Internal Medicine

J. Rush Pierce Jr., MD, MPH, FACP

Regional Chair

John Rush Pierce, Jr., M.D., MPH, FACP, grew up in Texas and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He obtained his M.D. in 1977 from the University of California, San Francisco, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He subsequently did an internship and residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he was Chief Resident. He received an M.P.H. from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Dr. Pierce has been the Local Health Authority for the Amarillo-Bi-City-County Health District since 1995. In 1997 he received the James E. Peavy Memorial Award from the Texas Public Health Association for distinguished contributions to public health in Texas. He is currently Chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine for the Amarillo campus. He has been actively involved in developing preventive medicine curriculum for medical students, primary care residents, and primary care practitioners.  He has been active in the Texas Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association. Dr. Pierce's research interests include organizational issues of local public health departments, and population based strategies for control of communicable diseases and poor health behaviors. Dr. Pierce is board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics, general preventive medicine and public health. He is married and has four children. He enjoys gardening, photography, hiking, and jogging.

Walter Allison, M.D.

Dr. Walter Allison received his undergraduate degree from Union University and his M.D. degree from the University of Tennessee, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He did an internship and residency at the University of Tennessee and a cardiology fellowship at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas.

Dr. Allison was in private medical practice and has served as the VA staff cardiologist since 1972. He has served as Chief of Cardiology, Chief of Medical Staff, Medical Director of the Coronary Care Unit and Medical Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, all at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo.

In 2006 Dr. Allison joined as an Associate Professor and divides his time between the medical school and the Amarillo VA Medical Center. He runs the cardiology service at Northwest Texas Hospital and the VA.

Todd Bell, M.D.

Dr. Todd Bell is an Assistant Professor. He received his Bachelors of Science degrees from Oklahoma State University in 1997 and his MD degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 2001. Dr Bell completed his combined residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics at Duke University Medicinal Center in 2005, then stayed on as chief resident for an additional six months before joining Texas Tech in 2006.

Dr. Bell is board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. He has a joint appointment with the Department of Family and Community medicine where he teaches on the Hospitalist services.  He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians. Dr Bell was recognized with the 2004 “Golden Apple Teaching Award” for the best resident teacher at Duke University Medical Center.  At the University of Arkansas he was awarded the Tom Dugan Award for Outstanding Senior in Pediatrics.  Dr. Bell has a special interest in community health, inpatient care and resident and medical student education.

Ako D. Bradford, M.D.

Ako D. Bradford, M.D., completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo where he was selected as the Chief Resident during his final year of residency.  He attended the  Medical College of Virginia - Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, VA where he received his Doctor of Medicine Degree.  He also attended Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, Cum Laude. 

Dr. Bradford was the President of the TTUHSC Resident Housestaff Organization during his residency.  He has been recognized and honored for his active role in teaching and dedication to his community and has received the Residents Choice Award, the V.A. George Kollmar Award, and the Texas Tech Internal Medicine Teaching Award. He was previously a Pre-IRTA Fellow at the National Institutes of Health.  Dr. Bradford is currently a Hospitalist at the Thomas E. Creek Medical Center-Amarillo V.A. Health Care System and has been a Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas Tech since 2006.

Rahul Chandra, M.D.

Dr. Rahul Chandra obtained his MBBS  from the University College of Medicine Sciences of Delhi, where he was first in pathology and first in biochemistry. He did an internship and residency at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and joined us in 2007 as an Assistant Professor.

Dr. Chandra's research interest involve ventilaroy management. He submitted posters about extubation failure rates and unplanned extubations at the 2006 and 2007 American Thoracic Society meetings. He previously volunteered with the World Health Organiztion Pilot Program for Polio eradication. He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Spanish.

Karen Cutts, M.D.

Karen Joyce Cutts, M.D., joined the Texas Tech School of Medicine at Amarillo faculty in 1986 as an Internal Medicine resident and joined the faculty in the Department of Internal Medicine in 1989. She is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine.

Cutts received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Colorado School of Nursing in 1979. From 1979 to 1985, Dr. Cutts served as a registered nurse in the medium-risk nursery at University Hospital, Denver. In 1986, she received her M.D. degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Cutts then came to Amarillo where she completed her specialty training in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Cutts is active in the Amarillo community. She is currently a member of the Junior League of Amarillo, a board member of Planned Parenthood of Amarillo, and a member of the Association of American University Women. She has had memberships in other area organizations such as the Amarillo Professional Network and African-American Women Association. She is a past advisory board member of Sunshine Health Services and Outreach Health Services, a past participant in the United Citizen's Forum "Stay in School" program, and a past participant in Team Amarillo.

Zonghan Dai, PhD

Division Chief of Research

Zonghan Dai, Ph.D., came to the Texas Tech University School of Medicine at Amarillo in September, 2006 as an Associate Professor. Dr. Dai obtained his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his postdoctoral training in Molecular Biology at Duke University Medical Center. Prior to his relocation to Amarillo, Dr. Dai was an Assistant Professor in the Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He was also a Fellow and Special Fellow of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The overall objective of Dr. Dai’s research is to elucidate the mechanisms associated with cancer metastasis. Currently, his research focuses on an oncoprotein named Bcr-Abl, a causative agent for greater than 95% of human chronic myelogenous leukemia cases and a subset of human acute lymphocytic leukemia cases. He is also investigating the mechanisms that lead to the metastasis of breast cancer and ovarian cancer cells. His research is currently supported by grants from National Cancer Institute and the Women’s Health and Research Institute at the Texas Tech University School of Medicine

Mark J. Dobrzanski, M.S., Ph.D.

Mark J. Dobrzanski, M.S., Ph.D., joined the Department of Internal Medicine in 2005, as an Assistant Professor, specializing in tumor immunology and cancer vaccine research with an emphasis on melanoma and breast cancer. He is particularly interested in examining the roles of select tumor-reactive CD8 effector T cell subpopulations in tumor immunity and their potential as therapeutic agents in disseminated malignancy and studying the mechanisms involved in tumor rejection and evasion.

Dr Dobrzanski relocated to Amarillo from Saranac Lake, New York where he served as a Research Faculty Member at the Trudeau Institute Biomedical Research Laboratories. He has over 31 publications that include 27 first author papers in the areas of immunology and cancer research. A list of his most recent publications is available here.

Dr. Dobrzanski received a M.S. in Pathobiology and a Ph. D. in Immunology from The University of Connecticut. He was a Cancer Research Fellow in the National Cancer Institute's Biotherapy Program in the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. He is a member of the American Association of Immunologist (AAI) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

Anuradha Gopalachar, M.D.

Anuradha Gopalachar, M.D. joined the Department of Internal Medicine as Assistant Professor at Texas Tech School of Medicine, Amarillo in October 1999, and in 2005 promoted to Associate Professor. Recently she moved "across the street" to our affiliated VA faculty where she is site Director for Medical Education.

Dr. Gopalachar received her medical degree from Bangalore Medical College, India. She completed her internship and residency at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia in August 1998.

Dr. Gopalachar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Geriatric Society. She has research interests within the Women's Health Research Institute.

Marjorie Jenkins, M.D.

Executive Director, Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health
Chief, Women's Health Division
Director, Women's Health Fellowship Program

Marjorie Jenkins, M.D. received her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. After several years in the chemical industry, she attended medical school at East Tennessee State University . She then completed her residency at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Jenkins conducted an internal medicine private practice prior to pursuing a career in academics.

Dr. Jenkins earned the Special Dean's Award, OB/Gyn Award, and Janet M. Glascow Award, which is presented to a woman graduating first in her class. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Omega Alpha honor societies.

Dr. Jenkins joined TTUHSC with a joint appointment in Internal Medicine/OB-GYN in June 2001 at the rank of Assistant Professor, promoting in 2005 to Associate Professor. Her special focus is Women's Health, including the development of our Women's Health Fellowship. Dr. Jenkins is also Executive Director of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health in Amarillo at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. In 2006 she received the Dean's Distinguished Service Award. Her current research is directed toward osteoporosis and postmenopausal hypertension.

Bharat Khandheria, M.D., FACP

Associate Program Director

Bharat Khandheria, M.D., FACP, joined the Texas Tech School of Medicine at Amarillo faculty in 1993 after completing his residency here in Internal Medicine. He received his undergraduate and medical education in India at Bhowanipore Education Society College and North Bengal Medical College, respectively. He completed a one-year internship in Internal Medicine at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit, Michigan before entering the Texas Tech-Amarillo residency program, where he was recognized by the faculty of the Department of Internal Medicine as "Outstanding Resident for 1991-1992". Currently Dr. Khandheria is an Associate Professor, the Associate Program Director for Internal Medicine. and leader of Adolescent Medicine efforts within the Department of Pediatrics.

Dr. Khandheria is board-certified in Internal Medicine and possesses a Certificate of Added Qualification in Adolescent Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He has several peer-reviewed publications and a book chapter to his credit.

Daksha B. Khandheria, M.D.

Daksha B.Khandheria,M.D.,completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo and also at Sheth K.M. School of Post Graduate Medicine & Research in Ahmedabad, India.  She received a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at SMT. N.H.L. Municipal College at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, India.

Dr. Khandheria serves as the Medical Director of the VA Geriatrics and Extended Care Service.  Dr. Khandheria has received many honors and award including the George Kollmar Award, the Best Intern of the Year Award, and Gold Medal for 1st Rank among Women, Internal Medicine and from the Gujarat University, India.

Stephanie C. McClure, M.D., FACP

Mirick-Myers Endowed Chair in Geriatric Medicine
Division Chief of Geriatrics

Stephanie C. McClure, M.D., FACP, came to the Texas Tech School of Medicine at Amarillo in July 2005 as Professor of Internal Medicine and served as the founding Associate Regional Dean of Faculty Development for two years. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics.

Dr. McClure is a native of Tennessee and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at East Tennessee State University, followed by her medical degree at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine of ETSU. She completed her Internal Medicine residency there, with her last year as Chief Resident. She remained on the ETSU faculty, was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, and rapidly rose to become Professor and Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Dr. McClure's clinical activities focus on Geriatrics.  She is the co-PI for the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant and is the Co-Program/Curriculum Director for the Geriatric Education Center subaward of the Consortium through UTHSC San Antonio granted by HRSA. In addition, she is the co-PI of the PoWERS program funded by the National Science Foundation.  

She has two awesome daughters, Rashea and Briana, who enjoy reading, art, and participating in sports.

Maria Teresa Ranin, M.D.

Dr. Ranin is an Assistant Professor. She has a joint appointment with the Department of Family and Community Medicine and teaches in the Geriatric Fellowship Program. She received her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of the Philippines and her Doctor of Medicine from the University of the East, Quezon City, Philippines. In 2006, Dr. Ranin completed an Internal Medicine Residency program at the Jacobi Medicinal Center, Affiliate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She then completed a geriatric medicine fellowship at New York University Medicinal Center in 2007.

Dr. Ranin has special interest in the care of elderly and nursing home patients. She is medical director for the Craig Methodist Retirement Community in Amarillo, Texas. Dr Ranin is a member of the American Geriatric Society, American Medicinal Association and the American Medical Directors Association. Dr. Ranin’s interests are long term care and hospital care of the elderly.

Harvey Richey, D.O., FACCP

Harvey Richey, III, D.O., FACCP, grew up in Central Texas and graduated from the University of Texas, Austin. He completed a Master of Science at North Texas State University (University of North Texas). He received his D.O. degree from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNT). He served a rotating internship and internal medicine residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Dr. Richey completed a pulmonary fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center. He served as pulmonary physician at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, and the Director of the MICU at Brooke Army Medical Center.

After leaving the military service, Dr. Richey was in private practice in San Antonio for 20 years before coming to Texas Tech, Amarillo. Dr. Richey is a Fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians. He is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine.

Andrew Stenhouse, M.D., FACP

Andrew Stenhouse, M.D., FACP, joined the full-time Texas Tech School of Medicine-Amarillo faculty in April 2002 as Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, although his academic relationship with the Department dates back to the 1970's. Effective September, 2004, Dr. Stenhouse was appointed Chief of Staff of the Amarillo Veterans Administration Medical Center and was promoted to full Professor.

Dr. Stenhouse graduated from Otago University Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand in 1968. At that time he was named Balfour Scholar, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. This was followed by worldwide clinical duties and scholarly activities in such places as Fiji, Hawaii, and Afghanistan. Dr. Stenhouse is a Member, Royal College of Physicians (London); Fellow, Royal Australian College of Physicians; and Fellow, American College of Physicians.

In 1973 Dr. Stenhouse settled in Amarillo, Texas where he maintained a busy private practice until joining our full-time faculty. He remains involved in various aspects of the residency program and student teaching, including Geriatrics.

Randy Stewart, M.D., FACP

Chief of Medicine, Amarillo VAMC

Randy Stewart, M.D., FACP, grew up in Columbia, Missouri and graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Baylor University in 1979. He obtained his M.D. from Texas Tech HSC in 1984 where he was also elected to membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas where he served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Stewart is currently the Chief of Medicine at the Amarillo VA Hospital. He has been active in the field of hospice and palliative care since 1990 and serves as Co-Medical Director of BSA Hospice. Dr. Stewart has been active in medical and residency teaching since 1987 and has received the Outstanding VA Faculty of the Year Award six of the last seven years. He is boarded in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care.

Dr. Stewart is married and has two children. His hobbies are ranching, running, and sports activities. He is active in the First Baptist Church where he is a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher.

Yunxia Tao, PhD

Yunxia Tao, Ph.D. joined the faculty of the Department of Internal Medicine in September 2006 as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Tao relocated to Amarillo from the University of Colorado Health Science Center where she was an Assistant Professor in Renal Diseases/Hypertension Division, Department of Medicine.  Dr. Tao earned her Ph.D. in Physiology from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. She did her postdoctoral training at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Dr. Tao’s research focuses on two areas, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Currently, she is investigating the molecular mechanisms associated with the increased proliferation and apoptosis in PKD, and the role of VEGF/Flt-1 pathway as well as bone marrow derived stem cells in RCC tissue-specific metastasis. Dr. Tao’s research is currently supported by a grant from NIH/NIDDK as well as a grant from TTUHSC, School of Medicine.

Robert S. Urban, M.D., FACP

Vice Chair
Student Clerkship Director
Endowed Professorship In Internal Medicine

Robert S. Urban, M.D., FACP, joined the fulltime faculty of TTUHSC-Amarillo as Associate Professor in July 2000, although his academic relationship with the department dates back to 1989. He served as Internal Medicine Residency Program Director until June 2003. In 2004 he became the Internal Medicine Student Clerkship Director. Dr. Urban has earned numerous teaching awards from residents and students. In 2007 he received the Presidents' Excellence in Teaching Award. He has been President of the Faculty Council.

Dr. Urban earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and graduated summa cum laude from Texas Christian University in 1973. He then received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, graduating magma cum laude, in 1978. This was followed by Internal Medicine residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, where he was chief resident, and board certification in Internal Medicine in 1981. Dr. Urban returned to the Panhandle to enter the private practice of general Internal Medicine in Amarillo.

Dr. Urban has been an executive committee member of the following civic organizations: The Amarillo Area Foundation, the Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center and the Coffee Memorial Blood Center. He is also a member of several professional organizations including the Potter-Randall County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, Alpha Omega Alpha, and Phi Beta Kappa.

Bang Wan, M.D.

Dr. Wan joined the affiliated VA faculty and became a clinical assistant professor at TTUHSC in 2001.  Currently he is a staff physician in Medical Service at the Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center and is a clinical assistant professor in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Wan received his M.D. from Shaghai second Medical University and Ph.D. in Physiology from the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University.  He completed his internship in Interfaith Medical Center at Brooklyn, NY and residency in TTUHSC at Amarillo, TX.  He was recognized by the faculty of the Department of Internal Medicine as the outstanding resident for the year 2000-2001.

Dr. Wan is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a member of the American College of Physicians.

Brian Weis, M.D., Ph.D.

Program Director

Dr. Brian Weis joined the Texas Tech School of Medicine at Amarillo Internal Medicine faculty in January of 2005 as an Associate Professor, coming over from the University of Texas Southwestern. His well-rounded background includes the Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Summa Cum Laude, from Georgetown University, followed by his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and medical degree from UT-Southwestern. His Internal Medicine residency was then accomplished at that institution, after which he remained there as Senior Research Associate and clinician faculty member.

Dr. Weis is a board-certified general internist with special expertise and publications in metabolism and diabetes. He performs the full range of clinical and teaching duties and became Program Director in November, 2006. In 2007 he received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Outside of medicine he might be found involved in various musical activities, including playing the guitar and drums.

Harold Werner, M.D., FACE

Harold Werner, M.D., FACE, joined the faculty at Texas Tech Amarillo in 1992. He is currently Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, and Associate Professor in the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy. Prior to coming to Texas Tech, Werner was director of the Diabetes Center at the Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains, Missouri.

Dr. Werner has a Master of Arts in Biochemistry from the University of South Dakota and his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, followed there by internship, residency in Internal Medicine, and an Endocrine fellowship. He completed research fellowships at Washington University Medical School in St. Louis and McGill University Medical in Montreal.

Dr. Werner is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialties of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology - Metabolism, and Geriatrics. He is a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology and a charter member of the Texas Tech Teaching Academy. Dr. Werner holds memberships in the Potter-Randall County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. He has numerous publications to his credit. His latest book, Werner's Office Diagnosis, is an original approach to that subject. Dr. Werner was awarded the Presidents' Excellence in Teaching Award in 1995.

Outside Texas Tech, Dr. Werner has served on the boards of the Amarillo International Club, Amarillo Heart Association and the Amarillo Symphony.

Joanna Wilson, D.O.

Medical Director, Internal Medicine Clinic

Dr. Wilson came to the Texas Tech School of Medicine at Amarillo in August 2005 with a joint appointment as Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology, functioning as a general internist with the full range of clinical and teaching duties, with special emphasis in Women's Health. In addition, she is the Medical Director of the Texas Tech Physician's Internal Medicine practice.

Dr. Wilson received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan and her D.O. degree from the University of North Texas (TCOM). Dr. Wilson's Internal Medicine residency, leading to board-certification, was performed at the St. Paul Hospital affiliate of UT-Southwestern. Following her residency, up to her joining our faculty, she was in private practice. Dr. Wilson specializes in Women's Health and is currently doing research on menopause. She is the coordinator of the Women's Health rotation and Fellowship and is currently the President of the Faculty Council.

Stephen Wright, M.D.

Stephen Wright, M.D. joined the faculty of the Department of Internal Medicine in June 1987 as an Associate Professor. He is also the Chief of Hematology/Oncology at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Amarillo and Senior Scientist at Harrington Cancer Center.

Dr. Wright earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. His medical degree is from University of Arkansas School of Medicine.

Dr. Wright has professional memberships with the American Federation for Clinical Research, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society for Microbiology and the International Society for Vaccines (charter member). He is also active with the Amarillo Area HIV/AIDS Coalition, a civic organization.

Dr. Wright's current major research interest is immunotherapy of cancer. He holds the patent, "Process for Producing a Vaccine for a Pathogenic RNA Virus and Product Thereof" (patent no. 5,338,674) and has had almost 100 articles, abstracts, book chapters and books published along with numerous presentations at regional, national and international meetings of scientific societies.

Kishore Yalamanchili, M.D.

Division Chief of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medcine

Kishore Yalamanchili, M.D. added Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine expertise with his addition to the Texas Tech School of Medicine at Amarillo Internal Medicine faculty in July 2005. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, and Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Yalamanchili grew up in the Houston, Texas area and received his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude, from Houston Baptist University. He achieved his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at UTMB-Galveston and most recently, his Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at Louisiana State University Health Science Center- New Orleans.

Dr. Yalamanchili brings the latest in Pulmonology to our ICU and consultative services. His wife, Chandana, is also currently an Internal Medicine resident.