Alumni Stories
From undergraduate and graduate degrees to residencies and fellowships, MD Anderson's education and training programs are as diverse as the types of care we provide.
Here's a look at how our alumni are using the knowledge they gained here to make a difference in their chosen fields.
If you would like the opportunity to be featured in future alumni communications, share your updates with us via the online questionnaire.
Brett J. Theeler, M.D.
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Medical Corps
Chair, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bethesda, Maryland
One drop at a time...
Among the thousands of drops of water necessary to fill a bucket, rarely, if ever, do we know the exact drop that will cause the bucket to overflow. The same can be said about the accumulated experiences that collectively lead a person toward a specific life-long path. Brett Theeler, M.D., credits the people who introduced him to many interests and experiences in his youth with significantly contributing to his decision to pursue a career in medicine.
Read more about Brett's story, his work, his mentors and more.
Tracy J. Costello, Ph.D.
Career Coach & Professional Development Training Consultant
Coach4Postdocs
Tampa, Florida
A little bit of opportunity and serendipity
Identifying one’s skills and values and aligning them with emerging opportunities is the core of the work that Tracy Costello, Ph.D., does through her career coaching and professional development consulting business. Tracy’s goal is to help graduate and postdoc trained individuals get into a job they will enjoy and love.
Read more about Tracy's story, her work, her mentors and more.
Shailendra Mundhada, M.D., M.S.
Owner/Director
Dhruv Pathology & Molecular Diagnostic
Lab (NABL Accredited)
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Blazing a trail of “firsts” for central India
During a trip to the United States in 1997 for a family
wedding, Shailendra Mundhada, M.D., M.S., took a side trip to MD
Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to learn more about the institution
for which he had long followed and had great respect. Five years later
and with encouragement from Dr. Varsha Gandhi, with whom he spent time
with during his initial visit, Dr. Mundhada earned a Master of Science
degree in Immunology from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Mundhada’s
quest to learn new techniques to take back to his home country of
India was now in forward motion.
Read
more about Shailendra's story, his work, his mentors and
more.
Paul Morris, M.D.
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon
Queen's Medical Center
Honolulu, HI
Cameron Tharp, B.S., RT(T)
Radiation Therapist
Texas Oncology
San Antonio, TX
Sarp Korcan Keskin, M.D.
Physician, Assistant Professor & Senior Clinical Fellow
Imperial College London
Katherine Caceres, HTL
Histology Technician
Sagis Diagnostics
Houston, TX
Kaleena Maria Ramirez, HTL
Education Coordinator
School of Health Professions Histotechnology Program
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Robin Lacour, M.D.
Gynecologic Oncologist
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Greeley, CO
Kelsey Maxwell-Acosta, Ph.D.
Clinical Scientist
ExecuPharm
Dallas, TX
Marites P. Melancon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Interventional Radiology
Director, Summer Experience & Odyssey Fellowship Programs
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Sara Sheppard, HTL
Senior Research Histology Technician
Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Christopher Danos, M.Ed., CG (ASCP)
Clinical Cytogenetic Technologist
Department of Cytogenetics
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Ashutosh Rao, Ph.D.
Chief, Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry
United States Food and Drug Administration
Silver Spring, MD
Aaron Emfinger, M.S., RT (R)(CT)
CT Technologist
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Anushree Sharma, Ph.D., MPH
Observational Research Manager
Amgen
Los Angeles, CA
Alejandro Tortoriello, M.D.
Program Manager
Strategic Industry Ventures
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Keri Schadler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics Research
MD Anderson Cancer Center