations at SouthEast Texas. She serves as support for healthcare facilities in designated/assigned facilities in initiating and providing oversight of preparedness initiatives for 25 counties. Lisa provides ongoing education, performs program audit review, assists in development/refinement of hospital specific emergency preparedness planning, and provides leadership in meetings and promotion of coalition building between healthcare facilities and other response partners. She also serves as primary representative in CMOC during disaster response and emergency drills/exercises.
Dr. Argyrios Stampas, MD realizes the importance of getting to know his patients and their goals. He believes in actively listening and acknowledging each trial and triumph during the rehabilitation process. With a clinical interest in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, Dr. Stampas takes a team approach to optimize his patients’ outcomes as an attending physician at TIRR Memorial Hermann. He received his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University, completed an internship and residency at University of Pennsylvania, and completed a fellowship in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Stampas is fluent in English and Greek.
Away from the office, Dr. Stampas likes spending time with his family and friends and enjoys the outdoors and staying active.
Dr. Stephen Warner, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
He is American Board of Orthopedic Surgery eligible and specializes in Orthopedic Trauma, with an emphasis on periarticular fractures of the upper and lower extremities, fractures of the pelvis and acetabulum, periprosthetic fractures, treatment of patients with polytrauma, and complications of fractures such as nonunions, malunions, and infections.
Dr. Warner received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He then worked for three years as a research associate for Bristol-Myers Squibb while also competing on the United States National and Olympic Rowing team. He attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he also earned a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology. He completed his Orthopedic Surgery residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, New York. He went on to complete a fellowship in Orthopedic Trauma at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.
Dr. Warner is a member of the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, AO Trauma North America, Orthopedic Research Society, and a candidate member of the Orthopedic Trauma Association.
