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Meet Mays Cancer Center's newest providers
Mays Cancer Center continues to expand specialized cancer care with new providers bringing expertise in complex cancer surgery and reconstruction, gastrointestinal surgical oncology, lung and gastrointestinal cancers, lymphoma and other blood disorders and oncology nutrition. These additions strengthen the range of specialized services available to patients across South Texas.
Dr. Owusu-Brackett is a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer and melanoma. She is also developing a research program focused on disparities in cancer care and outcomes. Her personal experience supporting a family member with breast cancer has helped shape her approach to patient care, emphasizing the importance of helping patients understand their diagnosis and treatment options.
Dr. Berner is the medical director of microvascular reconstruction and specializes in complex reconstruction following cancer surgery. He performs microsurgical free-flap procedures using patients’ own tissue for breast, head and neck and sarcoma reconstruction, including DIEP and PAP flap procedures.
Zaira Suarez Ahumada, MS, RD, LD
Zaira Suarez Ahumada is a senior clinical dietitian who provides medical nutrition therapy for patients undergoing cancer treatment. She helps patients maintain strength and nutritional health, manage treatment-related side effects and address their individual nutritional needs throughout care.
Katy Pierce is a clinical dietitian dedicated to helping patients achieve positive health outcomes through practical, evidence-based nutrition. She works closely with patients during cancer care to develop realistic, individualized nutrition plans based on their goals and preferences, helping them maintain strength and manage treatment-related side effects.
Preetesh Jain, MBBS, MD, DM, PhD
Dr. Jain is a hematologist-oncologist and director of the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Program, with a primary clinical focus on mantle cell lymphoma. He cares for patients from initial diagnosis through high-risk, relapsed or treatment-resistant disease and provides second opinions for complex cases. His expertise includes CAR T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies and advanced molecular and genomic testing to help guide lymphoma treatment.
As director of Thoracic Oncology, Dr. He leads the expansion of specialized lung cancer care and research at Mays Cancer Center. His expertise includes immunotherapy, T-cell engagers and cellular therapies for lung cancer, as well as early-phase and investigator-initiated clinical trials. His research focuses on translating laboratory discoveries into new treatment options for patients with lung cancer.
Dr. Parekh is a medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers, including cancers of the pancreas, liver and other parts of the digestive system. His clinical research focuses on early-phase treatment approaches for pancreatic and liver cancers. He sees patients at University Health's Robert B. Green Campus downtown, where his work also supports efforts to expand access to specialized cancer care and clinical trials for underserved populations.
Dr. Schmelz is a hematologist specializing in noncancerous blood disorders, including blood clots, bleeding disorders, vascular anomalies and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. He cares for patients with conditions such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and also practices at the South Texas Center for Bleeding Disorders.
Dr. Rozich is a surgical oncologist specializing in complex cancers of the digestive system, including cancers of the pancreas, liver, stomach, gallbladder and bile ducts. His expertise also includes hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for certain cancers that have spread within the abdominal cavity and surgery for soft tissue sarcomas.