UT Health Austin

12/19/2025

“Dr. Clarke believed us. He looked at her and us and said, ‘I have a plan.’ We hadn’t heard that from anyone before.”

At just two years old, Charli faced dozens of seizures a day, some causing her to collapse without warning. A particularly alarming aspect of Charli’s condition was the frequent abnormal brain activity during sleep, contributing to developmental regressions.

After exhausting all medical options, Dr. Dave Clarke and the team at the Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center within UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children's Medical Center recommended brain surgery. While the idea was terrifying at first, the family knew the risk of not proceeding was far greater.

Charli’s surgery was a success by all accounts; she hasn’t had a seizure since the week after the procedure. Today she runs, swims and plays outside. In other words, she thrives.

Learn more about Charli's comeback: https://bit.ly/4iY8UuU

12/18/2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we’re going to share some of our favorite and most popular stories from the year. One of the most impactful stories was that of Kirby Taylor, M.D., resident in the Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute through Dell Medical School - UT Austin’s ophthalmology residency.

Now in its fourth year, the program is doing more than training future specialists — it’s helping meet Central Texas’s growing need for advanced eye care. https://bit.ly/4iURhMC

12/10/2025

Meet Kristina Tzartzeva, M.D., one of our newest gastroenterology specialists!

Dr. Tzartzeva specializes in digestive and liver diseases, with clinical interests that include gastroenterology and medical education. She serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Dell Medical School - UT Austin, where she fosters the growth of future leaders in health care.

Learn more about Dr. Tzartzeva: https://bit.ly/47nEE7i

12/08/2025

Meet Alisa Coker, M.D., our newest hernia and abdominal wall surgeon!

Dr. Coker will be seeing patients in the Texas Center for Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery. She specializes in gallbladder disorders, hernia conditions, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and more.

With over a decade of experience in advanced minimally invasive and robotic surgery, Dr. Coker’s clinical and research focus is on advancing robotic and minimally invasive techniques, surgical education and credentialing.

Dr. Coker previously served as faculty at Johns Hopkins University, where she held multiple leadership roles in robotic surgery and surgical education, and her work has been published in leading journals. She is training the next generation of physician leaders as an associate professor at Dell Medical School - UT Austin, where she serves as the Director of Robotic Surgery and Education in the Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care.

Learn more about Dr. Coker and her clinical and research focus: https://bit.ly/4oztOCq

12/05/2025

“Getting to serve the community that raised me is incredibly meaningful.”

Raised in Austin, Divya Rayapati, M.D., has returned to care for patients as a gastroenterologist and hepatologist in UT Health Austin’s Gastroenterology Clinic. With advanced training and a whole-person approach, she’s helping expand access to digestive and liver care across Central Texas.

Learn more: bit.ly/3M26NtR

12/04/2025

The Texas Center for Esophageal and Foregut Surgery at UT Health Austin is one of the most active programs of its kind in the country — and it’s right here in Central Texas.

General surgeons Dr. Elisa Furay and Dr. F.P. "Tripp" Buckley III share how their clinic combines deep surgical expertise, academic leadership and integrated care to treat complex foregut conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), achalasia and esophageal cancer.

Learn more: bit.ly/3M0grgt

12/02/2025

Meet Jon Willie, M.D., the newest neurosurgeon at our Functional Neurosurgery Clinic!

Dr. Willie specializes in functional neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery, treatment of Parkinson’s disease and more. He will serve as an associate professor in the Department of Neurosurgery Dell Medical School - UT Austin, where he will mentor the next generation of physician leaders.

Dr. Willie previously served as faculty at Washington University School of Medicine, where he held leadership positions in surgery and led the Lab for Behavioral Neuromodulation. His research focuses on the effects of neuromodulation on behavioral disorders; he’s written over 100 peer-reviewed publications and regularly lectures at national and international conferences.

Learn more about Dr. Willie and his commitment to advancing innovative, patient-centered care: https://bit.ly/3WBlFBs

11/26/2025

For Sowmya Boddhula, M.D., medicine is about connection.

Dr. Boddhula is part of UT Health Austin’s new Endocrinology Clinic, where she’s helping patients manage a range of conditions, like diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal disorders and more.

She is also a professor at Dell Medical School - UT Austin, where she sees her teaching as an extension of her mission to improve health outcomes — both for her own patients and for the communities her students will one day serve.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to help open a clinic that brings much-needed endocrinology care to our community. That means we have the chance to offer care in a way that’s thoughtful, timely and centered on each patient’s needs.”

Learn more about Dr. Boddhula and the new Endocrinology Clinic: https://bit.ly/47l8oBI

11/25/2025

Frequent heartburn, acid reflux or indigestion aren't just uncomfortable — they could be a sign of a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Learn more about GERD and how our team can help you feel better: https://bit.ly/43Hwiqd

11/24/2025

Meet Ting-Yi Chen, M.D., one of our newest infectious disease specialists!

Dr. Chen is a board-certified physician in our Infectious Disease Clinic, where she specializes in HIV, hepatitis B and C, and general infectious disease. She has received several awards for her clinical and academic work, including recognition by the U.S. Congress for improving the quality of life for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

Learn more about Dr. Chen and her research focus: https://bit.ly/3LqSRJG

11/21/2025

Meet Divya Rayapati, M.D., one of our newest gastroenterologists and hepatologists!

Dr. Rayapati is a board-certified clinician who specializes in diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal and hepatologic conditions. Her clinical and research expertise reflects a strong commitment to advancing digestive and liver health with compassionate, patient-centered care.

She is actively engaged in patient safety, quality improvement initiatives and medical education. She will also be teaching the next generation of physician leaders about these topics and more as an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Dell Medical School - UT Austin.

Learn more about Dr. Rayapati: https://bit.ly/3JOull1

11/19/2025

This year, 10 in 100,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. About half will not survive. Yvette Williams-Brown, M.D., one of our gynecologic oncologists, shares warning signs and when to see a doctor:

Without an easy way to screen and with nondescript symptoms, ovarian cancer is often caught in late stages, requiring massive surgeries, difficult therapies