Dr. V. Suzanne Klimberg is a Professor and the Division Chief of Surgical Oncology and Colorectal Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). She is a board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeon with three decades of experience in breast surgical oncology. Dr. Klimberg holds the Courtney M. Townsend, Jr., M.D., Distinguished Chair in General Surgery and is Clinical Director of the UTMB Cancer Center and Medical Director of the Breast Cancer Service Line.

After her PhD candidacy in Biochemistry at the University of Miami Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1977-1980), Dr. Klimberg earned her medical degree with honors in 1984 at the University of Florida (UF) in Orlando, Florida. She remained at UF to complete her general surgery internship (1984-1985) and residency (1985-1988) as well as a clinical oncology fellowship (1988-1989). Dr. Klimberg went on to complete a breast diseases fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, Arkansas, from 1990-1991.

During her fellowship at UAMS, Dr. Klimberg became a faculty member in the Department of Surgery. She remained at UAMS for 27 years where she became a respected leader in breast surgical oncology. During her time at UAMS, Dr. Klimberg held several leadership positions, including Director of the Breast Cancer Program and Division Director of Surgical Oncology. She was also honored with the Muriel Balsam Kohn Chair in Breast Surgical Oncology and with her own named lectureship at the Rockefeller Cancer Institute by her colleagues and friends.

Dr. Klimberg joined UTMB in 2017. That same year she earned her PhD in Clinical and Translational Sciences from the University of Arkansas.

In her career, Dr. Klimberg has pioneered innovative breast cancer treatment methods and holds several patents in surgical treatment methods. She has authored over 260 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 49 book chapters in surgical textbooks as well as served as editor of 13 surgical textbooks. Additionally, Dr. Klimberg is Chair of the Oncoplastic Breast Skills Course at the American College of Cancer, has held over 30 editorial board positions for surgical journals and publications, has won over 75 awards in teaching, research, and clinical care, and is the past president of three major American surgical organizations. She has also been funded by the NIH, American Cancer Society, Merit Review, and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York.

Dr. Klimberg's clinical interests include prevention of lymphedema using Axillary Reverse Mapping (ARM) technique; needleless breast surgery; minimally invasive breast surgery; treatment of breast cancer with radiofrequency ablation; diagnosis of breast cancer with tears; high-risk management; breast pain; and chest wall pain after surgery.

Her numerous list of honors include Top Doctors in Texas, Texas Monthly, 2018, 2019; Super Doctors®, 2019; Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors List; America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly, 2017; One of America's Top 1% Most Honored Professionals, American Registry, 2017; Compassionate Doctor 5-Year Award, Vitals, 2017; America's Top Doctors for Cancer 2017, Castle Connolly; and Exceptional Women in Medicine 2017, Castle Connolly.

Dr. Klimberg is also actively involved in many professional medical organizations and journals. Her responsibilities include Deputy Editor of the Annals of Surgical Oncology; Associate Editor of the Journal of Surgical Oncology; Editorial Board Member for the Annals of Surgery, Surgery, and The Breast Journal; Treasurer of the Southern Surgical Association; Fellow of the American College of Nutrition; and Member of the American Surgical Association, the Society of University Surgeons, and the Association for Academic Surgery.

Dr. Cox comes to UTMB after 13 years at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. Prior to that, he spent 13 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, with multiple wartime deployments. He is well-known for handling the most severe and unusual cases of arterial and venous disease, utilizing minimally invasive and traditional surgical treatment options. His academic focus has been the study and implementation of novel endovascular procedures, initially in a combat setting, and subsequently for high-risk patients with aneurysmal and arterial occlusive disease. Dr. Cox has a strong interest medical education and the development of programs to train highly competent vascular surgeons that can perform the full range of vascular procedures. He enjoys working with the talented and compassionate vascular surgical team at UTMB, and coordinating professionals with many areas of expertise to deliver optimal treatment for patients with vascular conditions.

Interests: Complex aneurysmal disease including thoraco-abdominal aneurysms, branched aortic endografting and re-do aortic procedures. Salvage of vascular surgery complications such as infected bypass grafts, endoleaks, and endovascular device failure. High-risk carotid surgery. Vascular Trauma. Mesenteric arterial disease. Thoracic outlet syndrome. Creation of dialysis access in patients with multiple failed fistulas. Central venous occlusions. Congenital vascular anomalies, and unusual vascular conditions in young patients. Vascular resection and reconstruction during cancer operations. Limb salvage options for critical limb ischemia in high-risk patients. Exposure of the lumbar spine for neurosurgical and orthopedic procedures. Device trials for novel endovascular and surgical therapies.

Dr. Pamela Daher received her MD from the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, New York. She subsequently completed her general surgery residency at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas Austin, and her colon and rectal surgery residency at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Dallas, TX before joining the faculty of UTMB.

Her clinical interests are cancer (colon, rectal, anal), surgical management of diverticular disease and its complications, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis), benign anorectal disease (hemorrhoids, fistulas, fissures, pilonidal disease), rectal prolapse, surgical treatment of functional and mechanical bowel motility and continence disorders.

Dr. Coblens graduated from the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University and completed a fellowship in Head & Neck Surgery and Microvascular Reconstruction at University of California – Davis. She specializes in the management of advanced head and neck cancer treatment and reconstruction. She especially enjoys the collaboration with other physicians when it comes to caring for her patients. She has a strong interest in teaching and enjoys being the program director of the UTMB Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program. During her free time, Dr. Coblens enjoys travelling and being with her husband and growing family.

Dr. Whittington grew up in Austin, Texas, attended Baylor University earning a BS in Neuroscience before obtaining his medical degree at Texas A&M College of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee followed by a vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.

He has returned to Texas with a focus on treating the broad field of vascular disease with special interest in both open and endovascular surgical repair of complex aortic pathology, renal and mesenteric ischemia, carotid disease, dialysis access, and peripheral arterial disease.

Dr. Michael Silva was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, earned his BA from The University of Texas, Austin, Texas and his MD from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston where he completed his Residency in General Surgery. He also completed fellowships at Columbus Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois and UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.

Dr. Silva is currently The Fred J. and Dorothy E. Wolma Professor in Vascular Surgery, Professor of Radiology, Chief in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, and Director of the Texas Vascular Center. He is an active member of various committees, which include The International Society for Vascular Surgery, The International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery/Society for Vascular Surgery, American Board of Vascular Surgery and the Society of Vascular Surgery. He is the principal investigator on numerous funded grants. Dr. Silva's interests include the innovations in vascular and endovascular training, carotid angioplasty and stenting, endovascular intervention for aneurysmal disease, occlusive disease, traumatic injury and pediatric indications.

Dr. Silva received awards and honors which include UTMB Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2014, Houston's Best Doctors in 2013, and Best Doctors in America from 2008-2013. He is an editorial board member for Vascular, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and Perspectives in Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. His research has been published in various journals such as Journal of Vascular Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and has authored chapters in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and Sabiston's Textbook of Surgery.

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. 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. Lauren McTaggart, MD is a board-certified general surgeon. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. She returned to pursue a career in medicine obtaining her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean. She completed her internship and residency in General Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She accomplished a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Advanced GI and Bariatric Surgery at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

Dr. McTaggart’s surgical interests include: Minimally Invasive Surgery of the Foregut, Bariatric, and General Surgery. She has experience in bariatric and revisional bariatric surgery, foregut surgery, including esophageal motility disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal and paraesophageal hernias, and gastroparesis. She also has an interest in endoscopy, benign gallbladder disease and abdominal and inguinal hernias. She utilizes minimally invasive surgical techniques through a robotic and laparoscopic approach.

Dr. Lauren McTaggart is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, and the American Hernia Society.

Lastly, Dr. McTaggart is passionate about patient care and her community. She is dedicated to helping her patient’s understand disease processes and achieve a better quality of life.