Joseph Litam, MD
Medical Oncology/Hematology
Dr. Litam was fellowship-trained at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He is well
known in the community and was in private practice for 27 years before joining Texas Oncology. He has special
interest in treating solid tumors.
McALLEN McALLEN
Billie J. Marek, MD, FACP
Medical Oncology/Hematology
Billie J. Marek, MD, FACP
Rogelio Salinas, MD
Dr. Marker is board-certified and specializes in medical oncology and heamatology. He currently serves as
Radiation Oncology
Medical Oncology/Hematology
a director of Texas Oncology and is the medical director for Texas Oncology-McAllen. He has served the Rio
Dr. Salinas is a board-certified radiation oncologist. He completed his residency training at
Dr. Marker is board-certified and specializes in medical oncology and heamatology. He currently serves as
Grande Valley for the past 22 years as a medical oncologist and hematologist, has been recognized as a
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York followed by his fellowship at The University of
a director of Texas Oncology and is the medical director for Texas Oncology-McAllen. He has served the Rio
“Super Doctor” in oncology for five years in a row, and was recognized as Doctor of The Year for Rio
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Grande Valley for the past 22 years as a medical oncologist and hematologist, has been recognized as a
Grande Regional. Dr. Marek received his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical School at
San Antonio. He completed his fellowship at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Grande Regional. Dr. Marek received his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical School at
San Antonio. He completed his fellowship at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Alvaro Restrepo, MD
Benjamin West, MD
Medical Oncology/Hematology
Radiation Oncology
“I can be part of your team... and together we can fight the battle.” Dr. Restrepo specializes in, medical
oncology and hematology. He completed his fellowship at the University of Miami. He also serves on the
reast Cancer Committee of US Oncology and has completed a fellowship in breast cancer treatment. Alvaro Restrepo, MD
Medical Oncology/Hematology
Through the Life Beyond Cancer Fundation he established the Texas Oncology–McAllen Breast Cancer
Ride/Walk undraiser to raise funds for Rio Grande Valley cancer patients. To date approximately $30,000 has
oncology and hematology.
He completed
his fellowship
at the
University
been donated
to cancer patients
in the Rio
Grande
Valley. of Miami. He also serves on the
reast Cancer Committee of US Oncology and has completed a fellowship in breast cancer treatment.
Through the Life Beyond Cancer Fundation he established the Texas Oncology–McAllen Breast Cancer
Ride/Walk undraiser to raise funds for Rio Grande Valley cancer patients. To date approximately $30,000 has
Suresh Ratnam, MD, FACP been donated to cancer patients in the Rio Grande Valley.
Medical Oncology/Hematology
Dr. West is board-certified radiation oncologist. He was physicist prior to becoming a physician.
Phoebe Verano, RN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Ratnam has been with Texas Oncology-McAllen for 13 years, which he joined after completing his
fellowship at the renowned National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. He has
co-authored several research publications and is passionate about cutting-edge oncology care. He currently
serves on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee of US Oncology and chairman of the Credentials
Committee for South Texas Health
System. Ratnam, MD, FACP
Suresh
Phoebe Cepeda Verano is a certified Family Nurse Practioner, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, who
received her Masters degree at the University of Texas- Pan American (UTPA) in 2013. She has more than
30 years of experience as a registered nurse, most of it in an adult critical care setting. As a nurse
practitioner, she has the compassion to be a part of a patient’s journey through cancer care and believes
that patient education is an important first step following diagnosis and treatment plan development. “I
am committed to preparing cancer patients for their journeys and assuring they know that we are always
here to support them.”
Medical Oncology/Hematology
Dr. Ratnam has been with Texas Oncology-McAllen for 13 years, which he joined after completing his
fellowship at the renowned National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. He has
co-authored several research publications and is passionate about cutting-edge oncology care. He currently
serves
on the Pharmacy
and MD
Therapeutics Committee of US Oncology and chairman of the Credentials
Guillermo
Lazo,
Committee
for
South
Texas
Health
Medical Oncology/Hematology System.
Dr. Lazo specializes in medical oncology and hematology. He completed his fellowship at The University of
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a recipient of several awards including the American Society of
Clinical Oncology Merit Award and is the author of several peer-reviewed medical publications as well as
book chapters. He received the highest honors on the professional examination for his medical doctorate
degree.
Arlene Alegria, MPAS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Arlene Alegria, MPAS, PA-C, graduated from the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley with a masters as
a Physician Assistant in 2013. She received Cum Laude Honors from the Texas A&M University in 2012. She
made the Dean’s List at the University of Texas Pan Am in 2008 and again in 2009 from the University of
Texas San Antonio. Prior to becoming a licensed Physician Assistant, Arlene was a Registered and Certified
Pharmacy Technician for 18 years. One of Arlene’s favorite quotes is by Mahatma Ghandi – ‘The best way
to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others’. Arlene says, “I believe we are all meant to be
where we end up and since I joined Texas Oncology I have the opportunity to be there for my patients
whether it be for follow-ups, emotional or moral support.”
Guillermo Lazo, MD
Medical Oncology/Hematology
Dr. Lazo Nurul
specializes
in medical
oncology and hematology. He completed his fellowship at The University of
Wahid,
MD
Texas MD
Anderson
Cancer
Center.
He is a recipient of several awards including the American Society of
Medical Oncology/Hematology
Clinical Oncology Merit Award and is the author of several peer-reviewed medical publications as well as
Dr. Whaid was fellowship trained in Medical Oncology and Hematology at Columbia University College
book chapters. He received the highest honors on the professional examination for his medical doctorate
of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal
degree.
Medicine in both Hematology and Oncology. He has been recognized as Physician of the Year at Rio
Grande State Center in Harlingen where he has served as senior attending physician for the past 13
years.
McAllen 1901 South 2nd Street McAllen, Texas 78503 PH: 956.687.5150 FAX: 956.687.9546
www.TexasOncology.com
McAllen 1901 South 2nd Street McAllen, Texas 78503 PH: 956.687.5150 FAX: 956.687.9546
Cristelita Parrocho, RN, BSN,CCRN,MSN,FNP-C
Nurse Practicioner
Cristy graduated as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in
California. She is also a certified Adult Critical Care Registered Nurse. Before joining Texas
Oncology-McAllen she was a hospitalist with IPC Healthcare. “Cancer is brutal but I believe loving and
actually feeling while you care for these patients will somehow bring upon sunshine in the darkest
moments of their lives. It is not how much time but how much love you put into it.”
McAllen 1901 South 2nd Street McAllen, Texas 78503 PH: 956.687.5150 FAX: 956.687.9546
www.TexasOncology.com
www.TexasOncology.com