Department of Internal Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine

Carmel Bitondo Dyer, MD, AGSF, FACP

Carmel Bitondo Dyer, MD, AGSF, FACP Dr. Carmel Bitondo Dyer is professor and director of the geriatric medicine division at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Chair in Gerontology. She is a 1988 graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, where she completed her Internal Medicine residency and Geriatrics Fellowship. She founded the geriatrics program at the Harris County Hospital District and the Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute. Her research and publications have been in the area of elder mistreatment. She was a delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging and has addressed the U.S. Senate. She has received national and local recognition for her teaching abilities and her dedication to the health care of older persons.

Andrew Achenbaum, PhD

Andrew Achenbaum, PhD Dr. Achenbaum received his undergraduate degree in American Studies from Amherst College and his doctorate in History from the University of Michigan. He is the author of five books; the most recent one published in November, 2005 is entitled Older Americans: Vital Communities—Toward a Bold Vision of Societal Aging. A new book, Aesop’s Guide to Aging Boomers is currently under review. In addition, he is the author of numerous peer reviewed articles and the co-author of nine books.

Nasiya Ahmed, MD

Nasiya Ahmed, MD Dr. Nasiya Ahmed is a 2002 graduate of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Arizona. She currently sees patients at the UT Physicians clinic as well as in the inpatient setting at Memorial Hermann Hospital ACE Unit. She also coordinates the geriatric didactics and clinical rotations for the residents.

Faith Atai, MD

Faith Atai, MD Dr. Faith Atai completed her formal medical education at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in 1991. She completed a medical internship at St. Luke’s Hospital Anua in Uyo, Nigeria. Dr. Atai completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2008. After residency, Dr. Atai completed a Geriatric Fellowship at UT Health Science Center at Houston in 2009. Dr. Atai is board certified in Family Medicine. She currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine. She sees patients at the UT Physicians Center for Healthy Aging in Bellaire and UT Physicians at Sienna Village where she serves as the Assistant Medical Director.

Jason Burnett, MS

Jason Burnett, MS Jason Burnett earned his Master of Science degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2003. He joined the CREST research team in February 2005. His main interests include understanding the associated effects of depression, pain and physical performance with self-neglecting behaviors in the elderly. He has co-authored multiple publications on the phenomenon of geriatric self-neglect and continues to dedicate his career to improving the lives of vulnerable elderly.

Tom Cole, PhD

Tom Cole, PhD Thomas R. Cole is the McGovern Chair in Medical Humanities and Director of the McGovern Center for Health, Humanities, and the Human Spirit at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He is also a Visiting Professor in Religious Studies at Rice University. Dr. Cole graduated from Yale University (B.A. Philosophy, 1971), Wesleyan University (M.A., History, 1975) and the University of Rochester, (Ph.D., History, 1981).

Jeanette Ferrer, DO

Marvin Delgado-Guay, MDDr. Jeanette Ferrer completed her medical school education at Western University of Health Sciences. She completed her Family Medicine training at Texas A&M Health Science Center, and she completed a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2011. Currently, Dr. Ferrer coordinates Palliative Care services and participates in the Geriatrics Services at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, LBJ Hospital. Her interests include providing optimal symptom management and supportive care to patients and families.  

Susan Gorman, MSN

Susan Gorman, MSN Susan Gorman completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1986 from The University of Texas School of Nursing in Austin and her Master of Science in Nursing in 1995 from The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing. She has been certified and practicing as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner since January 1996. Her role with The University of Texas Medical School Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Division is management of patients through outpatient clinics and our home visit program at Memorial Hermann Hospital and LBJ.

John M. Halphen, MD

John M. Halphen, MD Dr. John Halphen received his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston. He completed a Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He is ABMS certified in Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He is a Certified Wound Specialist-Physician (AAWM). He also has a JD degree from the University of Houston. Dr. Halphen provides Geriatric services, Palliative services, as well as medical wound services at LBJ Hospital. His interests include the education of learners in geriatrics, elder mistreatment, capacity issues, end-of-life issues, palliative medicine, and wound care.

Kathleen Pace Murphy, PhD, MS, GNP-BC, CNS

Kathleen Pace Murphy, PhD, MS, GNP-BC, CNS Kathleen Pace Murphy, PhD is the Suzie Conway Professor of Nursing at The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston. She graduated from D'Youville College (BSN, 1980) and Texas Woman's University (MS, 1988 and PhD, 1993). In 1996 she graduated from The University of Texas School of Nursing as a Geriatric/Adult Nurse Practitioner. She sees patients at the UT Physicians Center for Healthy Aging in Bellaire.

Linh Nguyen, MD

Chris Ojeih, MDDr. Linh Nguyen is a 2006 graduate from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.  She completed her Internal Medicine residency at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, NY.  At M.D. Anderson Cancer Center she completed the Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship then served as Chief/Research fellow.

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Sharon Ostwald, PhD, RNC

Sharon Ostwald, PhD, RNC Dr. Sharon Ostwald received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wheaton College and her Master of Science in Public Health and her PhD in Adult Education from the University of Minnesota. She taught at the Unversity of Minnesota School of Public Health and School of Nursing for 20 years. Dr. Ostwald came to Texas in 1994 as a Professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing. She jointed the Center on Aging as the Associate Director of Aging Research and was name the Theodore J. and Mary E. Trumble Professor of Aging Research. In 1996, she became the Director for the COA for 8 years. Currently, she is co-PI with Dr. Carmel Dyer of the Houston Geriatric Education Center, focusing on the education of professionals who work with vulnerable elderly, particularly those experiencing neglect, abuse or exploitation.

Shreda Pairé, MS, RN, FNP-C, ACHPN

Shreda Pairé, MS, RN, FNP-C, ACHPN Shreda Pairé is a nurse practitioner who completed her Associate of Science from Houston Community in College in 1995, her Bachelor of Science from Texas Women’s University in 2000 and her Master of Science from Texas Women’s University in 2003. She is dually certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and as an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. She is one of eight nurses in her family, including both of her parents and shares her love of end of life care with her father, who is a hospice nurse. She develops and coordinates the Bridge Program at LBJ Hospital.

Grace Varas, DO

Grace Varas, DO Dr. Grace Varas is a graduate of University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Plaza Medical Center in Fort Worth. She furthered her post-graduate training with a fellowship in Palliative Medicine at UNTHSC. Dr. Varas is board certified in Internal Medicine and board eligible in Palliative Medicine. She coordinates the Palliative Medicine service at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Kavon L. Young, MD

Kavon L. Young, MD Dr. Young is a graduate of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She completed her residency in Family Medicine and her fellowship in Geriatric Medicine also from the University of Texas Health Science Center. She is pleased to see patients at the Silver Seniors Clinics at Settegast Health Center and Baytown Health Center. She is also the Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Rotation Director as a part of the curriculum for students in the Internal Medicine Clerkship.