Current Residents

Lauren Solis, MD

My hometown is San Antonio, where I have lived for about 11 years. I went to college at UTSA and was fortunate to stay at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio for medical school. There are so many things I like to do. My favorite hobbies include walking in the parks, hiking trails and visiting the small towns around San Antonio, like Boerne and Fredericksburg. My husband and I enjoy cooking at home and caring for our growing garden. We have also found a great community at our church, where we like to teach catechism to the children and volunteer in ministry.

I love having opportunities for holistic care, education, and creativity in family medicine. This field allows me to nurture long-term relationships with my patients while building a strong community. Christus Family Medicine promotes unity and support among residents. They share joy and love for each other and their patients. I have also loved to see the bond between residents, faculty, and staff that makes the program feel like a family.

Briana Ortiz, MD

Hi! My name is Briana Ortiz, and I was born and raised in the small border city of Laredo, TX. I completed my Bachelor of Science and Arts at the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ’em!) and then graduated from medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. I love experiencing new things, traveling, and going to concerts. I am a movie buff and enjoy watching films in my free time, especially at the Alamo Drafthouse. I also have an orange tabby cat named Sol that loves binging reality TV shows with me.

I fell in love with Family Medicine because this profession especially goes beyond knowledge of the human body and instead requires a compassionate and holistic approach to patient care. I believe Family Medicine is an avenue to empower individuals and, overall, the communities we serve to lead healthier lives. I have always been passionate about preventive medicine and am excited to shape patients’ lives as a family physician. I feel fortunate to have been accepted into my first-choice residency at the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa program, as it provides unopposed full-scope care while maintaining a close family atmosphere. I am proud to join a program that not only excels professionally but also cultivates strong personal connections. The amazing faculty, residents, and coordinators made me feel so welcomed and clearly demonstrated their love for the program. I am excited about the endless opportunities to learn and grow into a well-rounded physician here!

Emily Danielson, MD

Hey y’all! I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, so I am so excited to return home to continue my training. I attended medical school at the Texas A&M College of Medicine after completing my undergraduate education at UT Tyler where I played tennis. I still really enjoy playing and look forward to joining some tennis leagues in San Antonio with my husband, mom, and brother who also play. I will also occasionally settle for pickleball...

My husband and I have two dogs, two cats, two chameleons, one 75-pound tortoise, and most importantly, one baby girl on the way! CHRISTUS Santa Rosa was my first choice because of its exceptional full-scope training. During my 4th-year audition rotation, I saw that I would be provided with a solid foundation to pursue any type of family medicine career I want. I am passionate about women’s health, preventative medicine, and the people of San Antonio. I am looking forward to training in a program that will allow me to care for the population I plan to serve for the rest of my career.

Jonathan Bradshaw, DO

Hey! I’m Jonathan, but I usually go by Jonny. I grew up in Orem, Utah as the 4th of 5 kids. I spent a lot of time in the mountains hiking, camping, and backpacking. In the winter, I love to ski. My love for the outdoors has never died and I still try to get out whenever I can. I’m also an avid sports fan. I like to play and watch any and all of them. I’ve been known to have several games going on at once to not miss any action.

I met my wife in high school. I’ll tell you that we were high school sweethearts, but she may give you another story. We have two young and very energetic boys. I love being able to play and wrestle with them.

I went to Brigham Young University for Exercise Science and then over a state for medical school at Touro University Nevada.

I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. I want to be able to treat all members of a family, and have the knowledge to help my own family and communities, which is one of the reasons I’m so excited about family medicine. I know that CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is going to give me outstanding training and opportunities of a lifetime!

Elijah Romero, MD

Hey y’all! Super excited to be part of the Christus Santa Rosa family and would love to share a little about my life. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and went to college at St. Mary’s University. After receiving my major in biology, I attended medical school at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. When I’m not cracking mediocre jokes, some of my hobbies include going to concerts (mostly classic rock), working out, playing Super Smash Bros, and going on hikes. I’m also a huge foodie and after traveling to most of Texas, I can safely say San Antonio has the best breakfast tacos and it’s not close.

A few fun facts about me is that I am a cat dad to a beautiful cat named Nezuko who also happens to be the world’s biggest diva. I can solve a Rubik’s cube in a record time of 10 minutes 42 seconds and dabble in magic in case you ever want to see a salt shaker disappear. Music is a huge part of my life so I enjoy playing drums, singing acapella, playing a little guitar, and dancing cumbias until my hips give out.

I knew I wanted to become a doctor since I was a kid after binge watching medical shows with my mom with a little bit of jeopardy in between. I was motivated to pursue family medicine specifically after seeing the challenges that people in low income districts experience every day. Having the ability to grow with my patients through continuity of care was also a huge factor in me pursuing family medicine. Working with people of all ages was perfect for me since I’m a firm believer that everyone has a story to tell and I can learn from them to help with future patients in similar situations.

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa was my number one choice for residency because of the people of course! There is truly no community like San Antonio and hearing countless stories of people overcoming adversity inspired me to give back to my community. My family has also gone to CHRISTUS hospitals countless times and were met with the best quality of care. Witnessing the high standards this program has to ensure that the patients receive the best quality of care regardless of their background, made it a no brainer to return back home. I look forward to making a positive change in San Antonio and lastly, GO SPURS GO!

Case Samford, DO

Hello everyone! I was born and raised in a small Texas town called Smiley, just an hour southeast of San Antonio. San Antonio has always been a second home to me, and I have made many years of memories throughout my life with my family and friends in such a friendly and vibrant city! After completing my undergraduate education in biology at Texas A&M University (Gig ’em Aggies!), I went on to complete my medical education back in San Antonio at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine while also completing my masters in public health. I was drawn to family medicine because it is a specialty where I can build strong relationships with my patients, providing long-term, personalized care based on their health, wellbeing, and personal preferences.

I chose the program at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa because it offers vigorous yet rewarding training in all aspects of my future patients’ care in an unopposed and supportive learning environment. It is with this training that I know I will give my patients the best care possible. Additionally, these values fuel my passions for full-scope patient care, community health, and lifestyle medicine. Outside of my training, I enjoy a good game of pickle ball, trying out new foods from diverse cultures, and keeping a diverse collection of house plants happy!

Karen Barcenas-Villarreal, DO

Hey y’all! I was born and raised in Brownsville - the southernmost city in Texas! I completed my undergraduate education at Milligan College in Johnson City, TN, where I earned by B.S. in Biology and Psychology. I then moved to San Antonio and earned my MBS and DO/MPH degrees at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine. While on rotations in medical school, I quickly found that I naturally gravitated towards Family Medicine because I loved helping educate patients about their health and ways to prevent disease.

I chose the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Residency Program for my training because I enjoyed the encouraging family-feel between residents, faculty, and staff that I was able to experience during rotations. Additionally, the program offers unopposed, full-spectrum training that I’m confident will equip me to be the best physician possible for my future patients!

Outside of medicine, my hobbies include spending time with my wonderful husband, Josiah, and my son, Caleb! I also enjoy baking, watching movies, and visiting family and friends as often as possible.

Ambeka Rajvanshi, MD

Howdy! My name is Ambeka Rajvanshi and I was born in Utah but grew up in southern Louisiana. My journey in medicine began at Texas A&M University, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. As a proud Aggie, I stayed on at Texas A&M School of Medicine where I graduated in 2024. Having grown up in Louisiana, I took French classes from the 3rd grade to my senior year of high school. Since then, I've always loved learning new languages and exploring new cultures! I also enjoy reading, taking care of my plants, and watching Korean and Turkish dramas.

Throughout medical school, I found myself drawn to a number of different disciplines. I enjoyed all of my core rotations and quickly realized that family medicine was the best fit for me. Building long-lasting relationships and rapport with my patients and having the opportunity to treat a diverse patient population with a wide variety of health concerns is why I've chosen to pursue a career in family medicine.

I'm very passionate about health care advocacy, lifestyle medicine and preventive care as well reproductive health. Through CHRISTUS Santa Rosa's program, I know I'll be well-equipped to practice medicine in a variety of clinical settings and be able to pursue my specific career interests. The full-scope curriculum here offers robust training in surgical obstetrics as well as outpatient and inpatient procedures. Moreover, the warm and supportive learning environment certainly creates a space conducive for collaboration.

Lauren Davis, DO

Hello! I was born and raised in Carrollton, Texas and went to Texas A&M University (Gig ‘em!) for both my undergrad degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. I moved to Arkansas for medical school (NYITCOM @ A-State) and I am so excited to be moving back to Texas for residency with my husband, who I met during the first year of medical school. We have two dogs, Hank and Hazel, who love to go on adventures with us.

I worked as a scribe prior to medical school in a family medicine clinic where I initially fell in love with family medicine. My third year rotations fully solidified my choice of becoming a Family Medicine Physician due to the patient population, broad scope and endless opportunities that are available. I had the opportunity to do a fourth year rotation with CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency. I immediately saw how well everyone got along and supported each other. I saw the full scope and unopposed training that the program offered and knew this was the program I wanted to train at. I can’t wait to get started!

Keaton Duty, DO

Hello! I was born in Arlington, Texas but spent most of my grade school years in Georgia before moving out to Utah to complete my undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Russian there and met my wonderful wife, Laura. We have two energetic daughters, Caroline and Jolene, as well as a dog, Roxie. We completed medical school at Pacific Northwest University in Washington and now it’s our joy to come back home to Texas. I enjoy tennis, going to the theater, Texas Rangers baseball, reading, smoking meats, and spending time with my wife and daughters.

I love connecting with people from various backgrounds and using that connection to improve healthcare. Family Medicine allows me to do that every day! I chose CHRISTUS because not only do they have quality broad spectrum family medicine training in a beautiful city with rich culture, but also a passionate faculty and incredibly bright residents. My particular interests include sports medicine, addiction medicine, and preventive medicine, and I look forward to learning all that I can from my training at CHRISTUS Health.

Joshua Kuehne, DO

Hello there! I was raised in the rural central Texas town of Lampasas. I moved to San Antonio in 2012 to complete my undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio in kinesiology with a focus in athletic medicine. I went on to attend medical school at UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine here as well. Initially, however, I went to college with the intention of becoming an architect and civil engineer! Following my first year, I was in a near-fatal car accident that put me in the hospital for a month and several months of physical and cognitive outpatient rehabilitation. The entire experience was quite intriguing and taught me how much adversity the human body can overcome with the aid of love, support, and medicine. I little bit about myself, I love learning from nearly all subjects from astrophysics to art history, I am an avid dungeon and dragon player, and most of all I enjoy spending time and traveling with my wife and son.

I chose family medicine because I loved all my rotations and going into primary care would allow me to practice full spectrum care. Moreover, I’ve found that in primary care I’ll have the unique privilege and honor to empower patients with my story so they too can improve their health and wellness, and overcome significant illness. I chose CHRISTUS Santa Rosa because of the passion faculty, supportive culture amongst the residents, opportunity to gain a wide breadth of experience, and because of San Antonio. In the past decade of living here, I discovered my calling in medicine, met my beautiful wife, started a family, and ultimately was given a second chance at life. My family and I are hoping to stay here long after residency to take care of the community that has given so much to us.  

Richa Patel, DO

Hello and Welcome! I was born in Gujarat, India and moved to Colorado, USA when I was 11 years old. Texas is my second home as I completed my undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, and medical school from UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio. I am fond of Family Medicine because I enjoy interacting with diverse patient populations from all age groups with different medical histories. My goal for choosing CHRISTUS Santa Rosa for my residency is to build on a strong knowledge base, improve my hands-on skills, connect with amazing mentors, and grow along with my peers in an unopposed program.

On a lighter note, I love living in San Antonio as it gives me the ability to enjoy multiple outdoor activities with family and friends. I like to do yoga and HIIT combination exercises daily to relax. On a weekly basis, I play basketball and/or volleyball with friends. I also draw and/or paint realistic images while listening to Bollywood music for fun. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me!

Liya Thomas, DO

Hey y’all! It’s a pleasure to share a little bit about myself with you. I was born and brought up in a small state in India called Kerala. After moving to the U.S. at the age of 7 with my parents and brother, life was full of changes and new places including cities in New Jersey and Texas. My family settled down in Allen, TX during my eighth grade and have called the DFW area home since then. I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Public Health at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. It was during those years that I gained a deep desire to pursue a career in medicine, with interests in medical missions, public health, and community outreach. I was fortunate to travel to various places for medical missions and public health study abroad trips, including Haiti, Cambodia, and Ghana. I also got to be a part of many community outreach events and shadowing opportunities. These experiences shaped my outlook on the necessity of primary care and the importance of the phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’. They also broadened my perspective on how impactful a primary care physician can be in the health of an individual, especially with a trusting and open doctor-patient relationship.

I attended medical school at Lincoln Memorial University, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. I was able to meet wonderful friends and mentors that encouraged, taught, and guided me through those years in didactics and clinical rotations. These years solidified my passion for family medicine and advocacy in primary care. It was also during this time that I got to know and get married to my husband, the best thing that has happened to me!

During my free time, I love to spend time with my husband, family and friends, cook, go on walks, try different cuisines, enjoy nature and travel.

I am so grateful to join the CHRISTUS family where I’m confident I will get the foundation I need to be a well-rounded and patient-centered family physician. This program has all the attributes I was looking for in a residency, including a full spectrum, unopposed family medicine residency experience, an emphasis on continued education and a close knit community. Although residency is bound to be a challenging time, the people at this program have shown that it can also be a great learning experience with the right community by your side to support and encourage you through it.

Dylan Salazar, MD

Hi everyone! My name is Dylan and I am from Leming, TX! I majored in Biology at the University of the Incarnate Word for undergrad and attended Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso – Paul L. Foster School of Medicine for medical school. I chose Family Medicine because I really enjoyed each of my rotations throughout medical school and really appreciated the broad scope of practice and wide variety of career opportunities that FM has to offer! I am excited to begin my training with the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program as they offer full-scope, unopposed training and have a supportive, family-oriented environment!

Kaleb Starr, DO

Hello friends! I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I completed my undergraduate education at Florida State University, where I also met my beautiful wife. After two years of working as a psychiatric technician, I moved to San Antonio to attend medical school at the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine. I've wanted to be a physician since I was a little kid, so this is the realization of a lifelong dream. Since my time at Florida State, my interest has been in primary care and preventative medicine. I wanted to work in a field that allowed me to flex to the needs of my community. I like kids, I like adults, I like our more well-seasoned folks. I enjoy seeing a wide variety of health concerns. This all made family medicine a natural fit. I was lucky enough to rotate at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa several times as a medical student, and each time I was treated like family. I got to see firsthand the relationship that residents have with faculty, how compassionate everyone is at the program, and how top-notch the training is. Making CHRISTUS Santa Rosa my top choice was an easy decision.

In my free time I enjoy living an active lifestyle with my wife and my two dogs, Jameson and Ginger. I'm an avid long-distance runner and a painfully average crossfitter. On long weekends I enjoy backpacking and hiking in some of our great state and national parks. I'm a loyally devoted fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Fire those cannons), Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida State Seminoles, and the Houston Rockets.

Claire Yoon, MD

Hello! Although not originally from here, I am a true San Antonian at heart, and this city is like home to me. I kicked off my journey at UT Austin for my undergrad, but I couldn't wait to come back home for medical school at UT Health San Antonio. Family is everything to me, so I spend most of my time hanging out with my siblings and parents. I met my husband, who's also a native San Antonian, during our first year of medical school, and we are very excited to start our own family soon! The family vibe at CHRISTUS is what really attracted me to the program. I was drawn to a program where I felt supported not just in my professional life, but also in my personal journey. Being able to care for patients based on a value system that aligns with my own is a dream come true. I can't wait to dive headfirst into holistic patient care and create some incredible memories with my fellow interns. In my free time I am usually hanging out with my husband and dog, exploring new places, or getting lost in a good book.

Matthew Mastrodicasa, MD

Hello! I was born in New York but was raised in Austin TX. I was lucky enough to attend the University of Texas at Austin where I graduated with a BSA in Neuroscience. Then I continued my journey into science by attending medical school, here in San Antonio, at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Long School of Medicine. I decided to pursue a career in family medicine because of the variety of care family medicine doctors are able to perform and the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with my patients. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a great fit for my career goals due to the full-spectrum “unopposed” training that we receive, allowing me to develop a solid foundation to grow as a physician moving forward. In my free time I love to bake, play board games, travel and try tasty foods from all over the world, and I recently found a love for gardening.

Margaret McNew, MD

I was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at Louisiana Tech University in 2019 and then graduated from medical school at LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine in 2023. My husband is a pilot in the US Air Force, and we enjoy being active outdoors and never turn down a new adventure! We have two cats, Luna and Nugget, and are about to adopt a dog as the newest addition to our family. I enjoy being involved in my local church, trying new foods, weight-lifting, and binging a good TV show.

I chose Family Medicine as my specialty because I value establishing life-long relationships and making genuine connections with my patients. I’m passionate about educating patients on their medical diagnoses, improving their health literacy, and maternal-child obstetrics care. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa was my first choice for residency because it is a full-scope family medicine program that offers extensive training in procedures, OB deliveries and surgical training, and a welcoming friendly work environment! Each resident is encouraged to tailor their experience according to their career interests.

David Fuhriman, MD

Hi all! I am a transplant to Texas from California. Now, before you all judge me too harshly, I will say that the first 5 years of my life were spent in Austin and Missouri City, TX. So I guess you could say I am just coming back to my roots! Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I developed a love for all things outdoors, including beach trips, hiking, backpacking/camping, trail running, lake sports, and winter sports. Additionally, I developed a strong interest in biology and physiology. Those studies, combined with a passion for helping people, sparked an interest in medicine. I completed my undergraduate degree in Microbiology at Brigham Young University and was heavily involved in bacteriophage research. As I worked with my research mentor, I met my wife, Morgan (a story for another time!) and then we moved to Houston so I could attend McGovern Medical School. During medical school, my wife and I had two children, Nick and Jenny, and they make us laugh every day. Throughout medical school I also gained an appreciation for the scope of medicine that a family physician can pursue. I was drawn to CHRISTUS Health because of its strong emphasis on holistic patient care and the exceptional training opportunities in a great family-friendly city. I also look forward to practicing my Spanish every day! My particular interests include sports medicine, addiction medicine, global health, and geriatrics, and I am excited to see how those passions evolve throughout my residency training here at CHRISTUS Health!

Kalli Glass, DO

My name is Kalli Glass and I’m from Gonzales, Texas. I am married to my wonderful husband Kameron, and we have one child, Kace. We enjoy living in our small hometown and my goal is to return to Gonzales after residency to practice full spectrum rural family medicine.

I completed my undergrad in biology at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio where I also went on to receive a Master of Arts in biology. I attended medical school at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio and after 8 years of school in San Antonio I now consider it my second home. For this reason, I am so excited to be completing my residency at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Westover Hills in San Antonio! I am confident this program will help prepare me to be a well-rounded family medicine physician with all the necessary skills to practice in a rural setting.

Sergio Aleman, MD

Hello there! I was born and raised in San Antonio as the oldest of four siblings. I enjoy watching sports (big Spurs and Barcelona fan) and spending time with my wife and family. I went to undergrad at the University of Texas at Austin where I studied sociology and biology. Some of my favorite experiences during my time at UT was to study abroad in England and to perform with the UT Mariachi. Eventually, I was fortunate to attend medical school in my hometown at UT Health San Antonio. I have always been interested in family medicine throughout my education due to my own personal experiences that led me to want to be a family doctor myself. I am glad to be part of a supportive program and to be able to complete my training so close to home.

Cara Anderson, MD

Hey y’all! I am from Carrollton, Texas. I started undergrad at Pepperdine University and then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em, Horns!) where I graduated with my bachelor’s degree. I went to UTMB in Galveston, Texas for medical school and am super excited to be back in the Texas Hill Country in San Antonio for residency! Things I love include all types of music, trying out different coffee shops and breweries, and my sweet pup, Ladybird.

I chose CHRISTUS first and foremost because of the family-feel of the program. The residents, faculty, and coordinators are so welcoming and clearly demonstrate how much they love working together and hanging out outside of work. I also chose CHRISTUS for the complexity of training we get here in a community setting between managing ICU patients, delivering babies, working at the children's hospital, and more. There are endless opportunities for learning here! I'm honored to be working alongside amazingly personable and intelligent residents and attendings.

Oscar Gonzalez, MD

I am from the Mid Cities area near Fort Worth, TX. I have graduate research training in molecular radiation biology and used to teach basic sciences as an adjunct instructor in community colleges and medical assisting programs. I decided to change careers and pursue a career in medicine to continue my learning, apply my knowledge of basic science, and use my skills in teaching and communication to help my community.

I chose family medicine because it was the field of medicine most integrated in my life. From my geriatric parents, to my personal problems with my creaky knees, to my pediatric grandchildren, family medicine is connected to every aspect of my life. I chose CHRISTUS Santa Rosa because I found it to be the most welcoming and supportive residency program I could find.

Sabina Lalani, DO

Hi y’all, thank you for taking a minute to get to know me! I grew up in Sugar Land, TX and my family is from Burma, Bangladesh and Pakistan. I went to undergrad at Trinity University in San Antonio and studied abroad in London. I took a gap year before medical school and completed a Master of Arts in Medical Sciences at Loyola University Chicago. Right before I started at UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio, I did an internship in Hydrabad, India which further solidified my passion for working in underserved communities. I was drawn to Family Medicine because I loved all my core rotations and enjoy diversity in my day. I have a passion for women’s health, enjoy seeing pediatric patients, and really like building connections with my patients in the clinic. I ranked CHRISTUS Santa Rosa as my top choice because during my 4th year audition rotation I was able to see the amazing learning opportunities the residents at CHRISTUS had access to daily. I wanted to go to an unopposed program that provided me a solid foundation to grow as a physician and one that had a supportive family environment.

Finally, I wanted to share a little bit about myself. If it was not apparent from above, I love to travel and explore cultures and foods from around the globe! I enjoy playing basketball and volleyball, as well as hosting game nights for my family and friends. My fiancé and I recently got a corgi so lately we have enjoyed spending time outdoors and teaching her new tricks.

Eloy Martinez, DO

I was born and raised in the small, South Texas border town of Zapata. I completed my Bachelors of Science in Biology at Texas A&M International University in 2017. I then moved to San Antonio to pursue both my Masters in Biomedical Sciences and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine.

I chose a career in medicine after recognizing, both personally and through loved ones, the healthcare disparities that impact rural minority populations. I then pursued family medicine specifically given my passion for preventative care and appreciation for the versatility that this specialty provides professionally and clinically. I am currently considering pursuing a sports medicine fellowship to provide care in the future to my home community and local public school athletes. I chose CHRISTUS for its supportive and collaborative culture, the passion for teaching displayed by its residency faculty, and the flexibility of the program to tailor each residents training to complement their future career aspirations.

Bethany Pierce, MD

I was born in San Antonio but raised in a small town called Monett in Missouri. I moved back to Texas as a teenager and went to high school in College Station, college at TCU in Fort Worth, and medical school at UT Health in San Antonio. I chose Family Medicine because I value connecting with and caring for patients, and this field provides continuity of care, a broad scope of practice, and a wide variety of career options to make that possible. I chose CHRISTUS because of the people, the community-based environment, and the opportunity to learn a diverse set of skills as a family medicine doctor in numerous healthcare settings.

Sara Stubbs-Walden, MD

Hi there! I was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, a wonderful place in the southernmost tip of Texas. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where I majored in Biology. I was part of an early medical school acceptance program that granted me conditional acceptance to the University of Texas Medical Branch when I was 18! Thankfully, I was able to complete the program and I successfully matriculated to UTMB following my college graduation. I moved to Galveston and lived the island life for medical school. I made life-long friends during my time there and I was fortunate enough that they all moved to San Antonio for residency! I also met my husband (and fellow intern), David at the end of our first year of school. We got married right in the middle of interview season and amidst a COVID surge, but it was truly a magical day. I chose a career in Family Medicine because I believe that family physicians can have such a positive influence in the lives of patients. I genuinely enjoy making connections with people. Talking to and learning about the people I care for is incredibly important to me. I am also passionate about educating patients on their chronic conditions and advancing their health literacy. I chose CHRISTUS for my residency for several reasons. They offered me all the training opportunities I wanted as a full scope, unopposed, community program. They also made me and my husband feel so welcomed and cared for during the interview process. I truly felt that I would fit in perfectly at this program and this community. I am so excited to learn and grow here at CHRISTUS, and I can already tell that I am surrounded by some pretty amazing people!

Jordan Ta, DO

Hello friends! It’s a pleasure to meet you! My name is Jordan and I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. I completed my undergraduate education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. I attended medical school at UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine here in San Antonio. I am blessed with a wonderful wife and a sweet baby girl. Fun facts: I love music and playing guitar, I have a passion for cooking, and my wife and I are the biggest foodies you will meet! Since starting our journey in San Antonio, we have enjoyed trying and discovering the diverse culture and cuisines this city has to offer!

I chose family medicine because I wanted to be well-equipped to treat patients of all ages and of all different conditions. In addition, I found that primary care physicians have the unique opportunity to develop long-term relationships with their patients. I love being a resident at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa because of the unopposed full-spectrum training it offers and the family-like environment of all the residents and staff. I am confident that my training here will help me to succeed in pursuing any career in family medicine.

David Walden, MD

I was born and raised in a small town, 30 minutes south of Dallas. I went to Oklahoma Christian University, where I studied biology and played the bassoon. I followed my brother in going to the University of Texas Medical Branch for medical school, where I fostered interests in mindfulness and evidence-based medicine; starting my own journal club newsletter. I enjoy listening to podcasts, playing games, watching movies, and spending time with my wife and 2 cats, Loki and Kiki.

Taylor Works, MD

Hello! I was born and raised in the Westlake area of Austin, where I was fortunate to get an early start with my love of the sciences. It was during those early days that I also met my wife, Lorraine, whom I’ve known since the 6th grade and has been my greatest supporter along this exciting journey. My early inspiration to pursue a career in medicine came from the legacy of my grandfather, who was a beloved physician that left a lasting impact on the people of Brownsville, Texas, where he lived and practiced for many years. After high school, I moved to College Station to attend Texas A&M University, where I received my Bachelor of Science in biology and got more exposure to the medical field through opportunities like cancer research, clinical volunteering, and working as a phlebotomist. It was these experiences that solidified my passion for medicine and I went on to join the Long School of Medicine class of 2022 at the UT Health Science Center here in San Antonio. I found my love of Family Medicine during my 3rd year rotations when I saw the immense need for high quality primary care and the endless practice and career opportunities that come with it. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, outdoor activities like fishing and hiking, and finding new and exciting activities and restaurants around San Antonio with my wife.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to join the class of 2025 at the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, which was my first choice. CHRISTUS is the perfect program for me because I want to be challenged with vigorous full-scope, unopposed training that will truly prepare me to practice in any environment. From my first interaction with the program, I could feel the supportive family-oriented atmosphere that many residencies claim to have but only few truly possess. I’m excited to learn from our faculty, who are heavily invested in our professional development, and lucky to have the opportunity to continue caring for the patient population of San Antonio that I have come to know and love.