Family Medicine
Faculty Profiles
Rodney Young, M.D.
Dr. Rodney Young is an associate professor and regional chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. He has also previously served as associate director of Predoctoral education and as associate residency director.
Dr. Young received his B.S. from Abilene Christian University, his M.D. from TTUHSC, and completed his residency at TTUHSC in Lubbock, where he also served as chief resident. He also completed a faculty development fellowship at the Family Practice Faculty Development Center of Texas in Waco. He is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Dr. Young has held numerous leadership positions in local, regional, and national medical organizations. He currently serves the Texas Medical Association in their House of Delegates, and as Chairman of both the committee on continuing education and the young physician section. He has previously served on the Texas delegation to the American Medical Association, on the TMA Board of Councilors, and on the executive council of both the resident and fellow section, and the medical student section of the TMA. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians and is a past President of the Potter-Randall County Medical Society. He also serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Panhandle chapter of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, and as Program Director for their spring and fall CME weekends. He is a member of both the American and Texas Academies of Family Physicians, the American and Texas Medical Associations, the Potter-Randall County Medical Society, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and the Association of Departments of Family Medicine.
Dr.Young has received numerous teaching awards from both residents and medical students, including the Bart Freeman, MD Memorial Faculty Award for family medicine resident education, and the Mario Feola, MD outstanding faculty award for medical student teaching. He was a top 20 graduate from Texas Tech School of Medicine, and a magna cum laude graduate from Abilene Christian University. His current research interests are in studying measures of patient centeredness and determinants of self-rated health.
Marichu Balmes, M.D.
Dr. Marichu Balmes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1982 and her Doctor of Medicine degree from De La Salle University Medical School in the Philippines in 1987. Dr. Balmes completed her residency training in family medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo in 1997, and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Dr. Balmes has practiced in both private practice and occupational medicine settings in addition to her experience on our teaching faculty. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, American Balint Society, the Texas Medical Association and the Potter-Randall County Medical Society. She has received numerous honors and awards including the Barton Freeman, M.D. Memorial Faculty Award, Texans Caring for Texans state public service award, Resident Teacher Award, Residents Choice Award and Outstanding Intern at Texas Tech Family Medicine.
Timothy J. Benton, M.D.
Dr. Timothy Benton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and is our Associate Residency Director. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Dallas Baptist University in 1989 and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 1994. Dr. Benton completed his residency training in family medicine at the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler in 1997, where he received their Academic Excellence award.
Dr. Benton is board certified in family medicine and has a special interest in the care of the elderly, including nursing home care and hospice/palliative medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Medical Association, and the Potter-Randall County Medical Society. He was most recently in private group practice in Amarillo before joining the department. Prior to that, he received the annual People's Choice Award for favorite physician on 3 different occasions from the Plainview Daily Herald while in practice there.
Susan Goetz, M.D.
Susan Goetz, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, where she completed her family medicine residency in 1998. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Angelo State University in 1991 and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 1995.
Dr. Goetz is board certified in family medicine, and maintains an active interest in teaching and providing family-centered maternity care. She is also a key faculty coordinator of our continuity obstetrical curriculum for our family medicine residency program.
Dr. Goetz has been recognized on several occasions for teaching excellence, including receiving the 2003 Barton Freeman, MD, Memorial Faculty Award, presented annually to the faculty member selected by the residents for outstanding teaching.
Frank Hromas, M.D.
Frank Hromas, M.D. is our clerkship director and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.
Dr. Hromas received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. He worked as a chemical engineer and manager with Exxon Chemical in Houston for many years, before returning to study medicine. He also received his law degree from the University of Houston School of Law, and his M.D. from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the Texas Tech Department of Family Medicine in Amarillo.
Dr. Hromas is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Medical Association, and the Potter-Randall County Medical Society. He is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Among the honors he has received are: Texas Academy of Family Physicians Essay Award, Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation Scholarship.
Jerry Kirkland, M.D.
Dr. Jerry Kirkland is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Sciences degree from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Kirkland completed his residency training in Family Medicine at the Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, TX.
Dr. Kirkland has special interest in inpatient care, resident and student education, and the business of medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Kirkland was in private practice in Amarillo for many years before joining the department.
Nicole Lopez, M.D.
Dr. Nicole Lopez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, her Doctor of Medicine degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and completed her residency training in family medicine in our department in 2002.
Dr. Lopez is board certified in family medicine and has a special interest in the area of pediatrics in family medicine. She has three years of full time experience working with children who have special health care needs and their families in a pediatric office. She now uses that experience in overseeing the pediatric curriculum for our residency program.
Dr. Lopez is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Medical Association, and the Potter-Randall County Medical Society.
Morgan McCaleb, M.D.
Morgan McCaleb, M.D., has been with Texas Tech at Amarillo since 1994. Before coming to Texas Tech in Amarillo, he was in private practice in Amarillo for many years. Dr. McCaleb received his BS degree from West Texas State University and his MD degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He completed an internship at Louisiana State University Medical Center at Shreveport, LA and his residency in Family Medicine at Austin State Hospital in Austin, TX.
Dr. McCaleb is a member of the American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, and the Potter-Randall County Medical Society. He is also a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society. He has been Chief of the Family Medicine Department at Northwest Texas Hospital and served as Chief of Staff at Northwest Texas Hospital from 1989-1990.
Beverly D. Nixon-Lewis, D.O.
Dr. Beverly D. Nixon-Lewis is an assistant professor of Family and Community Medicine, and the program director of our Family Medicine Residency. She came to Texas Tech in 1999 from South Plains Health Provider in Plainview, where she completed her service in the National Health Service Corps.
Dr. Nixon-Lewis grew up in Hereford, Texas, and graduated from West Texas State University (now WTAMU) in Canyon. She received her Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA and completed an AOA approved internship at UMDNJ in Stratford, NJ. She subsequently completed her family medicine residency at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI, where she also served as chief resident.
After finishing her residency, she joined the faculty at Henry Ford, and completed a faculty development fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She is also a recent graduate of the National Institute of Program Director Development, jointly sponsored by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors.
Dr. Nixon-Lewis is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the Potter-Randall County Medical Society, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors.
She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has particular professional interest in women's healthcare and office-based procedures.
Maria Teresa Ranin, M.D.
Dr. Maria Teresa Ranin is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine with a joint appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Philippines and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of the East, Quezon City, Philippines. In 2006, Dr. Ranin completed an Internal Medicine Residency program at the Jacobi Medical Center, Affiliate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She then completed a geriatric medicine fellowship at New York University Medical 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 Medical Association, and the American Medical Directors Association. She recently took the certifying examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine and will soon take the Geriatrics certifying examination jointly sponsored by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Mohammed Samiuddin, M.D.
Dr. Mohammed Samiuddin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and is Associate Director of the Mary E. Bivins Geriatric fellowship. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Deccan College of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, India. Dr. Samiuddin then completed both his residency training in Family Medicine and his geriatric fellowship here at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo.
Dr. "Sammy" enjoys treating patients of all ages, and has special interest in the care of elderly and nursing home patients. He has recently been named Medical Director of long-term care at the Bivins Memorial Nursing Home. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Geriatric Society, and the American Medical Directors Association. He is board certified in Family Medicine and holds a certificate of added qualifications in geriatrics jointly issued by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Charles Wright, M.D., MMM
Charles Wright, has been with Texas Tech Amarillo since 1988. Dr. Wright did his undergraduate work at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS and obtained his MD degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, MS. Wright completed his residency at Texas Tech at Amarillo. Following his residency, he entered the US Air Force where he completed the Air Force's Aerospace Medicine Primary Course at Brook Air Force Base in San Antonio and then served as flight surgeon and chief of emergency services at Barksdale AFB, LA. Dr. Wright was in private practice in Olney, TX for eight years. After joining the faculty of Texas Tech, Dr. Wright completed the academic fellowship at the Family Practice Faculty Development Center of Texas in Waco.
Dr. Wright is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He earned the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine in 1988. Upon joining the Family Medicine faculty, he served as clerkship director for the department. In private practice, he served as chief of staff at Hamilton Hospital in Olney, and as medical director for several nursing homes including Olney Nursing Center and Seven Oaks Nursing Center, both in Olney, and the Palo Duro Nursing Center in Claude, Texas. Currently, he serves as medical director for the Bivins Memorial Nursing Home and the Elizabeth Jane Bivins Home for the Aged in Amarillo.
Dr. Wright formerly served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Panhandle Chapter of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians and was responsible for their 12-hour CME weekends in April and October every year. Dr. Wright is a member of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, serves on its Commission on Academic Affairs and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He belongs to the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the Texas Geriatrics Society, the American Geriatrics Society, the Medical Group Management Association, and the American College of Physician Executives.
In 1998, Dr. Wright completed Tulane University's executive program, earning the Master of Medical Management degree from the Tulane University School of Tropical Medicine and Public Health in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Wright was named the Panhandle Chapter of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians 1994 Physician of the Year. Wright was one of five "Champions" recognized by University President Robert Lawless in 1994.
Dr. Wright has presented programs in topics such as "Helping Families Navigate Through Divorce", "Medical Professional Ethics and Business Ethics", and "Medical Ethics and Post-Modern Philosophy".
From 1990-2003, Dr. Wright served as the regional chair of Family and Community Medicine in Amarillo. Since July 1, 2003, he has served as the assistant dean for quality improvement.
Dennis Zoller, M.D.
Dr. Dennis Zoller is an associate professor and geriatrician in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. He is the program director for our geriatrics fellowship.
Dr. Zoller received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Aurora College in Aurora, IL and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed his family medicine residency at the University of Illinois at Rockford in 1979.
He came to Texas Tech from Billings, MT, where he was staff geriatrician at the Deaconess Billings Clinic, and medical director at multiple geriatric care facilities.
Dr. Zoller has authored or co-authored articles on the physiology of aging, graded exercise testing in a family practice office, and a wellness program model for family practice residency programs.
He is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and holds a certificate of added qualifications in geriatrics jointly issued by the American Boards of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine.
Dr. Zoller has been recognized for his teaching excellence with the 2004 Barton Freeman, M.D. Memorial Faculty Award, presented annually to the faculty member selected by the residents for outstanding teaching.