Current Fellows

Dr. Travis Odom, PGY-6

I’m originally from Durham, North Carolina, the City of Medicine. I’m the son of a nurse and an electrical engineer, husband to a nurse, and father of a sweet, obese cat and a very old long-haired chihuahua. Prior to becoming a pediatrician, I received a BS in Biological Sciences from NC State University and spent several years in Raleigh, NC working at the Urban Ministries Open Door Clinic, a primary care clinic for the working poor and uninsured, where I was a pharmacy technician and helped enroll patients in prescription assistance programs. I went on to attend graduate school at Campbell University where I received an MS in Clinical Research after conducting a CDC database study on hepatitis E seroprevalence in the US from 1988 to 2010. I then completed the MD/MBA program and did my pediatrics residency training at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, where I ultimately fell in love with pediatric critical care medicine. During residency, I did research on the association between blood transfusions and necrotizing enterocolitis in premature neonates, and published research on recognition of congenital heart disease in subsequent hospital visits among children with a prenatal diagnosis. I came from a family-like residency program at a large, tertiary care center in a majority-minority region of eastern NC, where there was a passionate mission to serve the most vulnerable in the community. Naturally, I felt right at home here in the Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship program at UTHSC San Antonio. Not only do I love the nurturing, family-like environment from my faculty and colleagues here, but I also have the honor of learning from and healing the sickest, most vulnerable patients in all of south Texas and beyond. At this program, I have exposure to a well-established liver and kidney transplant program, a booming congenital heart disease program, an ECMO team that is led by the pediatric intensivists, and excellent research and career mentors with a wealth of different experiences. So far, I’ve loved living in San Antonio and have found it to be rich with culture, history, diversity, amazing food, and plenty of fun things to do throughout the year. In my free time, I love to cook and explore new foods, travel to new places near and far, going to concerts, riding coasters at amusement parks, and spending time with my family and friends.

Research Projects: Post-op bleeding outcomes after cardiopulmonary bypass with whole blood priming, anticoagulation protocols in post-op cardiopulmonary bypass patients, neuroendocrine failure after traumatic brain injury, and optimizing the blood transfusion ordering processes while minimizing waste and improving communications between providers and the blood blank.

Dr. Cheyenne Mangold, PGY-5

Dr. Carla Lluberes Rivera, PGY-4

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I embarked on a journey in medicine that led me to complete my pediatric residency at the University Pediatric Hospital in Puerto Rico. During this pivotal time, I dedicated myself to improving patient care by working closely with hemophilic patients, facilitating their transition from pediatric to adult medicine. My passion for enhancing medical education shone through as I collaborated with the PICU team to develop a comprehensive Pediatric Procedural Sedation Curriculum. Seeking further specialization and growth, I boldly moved to San Antonio to embark on the PICU fellowship. Driven by a deep-seated commitment to academic medicine, I eagerly embraced this opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills in critical care. Since starting my fellowship in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, I’ve developed a strong interest in ECMO and Pediatric Point of Care Ultrasound, and I plan to conduct research in these areas. Beyond the confines of the hospital, I find solace and rejuvenation in my hobbies. Whether basking in the sun on the sandy shores of the beach, pushing my limits at CrossFit sessions, exploring new destinations through travel, or delving into the realms of literature through reading, I find balance and fulfillment in these diverse pursuits. As I look towards the future, I reflect on the incredible journey that brought me here and my immense gratitude for this opportunity. I feel incredibly thankful and fortunate today for the experiences, knowledge, and relationships I have gained throughout this fellowship.

Research Projects: To be determined

Dr. Franz Puyol, PGY-4

I was born in Ecuador however I grew up in Alice, Texas about 2 hours south of San Antonio. I received my undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Texas in Austin and my medical degree from Texas Tech University El Paso. I have always had a connection to San Antonio as I grew up so close to here and I have a lot of fond childhood memories from the typical tourist attractions: hearing pan flutes around the River Center Mall, going on the boat tours too many times, walking around the Alamo, and going to Six Flags with my friends and cousins when they would visit. This connection to San Antonio led me to doing my pediatrics residency here where I found my passion for critical care medicine. I love working with our faculty and found our program to be my ideal learning environment. This led me to pursue fellowship training here at UTHSCSA. I love to play soccer, run long but reasonable distances, eat unreasonable quantities of food, play video games, and listen to rock music. I live with my fiancée Analea and our 2 cats, Meelo and Merlin.

Research Projects: To be determined