Current Residents

Our Residents

Name: Zuhair Afsar, DO
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors.
Why I love my residency in Longview: I love the sense of community in the program.

Name: Adwoa Agyei, DO
Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Medical School: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I was born in Adelaide, Australia.
Why I love my residency in Longview: I have been enjoying finding new places to eat and hang out with my co-residents in Longview. I really like how most places are close by.

Name: Jonathan Derouen, MD
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Medical School: Oklahoma College of Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I enjoy playing board games and soccer as well as dabbling with the piano from time to time.
Why I love my residency in Longview: The beauty in nature is quite serene and the traffic is nonexistent. Everyone here is very friendly and warm. Food here is also a plus.

Name: Sindhuja Gade, DO
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: Kansas City University of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I enjoy running and playing tennis. My friend and I are trying to run a race in all 50 states!
Why I love my residency in Longview: The faculty are really kind and willing to teach. I’m also enjoying my co-residents and the camaraderie we have.

Name: Priya Kandru, DO
Hometown: Frisco, TX
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I like cooking and spending time outdoors.
Why I love my residency in Longview: I love meeting new people and learning every day!

Name: Suganya Arunachalam Karikalan, MD
Hometown: Chennai, India
Medical School: Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I’m a big Taylor Swift fan! I enjoy chatting over a cup of coffee.
Why I love my residency in Longview: Longview is a quiet little town with its own charm.

Name: Tagbo “Charles” Nduka, MD
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: Kharkiv National Medical University
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I am a huge fan of soccer and basketball.
Why I love my residency in Longview: Everyone in the program is supportive, from the residents to the Chief Residents, who have gone above and beyond to ensure we have a smooth transition. The GME team is incredible, and the program director, Dr. Egbe, is passionate about teaching, which makes learning enjoyable. Longview is an amazing place with nice restaurants and exposure to a wide variety of cases. I love it here.

Name: Kelly Okpagu, MD
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: St. Matthews University School of Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I do standup comedy, enjoy working out and kickboxing. I am really good at fighting games.
Why I love my residency in Longview: The love and togetherness. I feel like we are one big family. Everyone is down to earth and also accommodating.

Name: Daniel Park, DO
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I like listening to jazz, playing the guitar and I collect pens for a hobby. I also have an elderly plant that I have been taking care of for 8 years.
Why I love my residency in Longview: What I appreciate about training in Longview is the supportive atmosphere. Everyone, from attendings to staff and faculty, is genuinely helpful and eager to support each other.

Name: Indarani Phillip, DO
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I’ve written a fantasy novel!
Why I love my residency in Longview: The kindness, the wellness committee and last but not least my lovely family here with me in Longview! The program here is full of genuinely patient and kind people that want to help you be a great doctor with plenty of opportunities. Residency is hard but you aren’t alone here!

Name: Yasemin Polat, DO
Hometown: Sachse, TX
Medical School: William Carey University of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I played soccer in high school. Currently Zumba and swimming are my favorite activities. My goal is to work with breast cancer patients in the future.
Why I love my residency in Longview: When selecting a residency program, I looked for where I would be a good fit. CHRISTUS Health seemed like a program that would allow me to comfortably collaborate with my colleagues and so far, it has lived up to my expectations. I believe the best physicians are those that are a quarterback for the patients’ needs. I truly enjoy the challenges of helping those who need it the most. Serving the underserved is a great honor and privilege. I am looking forward to helping my patients in residency and beyond.

Name: Tanya Srivastava, MD
Hometown:Lucknow, India
Medical School: Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I was born in Varanasi, India, one of the oldest living cities in the world. Also, I like painting, photography, long nature walks, sunsets, traveling, music and dogs!
Why I love my residency in Longview: The community, lush greenery and calm vibes of Longview brought me here. Additionally, the teaching methods at Christus align with my learning goals. There are numerous opportunities for community outreach which I am particularly inclined toward. The faculty is supportive and approachable, and the camaraderie among everyone makes it a great workplace. P.S. East Texas is beautiful during Fall :)

Name: Rudy Tijerina, DO
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I enjoy cooking, hiking, and most sports. I always thought I’d be the next Shaun White or Michael Phelps, but I guess medicine is cool too!
Why I love my residency in Longview: I admire the group of residents in my class; we’re amazing. Also, the program prioritizes wellness and education.

Second Year Residents

Name: Alex Basdeo, DO
Hometown:Brownsville, TX
Medical School: University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I enjoy cooking, playing guitar, and watching horror movies.
Why I love my residency in Longview: This is such a great environment to learn and grow as a physician. The faculty and staff are approachable and the culture at this program is supportive of whatever your individual goals are. Plus, NO TRAFFIC.

Name: Kelly Chang, MD
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I grew up in Taiwan!
Why I love my residency in Longview: I love how the program is close-knit and very supportive. Also, I enjoy the minimal commute!

Name: Brooke Fitch, DO
Hometown: Mabank, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I was a psychiatry major in college and trained a rat (Theodore II) to bowl strikes on a mini bowling set for my Learning and Behavior class.
Why I love my residency in Longview: I love this residency because I work with an underserved population and provide them with quality care they otherwise may not receive. The people in this program are so kind, welcoming, and fun to work with. And the fact that this is an unopposed residency program provides me with more opportunities to get hands-on experience.

Name: Brian Iskra, MD
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Medical School: University of Texas at San Antonio
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I used to black smith and wood work.
Why I love my residency in Longview: The program is supportive and caring; they facilitate my education and ensure I can perform at my best.

Name: Payam Jalali Zadeh, MD
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: Tehran Azad University
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I love to play traditional piano music. I love airplanes and air shows and also I am a nature lover.
Why I love my residency in Longview: I had opportunities to see different programs in different cities but the thing that is different here is you feel that you are living in a family. All attending doctors are supporting residents and kindly guide them with their great assets of knowledge.

Name: Krishna Kapoor, MD
Hometown: Austin, TX
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I have played in lots of tennis tournaments all over Texas and believe it's a superior sport to pickleball.
Why I love my residency in Longview: The program and all of the attendings, residents, and mentors are very genuine and inclusive. Also, lots of opportunities to be social at formal events, the gym, pool parties, dance parties, and other activities that will keep me humble (I can't dance).

Name: Taylor Le, DO
Hometown: Plano, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I can solve a Rubik’s cube. The fastest I’ve solved it is 16 seconds, but I’m a lot slower now… Also, I’m arachnophobic.
Why I love my residency in Longview: I did most of my medical school rotations in Longview. During my time here, I got to know the program director, program coordinators, residents, and faculty really well. Longview became home to me, and I wanted to be a part of the program that gave me so much when I was a medical student. Ultimately, it felt right for me to continue my medical training here. As a resident, I have no regrets, especially because I couldn’t have asked for better co-residents.

Name: Hiep Nguyen, DO
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I am the board member of my nonprofit charity and I enjoy powerlifting and bodybuilding.
Why I love my residency in Longview: Residency at Christus Health in Longview has an excellent curriculum, vast presentation of pathology, and exceptional training. In addition, the caring and supportive culture of the program helps me thrive as a resident and achieve my goal in any career plan that I choose. I find myself improved everyday as a clinician in the program.

Name: Chinaza Nweke, DO
Hometown: Anambra, Nigeria
Medical School: University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I have 5 names, all non-English. Love playing video games and watching Anime.
Why I love my residency in Longview: The sense of community I see among my fellow residents, program leaders, attendings, and staff is one of main aspects of this program for which I’m thankful. I feel comfortable and confident about my future since it really seems like everyone is genuinely trying to make each other better.

Name: Virag Patel, DO
Hometown: Irving, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: In medical school, along with other medical students, I helped host a virtual TEDx Talk during the pandemic!
Why I love my residency in Longview: I like how receptive the program is to feedback and how the program values the mental well-being of its residents.

Name: Mason Price, DO
Hometown: Salado, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I like to spend my free time in the outdoors. Some of those include gardening, birdwatching, fishing and visiting state/national parks.
Why I love my residency in Longview: My appeal to Longview are the beautiful pine trees and the quaint character this town has. The people here in Longview match these qualities with their openness and gratitude and are genuinely interested in getting to know you. Lastly, this program has a unique interest in their residents learning and competency.

Name: Siddanth Singh, MD
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Medical School: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: In my free time, I enjoy all things basketball. I love playing the game on the court as much as playing it on a video console. In fact, my brother and I were top 10 in the world on the statistics board for best gamers in NBA Live 2009. Being from San Antonio, I am also a proud Spurs Fan, GO SPURS GO!!!
Why I love my residency in Longview: Longview has its amazing charm being surrounded by greenery, but also being close to metropolitan areas. Working here at Christus Good Shepherd allows me to apply what I learned in medical school into daily practice. Residency years are challenging with long hours, but having a supportive environment with the attendings, faculty, and residents makes the journey easier. After working with everyone for just a few months, I feel as if I have made life-long friends. The didactics, especially the morning reports ran by Dr. Egbe, are extremely helpful and engaging. Taking care of patients and seeing a variety of cases is preparing me to become well-rounded after my training. I am very happy and grateful to be a part of the CHRISTUS/Texas A&M family.

Name: Renee Sone, DO
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Medical School: University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I love exotic animals and go to reptile shows when I can. I currently have 2 tree frogs as pets and am hoping to add another member soon!
Why I love my residency in Longview: The camaraderie and support I have been shown here is unmatched-from my colleagues to the GME staff and everyone in between! I am being guided towards achieving my professional goals with plentiful resources and opportunities available to me. I am thankful I get to be physically close to the family I have in Texas and for the rich learning experiences and connections that a smaller city provides.

Third Year Residents

Name: Adebolanle Ayinde, MD
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Medical School: Grodno State Medical University
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I absolutely love reality TV shows and solo trips!
Why I love my residency in Longview: I love Longview for its calmness and serenity, and it's a great place to raise a family. What I love most about my program aside from the well-rounded curriculum and the tremendous faculty is the really supportive culture! You're never really lost; there's always someone happy to guide you until you become a master yourself!

Name: Ravi Bulusu, MD
Hometown: Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Medical School: Maharajah's Institute of Medical Sciences
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I'm a cricket enthusiast - love to play and watch! I enjoy swimming (particularly after long duty hours (jk!)) and love hanging out with friends.
Why I love my residency in Longview: The culture of the CHRISTUS Good Shepherd IM program is always supportive, encourages initiatives and builds camaraderie among residents. Dr. Egbe always has an open door policy and she's resident oriented which is really important as it gives residents a free space where they can express themselves.

Name: Fatima Hassan, MD
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: Fatima Jinnah Medical University
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: Afraid of lizards
Why I love my residency in Longview: Longview is an excellent location to raise a family and enjoy nature. The program has an ideal work-life balance. The outstanding mentorship and the collegial environment facilitates learning.

Name: Siima Kavuma, MD
Hometown: Kampala, Uganda
Medical School: Makerere University School of Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: In the second grade, I won best actress award at my elementary school.

Name: Menkeoma Okoli, MD
Hometown: Nigeria
Medical School: Ebonyi State University
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I have a love and passion for seeking adventures. On a good day, I can be found sky diving or paragliding.
Why I love my residency in Longview: Why Longview? What’s not to love about Longview. The weather, the community, the wide roads and the amazing residency program itself.

Name: Juliet Pham, DO
Hometown: Austin, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I was raised on somewhat “Victorian” feminine ideals when it comes to hobbies. As a result, I am a writer, an artist, and a pianist. I grew up loving classic romance novels, poetry, foreign films, photography, interior design, and music. I’m also an athlete (specifically, tennis) because my parents wanted me to be a well-rounded proper lady, as they would say (haha).
Why I love my residency in Longview: I wanted to be part of a program that provided structured didactic sessions, a challenging, comprehensive hands-on curriculum, and exposure to unique and diverse pathology across various care settings. I was also passionate about becoming part of a community-based program that offered a multitude of volunteering opportunities which were deep rooted in capturing overlooked and neglected populations.

Name: Poonam Rao, MD
Hometown: Gurgaon, India
Medical School: SGT Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I run five miles most days.
Why I love my residency in Longview: I decided to train in Longview, because of the people we have. Everyone is so approachable and supportive.

Name: Aatif Rashid, MD
Hometown: Srinagar Kashmir, India
Medical School: Government Medical College Aurangabad
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I am a co-founder of an online skin consultation app "Skin Consult."
Why I love my residency in Longview: This residency program's strengths include a highly-dedicated program director, Dr Egbe.

Name: Jenna Haney, DO
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I love to garden, and I was a server at Cracker Barrel for 4 years!
Why I love my residency in Longview: My fiance (now husband) and I took this opportunity to train in East Texas because of the people! As members of both Tyler and Longview communities, we saw the need to address the health concerns of this part of Texas.

Name: Shahryar Syed, MD
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I love cleaning.
Why I love my residency in Longview: Longview is full of kind people.

Name: April Walnofer, DO
Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Medical School: A. T. Still University Kirksville
Fun or Interesting Fact About Me: I was a volleyball coach and cardio kickboxing instructor for 5 years.
Why I love my residency in Longview: Why I chose Longview? Hands down had to stay in Texas and didn’t want to live in a big city (I’m from South Dakota, I hate traffic). East Texas reminded me of home and I valued being in an unopposed residency program.

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