Payal Gaba, M.D.

Program Director

Hometown : New Delhi, India
Medical School : Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India
Residency : Central Washington Family Medicine, Washington
Fellowship : Faculty Development, University of Washington - National Institute of Program Director Development

Dr. Gaba graduated from Lady Hardinge Medical College, University of Delhi, in India and finished two years of internal medicine residency in India before moving to the United States to join her husband. During her Family Medicine residency training at Central Washington Family Medicine, an affiliate of University of Washington, she served as a Chief Resident. She worked for eight years in eastern Washington as a part of a multi-specialty group where she taught medical students and residents, and served on Physicians Operating Council before transitioning to academics fulltime. She was one of the pioneer faculty joining a new residency program, Kadlec Family Medicine Residency program, in Richland, WA where she served as Associate Program Director and then Program Director. She has completed fellowship in Faculty Development from University of Washington and National Institute of Program Director Development. She has special interest in women’s health, evidence based medicine, quality improvement, and population health. She is a “foodie” and enjoys reading, traveling, Bollywood dancing, and spending time with her husband, a pediatric anesthesiologist, and her 2 children, Rhea, and Aadi.

Pamela Elizabeth Chung, M.D.

Associate Program Director

Hometown : Almonte, Ontario, Canada
UndergraduateSchool and Degree: McMaster University, Bachelor of Health Sciences
Graduate School and Degree: Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education from Dundee University (Scotland)
Medical School : McMaster University, Canada
Residency : Queens University, Canada

Following residency training, Dr. Chung worked as a Rural Locum in Canada for 2 years. In 2010 she moved to Texas and became Medical Director at the Young County Family Clinic in Graham. While in rural practice she participated in clinic, hospitalist, palliative care and Correctional Health Care at the local county jail. Dr. Chung joined Memorial Family Medicine Residency as faculty in 2014. Her areas of interest include Rural Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Palliative Care. Dr. Chung and her husband Raymond enjoy spending time with their daughter Claire, gourmet cooking and Formula 1 car racing.

Blake Motley Watts, M.D.

Associate Program Director

Hometown: Garland, TX
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School
Undergraduate School: Texas A&M University
Residency: Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program

Blake Motley Watts chose to specialize in family medicine because she loved every part of her medical school training and wanted to help all age groups be well. After graduating from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Dr. Watts completed her residency at the Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in Sugar Land, Texas. She practiced in Pearland before returning to join the faculty. She believes in comprehensive care, listening to her patients’ needs and getting them back on their way to wellness with a focus on healthy habits. For her, the best part of practicing medicine is seeing a positive change in her patients’ lives and getting to know the families she treats. In her spare time, Dr. Watts enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and baking, group exercise classes, and traveling.

Julie D. Adkison, PharmD

Director of Research

Hometown : Rockport, Texas
Undergraduate School and Degree : University of Texas - Austin, B.A. Biology
Graduate School and Degree : University of Houston, Doctor of Pharmacy
Residency : Pharmacy Residency with University of Houston and Memorial Hermann Healthcare System

Dr. Adkison joined the Memorial Family Medicine Residency faculty in April 2002. She received a B.A. degree from the University of Texas and a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston. She completed her residency with the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and worked in a large public health system before joining the faculty. Dr. Adkison is responsible for educating residents on the appropriate use of pharmaceutical agents, as well as cost effective prescribing. Her areas of interest include diabetes, complementary and alternative medicine and quality improvement with regard to medication use. Dr. Adkison stays busy raising her 3 young sons, entertaining friends in her home and running an occasional half-marathon.

Gordon A. Bush, Ph.D.

Director of Behavioral Medicine

Hometown :  Detroit, Michigan
Undergraduate School and Degree :  Michigan State University, B.A. Psychology
Graduate School and Degree : Doctorate of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Post Graduate : Internship in Clinical Psychology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Fellowship : Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Mental Sciences Institute, Houston, TX

After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Dr. Bush worked in a psychiatric setting for several years before pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology.  He then entered the PhD. Program in Clinical Psychology. As part of his degree program he completed an internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX followed by a Post Doctoral Fellowship.  He was a faculty member at Baylor for one year before entering full time private practice. He has remained an adjunct faculty member at Baylor college of Medicine throughout his private practice career.  He has long standing interests in mood disorders, anxiety, personality development, learning disabilities, recovery from head injury, and the treatment of sleep disorders.

Ranna Al-Dossari, D.O.

Director of Geriatrics

Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of Texas at Dallas, BS Biology
Medical School: Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program
Fellowship: Geriatric Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Ranna Al-Dossari earned her undergraduate degree in biology at The University of Texas at Dallas and her medical degree at the University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. She did her residency in Houston in the Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program, where she was chief resident and participated in quality improvement projects, followed by a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Dr. Al-Dossari is a board-certified family physician and geriatrist who sees patients from newborns to seniors.
She treats patients for a wide range of primary-care conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, dementia, urinary incontinence and more complicated diseases. Her primary interests in family medicine are weight loss, depression, diabetes and hypothyroidism. Among geriatric patients, her primary interests are cognitive disorders, dementia, urinary incontinence and osteoporosis. Her fellowship training in geriatrics gives her a special understanding of the nuances of seniors’ health and enhances her ability to care for older patients.
Dr. Al-Dossari hopes her patients find her caring and compassionate, and she wants them to feel empowered to find a better quality of life and to play an active role in their healthcare.
She is a member of the American Geriatrics Society, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, American Academy of Family Practitioners and Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
Outside of her practice, Dr. Al-Dossari enjoys staying active and spending quality time, which often involves game nights, with family and friends.

Andrew Hui, D.O.

Director of Nursery

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of Texas at Austin, BA Accounting
Graduate Degree: University of Texas at Austin, Masters of Accounting
Medical school: University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: TriHealth Bethesda Family Medicine Residency Program
Fellowship: Sports Medicine, TriHealth Bethesda

Before completing his medical degree at the University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Hui earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting at The University of Texas at Austin. He completed a residency in family medicine in the TriHealth Bethesda Family Medicine Residency Program in Cincinnati, where he served as chief resident, followed by a fellowship in family sports medicine in the same program. Dr. Hui is board-certified in family medicine and sports medicine. Dr. Hui has served as a team physician at the high school and college levels and provided medical coverage for football, basketball, soccer, marathons and professional tennis tournaments.
Dr. Hui decided to become a family physician because he enjoys the human connection and wants to work with people to achieve their healthcare goals. His primary clinical interests are preventative medicine, because he likes to help people solve problems before they become big issues, and sports medicine, because he cares about function and wants to keep people doing things they enjoy.
His approach to care focuses on empowering his patients with knowledge, helping them navigate what works best and developing relationships over the long term. He wants his patients to see him as a great listener who can help them achieve their healthcare goals.

Oyetokunbo Ibidapo-Obe, M.D.

Hometown: Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria
Medical school: College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Residency: Community and Family Medicine, Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC
Fellowship: Altru Health Systems Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship

Curiosity about how the body works, paired with her deep desire to serve humanity, inspired Dr. Ibidapo-Obe to become a physician. She aims to partner with her patients, creating a plan of care together to improve their quality of life and achieve their health care goals. Prior to joining the faculty here at Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Ibidapo-Obe was the Director of Women’s Health and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Her primary clinical interests include adolescent health, women’s health, and weight management. Outside of work, she loves to travel.

Lea Johnson, M.D.

Hometown : Saint Louis, MO
Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Miami
Medical School: University of Miami
Residency: Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program

Dr. Lea Johnson is a board-certified family physician and obesity medicine specialist from Saint Louis, MO. Her clinic interests include providing equitable and culturally competent care to diverse patient populations. She earned her MD from the University of Miami and completed her residency right here at Memorial Family Medicine, where she served as Chief Resident. After residency, she returned to Saint Louis, MO to practice primary care with BJC Medical Group. During her time with BJC, she served on the Primary Care Service Line Council where she worked with operational leadership to identify barriers to clinic wellness, quality, productivity and growth. Through her clinical work and leadership roles, she integrates evidence-based strategies to address chronic disease and promote wellness. In 2025 she returned to Houston to rejoin the residency program as faculty. She is passionate about teaching patient care that is centered on collaboration, education, and compassion. She believes in giving patients the knowledge and tools they need to take charge of their health. In her free time, Dr. Johnson enjoys working out, going to sporting events and trying new restaurants around Houston.

Monica Kalra, D.O.

Board Review Queen

Hometown : Houston, Texas
Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Texas at Austin, B.A. Mathematics
Medical School: Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Methodist Health System of Dallas
Fellowship: Academic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center

After serving as chief resident at Methodist, Dr. Kalra took the role of Research Director for their Family Medicine Residency in Dallas. During her time at Methodist, she also completed a fellowship in Academic Medicine at UNTHSC. Her interests include evidence based medicine, board exam preparation and medical writing. She has been published in several local and national journals. In 2014, Dr. Kalra moved back to her hometown and joined the faculty of the Memorial Family Medicine Residency. Dr. Kalra is fluent in Bengali. Her husband, Vik, is Vice President of a private equity firm. During her free time, Dr. Kalra enjoys math puzzles, board games and time with her boisterous children, Bella and Kush.

Tu Dan Nguyen, M.D.

Director of Sports Medicine

Hometown: Shelton, CT
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Undergraduate School: University of Texas at Austin
Residency: Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program
Fellowship: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston

Board certified in family medicine, as well as sports medicine, Dr. Nguyen treats patients ages 6 and older. She provides care for sports related injuries, such as strains, pulls and concussions, as well as wellness and preventive medicine. Her clinical interests include musculoskeletal injury management, return to sport and exercise management, joint injections and ultrasound-guided procedures, in addition to nutritional counseling and weight management. Additionally, she provides care for acute and chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension and provides exercise prescriptions.
In addition to caring for her patients, Dr. Nguyen is involved in numerous leadership positions for local and national medical and sports medicine societies such as the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the Harris County Medical Society. She also volunteers as a sideline physician for the University of Houston Athletics and Houston Baptist University Athletics.
Dr. Nguyen enjoys building long-term relationships with her patients and considers herself a health coach for her patients. As a former high school athlete, she understands the need and requirements for optimal health; she hopes she can help all her patients live their healthiest life while they are under her medical care. Dr. Nguyen is also fluent in Vietnamese.
In her spare time, she enjoys globetrotting, hiking, cycling, paddle boarding, practicing yoga and attending food festivals.

Deepa Somcio, M.D.

Director of Maternity Care

Hometown: Katy, Texas
Undergraduate School and Degree: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, B.S. Chemical Engineering
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: John Peter Smith Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Fellowship: John Peter Smith Hospital Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship

After completing her residency and obstetrics fellowship at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Somcio returned to Houston and joined the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine. She enjoyed working with family medicine residents and medical students, while caring for an under-resourced patient population. She has also spent some time working at an employee health care clinic before returning to academic medicine as faculty with the Memorial Family Medicine Residency in 2021. Dr. Somcio has a special interest in women’s health, including maternity care. Her husband, Ray, is a pediatric radiologist. They enjoy spending family time together with their two daughters, Anya and Riya, eating good food, traveling, exploring national parks, camping, and skiing.

Samuel Wang, M.D.

Hometown : Houston, Texas
Undergraduate School and Degree : Rice University, B.A.
Medical School : University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Residency : St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program, Edgewood, KY

Dr. Wang received his medical degree from the University of Texas at Houston and went on to complete a Family Medicine residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in northern Kentucky. Following his residency training, Dr. Wang practiced medicine in a large multi-specialty group in Houston for over four years before joining the Memorial Family Medicine Residency. Dr. Wang is board certified in Family Medicine and has a special interest in computerized medical records. He is married, has two children and speaks Mandarin. His hobbies include computers and technology, music, racquetball and cars.

Charles “Chase” Whitehead IV, M.D.

Wellness Czar

Hometown: Montgomery, TX
Medical School : McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Undergraduate School: University of Texas at Dallas
Residency : Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program

Charles “Chase” Whitehead IV, MD, is a family medicine physician serving patients of all ages. A graduate of the McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Dr. Whitehead completed his residency at Memorial Family Medicine Residency in Houston. Because he was inspired by his doctors as a child and teenager, Dr. Whitehead chose to become a physician.
Dr. Whitehead treats a variety of conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and acute care. His clinical interests include diabetes and all types of sports injuries. In his approach to patient care, Dr. Whitehead sees himself as a teacher, a coach and a cheerleader. He takes the time to educate patients on their plan of care, coaches them through it, and celebrates with his patients when they accomplish goals and feel better. He takes the time to listen to his patients and to be a genuine and caring physician. For him, the best part of his job is getting to build relationships with his patients. In his spare time, Dr. Whitehead enjoys traveling and playing sports.

Michael Wollner, M.D.

Director of Inpatient Medicine

Hometown : Clear Lake, Texas
Undergraduate School and Degree :  Dartmouth College
Graduate School and Degree : Baylor College of Medicine
Residency : Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program

Dr. Wollner went to Clear Lake High School, where he was on the cross country team with Dr. Fiesinger. He graduated from Dartmouth College and spent four years as an elementary and high school teacher before deciding to attend medical school. He received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and then completed his residency at Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program where he served as one of the Chief Residents and won the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Resident Teacher Award in 2003. He then did a Fellowship in Rural Health Care and Obstetrics at the Fort Bend Family Health Center before practicing for four years as a full spectrum family physician in Fall River Mills, California. During his tenure with the Mountain Valleys Health Centers, he served as Medical Director for the clinic system for two years. On his return to Houston, he worked for four years as a hospitalist and was named Physician of the Year at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in 2011. He is married, and is the proud father of three children, Vinny, Matt and Adam.

Roya Zamani, M.D.

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of Houston
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program

Dr. Zamani’s practice of medicine centers on providing whole-person, evidence-based care. She strongly believes in developing the patient-physician relationship where she prioritizes the patient's perspective and input. Her goal is to work with each patient toward a common goal of improving their health. Dr. Zamani’s greatest professional satisfaction is establishing longitudinal care with her patients, and often with their family members as well. She sees patients of all ages and speaks Spanish and Farsi. As faculty, she enjoys staffing the procedure clinic at Physicians at Sugar Creek and sharing her experience in research. Outside the clinic, she loves to travel. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Society for Teachers of Family Medicine, American Medical Association, and Texas Academy of Family Physicians.