SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE
TOP DOCTORS The 315 best physicians in 72 specialties
JANUARY/ FE B RUARY 202 2
The San Antonio We Want to See
TOP DOCTORS / THE FU T U RE O F SA
Educators, entrepreneurs, chefs and more share their dreams for the future of the Alamo City
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January/ February FEATURES
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D R E A MS FOR THE F U T U R E SA
A reduction of poverty, plentiful funding for fine arts, a thriving and diverse tech scene and more. Industry and thought leaders share their hopes for the future of the Alamo City.
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MOM S MATTE R
Texas Vista Medical Center is working to raise the level of maternal and neonatal care delivered on the South Side, where the rate of prenatal care is among the nation's lowest.
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TOP D OCTORS
Find a new primary care physician or a specialist for any need thanks to this list of over 300 of the city’s best doctors, as selected by their peers.
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Dr. Cody Henderson, neonatologist at Texas Vista Medical Center
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January/February D EPART M E N TS
1 2 CITY NEWS Thanks to COVID-19, public health will receive more funding—and attention—this year in San Antonio. 1 4 PERSON O F INTEREST The new chief impact officer at Spurs Sports & Entertainment makes giving back her mission, professionally and personally. 16 ENTREPR EN EUR San Antonio–based Betty’s Co. is working to change young women’s healthcare, one social media post at a time.
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18 ED UCAT IO N A new online tutoring system might just be the key to helping at-risk students catch up on learning lost during the pandemic. 20 IN FLUEN CER Doula and mother of five Leona Adkins wants moms to have the best birthing experience possible. 2 2 FIT N ESS Meet the 81-year-old veteran who works out more than you do. 24 CASA These design kits will provide all the details you need to upgrade that extra bathroom.
EAT + DRINK 57 DI S H GiGi’s Deli is the perfect complement to Little Death’s specialty wine. 63 T H E GU I DE
5 8 E AT H E RE N OW Enjoy a taste of Peru at Scorpion. 6 0 L I BAT I O N S Opt for a zero-proof cocktail this month without giving up any flavor. 6 1 S P OT L I G H T The Mushroom Monks are sharing the fruits of their own journey toward wellness. 62 MAKER The Korean macarons by Ooyoo Pan are almost too cute to eat. Almost.
Gyros, beef shawarma, tzatziki with housemade pita and more. These 11 restaurants deliver when you’re in the mood for Mediterranean.
FINAL THOUGHT 64 CO LU M N
Spine surgeon Dr. Antonio Webb says more diversity among physicians will lead to better care.
ON THE COVER Josh Huskin photographed Dr. Claudia A. Aguero, a San Antonio native who now serves as a primary care physician with HealthTexas Medical Group, in his studio. She’s one of 300plus doctors highlighted starting on page 38.
JOMANDO CRUZ
IN THE LOOP
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UP FRONT / EDITOR' S NOTEBOOK
ONLINE THIS MONTH
hat do you dream for the future of San Antonio? The first person I called with this admittedly broad question replied initially with silence. Not typically one to fill an awkward pause right away (those are often where the best quotes come from, after all), I waited before realizing perhaps I should provide more details. If 2021 in San Antonio was about responding to the COVID19 pandemic—whether by distributing vaccines, working to help students catch up on learning that was lost in 2020 or rolling out job training programs meant to help curb poverty that was made even more evident over the last few years—I imagine 2022 will leave more space for looking ahead. COVID-19 is here to stay, at least for now, but San Antonians (and people around the world) are doing their best to adapt and, hopefully at the same time, venturing to dream anew about what could be. To that end, as 2022 begins, I wanted to hear from people in various industries about what they hope for their city in the future, whether this year, five years from now or further ahead. So, I told those I was interviewing, "I know it’s a broad question, but I’d love to know what dream, big or small, you want to see become a reality for San Antonio." From more equity in education, digital access and healthcare to the creation of the next 10 Rackspace-like companies in the Alamo City, the responses I received (read through them on page 26) were both thoughtful and inspiring. San Antonio faces plenty of challenges, several people acknowledged, but it also possesses a culture and spirit that provides more than enough reasons to feel hopeful. Though unintentional, inspiration is a theme that runs throughout this combined January/ February issue. The chief impact officer for Spurs Sports & Entertainment chats on page 14 about how giving back guides her life and about how she’s approaching this new role with the aim of understanding each corner of the city. On page 22, you’ll meet an 81-year-old Army veteran who could outswim me any day of the week. He’s training for the Senior Games after qualifying for nationals by winning a state meet in 2021. And in our annual roundup of Top Doctors, you’ll hear from a few physicians who are impacting lives each day, through research and by providing quality care. The list includes over 300 doctors who were nominated by their peers as someone they would trust to treat themselves or their family. Whether you need to catch up on preventative care after avoiding the doctor during the pandemic or you’re looking for a specialist, this list is a resource worth keeping nearby throughout the year. Reporting on this issue left me feeling grateful for the city in which we live, and I hope it leaves you feeling the same. Thanks for reading.
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S W E AT W I T H U S Head to sanantoniomag. com/sweat and reserve a ticket to join us Jan. 8 for a morning full of workout classes at La Cantera Resort & Spa. Before you go, visit sanantoniomag.com/ sweat22 to learn about some of the instructors and studios you’ll meet while you’re there.
The founding executive director of SA Digital Connects shared with us her goal for the future of digital inclusion in San Antonio on page 29. At sanantoniomag.com/ sadigitalconnects, she provides more detail about what needs to happen for everyone in Bexar County to have reliable access to high-speed internet at a cost of no more than 1 percent of their household income.
Kathleen Petty Editor in Chief kpetty@sanantoniomag.com @kpettysamag
COMING UP NEXT MONTH We’re dedicating the full issue to celebrating the Best of the City.
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PETTY: JOSH HUSKIN; SWEAT: UFABIZPHOTO /SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
INTERNET EQUITY
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 / VOLUME 17 / ISSUE 4 WHAT’S YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO?
E DITO RIA L EDITOR IN CHIEF
Kathleen Petty CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jade Esteban Estrada, Bonny Osterhage, Katherine Stinson, Kimberly A. Suta, Edmund Tijerina, Claire Winesett “I would like to continue to see the city’s local art scene expand and grow, representing all of the cultures that make up the city.”
O P E N SKY ME DIA CEO
Todd P. Paul PRESIDENT
Stewart Ramser EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Rebecca Fontenot Cord
COPY EDITOR
Patsy Pelton
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Hollis Boice
FACT CHECKER
Emily Guajardo
“I dream that when the world comes to experience the ‘re-imagined’ Alamo area that visitors will encounter the pride and friendship evident in the hearts of its residents.”
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Kerri Nolan
INTERN
Tiffany Ha
ACCO UN T IN G ACCOUNTING MANAGER
A RT
Sabina Jukovic
ART DIRECTOR
David G. Loyola
DIG ITA L DIGITAL MANAGER
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
JoMando Cruz, Josh Huskin, Olga Maya, Erika Ramirez
Abigail Stewart DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Rosie Ninesling
ILLUSTRATORS
Vicente Martí, Christopher Vela A DV E RT ISIN G
CO NTACT US
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PUBLISHER
Kathie Anderson
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advertising@sanantoniomag.com
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Christina Olivarez
JOB & INTERNSHIP INQUIRIES
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AD SALES & SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR
Jillian Clifton
STORY IDEAS, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
EV E N TS
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EVENTS DIRECTOR
Macaulay Hammond
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© Copyright: San Antonio Magazine is published by Open Sky Media, Inc. The entire document of San Antonio Magazine is © 2022 by Open Sky Media, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ownership or management. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. San Antonio Magazine is locally operated.
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In the Loop I NSI D E / PE RIO D TA L K p .16 / IGN ITIN G A LOVE FOR LEARN IN G p. 18 / BATH ROOM UP GRAD E p . 2 4
PINK HILL
2012 Broadway thepinkhill.com @thepinkhill
The Anti-Mall ario Guajardo understood when he launched Broadway News in 2018 as a hub for local makers and businesses that it was a new concept for San Antonio. Just more than three years later, his vision for the “anti-mall,” as he calls it, has not only gained a loyal fan base but also has grown into a second concept nearby, Pink Hill. The new collective—founded by Guajardo, Bronte Treat (of Lunchroom Anxiety) and Paul Hunt—is located in a former paint warehouse and is home to entrepreneurs like AWOL Vintage, Relyt, Bob’s Photo plus
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food trucks Slap Chicken and Pound It. Pink Hill offers weekend-only hours for now and boasts a cocktail bar led by Campbell Dobbs (formerly of Hoppy Monk). “It’s the same DNA as Broadway News—it’s very organic, very independent,” says Guajardo, whose Richter Goods anchors the Broadway News lot. It’s named Pink Hill for the tiny Texas hometown of O’Neil Ford, the architect behind Tower of the Americas, who cultivated spaces the Pink Hill founders admire. “As the city is changing, it is more important than ever to champion small, independent businesses and brands,” Treat says.—KP
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Still in the Storm The city’s public health system has learned lessons from COVID-19, but it hasn’t reached the finish line yet BY JADE ESTEBAN ESTRADA
etween staff turnover, the politicization of mask wearing and vaccines, and the long hours required to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no secret that public health departments have been under stress for the last two years. In San Antonio, though, City Manager Erik Walsh and Metro Health Director Claude Jacob say they’re moving forward with lessons that will help the city prepare for the next pandemic and for serving the community as a whole, even as it continues to live with COVID-19. “We have a better handle on how to better prepare, better exercise, better coordinate across those different agencies,” says Walsh. “We need to make a difference so that when somebody’s asking the city manager 25 years from now, ‘Are you prepared?’ I want him or her to be able to say, ‘Yeah, I’m prepared, because things got put into place immediately during COVID.” Like when fire departments expanded their public safety efforts to include mental health and other peripheral issues following 9/11, public health departments are also learning they need to broaden their approach. Jacob says between the pandemic and protests following the murder of George Floyd, it’s become even more clear that equity, social justice and socioeconomic factors can’t be separated from the community’s physical and mental health. “COVID has been an exacerbator and accelerant of conditions,” Jacob says, adding that issues of food, job and housing insecurity have been magnified during the crisis. “Place matters. Our zip code matters.” Public health has been historically under-resourced, and Jacob
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applauds the city for investing in the infrastructure of Metro Health. An increase of $16.3 million in this year’s budget will help the organization begin to more intentionally address those socioeconomic factors and health disparities that were heightened and brought to the forefront during the pandemic. To do that, money will be used to focus on things like increasing access to care, technology/infrastructure in certain neighborhoods, paying attention to health justice, violence prevention and mental health, all areas that cannot be separated from physical health, Jacob says. The increased budget also will allow for more funding to existing programs like Metro Health’s STD Clinic, Lactation Support Center and Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. “We’re evolving,” says Jacob, who celebrates six months in San Antonio in January after working in COVID response in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “Our agility has been our best asset on the ground. There is a Darwinian process afoot where the strongest health departments are staying alive. We’re still learning. We’re applying. We’re still building this plane while flying it, so the verdict is still out, but we are investing now in order to position ourselves.”
ILLUSTRATION: DAVID G. LOYOLA; BOAT PAINTING: DUDCHIK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; VIRUS: BRASTOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
IN THE LOOP / CITY NEWS
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It’s a Boy! / And a girl. At the San Antonio Zoo, 10 Komodo dragons— including two male, four female and four yet-to-be-determined dragons—hatched in late 2021. Komodo dragons were downgraded from a vulnerable species to an endangered one last year as there are less than 1,400 mature Komodo dragons left in the world. The births are part of the zoo's participation in a conservation program. Supply Chain Woes / After nearly a decade in business, San Antonio Bike Shop closed its store on Broadway in December, with its owner saying it could no longer financially stay in business due to the now 18-month-long national shortage of bikes and bike parts. Pizza Kiosk / San Antonio International Airport became the first airport to house a Basil Street Pizza kiosk. The automated, cook-to-order vending machine is fully robotic.
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Astroworld Attorney / San Antonio attorney Thomas J. Henry and his firm are representing over 200 clients in a lawsuit filed against Travis Scott, Drake, NRG Stadium and Live Nation following the Astroworld festival in Houston, where 10 people died and dozens were injured. Home Sweet Home / Six years after she initially went missing, a San Antonio cat named Monkey Face was returned to her family. Animal Care Services picked up the cat in December after receiving a call about a stray cat that appeared sick. While treating Monkey Face, ACS staff realized that she had a microchip, which helped them to track down her owners and reunite the feline with her family. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
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IN THE LOOP / PERSON OF INTEREST
mom of an 8-year-old and, via the foster care system, a 28-year-old who is in medical school, Allen says her most important title will always be “mama,” but that she is excited to fill this new role with the Spurs and make a difference by listening. “I have never been more clear about my purpose than I am right now,” she says.
Listening for Change Spurs Sports & Entertainment’s new chief impact officer, Kara Allen, Ed.D., says impactful community work begins with learning INTERVIEW BY KATHLEEN PETTY
iving back to the community is part of Kara Allen’s official charge as Spurs Sports & Entertainment’s new chief impact officer, but it’s also personal. The Indiana native is so serious about supporting others that she carries the student loan debt of some youth she wants to help succeed, and when she learned of an individual in need of a kidney last spring, she offered her own. “This work doesn’t really shut off for me,” says Allen, who joined the Spurs in October after serving as CEO of an education-focused nonprofit in Chicago. “I’ve been given a lot, and I have a lot of responsibility to pour in and that doesn’t mean just what I’m getting paid to do.” The
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FACT FILE
Education: Bachelor’s from Purdue University, Master of Social Work from USC, Doctor of Education in educational leadership for social justice from Loyola Marymount University Experience: CEO at NewRoot Learning, CEO of United Friends of the Children, executive director at CoachArt (and current board member)
You began your career in education and then social work. How did that lead you to the NBA? I started as a teacher in Oakland Unified School District. I learned very quickly the power of connecting sport with learning and impact. When I was a new teacher, I couldn’t figure out how to get my students to learn math. So, I connected with a rookie at the Oakland Raiders and asked him if on his day off he would come in and throw around the football with the students and read his stats off. That became math and my students learned about math by understanding sports and football statistics. I had to make learning relevant, and I had to get proximal. For me, relevancy and proximity have become a core of how I move and how I lead and support folks. I got my master’s in social work and one of the things you learn as a social worker is to start where the client is or where the human is. The practices that I learned as a social worker have shaped how I want to show up as a leader now. When I talk about human-centered leadership, it sounds buzzwordy, but for me, it means that we have to start where people are at. It’s seeing people first as humans and humans with needs. Chief impact officer sounds like a big role. Where do you begin? I get to provide the oversight and guidance for philanthropic engagements, community investments, and to work alongside Spurs Give and others. I get to amplify our diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work. I get to ensure we’re being good stewards of the resources we have. For me, less formally, I get to connect with the community and be a bridge in this work. This is a new role. In working through their vision for 2025, RC Buford and the team realized that there are really three pieces to their vision: championship teams, financial strength, and community and societal impact. They knew what it meant to get to championship teams and to financial strength, but they didn’t yet know what it meant to get to community and societal ILLUSTRATION BY VICENTE MARTÍ
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impact. That’s not to say that they haven’t done the work, but it has to be part of the strategy when we’re talking about new partners, who we hire, arena enhancements—all of these things can involve impact work and it’s my role to be asking those questions and asking, ‘Have we thought about that?’ What type of community work do you envision? It is still really early, but, done well, this is deep community work. I am an outsider in a number of ways, both because of the color of my skin and geographically in where I’m from. My job at all costs is to listen. I’ve done about 130 interviews with community members—from fans to staff to investors to people who have been lifelong, multigenerational Spurs fans. I won’t ever stop doing that. My goal and dream is that I just continue to have those conversations. A couple of things have become evidently clear through those conversations. One, people expect us to be and see us as people who build leaders. We are really good at building leaders, so I want us to hold onto that and embrace that. People also see us as people who build legacies. Legacy work is void of the name and enhanced by the brick that we lay for the cathedral that we will never see. I expect to be gone from this role and for no one to know my name, but I want people generations from now to know that the Spurs poured into what seemed like intractable problems because that’s what the community asked us to do. There’s this concept of targeted centrism. If we place those most in need or those who have been least served by systems in the center and we listen to and solve with them, then by default, everyone gets better. If we start in the center, then all of the circles get healthier and stronger. Will you be involved in the Corporate Partners for Racial Equity initiative? That is part of all of our roles and also yes, I’m honored and excited to be part of that space and to support the leaders and the organizations who are doing that work together. [CPRE is a partnership between the Spurs, USAA, H-E-B, Rackspace and other companies that together have pledged to contribute nearly $14 million over five years toward “initiatives for underserved people.”] For us, the other piece of the CPRE conversation is about having the awareness to dig deeper on the assumptions that we have held about the communities that we exist in and around. It’s about asking questions and often times, asking the hard questions and having the hard conversations. We also know that any data that we look at that doesn’t engage in an understanding of race or allows us to believe that race doesn’t matter or that life outcomes and disparities have to do with individual behaviors, as opposed to systems and narratives, is a loss for us. I’m excited and energized by the way in which people are learning about what equity means. I am excited by things like CPRE, which allows us to ensure that it goes beyond a headline. It’s easy to make a commitment to racial equality. It is harder to do the internal work that is required. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
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Specializing in Awkward San Antonio–based Betty’s Co. looks to normalize women’s healthcare for young adults BY KATHLEEN PETTY
etty’s Co. founder Jennifer Newell knows some of the straightforward posts on her company’s Instagram and TikTok feeds may make millennials and baby boomers blush. But if a video detailing the correct way to insert a tampon or an IG post explaining why your vulva shouldn’t smell like a flower elicit a few gasps, Newell says they’re doing their job. “Gen Z doesn’t feel that shock and awe, but we do get a lot of people saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize that,’” she says. “We like to say we specialize in awkward. They seem to love that and love that we acknowledge it can be uncomfortable.” Launched in 2020, Betty’s Co. is a lifestyle brand and healthcare/tech company that is working to ensure females, particularly those between the ages of 13 to 30, understand that women’s healthcare is for them. Newell says the national narrative often focuses women’s healthcare solely around pregnancy—whether preventing it, achieving it or managing it. Her own health experience made her recognize there was a gap in the way young women were receiving care.
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It wasn’t until she was 17 and had yet to experience a menstrual cycle that she was referred to a gynecologist. She was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure and says she spent the next several years navigating what she found to be a complicated industry. Through Betty’s Co., young women can learn about their bodies and sexual health online, and they also can turn to the company for gynecological, wellness/nutrition and mental healthcare. That is delivered virtually for now, but beginning in March, the startup will launch the first of what Newell hopes will be multiple mobile health clinics that can provide care on college campuses and other locations. “We’re trying to offer a neutral space for them to be seen and heard,” she says. Newell brings a decade of experience in marketing and development for a healthcare company to Betty’s Co. Her team also includes a gynecologist, registered nurse and care coordinator who work with patients. They operate out of Geekdom, the downtown coworking space that granted them seed money from its Community Fund in December 2020. On social media, Betty’s Co.’s education is meant to be delivered in the tone of a big sister—the information is accurate and important, but the tone is light and colloquial. Along with its blog and social channels, Betty’s Co. also recently launched an app, rolled out thanks, in part, to the $50,000 the company won in Bexar County’s TechFuel Competition last fall. That’s just the start. Newell has plans for the company to grow to include retail hubs—which they’ll call Awkward Shops— that sell women’s hygiene and health products plus gift items. Behind the stores will sit clinics that women can visit for their annual exam, counseling appointments and other care. In-person care is starting in Texas, but Newell has dreams of operating a company with locations around the country, while remaining headquartered in San Antonio. In Betty’s Co., Newell hopes she’s creating the kind of company that could have changed the trajectory of her own life had it been available when she was a teen. “I think about that a lot, and without any regrets for how things have happened for me, I can’t help but wonder, ‘What if there was a Betty’s that I went to between the ages of 13 and 15?’” Newell says. “What if they would have been able to identify it early enough to salvage some of my eggs so I could have biological children?”
PHONE ILLUSTRATION: ATIPO ILLUSTRATIONS; INSTAGRAM SCREENSHOT: BETTY'S CO.
IN THE LOOP / ENTREPRENEUR
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I N T H E L O O P / E D U C AT I O N
Relationships in Learning Teach for America’s new Ignite Program brings individualized tutoring into local schools each for America has served in San Antonio schools for more than a decade, yet it’s a new program, Ignite, that may just be the monumental intervention kids need as schools work to mitigate learning loss that occurred as a result of the pandemic. Ignite attacks this issue with high-dosage, in-school tutoring led by high-performing leaders that focus on academic instruction as well as social-emotional learning. Teach for America begins by choosing fellows—or tutors—from college candidates across the nation who show high leadership skills and deep dedication to students. These fellows virtually meet with elementary or middle school students during school hours, allowing the program to be readily accessible to those who need it most. “If students participate in a program before or after school, consistency drops. Having a program integrated into the school day is really critical,” says Verónica Díaz, managing director for alumni impact and the one in charge of San Antonio’s Ignite Program. Fellows are then paired with a group of one to four students identified by teachers at Bowden Academy, Cameron Elementary, Compass Rose Elementary, Lamar Elementary and Martin Luther King Jr.
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Academy. The fellow, a TFA liaison and the classroom teacher work together to create and execute small-group lessons in reading or math. “We are following the teacher’s course plan without straying or going off track,” says Trey Dyson, a fellow from the University of Southern California who is leading a fourth-grade math group at Lamar Elementary. Besides the tailored instruction and lessons students receive, they also benefit from the sense of belonging that is created in these consistent, tight-knit groups. “What’s really important about our program is that we are highly aware of the fact that students need academic support, but they also need social-emotional support,” Díaz says. “We’re trying to foster the sense of belonging for these students.” Dyson agrees that the consistency has been a major benefit to the tutoring. “The relationships that develop and grow over time as we work together is such a gratifying experience,” Dyson adds. Teach for America San Antonio is doubling the size of the program this spring. Díaz says it is helping academically and also has been a bright spot in the day for students. “They’re getting a lot of very tailored interactions with people they wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Díaz says. “It’s been a positive experience for everyone.”
TAMARA FLEMING PHOTOGRAPHY/COURTESY TEACH FOR AMERICA
BY CLAIRE WINESETT
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IN THE LOOP / INFLUENCER
Delivering Education and Empowerment Leona Adkins found her calling in helping other moms as a birth doula BY BONNY OSTERHAGE
s the mother of five children, Leona Adkins knows a thing or two about the roller coaster of emotions that a woman may experience when her due date nears. But it wasn’t until her fourth child, when she enlisted the help of a doula, that Adkins understood the importance of having an advocate in her corner throughout the process. “The birth of my first child was not a pleasant experience,” says Adkins, who had unmedicated births for the first four of her five children. “I was scared out of my mind, the doctor was screaming at me, and it was just horrible. Having a doula changed the whole experience for me. I wanted to provide that service to other women.” Unlike midwives, who are medically trained and can deliver babies, doulas serve as a support person who educates, advocates for and empowers the mother and family before, during and after they welcome their baby. A trained doula can help keep mom calm by coaching her to focus on her breath work and overall goals during delivery. The doula can also apply techniques designed to minimize the physical pain during contractions. And, contrary to popular misconceptions, doulas are not just for unmedicated or at-home births. They assist with all types of births, including scheduled C-sections. “Our job is to support your decision, whatever that decision may be,” Adkins says. Adkins, a former architect who relocated to San Antonio from North Carolina five years ago, completed her doula training with Dona International. She works with San Antonio Birth Doulas, which partners with Catholic Charities to provide free doula services, lactation services and postpartum counseling to low-income families. Being on call for her clients 24/7 while mothering her own brood takes a lot of planning, but she says it is her “calling,” so the effort is worthwhile. “To watch the birthing person go through the delivery and come out on the other side saying, ‘I didn’t think I could do that, but I did,’ is my favorite part,” she says. Another bonus? “It’s alleviated my occasional urge to have more babies,” she says, with a laugh.
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IN THE LOOP / FITNESS
3 WAYS TO STAY ACTIVE IN THE POOL REFINE YOUR TECHNIQUE
At Life Time Fitness’s San Antonio locations, members can complete core/ ab or Pilates classes before participating in an open swim, or register for group or private adult swim classes with a coach. lifetime.life GET FIT WITH AEROBICS
Moving for Life An 81-year-old veteran returned to swimming lessons to prep for the Texas Senior Games BY KATHLEEN PETTY
ighty-one-year-old Tommy Blake has an admittedly morbid reason for keeping up a rigorous exercise routine—he’s working to postpone his trip to the grave. “If you don’t keep moving, they will throw dirt on you,” says Blake, a retired Army colonel who received a Purple Heart. Blake has been active since childhood, swimming and playing sports while growing up, competing in track and field in college, and exercising throughout adulthood. When a fellow swimmer at Life Time Fitness invited Blake to compete in the Texas Senior Games with him last fall, Blake didn’t hesitate. As he thought about the actual competition, though, he realized there was one problem. Having never formally competed in swimming, he had no idea how to maneuver the starting block required for the race. That’s where U.S. Masters Swimming coach Trisha Brooke Stavinoha came in. The two started training together twice a week, first focusing on stroke and eventually progressing to the
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Whether you’re just starting your pool workouts or looking to mix up your cardio, register to join Fitness in the Park for a free water aerobics class at noon on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the San Antonio Natatorium. fitcitysa.com TRAIN WITH THE MASTERS
For those ready to compete, U.S. Masters Swimming’s South Texas club trains each weekday at 5:45 and 8:15 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center and each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Alamo Heights ISD’s pool. mastersofsouth texas.org
starting block, where Blake learned how to reach his body out into the pool rather than diving down. While people often think of swim lessons as something that’s for young children, Stavinoha says swimming is an ideal sport for every age and coaches can help adults relearn the mechanics of swimming laps. Many adults take up swimming because the water is easier on joints than high-impact activities, making it a good cardio activity for people who have injuries or conditions that prevent them from running or biking. “I call it the Benjamin Button of sports,” she says. Blake’s form was already solid, so he and Stavinoha focused their lessons on perfecting his stroke to compete. He not only successfully completed the 50-meter race at the Texas Senior Games, but also won the race, completing it in 44 seconds—well ahead of the other swimmers in his age group. Blake is now training for the National Senior Games in Florida this spring. Along with swimming most days, he also walks and spends time chasing after the Military Working Dog puppy that he and his wife, Doris, are caring for until it’s old enough to begin training at Joint Base San Antonio. After serving in Vietnam, where he was shot through the foot while coordinating and flying assault missions, Blake says he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and has used exercise as a way to cope. In Stavinoha, who is also an Army veteran, Blake says he found someone who shares the drive and discipline he developed during his 30-year Army and Army Reserve career. Plus, he adds, it’s fun. “I guess I’m in pretty good shape for an old guy,” he says, laughing before standing up to adjust his goggles ahead of a swim. PHOTO BY ERIKA RAMIREZ
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IN THE LOOP / CASA
Sourced Kits allow homeowners to upgrade their bathroom without relying on full-service interior design services thanks to a mood board, renderings, shopping lists and a spec book.
Guided DIY Upgrade your bathroom without hiring an interior designer thanks to Sourced Kits by Styleberry Creative Interiors s Shawna Percival and her Styleberry Creative Interiors team continued offering virtual design consultations during the pandemic, they quickly began to notice one trend: Hardly anyone liked their bathroom. “I was doing bathroom after bathroom after bathroom and it was almost always a secondary bathroom,” Percival says. “Everyone has their own style, but it was the same job over and over again. And it was almost always cosmetic.” Like other firms, Percival became so busy that she couldn’t always take on small bathroom projects. And while some clients didn’t want to spend the money required for full-service design, they also didn’t want to go full Pinterest-mode and make all their design decisions alone. That’s when Percival had an “ah-ha” moment. If she could provide homeowners with a guidebook of sorts, they could manage their own bathroom renovation while still achieving that polished look. “I’ve always had a heart for bridging the gap between high-end luxury design and accessible design,” says Percival, who got into the industry after the multiple remodels she and her husband completed while moving for his military career That’s where her new company, Sourced, comes in. For $595, it provides kits that include renderings and a mood board, shopping lists, a renovation guidebook meant to help you
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make the best decisions for your bathroom and a spec book that you can personalize and turn over to a general contractor to carry out your vision. Those who purchase a kit also have access to a one-time Zoom call with the Styleberry Creative team. “It’s a total game changer, and I think it’s the direction our industry is going,” says Percival, who launched it in October. The kits come in four styles that rotate by season, including one that changes based on the latest design trends. New kits debut Jan. 4. Shopping lists offer options at multiple price points from places like Target, Lowe’s, West Elm, Ann Sacks and CB2 so that clients can splurge on a light fixture they love or upgrade hardware with something budget friendly. As part of the detailed guide, they’ve also provided answers for those small details that people often struggle with, like how high to hang a wall sconce or where to put the mirror in relation to the vanity. “We have technical drawings that say if you have an 8-foot ceiling do this, so it becomes failsafe,” Percival says. While Styleberry Creative continues to offer full-service design, Percival says she hopes to see Sourced Kits grow and provide guidance on everything from bathrooms to kitchens to furniture purchases. “I’m the kind of person who loves a detailed plan and has no problem implementing that plan on my own,” she says. “To think about serving our potential clients that way brings me the greatest joy.”
COURTESY STYLEBERRY CREATIVE INTERIORS
BY KATHLEEN PETTY
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N ANTONIO Could San Antonio support the creation of 10 more Rackspace-like companies? What would it take to see equitable access to healthcare and public education? Could the city’s culinary scene have a reputation that reaches around the globe? Locals share their dreams for the future of the Alamo City.
INTERVIEWS BY KATHLEEN PETTY ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRISTOPHER VELA
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TECH + BUSINESS
is that I want to see the next 10 Rackspaces founded here in the next 10 years. We are ready and primed for that. We have the resources, we have the infrastructure and we have the potential. San Antonio and our ecosystem can and will be part of the origin story of really large companies. At Geekdom, our mission and vision is to launch the next 500 startups in San Antonio, with over 75 percent of them continuing to call San Antonio home. We’re really focused on supporting startups. What we mean by that is you come in with an idea and we’re here to help you cultivate that and make it a viable company that you can grow and scale. Fr o m t h e e d u c a tional perspective, we need more programs and more opportunities in classrooms at even younger ages, so students are exposed to not only technology but also entrepreneurship and using technology to solve problems—because technology is a tool to innovate and make the world a better place. CAST Tech and all of the programs we have inside of high schools are amazing, but we want to continue to grow that. We also have great relationships with "A BIG, BIG DREAM
universities, and we want to continue to grow those and make sure that college students who go through entrepreneurial courses have the resources to pursue their great ideas, whether with us, VelocityTX, Launch SA or elsewhere. We want to provide opportunities so people can stay here. It used to be if you’re a startup in one place, you hire talent from there and you typically look for funding there—and also maybe in the Bay Area or New York. Since the pandemic, that has started to shift, especially in tech and software companies, and it’s more common to build these really awesome remote teams. That goes for funding, too. A lot more people are willing to hop on a Zoom call instead of having you fly out to make your pitch. I think more funders will be looking to San Antonio. There’s a different approach to how we do things in San Antonio. We all communicate and work together, and we’re aligned with making it a place that is friendly. And you can come in at a time when we’re still building that.” Leslie Chasnoff, programs director at Geekdom
"I’D LOVE TO SEE more companies based in San Antonio. It’s a great place to live and grow up and raise a family. It’s really affordable and there is a really interesting cultural diversity mix going on here and there are lots of things to do. I know a lot of people move to Austin or Dallas for advertising or marketing or other jobs after graduation, and I would love to see San Antonio emerge as a larger market with more opportunities.”
NOW O PEN
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Dani Trevino, social media coordinator for global content marketing at Twitter/San Antonio native
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can have a significant and transformative positive impact in historically disadvantaged areas, because it improves quality of life for residents, and increases the opportunities—whether it’s a student applying for college or someone learning about job opportunities online or a veteran accessing the resources they need. With collaboration between the private sector, public sector and the community behind SA Digital Connects, I hope we can make that dream a reality for our neighbors.”
“CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Marina Alderete Gavito, SA Digital Connects executive director
" T H E R E I S A N O P P O RT U -
for San Antonio as a community to double down on some of the strengths and assets that it currently has in order to make a bigger impact. In life sciences, for example, many people don’t even know that is one of San Antonio’s strongest assets. But we have a lot of different research organizations, companies and places like VelocityTX that provide support to entrepreneurs and founders who are trying to make an impact in the life sciences industry. I hope to see that ecosystem continue to grow, whether through companies that focus on health, medical devices, biotechnology or something else. We can become a leader in that industry, not just nationally but internationally. The other big industry I hope to see continue to grow is cybersecurity. With UTSA’s new School o f D a t a S cienc e a nd National Security Collaboration Center, plus all of the cybersecurity companies that already exist, we are poised to have a really strong cybersecurity community in the future. Geekdom also is NITY
launching an accelerator focused on cybersecurity, so everything is aligning for us to make a bigger impact in that industry internationally. Alamo Angels got started in 2016 as San Antonio Angel Network and most of our founders were Rackers (former Rackspace employees). We are industry agnostic, meaning we invest in everything from technology to consumer products to medical devices. Outside of California, a lot of people don’t know that they have options for investing beyond the stock market or in real estate. We offer bimonthly workshops about topics of interest to investors in hopes of changing that and growing the community who want to invest in startups in San Antonio. We work with companies looking for capital as they plan to grow, but from that, organically, our investors also become mentors who offer guidance, which we hope will only help strengthen those businesses and, in turn, San Antonio.” Juan “Sebastian” Garzon, Alamo Angels executive director
Head to sanantoniomag.com/sadigitalconnects to hear more about how SA Digital Connects is working toward expanding internet access.
EDUCATION “I DREAM OF A future in which all
“I THINK THE CITY can learn about
San Antonio children and youth have access to a high-quality education—from pre-K to postsecondary education—regardless of where they live in the city or their family’s income. The biggest barrier to this is our city’s historic and persistent segregation and associated disinvestment. The San Antonio area has over a dozen school districts whose boundaries parallel the racial and economic divides of the city. We can overcome these barriers by deepening the amount of resources invested into education and cultivating partnerships between parents, governments, nonprofits, colleges and universities and businesses. Without a doubt, there are many economic and social benefits for the city to have a highly educated populace. Higher levels of education are correlated with higher levels of civic engagement and better health and economic outcomes—all indicators of a city that can draw and keep talent. But ultimately, we are talking about our young people’s lives, and they are important. I did not come from an economically wealthy family. But by virtue of my educational experiences, I have been exposed to possibilities I did not even know existed. My hope is that education is not just limited to those who can afford it, but accessible to anyone regardless of what side of town they grew up in.”
its problems and solutions by paying more attention to schools and educators. There’s no place where the intersection of all that’s good and all that needs to be better meet than in our public schools. So much of the education system is premised on accounting for all of these outside forces that make their way into schools— poverty, for example—and trying to push back against them. Instead, we as a community have a responsibility to tackle those issues outside of schools so that they’re not as much of a factor. There’s no city that can escape the issues of inequities. The way that race and class and geography play out in our city, compounded by the sort of jigsaw nature of the 17-plus school districts we have, highlights and exacerbates the issue. That’s not me saying there should be one school district, but I do think the raw number we have doesn’t make it better and needs to be reexamined. How do we work as a community to bring lesser resourced areas up without taking the better resourced areas down? Because we want everyone to be better and we don’t want anyone to be worse off. People have to be willing to have the conversation first. Talent is distributed evenly but opportunity is not. We should get to a place where students and their families can follow their dreams and aspirations, whatever path speaks to them. For some it’s college, for others it’s job training or the arts, but no one should feel resigned to anything. Even though I’ve pointed out some challenging things, I’m hopeful for the future. But the work is the work and it has to get done.”
Sofia Bahena, Ed.D., assistant professor in the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at UTSA
State Rep. Diego Bernal
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COMMUNITY city that is loved deeply by everyone who calls San Antonio home. I believe so deeply in the future of San Antonio because of the community here. I have called this city home for my entire life, and I have watched so much progress be made across the city when we work together. In 2010, nearly 6,000 people came together to envision the future of this city, which led to the creation of San Antonio’s shared Community Vision. Then, in 2020, amid a global pandemic, over 12,000 people, from across the city, reaffirmed and strengthened the Community Vision. So, when I think about San Antonio’s future, I look to our shared Community Vision because it provides a guide for what San Antonians have prioritized for the next decade of progress for our city. When I think about San Antonio’s future, I think of this line from the Community Vision: “Our entire community takes responsibility for our collective well-being.” To me, this means that we each have a role to play in bettering our future, and our well-being depends on taking care of each other. No single person or "I AM FOR A
institution can be responsible for creating the future San Antonians envision. We all have to be in community and collaborate with one another. An equitable future, where we all share responsibility for our future, is a priority for San Antonians. We are all capable of leading this change, and we can accomplish progress together. As long as we continue to be visionary and prioritize our collective well-being, we will create a vibrant future for all people that call this city home.” Audrey Herrera, Trinity University student and community impact assistant for SA2020
“THE OVERALL BIG DREAM is to
see the reduction of poverty in San Antonio. It is a scandal that we have one of the highest poverty rates among the nation’s largest cities. This poverty in our city has stayed with us for all of my life and it was around for many years before that. The city has tried to work on various projects to reduce poverty and there are many good things that are happening, but we’re not there yet. The other issue that’s related that needs to be addressed is economic segregation… If we’re going to be an inclusive city that gives everyone an opportunity to develop their talents, then we’re all going to have to make some sacrifices.” The Rev. David H. Garcia, retired Archdiocese of San Antonio priest
“I WOULD LOVE TO see all of the arts and cul-
ARTS + CULTURE
ture organizations in our city become even more community-oriented—where we can all celebrate San Antonio artists and each other and all of the work that great nonprofits are doing in our diverse city.” Richard Aste, director and CEO of the McNay Art Museum
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a San Antonio whose arts and culture are unified, well-supported and permeate every district of our city; a San Antonio whose high schoolers are excited to see an opera or a symphony, because of the musical education they received since pre-K; a San Antonio whose collaborations across artistic disciplines and between institutions make it truly feel like one community. The artistic talent in our city—and the ability to support it—are already in place and poised. The exciting challenge will be connecting the dots, bringing awareness to the enormous potential impact that lies dormant, and launching the right initiatives in places that need them most.”
“WE (AGARITA) DREAM OF
Marisa Bushman, violist and founding member of Agarita, a nonprofit chamber music ensemble
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Antonio in 1985 and I was brought in because the symphony had gone on strike for the first time. When you look from ’85 to 2021 and what we’re seeing with the symphony again, I think there are some real issues about how the arts get supported. In theater, many people leave San Antonio because they can’t make a living wage. That’s what the musicians are striking about. You can’t ask somebody to spend their life doing the education and the hard work that’s involved in becoming an artist and not be willing to pay them for that. One of the issues that we have is that we’re the seventh largest city in the U.S., but economically we’re closer to 134th. When you have a disparity level in income, you have to look at where the funding comes from. We have to say, ‘How do you equate “I MOVED TO SAN
what the general consumer can afford here and what the actual cost of doing something is?’ And do we have a philanthropic base that is able to support the difference? At the Magik Theatre, tickets cover about a third of the cost of the production. There are a lot of cities that don’t have ballets or philharmonic orchestras because they can’t do that. I hope we don’t become one of those cities. Arts and culture always seem to be important when we talk about the future, but we never really discuss how the funding works. The city has done a great job of prioritizing funding for the arts but there has to be that philanthropic piece, whether from individuals, corporations or both. The Magik Theatre is about allowing children to envision what the world could
be and to see their creative voice. If you watch something on television, it’s been mastered and remastered a thousand times so it should be as good as it can get, but you’re not going to get that one time someone sings a note that you never thought they were capable of like you do on stage. That’s what I’m hoping for for the arts in San Antonio in 10 to 15 years. We are a cultural mecca—very different from New York or Chicago or LA—but what we have is a living and breathing arts culture, which makes our city the incredible place that it is to live. I want to make sure that we embrace that and embrace the possibilities of supporting more live performances. Frank Villani, Magik Theatre CEO
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CULINARY
“THE CULINARY SCENE HAS changed dramatically in the last 25 years. I can remember when San Antonio had mostly chain restaurants and even then, not many of great quality. The Culinary Institute of America opening in 2008 played a huge part in bringing talented chefs to South Texas. Many decided to stay after graduating. We now have some truly outstanding restaurants. To the extreme, my dream would be that in the future, San Antonio would have
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multiple 3-Star Michelin restaurants. But since that is not going to happen anytime soon, we need to look at reality. And in the near future, it’s going to be harder than ever to be successful in opening a restaurant. Restaurant owners will need to be efficient and many times that will mean working with other restaurants. An example is the new Smashin’ Crab Commissary and Ghost Kitchen, where it preps food for all of its restaurants. Owner Pablo Felix says they built a big enough space to not only handle
all of their own needs, but those of other businesses, too. They offer food prep, procurement and dish washing. Ghost kitchens also will continue to be popular. Stephen Paprocki, the chef/owner of Gunslingers at Los Patios, says he knew when he signed the lease that he would have to work with others to be profitable.” Alan Williams, founder of San Antonio Restaurants Facebook group
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Antonio and its culinary scene to become a national and international destination the way that LA, New York and Chicago are, and I would love when people visit, for them to stay one more day. San Antonio is rich in its roots, culture and heritage. We have a very authentic culinary heritage and scene. We have great local concepts that are popping up everywhere throughout the city, from very casual food trucks to fine dining restaurants, and a lot of people don’t know we have all of those elements here—even locals. The (San Antonio) Restaurant Association has brought in chefs and celebrity chefs and everyone who comes here falls in love with San Antonio, but they didn’t know what was here. San Antonio and its people and community are amazing. I say that from the standpoint of an immigrant and the way they embraced me.” “I WOULD LIKE SAN
Moris Saide, owner of Costa Pacifica and Bar-B-Cutie, former president of San Antonio Restaurant Association
“MY BIGGEST DREAM IS that San
Antonio's culinary scene keeps growing with a focus on diverse ethnicities of cuisine. I would love to see San Antonio on the map as a world-class destination where one can find an eclectic mix of stellar, interesting restaurants that span the globe. In my dream, they would be independently owned and profitable.
People may think profitability is a given, but so many entrepreneurs put their whole heart and soul into an endeavor and work very, very hard to break even. This is hard when you don't have the backing of big pockets. I dream of a city that gives each other a helping supportive hand and works together to weave an eclectic, delicious future.” Tim McDiarmid, chef and owner of Tim the Girl Catering, The Good Kind and Ivy Hall Events
HEALTH Antonio to be an inclusion city. The heart is already there. I hope that through every piece of what Morgan’s Wonderland and Camp are doing, it opens the doors for people to realize that it sometimes doesn’t take a ton of effort or resources to think about everybody and include them. What Gordon Hartman is doing is leaving a blueprint for people to follow. He is working with the courthouse to make parking more accessible so those in wheelchairs don’t have to travel an extraordinarily far distance from the car to the courthouse. At the airport, he worked with the city to add adult changing tables. Those are the types of things that if you don’t need them, you don’t think about them, so it’s just making sure people are aware of the needs. There’s not one particular thing that always gets overlooked. It’s just that there needs to be a more holistic way of looking at accessibility. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could get down to the River Walk at multiple places if you’re in a wheelchair? It has to start somewhere, and I think San Antonio is the place where this can happen and take off. It could ultimately revolutionize ADA access around the country and the world.” “I HOPE FOR SAN
Jessicah Holloway, CEO and camp director at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp
“A DREAM OF MINE is for people to be mindful and more conscientious of others and of themselves. When we were treating patients with COVID, we found a lot of people who had family members who became sick or even passed away after catching COVID when they attended parties or events that they felt obligated to go to. In San Antonio, we often don’t think enough about prevention. People think about the options for treating something after they get sick, but there are a lot of things we can do to prevent illness, whether COVID-19, diabetes or something else. With COVID, it’s hand washing and mask wearing, but also loving family members from afar if that’s needed to protect them. When it comes to diabetes and other health issues that we see a lot of in San Antonio, prevention and overall wellness is key, which means getting outside, exercising and eating well. Prevention is really important to me, so I hope living in ways that prevent chronic illness becomes more common.” Meagan A. Taylor, Registered Nurse at Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital
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ST Marina Riojas holds her daughter Myraclle in the NICU
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BY KATHLEEN PETTY
STRONG PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLGA MAYA
STARTS One South Side hospital is working to take Bexar County off the top of the list for preterm births and low prenatal care
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Marina Riojas was 25 weeks and two days pregnant when her water ruptured in late September. With a history of miscarriage and a subchorionic bleed that began at nine weeks, Riojas knew her pregnancy was considered high risk, but she hadn’t expected this. It was too early. Having previously worked at Women’s Health Texas in Stone Oak, Riojas had planned to travel from her South Side home to the North Side to deliver, but when her water broke, she and her husband knew there wasn’t time for that. They drove the five minutes to Texas Vista Medical Center and checked into the ER.
Marina Riojas’ daughter Myraclle was transferred to The Children’s Hospital for heart surgery.
“It was scary. I didn’t know if we were going to lose her,” Riojas says. The hospital recently received a Level III Maternal Care designation from the state, which means an OBGYN is on-site 24 hours a day and was there to respond in the ER when Riojas arrived. She was assessed and admitted to the maternity ward where doctors and nurses worked to keep her daughter inside and growing as long as possible. At 26 weeks and two days, Riojas’ daughter was born. Named Myraclle, she weighed just 1 pound, 10 ounces and stretched 13 inches long. Before Riojas could touch her, Myraclle was rushed to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. “When I walked down to see her, she had a bag and all of these tubes. It broke my heart,” Riojas says. Still, Riojas and her husband were able to touch their daughter’s hand and to watch and learn as she received care. There was still plenty of fear in the unknown, Riojas says, but she and her husband were grateful for the care they received and that they were there to see Myraclle’s
“She was very active in my tummy and when she came out, she was active, too. She grabbed the tubes and was fighting to not let the nurses touch her. Even the doctor said she has a little sassy personality.” —MARINA RIOJAS
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little personality shine in those initial days. “She was very active in my tummy and when she came out, she was active, too,” she says. “She grabbed the tubes and was fighting to not let the nurses touch her. Even the doctor said she has a little sassy personality.”
*** Myraclle is just one of the 12.2 percent of San Antonio babies born before 37 weeks gestation—the highest preterm birth rate of any major city in Texas, according to March of Dimes, a nonprofit that advocates for the health of moms and babies. When individuals have received prenatal care throughout pregnancy like Riojas did, doctors can be better prepared to treat babies if they arrive early. But often that does not happen. On San Antonio’s South Side, just 54 percent of women receive prenatal care in the first trimester, compared with 77 percent nationwide. In downtown San Antonio and in the zip codes south of downtown, 14 to 21 percent of babies born in 2017 were delivered to women who had late or no prenatal care. That rate dropped to 8 percent or less in the majority of zip codes on the North Side, according to the Department of State Health Services. The reasons for a woman not seeking care after learning she’s pregnant are many. Judit Vega, director of March of Dimes’ San Antonio Maternal and Child Health Collective Impact, says both the rates of preterm births and of late or no prenatal care are higher among women and babies who are Black or Hispanic. Some moms stay away from doctors because they have experienced racism or implicit bias in healthcare before or have friends who have. Others lack insurance or Medicaid, while still others struggle with access to transportation, housing and food insecurity—all issues that make it more difficult to seek out prenatal care. “Those inequities were all exacerbated by the pandemic,” Vega says. Certainly, the issue of maternal and infant health is not one that will be solved quickly. Even outside of San Antonio, Vega points out that data shows the U.S. is one of “the most dangerous developed countries” in which to give birth, particularly for women who are Black, Hispanic or Native American. In nine cities where outcomes are particularly dire, including San Antonio, March of Dimes has launched Maternal and Child Health Collective Impacts that are meant to help bring stakeholders in the community together to identify and address some of the issues that exist.
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The effort began just last year, but Vega says they want to improve the overall community support that women receive, particularly Black and immigrant women. Hospitals, healthcare providers, schools and social services often work in silos, so they want to help them to better communicate and focus on the overall health of pregnant women, Vega says. They’ve also discussed developing implicit bias training for hospitals, and at the state level, March of Dimes is advocating for doula services to be reimbursed by Medicaid as women whose birth is attended by a doula tend to have better outcomes. “It’s not just one factor that contributes to preterm birth and maternal mortality,” Vega says. “It’s several things.” The whole effort is being done with consideration for the economic divides that have long existed in San Antonio. The South Side (and parts of the West and East Sides) have historically had fewer options for care, Vega says, so having more facilities like Texas Vista Medical Center that are equipped to handle high-risk patients and preterm births are needed throughout the city if Bexar County is going to see improvements. In addition to Texas Vista’s Level III Maternal Care designation earned last year, Mission Trail Baptist Hospital on the South Side also opened a labor and delivery unit. Before higher care options became available at those hospitals, the closest hospital for full-service maternal care was at least 8 miles away. Texas Vista Medical Center rebranded from Southwest General Hospital last March and unveiled over $2 million in upgrades, including a nearly half-million dollar investment in its NICU, which also carries a Level III designation, says CEO Jonathan Turton. “We’re the only hospital in our geographic area that is a Level III,” he says. “That means a pregnant patient can expect to be seen in any kind of emergency and we’ll be able to help them safely address it.” Pregnant women could always receive care in the ER, but an OB was not guaranteed to be on-site. Now, women can be assessed right away and if an emergency delivery is necessary, babies can be born via c-section within 15 minutes, says Jennifer Perlmutter, chief nursing officer. Turton adds that they realize receiving a higher level of care designation and the community knowing it’s available are two different things. They’re communicating with obstetricians, hosting community events and working to get out into the
surrounding neighborhood so families are aware of what’s available. They also work to hire from the area when possible and the hospital has partnered with Palo Alto College to develop a nursing program for students on the South Side. Texas Vista is also the teaching hospital for University of the Incarnate Word’s School of Osteopathic Medicine. “When we talk about the South Side, we use ‘South Side proud’ and talk about it in a way we don’t talk about other parts of
“When you’re lacking that care, you can end up delivering early when you didn’t need to or being in an environment that doesn’t have the level of care you need,” he says. “With early prenatal care, the rates of c-section and everything else are lower.” Turton says they’re continually working to earn the trust of the community knowing that moms and babies benefit when they can access care that’s close to home. When patients need additional treatment, they can easily transfer to other
Nurses care for an infant in the NICU at Texas Vista Medical Center.
“We’re the only hospital in our geographic area that is a Level III. That means a pregnant patient can come and expect to be seen in any kind of emergency and we’ll be able to help them safely address it.” —JONATHAN TURTON, TEXAS VISTA MEDICAL CENTER CEO
town,” he says. “We need to make sure as we design healthcare systems and services that we do so in a local way that is sensitive to the needs of the local community.” Dr. Cody Henderson, NICU medical director at Texas Vista, says nearly every parent wants what’s best for their children, which is why providers have to communicate the importance of prenatal care. While nutrition and avoiding certain behaviors during pregnancy go a long way toward health for mom and baby, he says modern medicine can detect when problems occur and can often address them or have teams in place to treat them if a baby arrives ahead of their due date.
hospital systems, including The Children’s Hospital. The NICU there cares for about 40 babies each day, 50 percent of whom transferred there to receive the highest level of care available from neonatologists plus specialists and subspecialists, says Dr. Maria Pierce, neonatologist and director of the NICU at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. Myraclle transfered there and had a successful heart surgery in early December. Her parents and doctors are hoping to have her home in January, just in time to celebrate her due date. “Miracles do happen,” Riojas says. “You just have to stay strong and keep the faith.”
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SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE
JANUARY / FEBRUARY
TWENTY TWENTY TWO
SAN ANTONIO'S TOP DOCTORS FIND A GENERAL PRACTITIONER OR SPECIALIST FROM THESE 315 PEER-NOMINATED PHYSICIANS
2022 PHOTO BY JOSH HUSKIN
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ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY
Dennis Dilley Dilley Allergy & Asthma Specialists LLP 7835 W. I-10 210-614-4405 ANESTHESIOLOGY
Allen Anderson UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-4888
Jorge C. Magallon RiverCity Cardiovascular 311 Camden St., Ste. 102 210-281-9800
Michael Little UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Anand Prasad UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-4888
Francis Rosinia
Hometown Care Dr. Claudia A. Aguero credits her San Antonio teacher for inspiring a career in medicine elementary school student at St. John Bosco on San Antonio’s West Side, Claudia A. Aguero remembers being turned away from the science club just because she was a girl. Instead, she was placed in a typing class. “I remember being so furious,” she says, adding that typing is still not her strong suit. In high school, though, a science teacher at the now-closed Ursuline Academy insisted girls not only belonged in science but could do anything they wanted. Aguero followed her advice, enrolling at St. Mary’s University and then medical school at what was then the UT Health Science Center in Houston. A residency in family medicine brought her to the Rio Grande Valley, where she practiced until 2015 when she returned to her hometown to work with HealthTexas Medical Group at its Val Verde Clinic. There, the bilingual doctor sees everyone from farmers commuting from nearby towns to elderly patients and families who live nearby, including those who primarily speak Spanish. She even has former patients who drive north from Harlingen to see her for care. “We treat patients like our families,” Aguero says. “This office is AS AN
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my home away from home so I try to keep it peaceful and want patients to feel like they would if they were visitors coming over to my house.” During the height of COVID19, Aguero shifted some of her appointments to a virtual platform, but also set up a drivethrough so she could assess individuals in the parking lot and determine if they needed further care. A mom of two grown children, Aguero says preventative care is key to healthy living, which is something she emphasizes to patients even more since many have missed annual screenings during the pandemic. She also knows patients are less likely to follow her advice if she’s not living it herself, so Aguero keeps her own appointments for things like mammograms and colonoscopies and stays active when she’s not working, practicing Pilates, walking and earning a black belt alongside her kids when they were younger. The Val Verde clinic also acts as a teaching office for University of the Incarnate Word medical students, which Aguero says gives her the chance to teach students the importance of being caring while providing great care.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-4000
Steven Venticinque UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000 BREAST SURGERY
CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
Andrea Carpenter UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-0999
William M. Davis South Texas Cardiothoracic 4330 Medical Drive, Ste. 325 210-615-7700
Maryam Elmi START Center for Cancer Care 4383 Medical Drive 210-593-5700 CARDIAC
Edward Sako UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-0999
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY CLINICAL GENETICS
Kiran N. Jayaram Methodist Physician Practices 4411 Medical Drive, Ste. 300 210-614-5400
David N. Pederson Methodist Physician Practices 4411 Medical Drive, Ste. 300 210-614-5400 CARDIOLOGY
Ildiko Agoston UT Health San Antonio 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Scott McLean Goldsbury Center for Children and Families at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St., Floor 2 210-704-0407
Elizabeth Roeder Goldsbury Center for Children and Families at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St., Floor 2 210-704-0407 COLON & RECTAL SURGERY
Jorge A. Alvarez Methodist Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio 4411 Medical Drive, Ste. 120 210-614-5400
Haisar Dao Campi Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road 210-450-9000
PHOTO BY JOSH HUSKIN
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Richard Blair Jackson
Emily Fridlington
Craig W. Cooley
Robert Mora
Texas Oncology 7950 Floyd Curl Drive, Ste. 101 210-614-0880
Alamo Heights Dermatology 131 W. Sunset Road, Ste. 101 210-255-8447
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Alicia Logue
Malini Fowler
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road 210-450-9200
Westlake Dermatology 5500 Broadway, Ste. R100 210-802-0085
Robert A. De Lorenzo
Ralph Riviello
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-4292
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-4353
Leanna Dolson
Craig A. Sisson
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 302 W. Rector St. 210-358-0800
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-7000
Romeo Fairley
ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES &
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 302 W. Rector St. 210-358-0800
METABOLISM
Robert Gilson
South Texas Colorectal Center 311 Camden St., Ste. 501 888-616-9606
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road, Floor 3 210-450-9840
John H. Winston III
Karla N. Munoz
Colorectal Surgery Services PLLC 19288 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. A 210-490-2828
Vista Dermatology 27511 I-10 W., Bldg. 2, Boerne 210-698-0500
COSMETIC SURGERY
Sandra Osswald
James H. Prieto
Stars Plastic Surgery 8042 Wurzbach Road, Ste. 130 210-201-2806
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road, Floor 3 210-450-9840
Elizabeth Harris
Ana Sauceda
Center for Cosmetic Surgery 14603 Huebner Road, Bldg. 1, Ste. 111 210-545-4848
Alamo City Dermatology 2829 Babcock Road, Ste. 636 210-610-8123
Suresh Koneru
Holly Volz
Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery PA 423 Treeline Park, Ste. 300 210-499-5900 DERMATOLOGY
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road, Floor 3 210-450-9840
Emily Becker
DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY
Rodney Chan
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road, Floor 3 210-450-9840
Lindsey Finklea RFSA Dermatology 10603 West Ave. 210-901-9353
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Alamo Heights Dermatology 131 W. Sunset Road, Ste. 101 210-255-8447
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William G. Fernandez UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-4292
Christopher Gelabert UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 302 W. Rector St. 210-358-0800
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-4292
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Michelle D. Welch Diabetes and Metabolism Specialists 4118 Pond Hill Road, Ste. 300 210-494-3739 FAMILY MEDICINE
Claudia A. Aguero HealthTexas Medical Group 810 S.E. Military Drive 210-921-4200
Ricardo Arevalo HealthTexas Medical Group 6428 Bandera Road 210-520-4455
Ramon Cancino UT Health San Antonio 25723 Old Fredericksburg Road, Boerne 210-450-6800
Ryan Joseph Pamela Otto UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-6000 EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Christina Cirillo Bird Michelle Fricke
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 302 W. Rector St. 210-358-0800
Cristina Grijalva Angel Gomez
Thushan Desilva Desilva Dermatology 120 Old San Antonio Road, Boerne 830-331-4150
Jacob Feldman
Jan Bruder
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-4292
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Christopher Caulfield
Steven Moore
Michael Dominguez
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
HealthTexas Medical Group 590 N. General McMullen Drive 210-249-0212
HealthTexas Medical Group 8906 Perrin Beitel Road 210-572-3306
Matthew P. Gibbs HealthTexas Medical Group 12415 Bandera Road, Ste. 112 210-543-7000
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
12/10/21 10:59 AM
Andrine Grant
Luis Navarrete Torres
John Vizuete
Edward Kost
HealthTexas Medical Group 530 San Pedro Ave. 210-225-4511
HealthTexas Medical Group 1802 S.W. Military Drive 210-924-2337
Gastroenterology Clinic of San Antonio 8550 Datapoint Drive, Ste. 200 210-615-8308
Monika P. Kapur
Joshua Urteaga
GENERAL SURGERY
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5, Ste. 5A 210-450-9500
University Health 15102 Huebner Road 210-644-2400
HealthTexas Medical Group 1910 S. New Braunfels Ave. 210-532-0891
Gary M. Hall
Georgia McCann
Michael Konopacki
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Alamo City Surgeons 12709 Toepperwein Road, Ste. 302 210-653-9307
HealthTexas Medical Group 105 Falls Court, Ste. 100, Boerne 830-249-3800
Hays L. Arnold
Jason W. Kempenich
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5, Ste. 5A 210-450-9500
Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio 12850 Toepperwein Road 210-614-1234
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-8900
Juan F. Echavarria
Damon Mimari
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
START Center for Cancer Care 4383 Medical Drive 210-593-5700
Timothy Kosmatka HealthTexas Medical Group 8542 Wurzbach Road 210-616-7300
Tamre McClelland HealthTexas Medical Group 8906 Perrin Beitel Road 210-572-3306
Antonio Santillan-Gomez Texas Oncology 5206 Research Drive 210-595-5300
J. Brian Szender START Center for Cancer Care 4383 Medical Drive 210-593-5700
Ronald Stewart Ravi Ganeshappa
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-0265
James L. Wilder
Texas Digestive Disease Consultants 3327 Research Plaza St., Ste. 305 210-750-6674
Glenn Gross
Kent Van Sickle
HAND SURGERY
HealthTexas Medical Group 20821 Hwy. 281 N., Ste. 122 210-546-1600
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-8900
Manuel M. Quinones Jr.
Ernesto Guerra Jr.
GERIATRIC MEDICINE
HealthTexas Medical Group 11820 Bandera Road, Ste. 102 210-477-7180
San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates & Endoscopy Centers 520 E. Euclid Ave. 210-775-2265
Gabriel Ortiz HealthTexas Medical Group 615 N.W. Loop 410, Ste. 210 210-384-8282
Dan C. Powell
Orlando Rodriguez HealthTexas Medical Group 1248 Austin Hwy., Ste. 214 210-828-2531
Russell Dean Havranek Gastroenterology Clinic of San Antonio 8550 Datapoint Drive, Ste. 200 210-615-8308
Raul Santoscoy HealthTexas Medical Group 7431 N.W. Loop 410, Ste. 109 210-477-7190
Iveth Soza HealthTexas Medical Group 810 S.E. Military Drive 210-921-4200
April Hain Trevino HealthTexas Medical Group 1248 Austin Hwy., Ste. 214 210-828-2531
Francisco Javier Torres HealthTexas Medical Group 1802 S.W. Military Drive 210-924-2337
Hopethe Hubbard UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 903 W. Martin St. 210-358-6700
South Texas Gynecologic Oncology 540 Madison Oak Drive, Ste. 570 888-749-6947
Woodward Coleman The Hand and Thumb Specialty Center 8715 Village Drive, Ste. 504 210-251-4362
Kunj K. Desai Michael Lichtenstein UT Health San Antonio Medical Arts & Research Center 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-450-9100
Neela Patel UT Health San Antonio Geriatrics and Supportive Care 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-450-9890 GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY
The Hand Center of San Antonio 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 310 210-558-7025
David Wesley Person The Hand Center of San Antonio 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 310 210-558-7025
Ryan Rose UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-9300
Joseph De La Garza James F. Jackson Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio 855 Proton Road 210-614-1234
Laura Rosenkranz UT Health San Antonio/ Univeresity Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9880
Texas Oncology 5206 Research Drive 210-595-5300
Kevin Hall Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5, Ste. 5A 210-450-9500
HEMATOLOGY
Elizabeth Bowhay-Carnes Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road 210-450-1000
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Thomas Fisher
Barbara Taylor
Texas Oncology 3327 Research Place, Ste. 102 210-337-4494
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-3710
Anand Karnad Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road 210-450-1000
INTERNAL MEDICINE
Jesus J. Aguilar HealthTexas Medical Group 1910 S. New Braunfels Ave. 210-532-0891
HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE
Dr. Thomas Patterson and UT Health among leaders in national study of patients with lingering COVID-19 symptoms has become a leader in COVID-19-related research thanks, in part, to the professor of medicine known on Twitter as “Doctor Fungus.” “With the onset of COVID, our team really pivoted,” says Dr. Thomas Patterson, the UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine professor and Top Doctor who is also the director of the San Antonio Center for Mycology. Along with participating in clinical trials to develop safe and effective therapies like Remdesivir, UT Health has worked on vaccine research and is one of 15 sites participating in the $500 million National Institutes of Health study, Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery, that is looking at long-term effects of COVID-19 on adults. In partnership with University Health and the Laredo Health Department, UT Health is in the process of recruiting 900 adults to participate in its study that will look at what COVID-19’s long-term symptoms are, who experiences them and how frequently they’re occurring in the population. Patterson says many assume those who were hospitalized are having the most severe lingering effects of the virus but that some people who had mild cases have reported more long-lasting respiratory symptoms than those who were on a ventilator during treatment. Others report experiencing depression and anxiety, brain fog or chronic SAN ANTONIO
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fatigue in the months after they’ve recovered from the virus. Some say the symptoms persisted from the time they had COVID-19 while others say their symptoms popped up later. Research also will work to determine whether symptoms are a direct result of COVID-19 or if they are related to another health issue. Individuals who developed COVID-19 early in the pandemic as well as those who contracted the delta variant and those diagnosed despite being vaccinated will all participate in the study, which will last for four years. “We’re trying to understand the pattern of long-term COVID effects with the ultimate aim of developing new treatments and new strategies,” says Patterson, who is principal investigator. San Antonio and South Texas is particularly well-positioned to study the impact of COVID-19 on those with diabetes or metabolic disorders, Patterson says. Researchers also hope the study's results will help them to understand why some communities were disproportionately affected. “COVID obviously has been more impactful than any of us ever thought would have occurred,” he says. “Hopefully we’ve learned lessons and we are really grateful to our patients who participate in these studies.” Interested in participating in the study? Visit recover-tx.org.
Douglas F. Bahr
Jennifer Lacoss
HealthTexas Medical Group 900 Loop 337, New Braunfels 830-515-1280
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-450-9000
Jason Morrow UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-7000
Gregory Bowling UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Ana Maria Calderon
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
HealthTexas Medical Group 8542 Wurzbach Road 210-616-7300
Ruth Berggren
Kristi Clark
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9800
HealthTexas Medical Group 8542 Wurzbach Road 210-616-7300
Ramon Colen Jason Bowling UT Health San Antonio 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9800
Las Palmas Clinic 911 Castroville Road 210-436-7402
Cynthia Gneco Luis Cisneros Christus Health 343 W. Houston St., Ste. 808 210-224-9616
HealthTexas Medical Group 590 N. General McMullen Drive 210-249-0212
Anthony Hartzler
Blanca Gray
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-358-4000
HealthTexas Medical Group 911 Castroville Road 210-436-7402
Jan Patterson
Terry Grover
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9800
HealthTexas Medical Group 105 Falls Court, Ste. 100, Boerne 830-249-3800
Thomas F. Patterson
Douglas Hilbert
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-3710
Pasteur Medical Associates 4410 Medical Drive, Ste. 100 210-614-4000
WOMAN: MOREMAR/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; VIRUS: ANDY CHIPUS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
The Long-Haul
CARE
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Amita Kumar
Kelly Thurmon
HealthTexas Medical Group 615 N.W. Loop 410, Ste. 210 210-384-8282
HealthTexas Medical Group 2961 Mossrock 210-731-4800
John Brian Lim II
Stella Yu
HealthTexas Medical Group 8906 Perrin Beitel Road 210-572-3306
HealthTexas Medical Group 8542 Wurzbach Road 210-616-7300
Michael E. Lozano
INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY
Impact Physicians of Texas 6800 I-10 W., Ste. 200 210-690-0230
Mark Colligan
Angela Malarcher HealthTexas Medical Group 10307 Hwy. 151 210-237-4983
Baptist Health System’s new unit is working to decrease the negative impacts of stroke suffers a stroke, they can lose up to 2 million brain cells each minute that blood flow is not restored to the brain. A new unit at Northeast Baptist Hospital is working to address that with specialists and the latest technology dedicated to stroke treatment and prevention. It launched in the spring and serves patients in Northeast San Antonio as well as in the areas between San Antonio and San Marcos—neighborhoods where patients previously may have had to travel for proper treatment. Dr. Suman Nalluri, an interventional stroke neurologist and director of the program, says stroke is the leading cause of disability in the U.S.—there are 3.8 million women and 3 million men with stroke-related disabilities— and experts are predicting those numbers may spike as a result of delays in care experienced during the pandemic. Baptist Hospital’s Brain and Stroke Network includes a team of neurosurgeons, neuro-interventionalists, WHEN SOMEONE
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stroke nurse investigators and rehab staff who work with ER doctors and EMS teams to ensure patients are receiving the best diagnostic care and treatment possible from the time they arrive in an ambulance to the time they go home. Doing that requires relying on two- and three-dimensional brain imaging technology alongside AI brain imaging to speed up care. It’s recommended by the American Stroke Association that patients receive clot-eliminating therapy within an hour of their arrival at an ER. At Northeast Baptist, patients are often treated with that therapy within 12 minutes. W hen t h a t ty p e o f quick intervention occurs, patients are less likely to experience motor and cognitive issues like paralysis, impaired speech and memory loss. “Time is brain when it comes to stroke,” Nalluri says. “Seconds make all the difference in whether a person survives and whether or not they’ll be impaired with long-term negative health effects.”
MATERNAL & FETAL MEDICINE
Kayla Ireland Lenibet Montemayor HealthTexas Medical Group 1802 S.W. Military Drive 210-924-2337
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 25723 Old Fredericksburg Road, Boerne 210-450-6800
Nagalakshmi Nallapaneni
Melinda Baldwin McFarland
HealthTexas Medical Group 2961 Mossrock 210-731-4800
Perinatal Associates of San Antonio 502 Madison Oak Drive, Ste. 210 210-481-3000
Jose Ortiz Jr.
Angela Boyd
HealthTexas Medical Group 530 San Pedro Ave. 210-225-2551
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
Bharath Pola HealthTexas Medical Group 10307 Hwy. 151 210-237-4983
Ashley Parker Perinatal Associates of San Antonio 502 Madison Oak Drive, Ste. 210 210-481-3000
Ambili Ramachandran UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-3555
Patrick Ramsey UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-6800
Steven Ramos HealthTexas Medical Group 530 San Pedro Ave. 210-225-4511
MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
Virginia Kaklamani
HealthTexas Medical Group 530 San Pedro Ave. 210-225-4511
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road, Floor 4 210-450-1724
Claudia Santos
NEONATOLOGY
HealthTexas Medical Group 530 San Pedro Ave. 210-225-4511
Cynthia Blanco
Rowland Reyna
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
BRAIN: JOLYGON/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Quick Response
Heart Clinic of San Antonio 502 Madison Oak Drive, Ste. 310 888-355-2178
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Maria Pierce
Christopher Bogaev
Rochelle David
Kristin Brozena Shah
The Children's Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St. 210-704-2011
Neurosurgical Associates of San Antonio 4410 Medical Drive, Ste. 610 210-477-1956
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
Women Partners in OB/GYN 502 Madison Oak Drive, Ste. 440 210-946-1300
Frank Fichtel Amy Riann Quinn
Christus Health 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 600 210-375-3399
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-1593
John Floyd Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 7 210-450-9060
NEPHROLOGY
Shweta Bansal UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-450-4000
Gabriel Medrano Valle John Franka UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
ONCOLOGY
Michelle Harden Stone Oak Womens Center OBGYN 540 Oak Centre Drive, Ste. 280 210-614-2229
Donald Hilton
Ilanna Loeffel
NEUROCRITICAL
Neurosurgical Associates of San Antonio 4410 Medical Drive, Ste. 610 210-614-2453
Women's Health Texas 3903 Wiseman Blvd., Ste. 200 210-684-4100
Shaheryar Hafeez
Justin Mascitelli
Erin Mankus*
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-8555
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5, Ste. 5A 210-450-9500
NEUROLOGY
Michael James McGinity
Erin Nelson*
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 7 210-450-9060
UT Health San Antonio/ Univeristy Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5, Ste. 5A 210-450-9500
Alexander Papanastassiou
Luke Newton
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 7 210-450-9060
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-7000
OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
Sarah Page-Ramsey
(*Gynecology only)
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
Lee Birnbaum UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 7 210-450-9060
Octavian Lie UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 8 210-450-9700
Yadira Anca
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 8 210-450-9700
CommuniCare Health Centers 10002 Westover Bluff 210-521-9500
NEUROSURGERY
Patricia Brougher*
Osama Iqbal Ahmed
Bluebonnet OB/GYN 4499 Medical Drive, Ste. 140 210-686-6171
Brain & Spine Institute of San Antonio 12709 Toepperwein Road, Ste. 101 210-625-4733
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-450-4000
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Sukeshi Arora Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University Hospital 7979 Wurzbach Road 210-450-1000
Amy Lang START Center for Cancer Care 4383 Medical Drive 210-593-5700
Kate Lathrop Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University Hospital 7979 Wurzbach Road, Floor 4 210-450-1724
Lon Smith START Center for Cancer Care 4383 Medical Drive 210-593-5700 OPHTHALMOLOGY
Kent Anderson
Rebecca Romero
Viktor Bartanusz
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
Elisa Carroll Women’s Health Texas 222 W. Cypress St., Ste. 200 210-226-9705
Susan Crockett* Virtuosa Gyn 12602 Toepperwein, Ste. 208 210-878-0090
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 6 210-450-9400
Jane Lindell Hughes Marcy Rosen Northeast OB/GYN Associates 250 E. Basse Road, Ste. 205 210-653-5501
San Antonio Ophthalmology & Ophthalmic Surgery 10007 Huebner Road, Bldg. 3, Ste. 302 210-614-5566
Tiffany Satterfield
Daniel Johnson
Seven Oaks Women’s Center 7711 Louis Pasuiteur Drive, Ste. 200 210-692-9500
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 6 210-450-9400
Ora Schwope Lone Star OB/GYN 7950 Floyd Curl Drive, Stes. 300 & 400 210-615-6505
Carlos Rosende UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 6 210-450-9400
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ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
Animesh Agarwal UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-0265
Travis C. Burns Travis C. Burns MD, Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon 2833 Babcock Road, Tower II, Ste. 435 210-705-5078
Frank Miller UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 6 210-450-9950
Randal Otto Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 6 210-450-9950
Christian L. Stallworth Robert Girling Sports Medicine Associates 21 Spurs Lane, Stes. 210 & 300 210-299-0240
Stallworth Facial Plastic Surgery 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 120A 210-997-3223 PAIN MANAGEMENT
Geoffrey Glebus Sports Medicine Associates 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 300 210-699-8326
Gerald Q. Greenfield Jr. South Texas Spinal Clinic PA 9150 Huebner Road, Ste. 290 210-614-6432
Ravi Karia UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Geoffrey M. Millican Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine 6800 I-10 W., Ste. 250 210-692-7400
David Schmidt Sports Medicine Associates 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 300 210-699-8326
Raymond E. Skunda Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine 6800 I-10 W., Ste. 250 210-692-7400
Brian Boies UT Health San Antonio/ Univeristy Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Maxim Eckmann UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 614 210-450-9850
Ellen Lin Advanced Spine & Pain Center 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 240 210-690-0777
Methodist Healthcare staff helped a patient tie the knot while receiving care
Ameet Nagpal
MICHELE HERBERT
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 614 210-450-9850
William Alec Tisdall Spine & Joint Pain Specialists 1919 Rogers Road, Ste. 104 210-541-0700
Manuel Ybarra Advanced Spine and Pain Center 255 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 20 210-690-0777
Richard Steffen Sports Medicine Associates 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 300 210-699-8326
ATIPO ILLUSTRATIONS
OTALARYNGOLOGY
PEDIATRICS
Shannon M. Austin Southwest Children’s Center PA 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 310 210-614-8687
Philip Chen UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 6 210-450-9950
Wellness and Bliss
Marshall J. Benbow Southwest Children’s Center PA 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 310 210-614-8687
certainly never imagined her wedding day would involve a cadre of healthcare professionals clad in blue scrubs and masks, but it was precisely those elements that ended up making her and fiancé Fernando Nino’s big day possible. When Nino became critically ill due to COVID-19 during the fall, he and Herbert were told by his initial caregivers that he may not make it to the end of the year. Then, Nino was selected for ECMO life-support therapy at Methodist Hospital. He transferred there and spent months recovering in the Lung Rescue ICU. In November, she and Nino decided they didn’t want to put their wedding off any longer.
Methodist nurses stepped in to help make their dream a reality, organizing a ceremony and reception, complete with cake, flowers, balloons and an officiant, the Rev. Charlie Hornes. On Nov. 17, they lined a hospital hallway and watched as Herbert walked down the “aisle” to meet Nino, who was waiting for her in a tie, button up shirt and slacks, rather than his hospital gown. Herbert says she’s grateful for the nurses and doctors who didn’t give up on her fiancé—or on the other patients being treated in the ICU. “It took a lot to be where we are today. I’m glad it’s a celebration and not otherwise,” Herbert told Methodist Hospital staff. “I just can’t believe that we’re here today, and it’s better than I could have ever imagined.”
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Tina H. Boylston
Elaine Maldonado
Maria S. Rayas
Oluwadamilola Ejike
Southwest Children’s Center PA 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 310 210-614-8687
UT Health San Antonio/ Childrens Heart Network 1901 Babcock Road, Ste. 301 210-358-5437
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-7551
Goldsbury Center for Children and Families at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St. 210-704-4708
PEDIATRIC CARDIOTHORACIC
PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY
L. Patrick Finklea Jr. Southwest Children’s Center PA 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 310 210-614-8687
Daniel Ranch
SURGERY
Navneet Mittal John Calhoon
Heather Gardner
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-567-5374
Aaron Abarbanell Rebecca Huston The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St. 210-704-2011
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-6147
Brandy L. McCray
PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE
Oncology San Antonio 202 Baltimore Ave. 210-299-8000
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-358-8309
Jay N. Shah
PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 903 W. Martin St. 210-358-3400
Shelly M. McNair Southwest Children’s Center PA 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 310 210-614-8687
Krista M. Vizuete Southwest Children’s Center PA 5282 Medical Drive, Ste. 310 210-614-8687
Chatchawin Assanasen Daniel Gebhard UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-567-7000
Anthony Infante UT Health San Antonio 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-450-9000
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-1583 PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY
John Browning
Ginnie Abarbanell
Texas Dermatology 3327 Research Plaza, Ste. 204 210-728-3919 PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Marissa Cantu UT Health San Antonio / University Hospital 302 W. Rector St. 210-358-0800
Eduardo Macias Enriquez UT Health San Antonio/ Childrens Heart Network 1901 Babcock Road, Ste. 301 210-341-7722
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The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St., Floor 7 210-704-4275
PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY
Jane Lynch
Sidney Atkinson UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Kelly Averill UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Linda Leary UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-5437
Melissa Dziuk Svoboda The Children's Hospital of San Antonio Baylor College of Medicine 333 N. Santa Rosa St. 210-704-4708 PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERY
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Izabela Tarasiewicz Joseph Cantey
Ashley S. Cooley UT Health San Antonio/ Childrens Heart Network 7300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-341-7722
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Adam D. Wolfe
PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY
UT Health San Antonio 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-450-7334
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-743-2300
Aaron Sugalski Theodore Wu
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY
UT Health San Antonio / University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive. Floor 10 210-743-2300
Melissa Frei-Jones Clinton A. Pietz
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St. 210-704-4708
PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ ONCOLOGY
Through The Years Pediatrics 15316 Huebner Road, Ste. 102 210-479-9292
Samiya Ahmad
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 7703 Floyd Curl Drive 210-450-9060 PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDICS/
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
Mazen Arar
Shawn Funk
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St., Floor 1 210-704-4199
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 701 S. Zarzamora St. 210-358-7551
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Steven Gibbons UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-9300
PEDIATRIC SURGERY
Peter Ledoux
Courtney Minnick Failor
Barry R. Cofer
PRMA Plastic Surgery 9635 Huebner Road 210-692-1181
Aspire Fertility San Antonio 150 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 220 210-941-2866
Manuel A. Lopez
Erika Munch
Advanced Aesthetics Lopez Plastic Surgery 18322 Sonterra Place, Ste. 107 210-495-5771
Texas Fertility Center 18707 Hardy Oak Blvd., Ste. 505 210-370-3800
Amita Shah
Gregory S. Neal Fertility Center of San Antonio 4499 Medical Drive, Ste. 200 210-692-0577
San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates 4499 Medical Drive, Ste. 347 210-615-8757
Elizabeth Magnabosco The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St. 210-704-4199
John J. Doski San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates 4499 Medical Drive, Ste. 347 210-615-8757
Sekinat K. McCormick UT Health San Antonio / University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-9300
Ian Mitchell San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates 4499 Medical Drive, Ste. 347 210-615-8757
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive 210-358-0265
PEDIATRIC
Frank M. Robertson
Howard Wang
OTALARYNGOLOGY
San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates 4499 Medical Drive, Ste. 347 210-615-8757
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-358-0265
Robert Schenken
Juan Bonilla Methodist Healthcare 16723 Huebner Road 210-733-4368
PEDIATRIC UROLOGY
RHEUMATOLOGY PODIATRY
Jessica Goetz Lisa Buckmiller
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4499 Medical Drive, Ste. 347 210-358-3400
Goldsbury Center for Children and Families at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio 333 N Santa Rosa St., Lower Level 210-704-3707
Kevin J. Kempf Marque Allen Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio 5921 Boadway 210-699-8326
Andrew J. Marks Pediatric Urology of San Antonio PLLC 4499 Medical Drive, Ste. 360 210-615-1600
Marisa Earley UT Health San Antonio 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
PULMONOLOGY
REBAHBILITATION
Texas IPS 4458 Medical Drive, Ste. 505 210-690-7400
Derrick Allred
RADIATION ONCOLOGY
PHYSICAL MEDICINE &
The Children's Hospital of San Antonio 333 N. Santa Rosa St. 210-704-3707 PEDIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
Steven Pliszka
PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE
UT Health San Antonio 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 7 210-450-6450
SURGERY
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road 210-450-1000
Michael Baumholtz
REPORODUCTIVE
Baumholtz Plastic Surgery 4083 De Zavala Road 210-972-1260
ENDOCRINOLOGY/ INFERTILITY
Timothy Wagner
Regina Fearmonti Alon Aesthetics 11503 N.W. Military Hwy., Ste. 114 210-343-1089
Randal Robinson UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
Jennifer Knudtson Donna Willey-Courand
Earl E. Ferguson III
UT Health San Antonio/ University Health 903 W. Martin St. 210-358-4000
Dermatology Associates of San Antonio 18540 Sigma Road 210-490-4661
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Rheumatology Associates of South Texas 19272 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 101 210-265-8851
Gerald Rosenberg Arthritis Associates 4511 Horizon Hill Blvd., Ste. 150 210-477-2626
Arthritis Associates 4511 Horizon Hill Blvd., Ste. 150 210-477-2626 SLEEP MEDICINE
Tarak J. Patel
Kelly Smith
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Emily Triana Marx
Pendleton Wickersham
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-4000
Texas Pediatric Specialties and Family Sleep Center 4114 Pond Hill Road, Ste. 102 210-249-5020
Rheumatology Associates of South Texas 19272 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 101 210-265-8851
Jairo A. Melo
Morgan Taylor Fordham Jr.
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
Aspire Fertility San Antonio 150 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 220 210-405-6946
The Children's Hopsital of San Antonio Sleep Center 333 N. Santa Rosa St. 210-249-5020 SPINE SURGERY
Ajeya P. Joshi South Texas Spinal Clinic PA 18626 Hardy Oak Blvd., Ste. 300 210-664-5047
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SPORTS MEDICINE
UROLOGY
Hector U. Lopez
William Harmon
Sports Medicine Associates 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 300 210-699-8326
Urology San Antonio 7909 Fredericksburg Road, Ste. 135 210-614-4544
Paul Stephen Saenz
Javier Hernandez
Sports Medicine Associates 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 300 210-699-8326
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital/ South Texas VA 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9600
Rajeev Suri UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 7 210-567-3448 VASCULAR SURGERY
Eliot James Young
Mark Davies UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-358-8900
Clayton Hudnall
Sports Medicine Associates 21 Spurs Lane, Ste. 300 210-699-8326
Urology San Antonio 7909 Fredericksburg Road, Ste. 135 210-614-4544
SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
William O. Kirk Peripheral Vascular Associates 16 N. Main Ave. 210-656-5098
Stephen Kraus Mio Kitano Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road 210-450-5990
Federico Tozzi Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 7979 Wurzbach Road 210-450-1000 UROGYNECOLOGY/FEMALE
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9600
Alexandriah Alas UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
The San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular Clinic 4025 E. Southcross Blvd., Ste. 15 210-610-7283
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 25723 Old Fredericksburg Road, Boerne 210-450-6800
Lori Pounds UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-9888
Kurt G. Meissner Urology San Antonio 7909 Fredericksburg Road, Ste. 135 210-614-4544
Deepak Kumar Pruthi Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9600
Matthew Sideman UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 4502 Medical Drive 210-567-5715
Daniel Tamez Peripheral Vascular Associates 16 N. Main Ave. 210-234-4444
Robert Svatek
Boulos Toursarkissian
UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9600
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio M.D. Anderson Cancer Center/University Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 4 210-450-9600
Peripheral Vascular Associates PA 9153 Huebner Road 210-614-7414
Victor Casiano
Ian M. Thompson Jr.
Women’s Health Texas 18707 Hardy Oak Blvd., Ste. 230 210-494-2000
Texas Urology 2833 Babcock Road, Ste. 212 210-960-0081
Ash Dabbous
VASCULAR & INTERVENTIONAL
Urogynecology Of San Antonio 335 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 170 210-614-7744
RADIOLOGY
Sylvia Botros-Brey
Elizabeth Evans UT Health San Antonio/ Univeresity Hospital 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 5 210-450-9500
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Using an online survey, San Antonio Magazine solicited peer nominations from physicians in Bexar, Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties, asking them to nominate up to three doctors per practice area who they would trust with the medical care of themselves or their family. To ensure the nomination process is peer-based, full contact information was requested before nominating and doctors were asked to limit their nominations to physicians whose work they’ve personally witnessed. San Antonio Magazine then tallied the results, selecting the top 10 to 15 percent of vote recipients in each practice area before submitting the final list to our fact-checking process, which includes a review of good standing among medical boards.
Dharam Kaushik
PELVIC MEDICINE AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Lyssa Ochoa
HOW THE LIST IS MADE
Jorge Lopera UT Health San Antonio/ University Hospital/ South Texas VA 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, Floor 3 210-450-6000
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be a part of the list. We recognize that many good doctors are not included on the list; this is only a sampling of a huge array of talented professionals within the region. We encourage all consumers to do their own research before selecting a doctor. San Antonio Magazine uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list. It does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate. San Antonio Magazine does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from San Antonio Magazine. If you see an error in the information listed, please contact editor@sanantoniomag.com. Doctors: Congratulations! If you’d like to display this accomplishment with a plaque, please visit our official store at sanantoniomag.com/ plaques.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
12/10/21 10:59 AM
ARTHRITIS ASSOCIATES
Arthritis Associates is the premier rheumatology practice that has been serving San Antonio and South Texas since 1978. Our clinic has six board-certified rheumatologists as well as multiple nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants trained and certified by the American College of Rheumatology. Arthritis Associates features state-of-the-art technologies including a high-complexity COLA-certified laboratory, digital X-ray, DEXA and infusion therapy suite. Our expert team treats patients ages 12 and up in a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. Left to Right: Gerald Rosenberg, MD, Matthew Mosbacker, MD, Rodolfo Molina, MD, Luis R. Zuniga-Montes, MD, Jose F. Roldan, MS MD Pendleton Wickersham, MD
4511 Horizon Hill Blvd., Ste. 150, San Antonio, TX 78229
210-477-2626 arthritistexas.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
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Eat + Drink I NSI D E / PE RUVIA N TA PAS p .58 / ZERO-PROOF GOOD N ESS p. 60 / KOREAN -MEXICAN FUSION p . 6 2
GIGI’S DELI
2327 N. St. Mary’s St. eatgigis.com Dinner Fri & Sat Lunch Sun
Getting in the Game atthew Garcia thought the summer of 2021 was going to be “his summer.” Instead, the chef who spent time at Barbaro and The Cookhouse broke his leg in six places and ended up spending his days on the couch, binging TV and movies like My Cousin Vinny. When he finally was steady enough on his feet to go out, his first trip included a lackluster meal at a local Italian restaurant that will remain nameless. Garcia says he’s no Italian food guru, but he thought if he could come up with a concept that embodied the sass and character of Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny that he might just be
COURTESY GIGI'S DELI/JOMANDO CRUZ
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able to help fill what he saw as an Italian sandwich void. “It’s something this part of San Antonio lacks—a solid sandwich game,” he says. He and business partner Harrison Civick debuted their Italian sandwich pop-up, GiGi’s Deli, during a Sopranos-themed event at Little Death last fall and a few months later turned it into a weekend residency that customers can find each Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the wine bar owned by Chad Carey. On the menu, find classics like chicken or eggplant Parmesan plus breakfast-style sandwiches that Garcia says are the New Jersey bodega spin on a San Antonio breakfast taco.—KP
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E AT + D R I N K / E AT H E R E N O W
SCORPION
125 Lamar St. 210-455-0066 scorpiontexas.com Happy hour Wed-Sun Dinner Fri-Sun
Truly Inspired Scorpion showcases the emerging talent of a Peruvian native BY EDMUND TIJERINA
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ausages and potatoes rarely bring to mind images of creative dining. And, indeed, the Peruvian snack called salchipapas (salchichas + papas) is a beloved street food traditionally served with small condiment cups of mustard, mayonnaise and a paste made with the yellow chile known as ají. But in the hands of Scorpion chef Kenny Loo, this simple dish turns gorgeous and delicious, while remaining rooted in its Peruvian sensibility. Throughout the menu at Scorpion, Loo draws inspiration from his native Peru to cook food that’s satisfying and complex yet still accessible. Plus, the dishes go great with the natural wine list from wine director Taylor Zettner. A year old, this Dignowity Hill restaurant that sits just east of downtown still feels new enough for people to discover it. And it’s well worth a visit. Born in Lima, Peru, to parents from Hong Kong and Macau, Loo’s first exposure to restaurant life came from his grandfather’s place in Peru. His family moved to San Antonio when he was 9, and as an adult, Loo spent nearly a decade cooking for some of the city’s big names.
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PHOTOS BY JOMANDO CRUZ
12/10/21 11:00 AM
ORDER THIS
Lengua saltado Ceviche Pescado asado (seared catch of the day)
While working on his associate's degree in culinary arts at St. Philip’s, Loo also worked at Jason Dady’s Tre Trattoria. From there, he was on the opening crew at Jesse Perez’s now closed Arcade Midtown Kitchen and later on Quealy Watson’s opening crew at Hot Joy (Loo was still part of that team when Bon Appétit magazine named it as one of the 10 best new restaurants in the country). In his off hours, he became a regular at Indy Coffee Club, then a truck, and struck up a friendship with owners Alex Lee and Jake Scott. That relationship blossomed into Loo cooking brunches in their stand-alone cafe near UTSA and ultimately into Scorpion, where Loo is making the most of running his first restaurant kitchen. The name Scorpion, according to Scott (who also designed the space), refers to “an ancient symbol of the desert, of resilience, adaptiveness and survival.” On the menu, Loo took inspiration from home. “I went back to Peru. I have been inspired by that food,” he says, adding, “I want to include some of my Asian background in the cooking.” That Chinese-influenced Peruvian food is known as chifa, and one classic dish is the lomo saltado, a recipe that stir-fries beef with onions and red, yellow and orange peppers, served with french fries. Loo pushes the cultural mashup one step further and makes a version featuring tender chunks of sous vide beef tongue. He calls it lengua saltado, and it’s brilliant. Word is starting to get out about the restaurant, but early devotees have included food explorers in search of new places and native Peruvians looking for new takes on their familiar flavors. Loo plans to update the menu early this year to introduce some new items and says the restaurant may expand into other cultural influences and even additional locations in the future. For now, though, the focus is on creating an excellent experience at this place. “I’m just trying to continue to push San Antonio to be a better food scene,” Loo says. “I want to continue cooking, making food and making people happy.” JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
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Zero-Proof Flavor Non-alcoholic drinks that are as artfully crafted and delicious as the real thing
The Ritual at The Moon’s Daughters The mocktails at this indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge at The Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk are just as worthy of an Instagram square as its traditional libations. The Ritual, which is made to mimic the look of a Texas sunset, features blood orange, ginger, lemon and a zero-proof gin that brings just the right amount of juniper. 115 Lexington Ave., themoonsdaughters.com
Prickly Pear No-Jito at Down on Grayson This virgin take on a mojito gets a San Antonio twist thanks to fresh prickly pear. It’s mixed with lime juice and mint and makes a refreshing companion to any entrée. The Pearl-area eatery also offers a craft lavender lemonade that can be ordered sans vodka, a spicy blackberry limeade with fresh blackberries and jalapeño, a strawberry basil smash and a cucumber melon refresher, each priced at just $5. 303 E. Grayson St., downongrayson.com
Irish Coffee at Hash Vegan Eats SA This all-vegan restaurant on the South Side is alcohol-free, meaning mocktails are its specialty. Try an Irish coffee made with Tumbleweed coffee, oatmilk, coconut whipped cream and Ritual Whiskey, which is a zero-proof spirit replacement meant to provide the oak and caramel taste of whiskey without the buzz. Prefer something cold? Opt for the Miche-Nada alongside a vegan potato and egg taco. 5007 S. Flores St., hashveganeats.com
ocktails may be the buzz word for patrons practicing a dry, or sober, January, but Pharm Table chef Elizabeth Johnson says it’s more appropriate to call them zero-proof cocktails. After all, she says, just as much craftsmanship goes into curating those non-alcoholic drinks as into any typical bar libation. And while there certainly is an uptick in sober living each January, she and others in the industry say they’re also seeing more demand for non-alcoholic drinks throughout the year.—KATHERINE STINSON
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You won’t miss the gin and vermouth in this take on the Italian classic thanks to Seedlip Spice 94, a distilled non-alcoholic spirit with allspice, cardamom and citrus notes. Pharm - Bittersweet. The Table mixes it with Dhos Southtown restaurant also offers a kombucha rosada, golden milk, a turmeric ginger beer on tap and a variety of wellness shots that will leave you feeling energized. 611 S. Presa St., pharmtable.com
Find recipes to make your own version of a few of these mocktails at sanantoniomag.com/mocktails.
COURTESY THE MOON'S DAUGHTERS
N/A-Groni at Pharm Table
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S P OT LI G H T / E AT + D R I N K
Mushroom Monks A journey to ease their own ailments led a San Antonio couple to launch their medicinal mushroom business BY KIMBERLY A. SUTA
t wasn’t until Barbi Holstlaw had exhausted a host of other options that she turned to medicinal mushrooms to treat her chronic migraines and fibromyalgia. “I’d been suffering for 15 years and decided I’d had enough,” says Holstlaw, who added that she consulted her doctor and he consented that it was worth a try. “Within six months I was off the narcotics and antidepressants, and I went two and a half years without having a migraine. These mushrooms have given me my life back.” Her husband, Tom, also found mushrooms reduced his symptoms after prescription medications did little to ease the pain of shingles and a lingering postherpetic neuralgia that resulted from the virus. A friend and fellow entrepreneur who saw the positive impact of mushrooms in their life urged the two to share what they’d learned with others, and in March 2021, Texas Mushroom Monks was born. The San Antonio business sells a variety of both powdered and living mushrooms, including chaga, cordyceps, reishi, lion’s mane and turkey tail. Holstlaw grows each variety in a mason jar on 100 percent organic brown rice and with purified water, which means everything inside of the jar is organic and safe to eat. Called the elixir of long life and used for a variety of ailments by the Greeks, medicinal mushrooms have been touted as helping to relieve pain, reduce blood pressure and improve immunity, among other things. Holstlaw says studies show that lion’s mane may be beneficial for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s, while chaga, which is rich in antioxidants, has been shown to benefit a range of body parts, from the hair to the lungs. Reishi is often used to help with weight loss and depression. “Let’s just say any ailments you have, you can find a medicinal mushroom that will help you,” she says. Holstlaw’s Texas Mushroom Monks can be purchased online and on Saturdays at the Heubner Oaks Farmers Market.
TURKEY'S TAIL: BOGDAN IONESCU/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; REISHI: JIB LIVERPOOL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; LION'S MAINE: PHONGSAKON/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; ASK ED: DAVID G. LOYOLA
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What is your dream for the future of the culinary industry in San Antonio? I hope we see several world-class and highly rated dining destinations and that we continue seeing restaurants introduce new dishes and flavors from throughout the world, all while still maintaining our heritage of neighborhood taquerias and ice houses. Have a question for our resident foodie? Email asked@sanantoniomag.com.
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Edible Art Ooyoo Pan fuses the heritage of its founders into Korean-inspired macarons BY KATHERINE STINSON
t Nari Hodges and Aldo Cortes’ Ooyoo Pan pop-up, macarons are transformed into Animal Crossing characters, heroes from Avatar: The Last Airbender and anime-style cartoon bears. “Seeing our customers light up when they recognize their favorite character or when they see something cute in our display case inspires us to keep going,” says Hodges, who spent her childhood moving between Texas and Korea. Hodges returned to San Antonio for good as a young adult to pursue a degree in 3D animation and game design at University of the Incarnate Word. She’d long wanted to open her own Korean café, and after meeting Cortes, a Texas A&M University student and fellow home baker, in 2019, her dream came to fruition with Ooyoo Pan. “We sought to share with one another all the treats from our childhood that brought us joy,” Hodges says. “We fused together all of the unique flavors and ideas into our business.” The name Ooyoo Pan comes from the Korean word for milk and the Spanish word for bread,
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which is a nod to Cortes’ Mexican heritage. Their cookies include flavors drawn from both cultures, such as red bean, black sesame, chocolate caliente and matcha guava. Korean-style macarons are made through the same painstaking process that traditional macarons call for with one big exception: the filling is much thicker. Hodges compares it to ice cream as it’s served cold and says while it can look intimidating, it’s not overly sweet. Before any macaron is created, Hodges and Cortes sketch out what they want the treat to look like. After the base macaron is finished, they pipe on the decorations, waiting for each layer to dry before adding the next detail, whether lips on their red bean fish macaron or whiskers on their matcha teddy bear. Once complete, each macaron matures in the fridge for 24 hours, which the duo says enhances the flavor. “We’ve made almost 2,000 macarons, but it’s still the most challenging treat to make,” Hodges says. “The most important factor is a good attitude. I’m not exaggerating when I say (the macarons) know when you’re having a bad day.” In the future, the pair hopes to expand into a storefront that also sells coffee, fruit milks and more. For now, they’re focused on pop-ups throughout San Antonio, from Hemisfair to St. Paul Square and Tripoli’s Mediterranean Grill. Follow them on Instagram @ooyoopan for details on where to find them this month.
Naco Mexican Eatery opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant at Los Patios in December. / A second location of Guillermo’s opened on Austin Street near Pearl at the end of the year. It boasts a similar menu of pizza, sandwiches and pasta but has more outdoor seating than the original location. / Oregon-based Dutch Bros. Coffee debuted its third San Antonio location near West Avenue and Loop 410. / Caterer and former food truck Box Street Social opened its long awaited restaurant, Box Street All Day, at Hemisfair in December. / Künstler Brewing will expand to Hemisfair this summer with a second location that will serve brats, small bites and beer. / Gather Brewing Co. opened in Universal City. / Chef Michael Sohocki closed Restaurant Gwendolyn and Kimura Ramen downtown and will open a new concept that he describes as more relaxed than the multi-course fine dining menu that Gwendolyn was known for. / Rudy Ramirez opened a keto-friendly bakery and pizza eatery near Beacon Hill, Shake and Bake, in honor of his late wife, Norma Anabel Gonzalez-Ramirez. / After closing during the early months of the pandemic, SoHill Cafe reopened in December. / Nicola Blaque, owner of The Jerk Shack and Mi Roti, was named Chef of the Year by the Female Executives of Texas.
COURTESY OOYOO PAN
News from the restaurant scene
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T H E G U I D E / E AT + D R I N K
11 Options For Mediterranean Food BASIL MEDITERRANEAN (Medical
Center) Vegetarian and seafood dishes are served on a generous portion of buttery rice with grilled tomatoes, peppers and onions. Meats are slow-cooked over an open flame and include fresh Australian lamb made with Iranian seasonings and chicken breast and beef that’s marinated for 24 hours before it’s grilled. Lunch specials include Moroccan salmon and lamb osso buco served with rice, salad and hummus. 9955 I-10, basiltexas.com DALLAH MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE (Medical Center) Lentil soup and shiraz salad, served with dried mint, lemon juice and veggies, make for a perfect lunch break. Want something heartier? Consider the chicken or beef shawarma, which features a generous serving of marinated meat, hummus, garlic sauce and Greek salad or basmati rice. Warm up with Turkish coffee or cool off with the rosewater iced tea. 5450 Babcock Road, Ste. 112, dallahsanantonio.com DEMO’S GREEK FOOD (Stone
Oak, Castle Hills, St. Mary’s Strip) Family-owned and -operated for over 40 years, Demo’s is known for its personal service as much as its food. Start with hummus or tzatziki and housemade pita bread. You can’t go wrong with a falafel, beef or lamb wrap served with fresh cut fries, but don’t miss the specialties, including the moussaka, which is ground beef layered with eggplant and topped with bechamel. 1205 N. Loop 1604 W.; 7115 Blanco Road, Ste. 120; 2501 N. St. Mary’s St., demosgreekfood.com JERUSALEM GRILL (Stone Oak,
Medical Center) Everything is made from scratch daily at this grill that serves Persian, Greek and Turkish dishes. Try the hummus topped with falafel, a gyro platter with lamb, chicken and french fries, the baba ghanouj, a smoked
and roasted eggplant with tahini sauce, or Kibbeh, which are lamb meatballs stuffed with onion, wheat and pine nuts. 203 N. Loop 1604 W., 9210 Wurzbach Road, jerusalemgrill.net JOHN THE GREEK (North Central)
Lunch specials include the popular avgolemono soup, made with chicken, rice, celery, eggs, carrots and lemon sauce, plus traditional and chicken gyros served with french fries, Greek salad and a drink. 16602 San Pedro Ave., johnthegreek.com MINA & DIMI’S GREEK HOUSE
(Lackland) Dining at this Greek eatery is meant to be an experience. Make reservations for one of its Greek wine tasting parties, a toga party or dinner with live music. The menu includes all of the traditional Greek favorites, from gyro and chicken gyro platters with tzatziki and pita bread to kalamarakia, which is fried squid served with Greek seasoned fries, Greek salad and pita bread. 7159 Hwy. 90, agreekhouse.com PAPOULI’S GREEK GRILL (Selma,
Northwest) Owner Nick Anthony looks to carry on the tradition of his grandparents in this fast-casual concept that offers pan-Mediterranean cuisine. Begin with a phyllo puff pastry, which is stuffed with spinach and feta or cream cheese, ricotta and feta, or opt for the stuffed grape leaf dolmas. The plate special features a petite sandwich with your choice of gyro, chicken or falafel plus a Greek salad and additional side. The grilled salmon fillet and rosemary chicken are considered its signature dishes while the Papouli’s Feast for two to three people comes with kebabs, salad, puff pastries and more. 8250 Agora Pkwy., Ste. 120, Selma; 11224 Huebner Road, Ste. 201, papoulis.com
mast-o-khiyar, labneh and falafel veggie patties. Its build-your-own pasha bowl is a popular option for those who want to select their favorite ingredients and its menu also includes all of the Mediterranean classics, from kabobs and shawarma plates to stews, gyros and salads. Find Mediterranean treats at its sister restaurant, Baklovah Bakery. 1207 N. Loop 1604 W., 9339 Wurzbach Road; 15069 I-35, Ste. 202; gopasha.com TRIPOLI’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL AND COFFEE SHOP (Lackland) Order the “Taste of the Mediterranean” sampler if you’re not sure where to start and choose three of its traditional dips (hummus, labneh, baba ghanouj, garlic aioli or tzatziki) along with warm pita bread. There’s also a variety of calzones, wraps, flatbreads and salads featuring falafel, lamb, beef shawarma and more. Baklava and Turkish coffee served with cardamom is the perfect way to round out any meal. 322 Valley Hi, Ste. 106, tripolissa.com ZAATAR LEBANESE GRILL (Medical Center) There are several bowls, salads and paninis as well as traditional Lebanese beef and lamb kabobs served with fattoush or tabouli, baba ghanouj and hummus. Try a Lebanese pizza with cheese, spiced ground beef or thyme spices. 9323 Wurzbach Road, gozaatar.com ZORBA’S GREEK MEDITERRANEAN GRILL (Castle Hills) With dine-in, carry out and delivery plus vegetarian options, kidfriendly dishes and meals meant for groups, there’s something for everyone at this Castle Hills gem. Whether traditional chicken gyros and beef kebabs or grilled tilapia with rice and Mediterranean salad, the dishes are always fresh. 2110 N.W. Military Hwy., zorbasgreek mediterranean.com
PASHA MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
(Stone Oak, Selma, Medical Center) The owners of this grill believe food is best enjoyed together around the table and it encourages sharing its appetizers, like
Restaurants' service and menus can change. Please call ahead to confirm. For our full directory of San Antonio restaurants, visit sanantoniomag.com/restaurants-bars.
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Diversity in Medicine Spine surgeon Antonio Webb works to inspire youth in the hopes that the next generation can benefit from more minority doctors AS TOLD TO KATHLEEN PETTY
here is a lack of diversity in medicine, especially when it comes to African Americans. I grew up in Shreveport, and I never met a Black doctor there. It wasn’t until I went to a medical magnet program in high school that the field of medicine was even introduced to me as something I could do. My mom was on and off drugs my whole life and in and out of jail. My little brother and a sister went to prison. A lot of my friends and family growing up were incarcerated and I thought that was the norm. I wound up at that high school and it changed my path. I wanted to go to the military so I could pay for school and get out of Shreveport. I joined at 17 and my first duty station was in San Antonio at Lackland Air Force Base. I did eight years in the Air Force. While I was on active duty the first six years, I went to college at night and on the weekends, and after I got out, I went to medical school. I love San Antonio and I came back here to practice medicine, but there is not very much diversity in medicine here. Out of the 85 to 100 spine surgeons, three are African
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Americans. We need more African Americans and more women in the field of orthopedics. Patients need to be treated by people who understand their culture and by someone they can relate to. There are a lot of patients who get left untreated because of issues with access to care and being able to find a provider who understands them. There have been multiple studies that show patients receive better treatment when they are treated by someone who looks like them. I have patients who travel to see me just because of the color of my skin. Some fly in from other states or drive in from hours away. As soon as I started my orthopedic training, I made it a point to be on social media talking about medicine so kids could see a Black doctor. Because I didn’t have that. I also give talks at colleges and high schools. Sometimes I look back and really can’t believe I made it to this point. If I had stayed in Shreveport, I would probably be dead or in jail because that’s the path all of my family members and friends took. I’m grateful I was able to get out, and I hope other youth can use my story as a motivator.
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ILLUSTRATION: DAVID G. LOYOLA; WEBB: COURESTY HIMSELF; BODY DIAGRAM: COURTESY GRAPHIC GOODS/CREATIVEMARKET.COM
FINAL THOUGHT
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TOP DOCTORS / THE FU T U RE O F SA
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