Dr. Karl Crudo is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine. He completed his residency at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital - Forbes Campus in Pittsburgh, Pa., and received his medical degree from the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines.

Leslie Nabors was born in Mississippi and moved to Texas early in her childhood. She stayed in this great state and pursued a Bachelor's of Science in Health at Texas A&M University. After graduating from Texas A&M, she worked for a year in the Texas Medical Center where she prepared for enrollment into the physician assistant program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She finished her training and graduated with a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies in August 2015. She is currently treating patients at the UTMB Health Family Medicine clinic in Angleton, Texas.

Dr. Elizabeth Cloninger was born and raised in Southeast Texas and has been practicing in the ClearLake-League City area since 2013, most recently coming to UTMB from Houston Methodist in Clear Lake, where she saw patients and acted as the medical director from 2017-2019. Her areas of interest include high-risk obstetrics, family planning, well woman care, and management of heavy menstrual cycles.

Dr. Cloninger attended UTMB in Galveston for both medical school and later residency. While in residency, she received awards such as resident of the quarter, physician of the month, and the Golden Apple award for medical student teaching.

Prior to medical school, Dr. Cloninger graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M University in College Station with a degree in genetics.

Dr. Cloninger is happy to be rejoining the UTMB system that trained her. In her free time, Dr. Cloninger enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband.

Maria Escamilla is a certified nurse practitioner. She graduated with her Masters of Science in Nursing from UTMB and her clinical interests include occupational medicine and family practice medicine.

Dr. Shakira Dhamotharan was born and raised in the state of New York. She completed all of her academic and medical training at St. Georges University in Grenada, West Indies. There she received a Master's degree in Public Health as well as her MD degree. She finished her residency in Family Medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital in Patterson, NJ. Dr. Dhamotharan held the positions of Assistant Program Director of Family Medicine Residency Program, and Instructor of Family and Community Medicine at New York Medical College where she practiced primary care as well as had an academic role. Additionally, in this position she assisted with research projects, trained residents as well as lectured fundamental family medicine practices to both medical students and residents.

Dr. Dhamotharan is actively involved in volunteering and serves on the Board of Directors for Team Triumphant, a children's charity organization that aspires to educate inner city youth with the necessary skills to graduate high school. Triumphant also assists them in attaining the resources needed to discover colleges and apply to them. She has traveled to Trinidad to volunteer her services with the Ministry of Health to assist with public health matters. She serves as international correspondent for the Sundar Charitable Trust whose primary goal is to bring math and reading supplies to poor villages in Tamil Nadu, India. Every two years, Dr. Dhamotharan and her husband visit this Trust and the local children to determine what steps need to be made to increase literacy rates.

Dr. Dhamotharan currently lives in Sugarland, TX with her husband and two sons. She and her husband are active members in Meenakashi Temple. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Physicians and she's been a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians since 2010.

Dr. Shakira Dhamotharan was born and raised in the state of New York. She completed all of her academic and medical training at St. Georges University in Grenada, West Indies. There she received a Master's degree in Public Health as well as her MD degree. She finished her residency in Family Medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital in Patterson, NJ. Dr. Dhamotharan held the positions of Assistant Program Director of Family Medicine Residency Program, and Instructor of Family and Community Medicine at New York Medical College where she practiced primary care as well as had an academic role. Additionally, in this position she assisted with research projects, trained residents as well as lectured fundamental family medicine practices to both medical students and residents.

Dr. Dhamotharan is actively involved in volunteering and serves on the Board of Directors for TeamTriumphant, a children's charity organization that aspires to educate inner city youth with the necessary skills to graduate high school. Triumphant also assists them in attaining the resources needed to discover colleges and apply to them. She has traveled to Trinidad to volunteer her services with the Ministry of Health to assist with public health matters. She serves as international correspondent for the Sundar Charitable Trust whose primary goal is to bring math and reading supplies to poor villages in Tamil Nadu, India. Every two years, Dr. Dhamotharan and her husband visit this Trust and the local children to determine what steps need to be made to increase literacy rates.

Dr. Dhamotharan currently lives in Sugarland, TX with her husband and two sons. She and her husband are active members in Meenakashi Temple. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Physicians and she's been a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians since 2010.

Dr. Crystal Alvarez is an Assistant Professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  She is committed to addressing all aspects of women's health with special interests in family planning, menstrual disorders, high-risk obstetrics, and minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Alvarez graduated Cum Laude from Baylor University in 2006 with her Bachelor's degree in Biology. She went on to receive her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2011 and did her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch where she received multiple resident teaching awards and served as Administrative Chief Resident her final year.

Dr. Alvarez is married and has one young daughter. She is currently practicing at the Clear Lake location and is taking new patients.

Dr. Vinod Kaushik is a graduate of Mahatama Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Devi Ahilya University in India. He completed his residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and his fellowship at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, with a special interest in dementia and disabilities in the elderly.

Dr. Kaushik currently serves as the Medical Director of Gulf Health Care Center in Texas City and the Geriatric Track Program Director at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He is Program Director of the UTMB Geriatric Medicine Fellowship. He is an assistant professor of Geriatric Medicine and serves as attending faculty on the ACE Unit, Geriatric Consults, and Geriatric Clinic Service.

Dr. Suzanne C. LaForte joined UTMB Pediatrics as faculty in 1998. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. She received her doctorate and completed her residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, TX.

Dr. LaForte has a special interest in childhood literacy and is medical director for Reach Out and Read and Island Pediatrics Book Club literacy programs.

In addition to serving in in the School Health Advisory Committee, Dr. LaForte has many teaching responsibilities at UTMB in Galveston, TX.

Dr. LaForte sees general pediatric patients.

Dr. Amber Hairfield joined UTMB Pediatrics as faculty in 2011. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Hairfield received her doctorate from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas. She also completed her residency in Pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX.

Dr. Hairfield has a special interest in medical education and is currently serving as the Pediatric Residency Program Director at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston.

In addition to serving in various medical education committees, Dr. Hairfield also serves in a few UTMB Quality Improvement committees for academic pediatric clinics

Kim Okewunmi, DNP, MSN, WHNP-BC, is a Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. She received a Doctorate in Nurse Practitioner Degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2011. Kim’s clinical interests include low-risk prenatal care, postpartum care, gynecology management for women & adolescents ages 12 and up, well-women exams & preventive care, management of abnormal uterine bleeding, menopause management, and management of cervical dysplasia.

In her spare time, Kim enjoys traveling, gardening, and watching movies.