Benjamin found his passion for healthcare while serving in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. Shortly after moving back to Texas, he attended The University of Texas Medical Branch to obtain his Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Benjamin went on to earn his Master’s of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner from The University of Texas Medical Branch as well.

Benjamin is board certified through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society. Benjamin also enjoys spending time as a Clinical Instructor for the School of Nursing at UTMB Galveston, where he is able to share his knowledge and experiences as a healthcare professional with future nurses.

Benjamin enjoys fishing, running, spending time with his wife and two rescue dogs, and staying active in church. He focuses on a holistic approach to patient care with an emphasis on disease prevention.

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.

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.

Ms. Guzman joined the Department of Family Medicine in 2020.

Ms. Guzman earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Community Health from the Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and a Master in Physician Assistant Studies from UTMB Health in Galveston.

She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and is licensed by the Texas Medical Board.

My name is Casey Buck. My clinical areas of special interest are preventative healthcare and Family Medicine. I enjoy spending quality time with friends and family. I am an avid Houston sports fan, dedicated husband, and dog Dad.

Dr. Edemekong is proud to serve in a broad scope of Family and Preventive Medicine. He has been practicing in the urgent care, preventive and family medicine settings and enjoys being able to provide holistic care to his patients.

He has numerous publications and has provided multiple presentations in his career at both a macro level with the CDC and micro level with small workshops and lectures. Dr. Edemekong has a passion for being involved in community education and has dedicated himself to medical missions on an annual basis. Dr. Edemekong offers an ability to serve his patients with a truly integrative approach.

Dr. Edemekong offers Primary Health Care, HIV Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Occupational Medicine. With a background in Family Medicine and completed training in Preventive Medicine, Dr. Edemekong has experience working with at-risk patient populations. His passion continues in areas of Clinical Preventive Medicine, Global Healthcare, Acute Disease Epidemiology (HIV, TB, Hepatitis, STIs) and Health Disparities as well as Maternal-Fetal Healthcare.

He offers basic and routine health care needs with a sensitive and unbiased approach for preventive care, physical exams, and Infectious disease treatment. He promotes the highest level of health for all people by striving to eliminate preventable diseases and educating my patients regarding healthy behaviors across all life stages.

 Provider is LGBTQIA+ Responsive

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.

Christine Kley is a board-certified family medicine physician. Areas of clinical interest include preventative medicine, women’s health, and travel medicine. She enjoys teaching and received the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Teaching award in residency training. Outside of clinic, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the Houston restaurant scene, and crafting.

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.

Emily Smith was born and raised in Beaumont, TX. She received a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2010. She then went on to pursue nursing and received her Bachelor's in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio in 2012.

She worked as an emergency room nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital and then for five years worked for Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center as a trauma nurse. While working full time as a trauma nurse, she went back to school for her Master's degree at UTMB. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA with her Master's in Nursing, specializing in family practice. She has worked urgent care for UTMB since 2017 and began working full time at Webster Adult Primary Care in 2018.

Emily is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She enjoys spending her spare time with her husband and daughter.