A Spectrum of Care in the Med Center: From Primary Care Principles to Advanced Surgery

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Houston’s Texas Medical Center is known for its depth of expertise across nearly every medical discipline. In the Med Center, patients can move seamlessly from preventive care and foundational doctor–patient relationships to some of the most complex surgical and subspecialty services. This cross-section of trusted specialists shows how varied, yet interconnected, that care can be.

Surgical Excellence at the Heart of the Med Center

At the core of many patients’ journeys is surgery—whether planned, reconstructive, or emergent. The Med Center brings together surgeons with highly focused skills in specific parts of the body and types of operations.

Minimally Invasive and Complex General Surgery

Patrick R. Reardon, MD, FACS exemplifies the blend of technical mastery and educational leadership that defines much of the Med Center. A board certified surgeon, Dr. Reardon has expertise in bariatric surgery, gastrointestinal surgery (including colon and rectal surgery), hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, endocrine surgery, and minimally invasive surgery.

With 32 years of practice, he has also spent 24 years training residents and fellows in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Having attended medical school and completed both residency and fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, and currently certified by the American Board of Surgery, he ties advanced operative skill to a strong academic background. His affiliation with Houston Methodist Hospital also connects his patients to a broader ecosystem of multidisciplinary care.

A Hub for Reconstructive and Cosmetic Procedures

Located in the Texas Medical Center, Houston Methodist Hospital provides a setting where advanced surgical subspecialists share the same campus and collaborate. At its Med Center location, a team of board-certified surgeons offers a number of procedures for the face, extremities, genital and pelvic areas, and other parts of the body.

Specializing in reconstructive surgery while also offering a wide array of cosmetic procedures, Houston Methodist Hospital focuses on helping patients both look and feel their best. Attention to detail, a dedication to patients, and an environment designed to support a positive experience and excellent recovery process make it a central anchor for many of the surgeons working in and around the campus.

From Curiosity and Compassion to Personalized Medicine

While surgery often defines the Med Center in the public imagination, the foundation of care remains the clinical relationship between physicians and their patients, guided by core principles like empathy, curiosity, and communication.

Adarsh Bhimraj, MD articulates this approach clearly in the field of infectious diseases. His care is guided by three C’s: Curiosity, Creativity, and Compassion. Intellectual and empathic curiosity helps him better understand a patient’s illness and suffering. Creativity allows him to tailor solutions to each patient’s needs. Compassion and genuine care lead him to treat patients like family and friends, bringing meaning and purpose to daily work.

These same attributes, he notes, are those that make a good teacher and a good student—emphasizing his dual role in both caring for patients and mentoring trainees in infectious diseases.

Similarly, Ana V. Salas Vargas, MD emphasizes a patient-centered, evidence-based approach. As a dedicated and compassionate physician, she is committed to providing the highest standard of care, grounded in continuous professional development and medical education. She focuses on building strong doctor–patient relationships based on trust and open communication, working to ensure personalized treatment plans for optimal health outcomes. Through teamwork and collaboration, she aims to contribute positively not just to her patients, but to the medical community as a whole.

Together, these perspectives illustrate how primary care principles—like communication, personalization, and ongoing learning—shape patient experiences across every specialty in the Med Center.

Vision and Precision: Advanced Retinal Care

For many patients, specialized vision care is another key component of comprehensive health. Retina Consultants of Houston – Texas Medical Center, located in Scurlock Tower, is the largest ophthalmology center focused on the retina in southeast Texas, with 14 offices and a reputation as one of the most respected in the country.

Founded in 1988, this practice brings years of collective expertise with the retina, vitreous, and macula. Although surgeries are only performed in hospitals, the Med Center location offers diagnostic tests, imaging, laser therapies, and intravitreal injections by appointment. The team is committed to providing a world-class experience for patients, their families, and other medical professionals in the treatment of retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, ocular cancers, macular degeneration, and more.

Run by respected ophthalmologists educated at leading universities, Retina Consultants of Houston also collaborates with the Greater Houston Retina Research Center to test new medications and treatments in clinical trials—a partnership that has produced beneficial research and highlights how cutting-edge science and patient care intersect in the Med Center.

Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery: Restoring Form and Function

The Med Center is also home to a cluster of plastic and reconstructive surgeons whose work spans complex reconstruction, gender-affirming care, and cosmetic enhancement.

At Chevray Plastic Surgery, Houston-based board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Pierre Chevray focuses on surgeries for the breast and body. Located within the Houston Methodist Hospital campus, his practice is dedicated to providing an excellent patient experience. He performs a variety of breast reconstruction procedures—DIEP, SIEA, TRAM, GAP, and PAP flap reconstructions—as well as tissue expanders and breast implant reconstructions.

Having performed more than 1,000 breast reconstructions, Dr. Chevray’s experience and research in this field are described as unsurpassed. He also offers cosmetic body procedures such as liposuction, tummy tucks, and mommy makeovers. With an M.D. and Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he brings a strong scientific foundation to his surgical practice, performing surgeries at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center and Sugar Land.

Alford Facial Plastic Surgery offers a focused approach to the face, blending cosmetic and reconstructive facial plastic surgery with advanced techniques in a state-of-the-art Texas Medical Center office. Led by Dr. Eugene “Gene” Alford, a double board-certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Facial and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery and American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery), the practice emphasizes individualized care tailored to the patient’s needs, wants, and goals.

Dr. Alford’s background includes degrees from Texas A&M University and the University of Texas, and recognition from organizations such as Texas Monthly, Houston Magazine, the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology. He has also appeared on national programs like The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live for pro bono reconstructive facial surgery. The practice offers procedures such as rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, facelift, endoscopic brow lift, and midface lift.

Dr. Tue Dinh Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery adds another dimension with a focus on transgender surgery and other reconstructive procedures for men and women. Operating out of Houston Methodist Hospital, this cosmetic practice is led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Tue Dinh, who has been in practice for over 30 years and graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. This breadth of experience supports patients seeking both restorative and gender-affirming surgical options in a hospital-based setting.

Trauma, Orthopedics, and Emergency Readiness

Urgent and emergent care are vital parts of the Med Center’s mission, especially when injuries are sudden and severe.

Perkins Ortho Trauma - Ben Taub Hospital highlights this capacity. Dr. Christopher H. Perkins, MD, practices primarily in Houston, TX, with another Houston office, bringing 15 years of experience in Orthopaedic Surgery, Traumatic Surgery, and Orthopedic Trauma Surgery. His work reflects the Med Center’s role as a regional resource for patients with complex fractures and trauma-related musculoskeletal injuries, linking emergency care with long-term functional recovery.

Pediatric Care and Family Access

Caring for children and families is another cornerstone of the Med Center’s mission. Carlos Bacino, MD practices within Texas Children’s, which is consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas and among the top in the nation. Patients have easy access to online scheduling through the website or “Appointments” button.

With more than 10 locations across the greater Houston area, Texas Children’s offers care that is convenient as well as comprehensive. Providers see patients at hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, Katy in West Houston, and The Woodlands. Specialty Care clinics throughout local communities extend the same level of care families expect from Texas Children’s—just closer to home—making it easier for families to connect advanced pediatric expertise with everyday needs.

From primary care principles like curiosity, compassion, and communication to advanced surgical subspecialties and trauma response, the Med Center in Houston brings together a remarkably diverse set of physicians and programs. Whether patients need complex reconstruction, vision-saving retinal treatment, pediatric expertise, or carefully tailored infectious disease care, these specialists illustrate how the Texas Medical Center supports health at every stage and level of complexity.