Enrique R. Barrientos, PA-C, is a certified Physician Assistant in the Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He has over 35 years of experience as a Physician Assistant.

Mr. Barrientos completed his graduate physician assistant program in 1982 at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C, and went on to complete a post-graduate surgical program for physician assistants at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, in 1983.

Throughout his career, Mr. Barrientos has worked at various hospitals and medical practices as a Physician Assistant and First Assist OR in New York, California, and Texas.

Dr. Richard Lu is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Minimally Invasive and Foregut Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. He also serves as an Associate Program Director for the General Surgery Residency Program and the James E. Thompson, MD, Distinguished Professor in Surgical Simulation. He completed his internship and residency in general surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. During his residency he demonstrated a keen interest in minimally invasive surgery as well as teaching, and has been honored with various awards including the LSTAR Resident Surgical Olympics PGY-5 Champion, Golden Apple Award in Stimulation, Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching, the Thayer Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was also elected as a Raleigh Ross Scholar and a nominee for the institution's best resident.

Following residency, Dr. Lu completed a fellowship in Advanced GI and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland. During his time there, he trained with world-renowned experts in abdominal wall reconstruction and hernia repair as well as foregut surgery.

Dr. Lu is a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and a member of the American College of Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Texas Surgical Society, and the International Hernia Collaboration.

Dr. Lu's clinical interests include minimally invasive abdominal wall reconstruction, ventral hernia repair, inguinal hernia repair, mesh complications, and benign biliary disease.

His personal interests outside of surgery include spending time with his family, racquetball, cooking, photography, and working on cars.