Faculty

Dr. Schuller is chair of the Department of Internal Medicine – Transmountain. He obtained his medical degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and went on to complete an internal medicine residency at Sinai Hospital in Detroit, Michigan and a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Schuller subsequently served on the faculty of Washington University for 14 years, where he held roles as director of the pulmonary consult service at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and director of the pulmonary and critical care fellowship program. He was also the chief of the pulmonary and critical care division and medical director of the intensive care unit at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska from 2002 until 2012, where he developed a multidisciplinary academic intensivist program with the highest standards for clinical care, medical education and research. Before joining Texas Tech Health El Paso, Dr. Schuller served as chief of medical critical care and director of a newly developed pulmonary critical care fellowship program at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Zeeshan Afzal, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine – Transmountain.

Dr. Afzal was born and raised in Pakistan. His decision to become a physician was mainly driven by an innate sense of compassion and need for health care providers in underserved communities.

Dr. Afzal graduated from King Edward Medical University, Lahore, one of the best medical schools in Pakistan, after securing a scholarship to study in that medical school. He served as an internist in a rural area of Pakistan for a few years.

He moved to the United States in pursuit of graduate medical education. He completed his internal medicine residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the Permian Basin and a rheumatology fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Dr. Afzal is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He has more than seven years of clinical experience working as a consultant rheumatologist in the state of Washington.

Dr. Afzal has now decided to change his career path toward academics, where he can share his clinical knowledge with medical students and residents while continuing to serve the community in a clinical setting. His clinical interests include diagnosis and management of rheumatic disorders and ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal procedures. His hobbies include traveling, running and exploring new places.

Dr. Chohonis attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, and completed her residency training in internal medicine at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia.

She served 15 years in the military as an active-duty physician before joining the faculty at Texas Tech Health El Paso’s Transmountain campus. She’s passionate about medical education and helping learners get to where they want to be. Her professional interests include teaching diagnostic reasoning, use of point-of-care ultrasound, and advocating for primary care.

Outside the hospital, she is the mother of three rowdy boys and spends most of her time trying to keep them out of trouble. She enjoys running, hiking, exploring national parks, rooting for New York sports teams, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Azucena Del Real  is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.

Dr. Del Real was born and raised in Mexico. Her inspiration to become a physician was instilled by her father. She envisioned her life and career emulating her father's  approach -good diagnosis and referral, multicultural sensitivity, and relationships with patients that establish trust. 

Dr. Del Real graduated from Centro de Estudios Universitarios Xochicalco, school of Medicine in Tijuana Mexico. After graduating she became involved in diabetes clinical research. Later, she did  high-risk and inpatient case management assisting underrepresented people.

To understand further her role in public health she pursued a Master of advanced studies degree majoring clinical research, with the University of California San Diego. Her thesis was directed to investigate the ongoing barriers to care in the Era of Direct-Acting Antivirals for patients with hepatitis C & HIV. 

Dr. Del Real completed her Internal Medicine training with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley-DHR. During this time she continued involved in health care disparities research, in addition to being part of several medical student and resident teaching activities. 

Her interest encompass preventive care, research, teaching and hospital medicine.

Dr. Del Real believes that everyone, both lucky and unlucky, deserves a chance at a healthy life and if she can help people achieve that, then she will live a life of value and meaning

I was born and raised in Nigeria, and my decision to become a physician began at a very young age. Growing up watching my parents run a family practice clinic in our community, I saw firsthand how they combined compassion, clinical skill, and a deep sense of responsibility. Their dedication shaped my commitment to providing thoughtful, patient-centered care. 

After graduating from medical school, I gained extensive experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings, caring for a large, underserved population. 

 I later completed my Internal Medicine residency at TTUHSC Transmountain in El Paso. During residency, I developed a fondness for the community and chose to continue serving them through my practice of medicine, which ultimately motivated me to stay with the program.                                                                          

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my family, watching sitcoms, and shopping.

Dr. Sindhu Goddanakoppal Rajendra is committed to providing exceptional health care in hospital and outpatient settings.  

As a hospitalist, she expertly manages complex and acute conditions throughout hospital stays, ensuring smooth transitions from admission to discharge. As a primary care provider, Dr. Rajendra emphasizes preventive care, chronic disease management, and routine wellness visits to support long-term health.  

With a patient-centered approach, she is dedicated to delivering personalized, high-quality care tailored to each patient’s unique needs, whether in the hospital or the clinic. 

Dr. Hernandez was born and raised in El Paso, TX. He obtained his medical degree from Boston University and completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. During residency, he cultivated a strong commitment to medical education, earning multiple teaching awards. He is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment where medical students and residents feel empowered to ask questions, learn from mistakes, and develop clinical confidence. Dr. Hernandez has long aspired to return to his hometown to serve the El Paso community and is honored to bring his clinical expertise and passion for teaching back home. Outside of medicine, he enjoys trying new recipes, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of West Alabama and attended Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, earning his medical degree.  He then completed an Internal Medicine residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas and a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.  Before joining Texas Tech Health El Paso, Dr. Kicker served in the U.S. Army as a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine staff physician at William Beaumont Army Medical Center.  His clinical interest and expertise includes thoracic malignances and advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy services including endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.

Dr. Murali is a compassionate and dedicated internal medicine physician with over a decade of clinical experience. 
Dr. Murali obtained his medical diploma from Yenepoya Medical College, India and completed his Internal Medicine residency training at St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Michigan. He subsequently served as a chief resident for quality improvement and research at St. Mary Mercy Hospital. He has extensive experience in both out patient and hospital practice. He has worked in rural clinics and hospitals as well as large urban teaching hospitals. His previous faculty appointments include the position of Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine with Central Michigan University. He has served in leadership roles, including being the medical director of primary care clinic and hospitalist service. He has been the recipient of teaching awards during his residency and as faculty. He believes in building strong rapport with patients, serving as their first point of contact for all their health concerns. Commitment to preventive care, health education, and disease management is of prime importance to him.  He is excited to provide the following services and more to patients: Comprehensive health assessments, Annual physical exams, Chronic disease management (including but not limited to diabetes, hypertension, asthma), Preventive screenings (immunizations, cancer screenings), Women’s health (including annual exams, mammograms, pap smears).  He believes that every patient deserves personalized care. To that end, he takes time to listen, understand individual needs, and collaboratively create treatment plans. A warm demeanor and empathetic communication are amongst his strengths. Outside of medicine, he indulges in spending time with family, hiking, traveling, reading, creative writing, yoga, meditation, playing cricket and swimming.

Maria Theresa De Gracia Opina, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine – Transmountain.

Dr. Maria Theresa De Gracia Opina completed residency training in Internal Medicine prior to attending Wake Forest School of Medicine where she completed fellowship in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine followed by additional advanced research training through a National Institutes of Health T32-supported post-doctoral research fellowship in Gerontological and Geriatric Research. Her research interests include understanding pulmonary physiology, disease, and the aging lung with a focus in the older adult population. She enjoys teaching. She is also passionate about educating patients and their families and believes that all patients should be a part of the decision-making process in the management of their complex pulmonary disease.

Lela Ruck, M.D. is an Assistant Professor in The Department of Internal Medicine - Transmountain.  

Dr. Ruck was born and raised in El Paso, TX.  She went to medical school at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, TX.  She pursued Internal Medicine residency at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and subsequently stayed on as faculty in The Division of Hospital Medicine as an academic hospitalist.  As an academic hospitalist, she found a passion for teaching residents and medical students.  She is excited to be able to bring her clinical and educational skills home to care for her community.  Her interests are in caring for the hospitalized patient and helping patients transition from inpatient to outpatient care.  Dr. Ruck looks foward to continue to teach new generations of doctors to help bring more highly skilled physicians to the border community.    

Dr. Sharma is an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) El Paso. Born and raised in Meerut, a small town in India, Dr. Sharma was drawn to the medical profession from an early age, inspired by the nobility and service that define it.

She earned her medical degree from Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Nepal, where her commitment to patient care was exemplified through her proud service to the nation during the devastating Nepal earthquake in 2015.

Dr. Sharma completed her internal medicine residency at TTUHSC Transmountain in El Paso. During her training, she developed a deep connection with the community and the program, which ultimately inspired her to continue her journey there as a faculty member.

She is passionate about medical education and finds great fulfillment in teaching medical students and residents. As a hospitalist, she is deeply committed to patient care, and her guiding motto has always been to serve the underserved.

Dr. Sherwood is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he attended school on the Army's Health Professional Scholarship Program.  He completed his internship and residency training at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.  

After practicing as an internist for one year, he went on to complete his sub-specialty training in infectious diseases at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. During his military career, he demonstrated a particular interest in public health and earned a master's degree in tropical medicine and hygiene from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He was also stationed at Fort Bliss, where he deployed to support combat operations in Afghanistan.  

After leaving the military, Dr. Sherwood relocated to the Midwest, where he enjoyed a hospital-based infectious disease practice as well as Kansas City Chiefs season tickets for several years.  However, he met his wife in El Paso and returned to the community to be closer to family.  When he isn't killing bacteria or suppressing viruses, Dr. Sherwood enjoys spending time with his two daughters and colleting sports memorabilia.

Dr. Brittany Shoemake is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Education and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and completed her internal medicine residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. She later pursued fellowship training in wound management with Vohra Wound Physicians.

Dr. Shoemake is board certified in Internal Medicine and Wound Management. Her professional interests include medical education, advanced wound care, global health, and community outreach. She is passionate about mentoring future physicians, fostering professional growth, and helping students integrate compassion and clinical excellence into their practice. At the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, she serves as Director of the College Colloquium Course, Unit Director fro the Scientific Principles of Medicine Course, and Co-Director for the Global Health Distinction Program.

Beyond her academic roles, Dr. Shoemake serves as a volunteer physician locally and abroad—most notably with Amazon Outreach, providing medical care to riverine communities in the Brazilian Amazon.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys being outdoors—running or hiking with her husband and their three spunky kids.

Barney Soskin, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine – Transmountain.

I attended medical school at Boston University School of Medicine and subsequently completed my internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. Following this, I stayed at Cedars Sinai for three years as a clinical hospitalist, where I developed a passion for hospital medicine, and guiding patients through an otherwise complex medical system with shared medical decsion making, education about their illnesses and treatent plans, and the transition home. I also cultivated interests in palliative and goal-concordant care. Aligned with these interests, I helped structure a collaboration between our internal medicine practice, palliative care department, and the various oncology services to establish a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer patients when admitted to the hospital. When not in the hospital, I enjoy cooking, learning whatever I can about coffee, playing the piano, and of course, spending time with family.

Itzel Rivera earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in nursing from the University of Texas at El Paso.

She is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She is  fluent in Spanish.