Honors and Awards:

Outstanding Resident Research Award, Texas Tech School of Medicine, 2000

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

America’s Top Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Consumers’ Research Council of America,

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

ACOG Educational Cognate Award, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,

Special Licenses/Certifications:

Diplomate American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Fellow of the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Professional Activity:

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Texas Medical Association

Texas Association of Obststricians and Gynecologists

Ector County Medical Sociaty

Publications, Lectures and Presentations:

Hydroxylation reactions of aromatic compounds have been used to detect hydroxyl radicals produced by gamma irradiation and ultrasound. The present study investigated the suitability of terephthalic acid (THA) as a hydroxyl radical dosimeter for general use in biologically relevant reactions. Hydroxyl radicals were generated by: (1) irradiating, THA with a 254 nm ultraviolet; (2) irradiating with gamma rays from a cesium source; and (3) generating hydroxyl radicals with 1 mM H2O2 and 10 μM Cu+2. In each of the three experiments, a fluorescent product was generated which exhibited identical fluorescent excitation and emission spectra. THA is non-fluorescent, eliminating the problem of a high initial background. Because THA has four ring hydrogens, only one mon-hydroxylated isomer was formed. The hydrogen peroxide reaction was dependent on the presence of a metal and cupric ions were effective in enhancing the reaction. With a Cu+2 concentration of 10 μM, the reation was linear between 0–30 mM H2O2. Catalase abolished the reaction at a concentration of 100 μg/ml and the effects could still be observed at 10 ng/ml, consistent with the very high rate at which catalase destroys hydrogen peroxide. Tertbutyl- hydroperoxide did not generate any fluorescence in this system which makes THA a very specific detector of hydroxyl radicals.

Researcher, Terephthalic acid: a dosimeter for the detection of hydroxyl radicals in vitro, Life Sci 56(4):PL89-96, 1995, 1995

Educational Background:

Houston Baptist University

Bachelor of Science – Chemistry

Bachelor of Science – Biology

1992