Houston Healthcare Family Medicine Residency Program Welcomes Class of 2026 with White Coat Ceremony

Houston Healthcare welcomed its thirteenth class of resident physicians as part of the Family Medicine Residency Program during the annual White Coat Ceremony on Tuesday, June 27 at the Cary W. Martin Conference Center.

This year’s class comes from various medical schools throughout the United States and Caribbean and includes:

• Leslie Flores Otero, MD, graduated from the Trinity School of Medicine in St. Vincent and Grenadines.

• Kristen Lee, DO, a graduate of the Georgia Campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee, GA.

• Christine Nwoke, DO, a graduate of Lincoln Memorial University – Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, TN.

• Nneka Onyejekwe, MD, graduated from the American University of Integrated Sciences School of Medicine, Bridgetown, Barbados.

• Andrew Powell, MD, a graduate of the Caribbean Medical University, Willemstad, Caracao.

• Ana Rivera Betancourt, MD, graduated from the Trinity School of Medicine in St. Vincent and Grenadines.

The residents were welcomed by Dr. Dan Stewart, Houston Healthcare Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, as well as Dr. Thomas Callier and Dr. Jennifer Heatwole, chief residents, Family Medicine Residency Program Class of 2024. Before being presented with their white coats, Dr. La Toya Jackson-Street, Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program, spoke to the residents about the symbolism and significance of the long, white coat.

Houston Healthcare’s Residency Program is coordinated through the Pavilion Family Medicine Center located inside the Roy H. “Sonny” Watson Health Pavilion in Warner Robins. The program benefits the community by including access to care for patients, providing clinical training and practical skills learning for the Residents, and affording enhanced, coordinated care with the local teaching facility of Houston Healthcare – Warner Robins.

Currently, 18 resident physicians provide care at Houston Healthcare – Warner Robins and the Pavilion Family Medicine Center. Information regarding the Family Medicine Residency Program may be found on Houston Healthcare’s website, www.hhc.org, under the Medical Education link.