University Health System

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Hannah Abboud, M.D. has been Director of the Division of Nephrology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio since 1990. Dr. Abboud received his medical degree at the Alexandria University School of Medicine in Egypt and completed a medical internship at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. He did his residency and completed a research Fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Dr. Juan Carlos Ayus, M.D., FACP, FASN is the Medical Director of Dialysis West at the University Center for Community Health. He is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Ayus received his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires and trained in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota and did his fellowship in nephrology at the University of California, San Francisco. He is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology. Dr. Ayus' areas of research include infectious complications in dialysis patients and inflammation. He is a world authority in dialysis and has done extensive research in these areas.

Dr. Speeg serves as the Medical Director of the liver transplant program. He received his graduate degree from Rice University in Houston, Texas and his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Texas. He completed his internship, residency and gastroenterology training at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN. He manages the pre-operative assessment of liver transplant candidates and post-operative phases including medical follow-up in the outpatient settings.

Wajeh Y. Qunibi, M.D. is the Medical Director of the Outpatient and Inpatient Renal Dialysis Units at the University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He is also Professor of Nephrology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Qunibi earned his medical degree at Alexandria University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine in Baltimore, MD and his Fellowship in Nephrology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. His research interest is in area of cardiovascular diseases in chronic kidney disease patients.

Dr. Nolan is the Medical Director of the kidney and pancreas transplant program at University Hospital. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Colorado. He completed his Internal Medicine residency training at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He completed his fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Colorado in Denver. Dr. Nolan served as the chief of the Nephrology division at Wilford Hall Medical Center before joining the faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center in 1992. Dr. Nolan is responsible for the evaluation of patients who are candidates for kidney and pancreas transplant. He also manages the long-term care of kidney and pancreas transplant patients. Dr. Nolan has an active research laboratory involved in studying mechanisms of kidney transplant rejection with research grant funding from the Veterans Administration. Dr. Nolan is the principal investigator for numerous clinical research studies in the areas of kidney transplant, renal dialysis and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Dr. Debbie Levine is the Director of the Pulmonology Hypertension Center. She works with the pre- and post-lung transplant patients.

Dr. Neigut is the Division Chief of Gastroenterology. She is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist who specializes in the care of pre- and post- pediatric liver transplant patients.

Dr. Johnson is the Surgical Director of the lung transplant program at University Hospital. He is the Head of General Thoracic Surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center. He received his medical degree from the University of New Mexico. He performs adult heart and lung transplantation and other cardiothoracic surgeries.

Dr. Cigarroa is the third President of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He is a nationally renowned pediatric and transplant surgeon who was educated at Yale, Harvard and Johns Hopkins. In 1995 he joined the Health Science Center faculty in San Antonio. In 1997 he was part of the surgical team that that split a donor liver for transplant into two recipients, the first operation of its kind in Texas. He continues to perform adult and pediatric liver and kidney transplants.

Dr. Abrahamian is the Surgical Director of the kidney transplant program. He received his medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He completed his residency and transplant fellowship at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas and Massachusetts General Hospital. He specializes in adult and pediatric kidney and liver transplant surgery.

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Dr. Angel is the Medical Director of the lung transplant program and the Director of Interventional Pulmonology. Dr. Angel received his medical degree from University Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin, Columbia in 1992. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care. He joined The University of Texas Health Science Center in 2001. His current interests include interventional pulmonology, lung cancer and lung transplantation.

Dr. Mazen Arar is the Division Head of Pediatric Nephrology and the Medical Director of the pediatric kidney transplant program at University Hospital. Dr. Arar is actively involved in clinical research.

Dr. Robert Esterl received his medical degree at St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his internship and residency in General Surgery at St. Louis University Hospitals, St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his abdominal transplant fellowship at St. Louis University Hospitals and at The University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska. In 1995, he performed the first combination kidney/pancreas transplant at University Hospital.

Dr. Stephanie Levine is the Co-Medical Director of the lung transplant program at University Hospital. She specializes in the management and care of pulmonary diseases and pre- and post-operative care of lung transplant patients.

Dr. Washburn is the Surgical Director of the liver transplant program. He received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburg and completed general surgery training at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. He completed a fellowship in multi-organ transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at the Harvard-New England Deaconess Hospital. He was trained as a transplant surgeon in the US Air Force at Wilford Hall Medical Center. He joined The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is 1998. He is actively involved in the adult and pediatric liver and kidney transplant programs as well as hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Washburn established the clinical research component and is the principal investigator in a number of protocols involving established and new pharmacologic agents.

Ira Smith, Jr., is Chairman of the Planning & Operations Committee for the University Health System Board of Managers. Smith was appointed by Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson in 2003. Smith is a graduate of St. Mary's University. Now retired, he served City Public Service (CPS Energy) for many years in a variety of leadership roles, including Director of Central Services, Director of Technical Services, and Director of Computer Services. A leader in the San Antonio community, Smith has held a number of key positions on boards and committees. He has chaired the United Way of Texas Board of Trustees; the United Way Stewardship Review Process and was a member of the United Way Allocation Panel; and the Funding Information Center. He is President of the 100 Black Men of America, the San Antonio Chapter and is a member for the van Courtlandt Social Club. Between 1977 and 1987, Smith served as a trustee of the Bexar County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center. During his tenure, he served as a chairman. Smith is no stranger to health care in San Antonio. Until his appointment to the Board of Managers, he served on the Community Board for the Methodist and Metropolitan Hospitals. Previously, he was a member of the boards of directors for both the Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital and the Methodist Healthcare Ministries.

Since his retirement, Briseno has been appointed Professor of Public Service in Residence at St. Mary's University. In addition, he frequently addresses participants in public and private sector professional development seminars. Recently, he served short-term appointments as Interim President of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as the Interim President/Chief Executive Officer of San Antonio Water System, as Interim President/CEO of the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative (SATAI) Network, and as Interim Executive Director of the Brooks Development Authority. He was elected in 1996 as a Fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration. He also received the National Public Service Award from NAPA and American Society for Public Administration. Mr. Briseno is a native San Antonian. He and his wife, Mary, have two adult children: Veronica and Brad.

Jim is the Founder and Chairman of Pilot Corporation, the nation's largest retailer of diesel fuel for over-the-road trucks, the 25th largest restaurant franchisee in the U.S., and the operator of 67 convenience stores and 270 travel centers in the U.S. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Trust Company, University Health System, the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Greater Knoxville. He is a former Vice Chairman and current member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Tennessee, and former member of the Board of AmSouth Bancorporation and First American Bank.

Linda Rivas is a member of the University Health System Board of Managers and serves on the board's Planning & Operations Committee. Bexar County Commissioner Sergio "Chico" Rodriguez appointed Rivas in 2005. Rivas is the President of SER- Jobs for Progress of San Antonio, a non-profit community-based organization committed to securing employment opportunities and upgrading the employability of workers in San Antonio. In 2006, Rivas was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc. SER National addresses the education, employment, and economic needs of Hispanics and other underrepresented groups across America. The SER Network consists of 43 Partners operating in more than 200 offices in 19 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. With a Staff of 205, and in a time of economic downturn, SER was able to place over 70 percent of its participants into meaningful employment. Within her first year as president, the Alamo workforce development area ascended to #1 status in performance measures for Food Stamps/Employment and Training, the Workforce Investment Act and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program for the state of Texas. Rivas served as co-chair for the American Diabetes Association Walk America in 2005 and 2006; chair of the Alamo Community College District Bond Committee for Workforce; and chair of the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards Selection Committee in 2005. She is also a member of the City of San Antonio's Cultural Collaborative Steering Committee. Rivas was honored by National League of United Latin American Citizens for Leadership in Workforce Development for Texas and the Nation in 2005, recognized by Image de San Antonio as "Hispanic Woman Role Model" in 2003; honored by La Prensa Foundation, Inc. with a Latina Business Women in Action Award in 2002; and named "Corporate Woman of the Year" in 2001 by the San Antonio Women's Chamber of Commerce.

Rebecca Quintanilla Cedillo is a member of the University Health System Board of Managers and serves on the board's Planning & Operations Committee. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff appointed Cedillo to the Board of Managers in 2006.