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. Ranasinghe’s interests in head and neck cancer surgery include thyroid and parathyroid surgery, oral cavity and oropharynx cancer, larynx cancer, skin cancer, salivary gland, and microvascular reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Ranasinghe grew up in New York and South Carolina before attending Clemson University where he was a member of the Clemson Honors College and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Microbiology. He attended medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.

Dr. Ranasinghe completed his residency in Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then completed a fellowship in Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Dr. Ranasinghe believes in a multidisciplinary team approach to head and neck cancer care that provides individualized care plans for each patient. His research interests include nonmelanoma skin cancer treatment and examining sociodemographic factors that impact cancer outcomes.

Outside of patient care, Dr. Ranasinghe enjoys cooking, skiing, motorsports, and watching college football.

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. 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.

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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. Carmen Mora serves as an Assistant Professor specializing in Pediatric Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. She brings a comprehensive academic background to her medical career. Dr. Mora earned her bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Texas A&M in College Station before pursuing her medical degree at Texas A&M Health Science Center-COM.

After graduating from medical school at Texas A&M Health Science Center-COM, she completed her general surgery residency at UMass-Baystate. Her commitment to advancing pediatric care led her to pursue specialized training through fellowships in Pediatric Surgical Critical Care at the University of Tennessee- Le Bonheur Children’s, Pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Pediatric Surgery at UCSF-Benioff Children’s in California.

Raised in Houston, Texas, Dr. Mora’s cultural versatility extends to her fluency in Spanish, enhancing her ability to connect with an underserved patient population. In her role as Assistant Professor, Dr. Mora combines her extensive training, multicultural proficiency, and compassionate approach to provide top-tier care and make a lasting impact on the lives of young patients. Her true passion lies in advocating for the most vulnerable children, embodying her unwavering belief in delivering equitable healthcare to every child, with a special focus on those who are underrepresented in our society.

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. Hoang Q. Pham grew up in northern California. He graduated from high school in San Antonio before attending Harvard College. He graduated summa cum laude in Biological Sciences. Dr. Pham then completed his medical school education at the University of Pennsylvania. He returned to Texas and Houston in 1999 to continue his training at Baylor College of Medicine. He then stayed on at Baylor as an assistant professor of surgery working at Ben Taub General Hospital doing trauma and general surgery. He has been a trauma and general surgeon in the Clear Lake area since 2007, and now is part of the team at UTMB Health.

Katie Standefer, APRN, ANP-C received a bachelor's degree in biology from Centenary College of Louisiana and then joined the UTMB School of Nursing Family for her bachelor's and master's degree in nursing. She has been affiliated with UTMB since 2015 as a Nurse Practitioner and joined the UTMB Bariatric Program in 2023.