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Dr. Azhar joined UTMB's Department of Family Medicine in 1993. He attended medical school at Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. Dr. Azhar completed his residency training in Ophthalmology at the Royal College of Surgeons in England then completed a fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmogy at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

Dr. Azhar advanced his career by receiving additional residency training at UTMB in the Department of Family Medicine.  In addition to his doctorate degree, he earned an MBA from the University of Houston, Clear Lake.

Dr. Azhar is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Azhar's interests are in family medicine, ophthalmology and residency training.

Stephen Granger, DO is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana. He received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in biology with a minor in chemistry. Following this, he attended medical school at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, MS. He completed residency at Oklahoma State University Medical Center in Tulsa, OK, and was appointed as Chief Resident for the 2020-2021 residency year.

Dr. Granger strives to provide patient-centered healthcare tailored to his patients’ needs. He pursued family medicine because he wanted to care for patients from all walks of life, ranging from birth to late adulthood. He believes that disease prevention is the most important aspect of medicine.

Dr. Granger’s hobbies include exercising, cooking, spending time with family, playing with his dog, and traveling. He is excited to join UTMB and would be happy to see you for all your healthcare needs.

Melanie Gray was born in Houston, TX and raised in the once small town of Pearland, TX. She initially received her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from UTMB in 2004, graduating with honors. After working in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children's Hospital and in the Day Surgery Unit at University General Hospital, she pursued her master's degree at UTMB. With two young girls, one on the way, and the help of her husband, she received her Master's of Science in Nursing and became a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2015.

With a passion for primary care, she accepted a position at Texas Gulf Coast Medical Group in 2016. At TGCMG, she grew as a nurse practitioner and served as a preceptor. Recently, she joined the Primary and Specialty Care Clinic at UTMB.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She can usually be found hustling kids to different activities or enjoying time outdoors.

Dr. Jana received her Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Vassar College in New York and attended medical school at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at The University of Hawaii at Manoa. She completed her family medicine residency training at The University of Illinois in Chicago and went on to complete a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at The Albert Einstein Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Jana previously served as Major in the US Air Force and was an attending physician at Pope Air Force Base, Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Following her honorable discharge in 2001 Dr. Jana has had a successful civilian career, and she now joins us from University of Central Florida. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine with an additional certification in Geriatric Medicine. Dr. Jana's interests are in preventative medicine, medical student education and geriatrics.

Dr. Uzoma Obi-Nwankwo is a Board-certified Family Physician with specialized training in Geriatric Medicine. She received her medical degree from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. She completed her Family medicine Residency training at DeTar Healthcare system-Texas A&M university program and her Geriatric Medicine Fellowship training at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Dr. Obi as she is fondly known by her patients and staff is passionate about tailoring individualized quality and compassionate care to her patients and their family’s unique needs through timely value-based care and shared decision making. She loves that she can provide medical care for all age groups and relate and serve them in a one stop, shop all manner. She funnily describes her role as PCP as that of the postal services such that she helps her patients address and bring together all information in their various aspects of health care to clarity and perspective with the goal of a healthier and functional status.

When she is not doctoring, she loves to spend time creating good memories with family and friends. She enjoys volunteering both locally and internationally, traveling, watching wrestling or action and adventure movies, learning American football and crafts and trying out new cultures and food.

Ms. Peralta joined the UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine in 2015.

Ms. Peralta earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She graduated with honors from the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.

Ms. Peralta is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing.

Dr. Xie joined the UTMB Health Department of Family Medicine in 2021. Dr. Xie earned her Bachelor of Science at the University of Texas at Dallas and her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Xie completed her residency training from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Texas and also served on the Texas Association of Family Physician's (TAFP) Resident Council. She is a board certified family physician and will be seeing patients at the Family Medicine Clinic - Island West.

Dr. Xie's clinical interests include patient mental wellbeing and also women's health. Dr. Xie is a member of Doctors for Change serving on the Mental Health Committee and the Anti-Human Trafficking Committee.

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

Ms. John joined the Department of Family Medicine in 2017.

Ms. John earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Leelabai Thackersey College of Nursing at SNDT Women's University in Churchgate, Mumbai, India. She also earned earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing, from the Prairie View A&M College of Nursing in Houston, Texas.

She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and is licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing.