I am excited to be back in the Galveston County area! I am originally from Dickinson, Texas, and my family still resides there. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry with a minor in German Lingual Studies from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and my Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. I completed my rural family medicine training at Waco Family Medicine where I worked at a Federally Qualified Health Center for the medically underserved. I am currently board certified in Family Medicine.

My interests within medicine include taking care of infants through older adults. I also really enjoy preventative medicine and making sure that my patients have a well balanced life physically and spiritually. My interests outside of medicine include singing, cooking, and enjoying time with my family.

 Provider is LGBTQIA+ Responsive

I grew up in Clear Lake myself, so I was very excited to become a part of this UTMB Clear Lake family. I attended the University of Houston – Main Campus for my bachelor’s degree, and I completed my medical training (medical school and my pediatric residency) in the large Texas Medical Center in Houston. In 2023, I moved back to Clear Lake so that I could give back to this wonderful community.

I have a wonderful husband, and we are lucky to have both our families and fur-siblings in the area. My hobbies include playing tennis (when it’s not too hot outside), playing the piano, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Pediatrics has been my calling since high school. I am blessed to have the opportunity to be able to educate and comfort patients and their family members in some of their most stressful times. I love that I get to watch these children grow from newborns into wonderful young adults and help them along the way.

Being a growing child (or even raising one) isn’t easy! Every patient brings their own story, challenges, and personality, and each of them has something to teach me. I just strive to be a positive light during their journeys and work to keep my patients safe, healthy, and happy.

Dr. Ben-Okoli's special interests include prevention, health maintenance, integrative medicine, counseling and adult medicine. He is dedicated to patient empowerment and patient education which are essential to helping patients achieve their medical, mental and social health goals. He is looking forward to developing lifelong relationships with his patients and their families.

Dr. Peter Beshara joined UTMB Health Primary Care Clinic in Texas City July 2015. He is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Physicians and in Obesity Medicine by American Board of Obesity medicine. Dr. Beshara also earned his Master of Health Administration from LSUS. He grew up in Egypt where he received his Doctor of Medicine with honors from Ain Shams University Medical School and Master of Science in Ophthalmology Medicine. Dr. Beshara moved to the States and completed his residency training in Family Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He is also Co Medical Director of the UTMB Health Primary and Specialty Care Clinic in Texas City.

Dr. Beshara's interests include Prevention Medicine, Obesity medicine, Integrative medicine, and Adult and Geriatric medicine. He is very dedicated to patient education and empowerment and looks forward to developing life-long relationships with his patients.

Dr. Namita Bhardwaj is a native Houstonian. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin where she completed her undergraduate coursework in biology and earned her Bachelors of Science and Bachelors of Arts. She went on to attend Ross University to complete her medical education and to earn her MD.

Dr. Bhardwaj completed her family medicine residency at UT Health in Houston, TX. She served as chief resident in her final year of training and was recognized as an outstanding PGY 3 resident and awarded the Scholarly Achievement Award. Dr. Bhardwaj then went on to pursue her fellowship training in Primary Care Sports Medicine at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in El Paso. There she served as team physician for several of the local teams including the El Paso Rhinos, University of Texas at El Paso Division I Sports teams, as well as area high schools covering a wide array of sports.

In her role at UTMB, Dr. Bhardwaj serves as the medical director for Galveston ISD. You can always find her and her team of residents and students on the sidelines at Ball High School football games. Dr. Bhardwaj's scholarly interests include opioids and sports related injuries. She has also served as Physician of the Day for the Texas Legislature. Dr. Bhardwaj enjoys attending sporting events, spending time with family and friends, reading and traveling in her spare time.

Dr. Sonia Bhatt attended Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and UTMB for her residency in internal medicine. She is professionally interested in the management of diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, not just with medication but by promoting positive and healthy lifestyle changes. Dr. Bhatt also emphasizes the importance of annual wellness screenings and disease prevention.

Dr. Katherine Billingsley joined family medicine with special interest in full spectrum care as well as global health and tropical travel medicine. Dr. Billingsley studied global health in medical school and completed a Master's in Public Health followed by a Certificate in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene by the ASTMH. She has traveled to several countries for research and medical mission trips.

She enjoys her primary care practice, focusing on the whole patient as well as the prevention of disease, getting to know the whole family with members of all ages, and working with mothers and their children. She has a personal interest in caring for foster and adoptive families and their children, as she and her husband have fostered children as well.

Dr. Billingsley continues to travel to Kenya with UTMB to work at a rural mission hospital there, teaching students and residents about primary care and global health. She and her husband, Travis, loves to travel, hike, play Frisbee, swim, and connect with friends over a good board game.

Dr. Michael Binder received his MD from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX and completed his pediatrics internship and residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Dr. Binder is Board Certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. His clinical interests include all aspects of pediatrics and seeing his patients develop through the physical, emotional and social health through infancy through adolescence and young adulthood.

Dr. Cynthia Binder joined UTMB Health Pediatric Community Based Clinics in 2002. She completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston where she also earned her medical degree. Dr. Binder holds a bachelor's degree from Baylor University.

Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Dr. Binder enjoys providing healthcare and education to her patients and their families. Additionally, she enjoys teaching medical students and residents.

Dr. Binder enjoys all aspects of Pediatrics, but has a special interest in preventive medicine, infectious disease, and the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Dr. Binder is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Dr. Ann Jimerson is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. She received her BA from The University of Texas at Austin. She then completed MD at Texas Tech Health Science Center in Lubbock, TX and her Pediatric residency at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Jimerson specializes in General Pediatrics, with a special interest in adolescent medicine and asthma.

Before joining UTMB in 2014, Dr. Jimerson was an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Indiana University Medical Group in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Jimerson is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.