I received my medical training at Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock graduating AOA, 1989. Residency (1989-1993) Obstetric and Gynecology at Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Texas A&M School of Medicine, Temple, Texas. Post-graduate training from 1993-1994 at Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona in Advanced Pelvic Surgery. Accepted an Asst. Professor position in Dept.Ob/Gyn at Texas A&M/Scott & White Clinic, College Station, TX. from 1994 - 1997 and successfully pass American College of Ob-Gyn written and oral board exams to earn board certification. I published 5 papers on the effects of laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy including the largest study to date. This was before I decided on becoming a gynecologic oncolgist. I started and completed a 3 year Gynecologic Oncology fellowship at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (1997-2000). Fellowship training was the single best learning experience in my life. I spent a year in the lab of Simon Smith, Ph.D. who published the cloning of the BRCA-2 gene in England. I was lead author on a Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) study describing prevalence and sequencing the gene mutations in BRCA genes from hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families. I also published on somatic P53 mutations in BRCA mutation carrier with ovarian malignancies. I was the first fellow to obtain a grant to cover my research in UK fellowship history. I published two dissertation at end of my fellowship. My clinical research dissertation was on use of transvaginal ultrasound to screen patient at high risk for developing ovarian cancer. I was chosen to present my study at SGO Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer at the initial opening day plenary session. This presentation made front page USA Today the following day. I was awarded a Glaxo-Smith Kline outstanding Fellow in Gynecologic Oncology Research and awarded a trip to present my P53 research and receive the award in 2000. I was offered the UK Gyn Oncology Fellowship Directorship a few months before completing training. Unfortunately, I accepted a financial stipend the second year of training from my hometown hospital in Abilene, Texas.
From 2000 to 2014, I was the only gynecologic oncologist within 150 mile radius of Abilene, TX. During my time in solo-private practice, I passed my written Gyn Onc Boards in 2000 and oral boards in 2002. In addition to my practice, I started and co-directed an upper-level Cancer Biology course at Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, TX were I was an Adjunct Professor of Science and Mathematics. I opened 4 GOG studies in Abilene as an affiliate of University of Kentucky. I was invited to teach Bio-Ethics at Abilene Christian University for 8 years after I Chaired the Hendricks Hosp BioEthics Committee from 2002-2006. In 2014, with Obama-care and unending call schedule, I moved to Lubbock in 2014 and worked at Grace Clinic and Covenant Hospital until 2018. I accepted a Clinical Professorship of Ob/Gyn and taught TTUHSC MS3 and MS4's and served on the TTUHSC Student Promotion and Professional Conduct Committee for two years. I joined the Dept. of Ob/Gyn as Asst. Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s (TTUHSC)-Lubbock. Iand office at University Cancer Center's Cancer Center.
As a clinician scientist, I have had broad interest in treatment of patients with HPV-refractory Gynecological malignancies, particularly the treatment of radiation resistant, HPV-related lower genital tract malignancies and ovarian cancer treatment with novel therapeutics. This has fostered my research focus into translational studies and novel methods to improve current therapies. Since starting at Texas Tech School of Medicine, Lubbock in 2018, I have collaborated with Dr. Komaraiah Palle, Professor in Dept. of Cell Biology & Biochemistry. He has both befriended, collaborated, and personally mentored me to restore some of the research skills I have lost. I was co-PI on a couple CPRIT grants and accepted the American College of Surgeons Physician-Committee on Cancer (CoC) Liaison position for UMC Cancer Center. This is a 2 year appointment.
I recently accepted an academic appt in Dept. Of Cell Biology & Biochemistry at TTHSC-SOM and appointed Director of Translational Gynecologic Oncology Research at UMC-TLC2 Foundation Cancer Center, Lubbock, TX.
Interests
- Cancer
- Cell biology
- Cervical cancer
- Cleft lip/palate
- Clinical
- Gynecology
- Incontinence
- Molecular diagnostics
- Molecular genetics
- Oncology
- Ovarian cancer
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Reproductive surgery
- Research
- Surgery
- Women's health