Candice Cardon, MD

UTMB- Galveston

I was born and raised in El Paso, TX. I graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelors degree in Microbiology. While completing my undergraduate degree I worked in a Biomedical research lab and did work on Colon Cancer and Giardia. My research allowed me to travel all over the United States and I was able to spend a summer at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.

When I am not studying a medical textbook I love to spend time with my two children and husband. We are definitely beach people and spend as much time as we can looking for that perfect wave. We love to surf, ride bikes, wake board, water ski, snow ski, and ride our long boards. When we are not at the beach we enjoy listening to live music or catching a live sporting event. I personally love to cook, and read mystery novels.

Corpus Christi was my number one choice for residency because I love the rich Hispanic culture and I think I can use my fluency in Spanish and my own Hispanic heritage to give back to the community (I was also Selena's biggest fan). The residency program felt like a perfect fit for me and my personality- everyone is welcoming.  I have fallen in love Corpus Christi because it has a large city with a comforting small town feel with access to beautiful beaches.

I live on Padre Island within walking distance to the beach.  The cost of living is affordable and the Mexican food is great.  There are also many community-service opportunities.  In the short time I have been here I have been active in participating as a physician for our local roller-derby league.  I now only respond to being called by my derby-name, “Trauma Mama”.  Another good thing about this residency program is that we do have a generous amount of free time to pursue personal hobbies and do community service work.

I love this residency program because it is an unopposed program, where as emergency medicine physicians we are trained to do multiple procedures and handle a variety of patients without competition from other residents.  During off-service rotations we work closely with the specialists and experts in that field.

Matthew Cross, MD

UT- San Antonio

I grew up all around Texas and graduated from high school in Arlington.  I wanted to live outside of Texas for my undergraduate and went to Brown University in Rhode Island where I majored in Biology with a concentration in evolution and ecology.  I was drafted into the professional soccer league by the Kansas City Wizards, and played for a short time, but decided a career in medicine was a better fit.  I moved to Colorado, worked in orthopedic research, got a Master’s of Science at Colorado State University, and attended medical school in San Antonio.

I am married to a “Super Mom,” who takes care of our two children (Alex 3 and Elise 1) and is a veterinarian.  We currently have a cat, a St. Bernard (who loves the beach), and a fish from the carnival.  I enjoy spending any free time with my family, which usually consists of hanging on the beach or fishing from the pier.  I also have a small hobby of making ice cream.  My favorite is salted caramel and I am still working on the perfect chocolate. 

My residency training has been awesome.  I see a large variety of disease pathology and there is no competition from other residencies for procedures.  Time is of the essence in residency, and we enjoy the delicate balance working hard and playing hard!  

Mark Drumhiller, MD

Mercer University

I have a little bit of everywhere including Detroit, Chicago, and Missouri, but Atlanta is my home.  I attended the University of Wyoming and received degrees in medical microbiology and animal science. Go Wyo!

I have about 100 hobbies including camping, scuba, gardening, theater, hunting, salt-water fishing, eating out, and punk music.  My wonderful wife is going to graduate school at TAMU-CC for fisheries / mariculture.

I like that the residency here is virtually unopposed and so we don't have to fight for procedures.  In addition, we see a good deal of envenomation and a myriad of other illness.  I think of Corpus as a big small town.  There is always a festival or concert going  on, but you don't have to deal with traffic.  I was happy to find out that living next to the beach is much cheaper here than on the east coast.  I like the great amount of salt-water sports we enjoy here.

I love the program because of the knowledgeable and friendly attendings that are not just in the ED, but also off-service.  I also like the Pathology of our patient population.  In just my first year I have already treated malaria, murine typhus, and two coral snake envenomations. 

Garett Miller, MD

University of New Mexico

I grew up in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico.  I received a Bachelors in Biology from the University of New Mexico.  Following college I saved lives and made a difference as an EMT-I for two years following college.  I attended medical school at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

I enjoy snowboarding, running, weightlifting, and just being outside.  I like living near the Gulf of Mexico and kite-boarding. 

The EM residency program is essentially unopposed which I feel is a huge advantage here at CHRISTUS Spohn.  The faculty here are also very approachable and down to earth. 

Christion Rice, MD

UTMB- Galveston

I was born and raised in Mission, Texas, about 5 minutes from the US-Mexico Border.  I am the third of five rambunctious children in my family.   I attended the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburgh for my undergraduate studies and majored in Physics and Mathematics.  To make money during college I worked selling fuel at a race track.   I eventually migrated north to Galveston for medical school were I met my amazing wife, who is from Corpus Christi. 

I enjoy spending my free time with my family (2 year old daughter and wife), fishing, hunting, and being outdoors.  My wife and I enjoy pawning our daughter off on unsuspecting relatives and traveling as much as possible.  Corpus Christi has amazing weather, great food, and lots of things to do.

I was fortunate to do an away rotation in the ED at CHRISTUS Spohn Memorial during medical school.   I was very pleased with my experience and the program.   What stood out most to me about the program is the level of training, experience, and independence that residents in the program receive.  Being one of only two residency programs in the hospital affords the CHRISTUS Spohn emergency medicine residency program many unique opportunities for great learning.  The residency allows for great autonomy and excellent clinical experiences.  Corpus Christi is an amazing coastal city and I enjoy the easy access to recreational sports and fishing.  In addition, Corpus has great schools for my daughter.

Rebecca Wood-Horrall, MD

UTMB- Galveston

I grew up on a cattle ranch out west of Ft. Worth, Texas, but I've lived in Italy and Mexico too.  I got my undergrad degrees in Sociology (B.A.) and Psychology (B.S.) at Texas A&M, and then did a 180 for my master's work which was in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Austin. 

Before I decided to go to med school, I did counseling for violent youth in prison (the youth were in prison - not me), ran a suicide hotline, worked for the United Way 211 program, was a police and 911 dispatcher, worked for a rural 911 ambulance service and in the paramedic department of a phase one pharmaceutical research facility.  Um… yeah, you're right, it's been a while since I was in undergrad…. 

When I'm not dealing with someone else's emergencies, I like to go camping, work in my garden, read silly novels, knit, travel anywhere, drive the backroads and spin fire poi.  I have three cats that run my house, and a wonderful husband who patiently shares it with us and more books than any one person should own. 

I came to Corpus Christi for several reasons- wide range of pathology, great teaching, friendly colleagues, and an opportunity to be involved in all aspects of patient care. With such a small number of residents at the hospital, I never feel like I am competing for patients, procedures, or time with attendings.

The greatest thing about this residency is the people. I am continually impressed by the kindness and compassion shown to patients, families, peers, and co-workers. It is an excellent place to feel a part of a team, and an unparalleled place to learn.