Dr. Priya Shah is a family physician. She received her MD from St. George's University - West Indies and completed her family medicine internship and residency at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York, an affiliate of the Mount Sinai Health System. Her clinical interests include all aspects of family medicine including preventative medicine.

 Provider is LGBTQIA+ Responsive

Katie Cotta is a Family Nurse Practitioner who has been in the medical field for 12 years. She was born and raised in Texas where she obtained her degree in nursing. Katie began her career in 2010 as an RN where she first worked on Tele units for 2 years. Then in 2012 she continued her educated and obtained her bachelors in nursing. From 2012 to 2018, she worked as an RN for UTMB in Galveston. While working, in 2016 she obtained her Master's degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner through UTMB. Since starting her career as an FNP she has had 2 years in GI and 1 year in Family Practice where she was seeing women, children, and adult patients. Katie is passionate about helping others and making a difference.

Dr. Pilgrim joined UTMB Health’s Department of Family Medicine in 2021 as a Resident in training. He currently holds the position of Clinical Assistant Professor as a board certified Family Medicine Physician. Dr. Pilgrim received a Bachelor of Science and graduated from The University of Houston Downtown in Houston, Texas. He then earned his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch. His areas of special clinical interest include Lifestyle Medicine, Weight Loss, Diabetes, Smoking Cessation, and Mental Health. Dr. Pilgrim chose family medicine because he enjoys the challenge of caring for people across the full spectrum of life-stages and because he believes in the importance of caring for not just individuals, but for families as a whole.

In his free time he enjoys spending quality time with family, getting outdoors, listening to audiobooks, and a variety of activities centered around physical fitness.

Providing care for adults of all ages, I enjoy educating my patients about their current health condition and recommending ways to improve it. My main focus is on prevention of chronic illness and disease. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling with my family, reading, and being active.

Cynthia grew up in Delaware County Pennsylvania, attended and graduated from Temple University for both her undergraduate and graduate studies. She started her career in an oncology unit at Temple University hospital while completing her graduate studies. In 2010 after graduate school, she and her family relocated to the great State of Texas where they have since made their home. She joined the 82nd Medical Group-Sheppard Air Force Base as a Family Practice Clinician-Civilian Contractor for about 3 years. There she was awarded the Outstanding Performance Award by the United States Air Force Medical Service's Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care Inc. In the 3 years at Sheppard Air Force Base, she started and completed a post graduate education earning her doctorate degree for which her research focus and publication was on diabetes management. Cynthia went on to serve as a Primary Care consultant for the next 6 years at the North Texas State Hospital where she received numerous recognitions for her work and her contribution to successful joint commission surveys. At this time, most of her family have moved from Pennsylvania to Houston, thus they relocated to the Houston area to be closer to family.

She enjoys spending time with family, serving at her local church and doing crossfit. Cynthia is honored to join the UTMB family at the Angleton Danbury Campus.

Howdy, my name is Farha Syed and I am practically Texas born bred and a proud Aggie! I had an amazing medical school journey that allowed me to travel and provide care in rural mountain and island areas. This eventually led me back home to Houston, where I’m glad to be giving back to my community. I served as co-chief at UTMB Family Medicine Residency Program and helped develop and deploy the COVID response team, providing support and leadership during a challenging time in our world. I have grown a special interest in guiding people through the challenges of COVID recovery, while maintaining a focus on the rest of their general health. I love helping my patients reach their healthcare and preventative medicine goals such as losing weight, dietary changes and lifestyle modifications. When I’m not participating in patient care and my passion for medicine, you can find me biking the trails of Bayou and Memorial park, finding new home improvement projects I have to start right away, and helping my husband work on our cars.

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

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.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Family Medicine for Dr. Banga are the bonds that she builds with her patients over the course of their lives and the enjoyment in keeping them healthy and well.

Her clinical areas of special interest are Lifestyle and Preventive Medicine as well as Nutrition.

In her free time, she enjoy music, traveling and gardening.

 Provider is LGBTQIA+ Responsive

Dr. Nicanord joined The UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine in 2017. Dr. Nicanord earned a Bachelors of Science in Biology from the Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, and a Doctorate of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica. Dr. Nicanord graduated from the UTMB Family Medicine Residency Program and continued his training by earning a fellowship in Geriatrics, also at UTMB.