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. H. Colleen Silva is currently a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch where she also attended medical school and completed an internship in General Surgery. She completed her residency in General Surgery at Columbus Hospital, an affiliate of Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois and her fellowship in Surgical Oncology at The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Silva is Director of Breast Health and Medical Director at the UTMB Health Breast Health and Imaging Center. Dr. Silva's special and research interests include the treatment of breast disease and breast cancer.

Dr. Silva has received awards and honors, which include Houstonia Magazine Top Doctors and an American Cancer Society Physician Award for Outstanding Cancer Care. She is author or co-author of various publications and abstracts in several medical journals specializing in cancers.

Jill Resendez, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC is a board- certified Nurse Practitioner with the Division of Plastic Surgery at UTMB. She completed her Masters of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas at Arlington. She provides patient care at the UTMB Health Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Town Center, Plastic Surgery Specialty clinic in League City, MD Anderson League City and University Health Clinics in Galveston. Jill specializes in non-surgical aesthetic procedures such as Botox, Dermal fillers, lasers, nipple areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors, treatment of complex wounds, new plastic surgery consultations and assist in the management of post operative patients.

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. Jing Bai Qin is the Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Jing is a nationally recognized plastic surgeon known for her expertise in hand surgery, plastic surgery, and cosmetic surgery. Dr. Jing received her undergraduate degree from Bates College, where she graduated with summa cum laude, multiple honors, and an unprecedented accomplishment of triple major in biology, economics, and neuroscience, as well as a minor in chemistry. She then attended Boston University Medical School, where she obtained her M.D. degree with Cum Laude distinction and Alpha Omega Alpha honor from the Boston Medical Center.

Dr. Jing completed her plastic surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program, where she received multiple in-service awards and served as the Chief Resident at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. She then received additional specialized training in Hand and Microsurgery at the prestigious New York University, where she learned exceptional skills from the leading experts in plastic surgery and participated in the world’s first successful face and double hand transplant in history. Additionally, Dr. Jing has authored numerous publications and has been invited to present her research in plastic surgery innovations at numerous regional and national plastic surgery conferences.

Dr. Jing offers a wide range of reconstructive plastic surgery and hand surgery procedures. She treats a variety of hand and wrist problems, including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, arthritis, fractures, sprain, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, ganglion cyst, mucous cyst, dupuytren's contracture, tendon injury, nerve injury, and deformity, amongst other pathologies. She is experienced in treating patients of all ages – including children, adults, and elderly patients - and she is the Director of Pediatric Plastic Hand Surgery at UTMB. Additionally, she frequently treats common skin problems such as skin tags, benign skin lesions, malignant skin cancer, and complex tissue reconstruction.

Dr. Jing performs a wide range of cosmetic plastic surgical procedures for the face, body, breast, and chest. She uses the latest techniques in facelift, neck lift, eye lift (blepharoplasty), eyebrow lift, ear pinning (otoplasty), rhinoplasty, and facial implants for the chin, jaw, and cheeks. She offers the most state-of-the-art minimal-incision breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), liposuction, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, fat grafting or fat transfer with enhancement, body contouring, facial rejuvenation, and hand rejuvenation treatment using a variety of cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical modalities. For her male patients, she provides a variety of treatment modalities for gynecomastia removal and other enhancement options of the male chest, body, arms, and legs.

Dr. Jing has a strong interest in volunteering and philanthropy and is passionate about giving back to her community. She has been recognized nationally for her volunteer work and she is the recipient of several national Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award – the highest honor for volunteerism in the United States. She also volunteers for medical missions and has traveled abroad to treat children and adults in developing countries around the world.

Dr. Daniel P. Donato is an Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas.

He earned his medical degree with honors at the Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio, in 2012. He went on to complete his residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 2012-2018, and then completed a fellowship in hand surgery at HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research-Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 2018-2019.

Dr. Donato has authored over a dozen peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals and is involved in several national professional medical societies. He was also honored with a Resident Teaching Award in 2018 at the University of Utah for his excellence in teaching as a plastic surgery resident.

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.

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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. 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.