Department of Emergency Medicine

Emergency Medicine Class of 2024

Master
Terms
Kelechi

Item Term
Kelechi Abarikwu M.D.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: I am new to Houston so I don't have a favorite restaurant yet. However all the food that I have tried thus far has been amazing. 
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: My favorite part of living in Houston is seeing the tremendous diversity. The diversity is not only present amongst our patient population, but also within the different cuisines and activities that are present within Houston. It took me some time to adjust to the fast pace nature of this urban city, being that I am from a suburban town in Arizona, however I am so happy that I am here. I cannot wait to see what Houston has in store for me in the upcoming three years. 
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: My favorite part of EM Residency is, of course, treating people and finally getting to apply all the medical knowledge I have acquired over the past four years. But my second favorite part thus far is meeting all of my co-interns and forming a tight bond with the Baylor College of Medicine faculty and residents. Everyone has really made me feel welcomed here and I know that I did not make a mistake when I matched at BCM-HTX for residency. I know that the next couple of years is going to be tasking but as long as I have the support of this great institution behind me I know I can succeed. 
Ayomide

Item Term
Ayomide Adeleye, M.D., MPH

Item Definition
  • Medical School: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: There are so many to choose from! I'm still exploring but Houston has some of the best food!
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: Coming from Chicago, I'm definitely looking forward to a mild winter! Other than that, the people are so nice and there is always something to do!
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: The people - everyone including other doctors, nursing staff, and APPs have been so great and so willing to be patient and help us as we get started. It can feel overwhelming to move to a new state but the amount of outreach has helped me with transitioning! 
Jeremy

Item Term
Jeremy Brown, M.D.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Bangkok Thai Cuisine
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: I love that Houston has everything you could need, from big city to quiet suburbs, quiet parks to outdoor theaters, tons of great food, and lots of things to do in your free time! Houston's ability to bring so much life and culture out of its people is second to none.
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: BCM EM is truly a family, even more so after I met all my co-residents! I can 100% say that I've never felt so comfortable around people inside and outside the workplace ever!
  • Interesting Previous Career: Sold and Curated Vintage Clothing, Genetics TA in college
Briona

Item Term
Briona C. Butcher, M.D. MS

Item Definition
  • Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine 
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Taste Bar+Kitchen
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: the food scene is amazing, and there's tons to do.
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: I said I wasn't gonna be the person that answered this question with "the people" but here I am, It's the people for me. 
  • Interesting Previous Career: Buffalo Wild Wings server
Yasien

Item Term
Yasien Eltigani, M.D., MPH

Item Definition
  • Medical School: St. George's University
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Aga's
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: The community and the food
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: The people: leadership, faculty, residents, hospital staff and of course the patients! 
  • Interesting Previous Career: Cashier at a Sea World gift shop
Maneesha

Item Term
Maneesha Julakanti M.D. 

Item Definition
  • Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine 
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Shiv Sagar
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: City atmosphere 
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: It's only week two but everyone has been so kind, welcoming, and truly inspirational. I can't help but be excited. 
  • Interesting Previous Career: Trained beautician 
Mark

Item Term
Mark E. McIntyre II, M.D., MBA

Item Definition
  • Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine 
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: I could eat Reggae Hut and Nua Thai everyday of residency and not complain. 
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: My favorite parts of living in Houston are the food, the weather (when its not too hot or raining), the nightlife, and the diversity of people. 
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: By far the best part of doing residency at BCM is my co-residents. I can honestly say I am apart of the most diverse class in the country and I LOVE it! In addition, I am able to be my true self here which is invaluable. Lastly, the support from both faculty and staff helps to ease the stress of residency. 
  • Interesting Previous Career: I worked as a construction worker painting lines on the highway on the border of southern Ohio and West Virginia. I would go out at the beginning of each week, and stay on the road until the end. It was hard work coupled with long hours but great pay. Additionally, it was a great learning experience as it allowed me to take a glimpse into a culture that I was not familiar with due to my city upbringing.
Matthew

Item Term
Matthew Obi, M.D.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Thai Gourmet, Gyu-Kaku, Sayad
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: There is so much to do and so many different cultures living in one place.
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: Learning to become the best ED physician I can be. The co-residents and faculty who are fun to be around. 
  • Interesting Previous Career: Worked at Sears in the electronics department.
Salil

Item Term
Salil Ojha, M.D.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Narin's Bombay Brasserie
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: I love being here because Houston is the definition of diversity. There's a place for everyone in this city, and you will always feel welcomed here. We respect each other's backgrounds and have helped others in their time of need. As a Houston native, I've seen my city rebuild and recover after hurricanes and storms, and I cannot be more proud of Houston's resilience. It also great that we have a major international airport that allows for travel anywhere in the world, and with my family being here in Houston, it's great to be able to spend time with them. 
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: I'm grateful that the emergency room is the one place that will accept anyone for care and it's a privilege to care for those who need it most. 
  • Interesting Previous Career: I conducted research at the NIH for a year prior to medical school!
Pedro

Item Term
Pedro Pacheco M.D.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: Texas A&M Medical School
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Don't have one yet!
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: Having numerous of my medical school friends also match in Houston.
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: Getting the chance to work alongside my co-interns and attendings!
  • Interesting Previous Career: Wanted to be an astronaut when I was in middle school but that dream is long gone. Was a teacher during my gap year between undergrad and medical school
Abdulhameed

Item Term
Abdulhameed Qashqary, M.B.B.S.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: Al-Imam Muhammed Bin Saud Islamic University 
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Taste of Texas
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: A huge city with great diversity and a lot of places to discover and explore.
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: Support of the faculty and the different backgrounds of residents.
Emily

Item Term
Emily Secrist, M.D.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Any place with fresh seafood, there many to choose from
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: I love warm weather and sunshine, so being able to get to the beach in an hour is awesome. I also love being able to swim and be outside most of the year.
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: I enjoy the diversity of the program, the patient population, and the city of Houston itself. 
  • Interesting Previous Career: Anheuser-Busch brewery tour guide
Leslie

Item Term
Leslie Selden, M.D., M.H.S.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: Meharry Medical College
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Pappadeaux’s so far!
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: The diversity. I love being immersed in a city full of people with different races, cultures, and experiences. 
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: My favorite part has to be the genuine bonds and friendships between the residents and attendings. It truly is one big family here. 
  • Interesting Previous Career: I worked at NASA as an intern for three summers.
Maran

Item Term
Maran Shaker, M.D.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine (UNLV)
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Tough question! Every restaurant thus far has had an impact! But if I had to choose one it would be Tribute at the Houstonian. 
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: Amazing food and diverse culture.  Great mix of suburban and city lifestyles in the same area.
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: Love the learning environment, always learning something from every patient and every case! Excellent faculty that always want to teach and great co-residents to work with. Extremely supportive leadership and most important of all, our coordinators are AMAZING! 
  • Interesting Previous Career: I served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Medic.  Before medical school, I worked in War Related Illness and Injury research as part of an interdisciplinary team from the VA, Harvard, Hopkins, and NASA.  Most recently, I founded a non-profit for healthcare professionals at the end of medical school.
L.

Item Term
L. Tamara Wilson, M.D.

Item Definition
  • Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine 
  • Favorite Houston Restaurant: Not sure yet. I'm on currently on the hunt for the best birria tacos 
  • Favorite Part of Living in Houston: So many Spanish speaking people! I WILL be fluent before the end of residency!
  • Favorite Part of EM Residency: The patients! Interacting with the most marginalized people in our community is a passion that I have pursued throughout my medical career. At Ben Taub, I feed that passion daily by ensuring those traditionally overlooked by our healthcare system receive the care I would deliver to my own family.
  • Interesting Previous Career: I worked in higher education for almost a decade where I learned skills in academic assessment, curriculum design, and institutional research. This experience cultivated my interest medical education. Ultimately, I aspire to use this as a springboard to become a dean of a medical school.