Dr. Konofaos is Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Konofaos received his MD degree in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Thessaloniki Greece. Dr Konofaos obtained the Greek Plastic Surgery Boards in 2010 and the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (EBOPRAS) in 2014. He completed a 2-year fellowship training in brachial plexus, facial paralysis and peripheral nerve reconstruction at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk Virginia. Dr Konofaos also completed fellowship training in Microsurgery (1 year) and in Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery (2 years) at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Dr. Konofaos’ clinical practice focuses on peripheral nerve microsurgery (with emphasis on facial paralysis, brachial plexus, migraines and surgical treatment of pain) in pediatric plastic surgery and craniofacial surgery along with reconstructive microsurgery and facial aesthetics. Dr. Konofaos is a member of national and international Plastic Surgery associations and several Plastic Surgery committees related to Plastic Surgery research and education. Dr Konofaos serves on multiple editorial boards for plastic surgical journals, and he is actively involved in clinical research. Dr Konofaos has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles and co-edited several book chapters.

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. Uma R. Phatak is an Assistant Professor and Section Chief of Colon and Rectal Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. She is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Dr. Phatak obtained her medical degree at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey, in 2009. She went on to begin her general surgery resident training at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Houston, Texas, in 2009.

After her second year of residency in 2011, Dr. Phatak was accepted to be a clinical research fellow in the Center for Surgical Trials and Evidence-Based Practice at UTHSC. Upon completing her fellowship in 2013, she earned her Master of Science in Clinical Research from UTHSC. She then continued her general surgery resident training at UTHSC, which she completed in 2016. She did a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 2016-2017.

In 2017, Dr. Phatak became an Assistant Professor in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Boston University Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. A year later, she became the Clerkship Site Director for MS3 Colorectal Surgery Rotation where she taught medical students.

Dr. Phatak joined UTMB in 2020. She is a member of several national scientific societies in surgery, has authored over 15 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals and three book chapters, and is a journal reviewer for three scientific journals.

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Dr. Bracken is a Laryngologist, an ENT who specializes in disorders of the voice, swallow, and airway. He is the Director of UTMB Voice and Swallow Center and board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

He completed an advanced fellowship in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice at the University of California: San Francisco, under the training of three Laryngologists; Drs Clark Rosen (a US leader in the field of Laryngology), VyVyYoung, and Yue Ma. He completed his ENT residency at the University of California San Diego and a year of research with the National Institute of Health with a focus on neuro-laryngology and development of non- invasive skin surface electrode technologies for evaluation of voice and swallow activity. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Medicine in Houston.

Dr. Bracken's understanding of the voice has grown from both perspectives as a physician and as a performing artist himself. He previously performed with Houston Grand Opera and has undergraduate training in vocal performance and choral education (Sam Houston State University). These training and life experiences have led to expertise in developing treatment plans for singers/professional voice users of all types, musical genres, age groups, and professional levels.

His care and treatment extends beyond the voice to full spectrum airway and swallowing complaints as well. His surgical training includes specialization in advanced awake endoscopic procedures, laser microsurgery, delicate vocal fold microsurgery, throat and tracheal surgeries.

He is passionate about optimizing and restoring quality of life losses from impacts of voice, swallow, and breathing disorders. He practices with an integrated team-based and patient centered philosophy alongside UTMBs expert Speech- Language Pathologists (voice and swallowing rehabilitation specialists). Collaborative care is critical and he enjoys working with other disciplines in optimizing your care (Head and Neck Cancer Surgeons, Gastroenterology, Gerontology, Neurology, Pulmonology, Rheumatology, etc).

During his free time, Dr. Bracken enjoys music, traveling, and hiking with his lovely wife, an occupational therapist.

Ravi S. Radhakrishnan is the Chief of Pediatric Surgery, a Professor of Surgery, and the Surgical Director of the Pediatric ECMO program at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. He received his undergraduate degree in Bio-engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA and an MBA in general management from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX.

After graduating from medical school at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, he completed his general surgery residency and an NIH T32 sponsored research fellowship in Shock, Resuscitation and Intestinal Physiology at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston. In addition, he completed a Pediatric Surgery fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Radhakrishnan has won multiple teaching awards and is the author of over 30 scientific publications. He was also recognized as a "Top Doctor" for 2013 by Houstonia Magazine. His clinical interests are in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Surgical Oncology, and Portal Hypertension/Complex Hepatobiliary Surgery.

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. 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. Anthony D’Andrea is an Assistant Professor in the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. He grew up in Houston, and received a Bachelor in Business Administration at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He then went on to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where he graduated with a dual Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Public Health (MPH). As a medical student he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. He completed residency training in surgery at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida.

Dr. D’Andrea’s training in colorectal surgery is longstanding. Prior to medical school, he worked as a clinical research associate at the Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, under the guidance of Dr. John Marks. His research focused on minimally invasive laparoscopic colorectal surgery featuring radical sphincter preservation for rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. During medical school at the University of Miami, Dr. D’Andrea’s public health work involved the study of colorectal cancer survivorship and improving patients’ quality of life after treatment. In general surgery residency at the Mount Sinai Hospital, he spent a dedicated year of research under the mentorship of Dr. Patricia Sylla where he focused on minimally invasive laparoscopy, robotic surgery, and transanal endoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, as well as Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Dr. D’Andrea’s training culminated at the Cleveland Clinic Florida where he had the opportunity to learn from longtime leaders in the field of colorectal surgery. Dr. D’Andrea is now privileged to return to Texas joining the faculty at UTMB where he can help serve the health and population of his home state with the highest quality of care.

Dr. Hisham Marwan is an Associate Professor and division chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He is a double board-certified surgeon in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral, Head and Neck Oncology, and Microvascular Surgery.

Dr. Marwan completed his oral and maxillofacial surgeon training at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami in 2016. Dr. Marwan remained at Jackson Memorial Hospital from 2016-2018 as a surgical fellow in head and neck tumor and microvascular reconstruction surgery.

Dr. Marwan provides a state-of-the-art facial reconstructive surgery for oral cancer and jaw tumors. He is a pioneer in the Jaw in A Day procedure, where he uses microvascular surgery, nerve reconstruction, and jaw reconstruction to restore function and esthetics in a single surgery.

Dr. Marwan's practice involves the surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea. He is the first surgeon to implant the hypoglossal nerve stimulator (INSPIRE) at UTMB. He works closely with the pulmonology and sleep medicine team to provide an integrated approach for patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

Dr. Marwan is a fellow of several national and international scientific societies, including the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. His areas of research interest include oral, head, and neck cancer, facial reconstruction, salivary gland tumors, obstructive sleep apnea, and craniomaxillofacial trauma.