Dr. Tran grew up in Wichita, Kansas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Tulsa. Dr. Tran moved to Texas after her undergraduate studies, where she served two years in AmeriCorps VISTA, a national full-time volunteer service program working in communities of need. She continued her studies at Texas A&M, obtaining her medical degree. She did her general surgery residency at Texas Tech in Lubbock.

Prior to joining UTMB, Dr. Tran was a general surgeon in a rural community in North Texas.

Dr. Laurel L. Humphrey is an Assistant Professor in the Division of MIS/Foregut Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Prior to practicing at UTMB Dr. Humphrey was in private practice in General Surgery and Endoscopy in Dallas, Crockett, and La Grange, Texas.

Dr. Humphrey earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Her residency in General Surgery was completed at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. She received her Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.

Dr. Humphrey has been a part of scientific societies such as the Brazoria County Medical Society, Colorado-Fayette County Medical Society, Tarrant County Medical Society and membership in the Texas Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Humphrey's specialties include endoscopy, breast and colon cancer, thyroid, hernia repair, gall bladder, appendectomy, and emergency surgery.

Dr. Ruth L. Bush is a professor of vascular surgery and the Associate Dean for Educational Affairs at the John Sealy School of Medicine-UTMB. She is board certified in both general and vascular surgery. She has over two decades of experience in vascular surgery and undergraduate (UME) and graduate medical education (GME). Prior to joining the faculty at UTMB, she was the founding Associate Dean for Medical Education and Professor at the University of Houston College of Medicine. She has also held leadership roles at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas A&M College of Medicine where she was the former Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, holding tenured professor rank at both institutions.

A native North Carolinian, Dr. Bush graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, medical degree from University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, juris doctorate from William Taft Law School, and masters in public health from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Bush completed residency at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, CA where she also spent an additional two years doing vascular surgery research. Following completion of general surgery residency, she completed a vascular surgery fellowship at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA. She practiced in the VA healthcare system for 18 years and recently retired from federal service. She also has practiced in private and academic settings. Over the past decade, her clinical practice has focused primarily on venous disorders including chronic venous insufficiency, venous ulcerations, and post-thrombotic syndrome.

She is a member of several prestigious professional organizations and was elected in 2018 to the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Additionally, the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum have awarded her Distinguished Fellow status. Dr. Bush is past president of the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (formerly known as the PVSS) and is president-elect (2023) of the American Venous Forum. She is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Vascular Surgery – Venous and Lymphatic Disorders.

She has authored over 150 peer-reviewed articles, >35 book chapters, and is on the editorial board of several medical journals. Dr. Bush has been an invited speaker and led workshops/courses at more than 200 national and international programs. She also is involved with her community as a volunteer at Dress for Success Houston, as a member of the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red which promotes cardiovascular health in women, and as a global volunteer to Haiti providing much needed primary care and general surgical procedures. She is passionate about medical education at all levels, patient care and barriers to care, and studying and improving health disparities in venous care.

Dr. Alexander Perez is a Professor of Surgery, Vice Chair of Quality for the Department of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive and Foregut Surgery, the Surgical Director of the Sealy and Smith Laboratory for Surgical Training Assessment and Research at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and Adjunct Professor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr. Perez was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. He completed his Research Fellowship and Internship in General Surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He then did his Residency in General Surgery at Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine and his Fellowship in Endosurgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Perez received his Medical Degree at the Bosque University Colombian Medical School in Bogota, Colombia.

Dr. Alexander Perez is board-certified in Surgery, fellowship-trained in Endosurgery and specializes in minimally invasive general and oncologic surgery - hernias, gallbladder, stomach, spleen, adrenal, and pancreas. He has authored over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 10 book chapters in surgical textbooks. Dr. Perez has been honored with several awards for teaching and clinical work and is active in scientific organizations.

Dr. J. Patrick Walker is a Professor in the MIS/Foregut Surgery Division in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. Dr. Walker holds the James C. Thompson, MD, Distinguished Chair in Surgery, is Vice Chair for Surgical Operations and is Surgical Director of Perioperative Services.

He completed his internship and residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch where he became Chief Resident. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology and his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Walker earned his MD at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Dr. Walker is a member of the Southern Surgical Association, the Texas Surgical Society, the Texas Medical Association, and the American College of Surgeons. He is a past Director of the American Board of Surgery and a current Governor of the American College of Surgeons. He has been honored with the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumni Award at the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Arthur Ellenberger Award from the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Walker's special interests include surgical education, rural/community surgery, endoscopy, acute care surgery, evaluation of abdominal complaints, gall bladder disease, hernias, colorectal surgery and complex surgical problems.

Dr. Lauren McTaggart, MD is a board-certified general surgeon. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. She returned to pursue a career in medicine obtaining her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean. She completed her internship and residency in General Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She accomplished a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Advanced GI and Bariatric Surgery at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

Dr. McTaggart’s surgical interests include: Minimally Invasive Surgery of the Foregut, Bariatric, and General Surgery. She has experience in bariatric and revisional bariatric surgery, foregut surgery, including esophageal motility disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal and paraesophageal hernias, and gastroparesis. She also has an interest in endoscopy, benign gallbladder disease and abdominal and inguinal hernias. She utilizes minimally invasive surgical techniques through a robotic and laparoscopic approach.

Dr. Lauren McTaggart is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, and the American Hernia Society.

Lastly, Dr. McTaggart is passionate about patient care and her community. She is dedicated to helping her patient’s understand disease processes and achieve a better quality of life.

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Christina is a Nurse Practitioner in the UTMB Health Department of Surgery.

Christina Guarin grew up in San Antonio, TX and always knew she wanted to be in healthcare. In high school she joined the Health Occupations Students of America and became a Certified Nursing Assistant at the age of 16. She worked in a Skilled Nursing facility until after graduation when she enlisted in the US Navy. After bootcamp she was attached to a Marine Corps Unit and did 2 tours in Iraq as a MedEvac corpsman. After completing her enlistment, she challenged the state board and was approved to take the NCLEX for LVN. Christina then worked as an LVN in an outpatient surgery center while taking pre-requisites to get into nursing school. After graduating with her BSN, she worked one year in a Critical Care Stepdown Unit before transferring to the Intensive Care Unit where she would stay until completing her master's degree and becoming an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

Christina Guarin is Board Certified by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

In her free time, Christina enjoys traveling with her husband, and chasing after her ever-energetic children.

Dr. Marilyn Marx is a board-certified general surgeon with a special interest in laparoscopic surgery, diseases of the breast, hernias and endoscopy. Dr. Marx received her B.S. from The University of Michigan and her M.D. from Rush Medical College. She completed her general surgical residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch, furthering her education by receiving a Master of Medical Science Degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch in 1987 and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Houston Clear-Lake in 2000. Upon completing her surgical residency, Dr. Marx was in private practice until 1997 when she joined the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

In additional to her clinical and educational responsibilities as a Professor of Surgery, she has served in several administrative appointments within the Faculty Group Practice over the past years including Chief Medical Director for Outpatient Services, Assistant Dean for Faculty Practice, and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Practice, and Chief Physician Executive. Dr. Marx served as President of the Association of Women Surgeons from 2010-2011.

Dr. Sahai currently serves as a Professor and Division Chief of General Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB). Prior to moving to UTMB in February 2020, he was on the faculty of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where he served as the Chief of the Section of Consultative Medicine in the Department of General Internal Medicine. and was part of the leadership team of the Perioperative Evaluation and Management (POEM) Center. His undergraduate education was at Tulane University, followed by medical school at the UTMB. He completed residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Dr. Sahai has completed a board certification in Medical Quality, as well as a graduate certificate in Health Care Management from Rice University School of Business.

Dr. Sahai is an advocate for patients being a partner in their healthcare and is recognized internationally as an expert in the perioperative care of the cancer patient.