DeTar Family Medicine Residency Program Celebrates Graduation of Class of 2025
7/2/2025
The DeTar Family Medicine Residency Program celebrated its 2025 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 28, at the Victoria Country Club, marking a decade of excellence in graduate medical education. Eight accomplished residents graduated from the rigorous three-year family medicine residency program, bringing the total number of DeTar alumni to 50 since the program’s founding.
The event was a milestone for the Class of 2025, who spent the past three years serving patients at DeTar Family Medicine Center and rotating through various medical specialties in preparation for full-spectrum family medicine practice.
Program irector Dr. Julia Shae Krause-Castaneda, a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, emphasized the program’s mission in her remarks: “Our goal has always been to train compassionate, capable family physicians who will serve their communities with integrity and heart. This class exemplifies that goal—not only through their clinical excellence, but through their dedication to service and connection with their patients. We are especially proud that two of our graduates will continue serving right here in Victoria, providing care in the new DeTar Medical Group clinic opening August 1 on the UHV/Texas A&M-Victoria campus.”
Program Coordinator Marissa Rubio took a moment to honor Dr. Castaneda’s leadership, stating: “Dr. Castaneda is the kind of leader every residency program hopes for—dedicated, visionary, and deeply invested in the growth of her residents. Her guidance and mentorship have shaped the lives and careers of every physician we celebrate today.”
The ceremony was attended by DeTar hospital leadership, faculty, current residents, and the graduates’ family members. Bernard Leger, CEO of DeTar Healthcare System, highlighted the broader significance of the program: “Our DeTar Family Medicine Residency Program is shaping the next generation of family medicine physicians through our collaboration with Texas A&M College of Medicine. These graduates are not only well-trained clinicians, but also compassionate leaders prepared to meet the evolving needs of our communities.”
Leger continued, “We are especially proud that two of our eight graduates have chosen to remain in Victoria. Their decision to stay and serve is a powerful affirmation of our mission—and a meaningful investment in the health and well-being of our region for years to come.”
A highlight of the afternoon was the keynote address delivered by Dr. Sidney Ontai, a physician-leader with over 35 years of service in family medicine, education, and healthcare leadership. Dr. Ontai was the founding program director for the residency program and served in this role until his retirement in late 2024. “Dr. Ontai’s career reflects the very values we strive to instill in our graduates—compassion, community focus, and lifelong learning,” said Rubio in her introduction. “His words offered both reflection and inspiration for our graduates as they step into the next phase of their careers.”
2025 Graduating Class – DeTar Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Waleed Chaudhary
Will be joining the University of Texas Tyler Health Science Center Rural Health Clinic in Pittsburg, Texas, as a primary care physician
Dr. Raad Al-Awamleh
Will begin his practice as a primary care physician in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Dr. Mark Anthony Gonzalez
Will be joining the DeTar Medical Group Primary Care Clinic East, located on the college campus in Victoria, starting August 1. The new clinic, located in the newly constructed Health and Wellness Center on campus, will provide outpatient primary care to students, faculty, staff, as well as to the general public
Dr. Francesca Lucia Gray-de Haan
Will return to Corpus Christi, Texas, to serve as an outpatient primary care physician
Dr. Llybe Lobido
Will join the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Humble, Texas, as a primary care provider
Dr. Harneet Ranauta
Will begin her career with Kaiser Permanente in Orange County, California, practicing full-scope family medicine
Dr. Angela Rodriguez
Will join the DeTar Medical Group Primary Care Clinic East, located on the future Texas A&M-Victoria campus in their new Health & Wellness building, alongside Dr. Gonzalez
Dr. Quang-Tuan (Matthew) Tran
Will return to the Houston metropolitan area to practice as an outpatient primary care physician
Each graduate was celebrated not only for their accomplishments, but also for the unique strengths and values they brought to the program—from community advocacy to clinical leadership. Special awards were presented by Senior Chief Resident Dr. Pauline Roxas and Junior Chief Resident Dr. Shariq Sidanderali.
- Academic Excellence Award: Dr. Raad Al-Awamleh & Dr. Mark Gonzalez
- Resident Teaching Excellence Award: Dr. Llybe Lobido
- Chief Resident Award: Dr. Harneet Ranauta
- Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Resident Teacher Award: Dr. Harneet Ranauta
- Teaching Excellence Award (Faculty): Dr. Kalpesh Bhesaniya, Texas A&M College of Medicine DeTar Family Medicine Residency Program
The family medicine residency program faculty team of Texas A&M College of Medicine—including Drs. Kalpesh Bhesaniya, Bain Cate, Frank Goodman, Daniel Dugi, Jonathan Klarich, and Mark Stevens—were recognized for their instrumental role in mentoring the graduating class. Closing the ceremony, outgoing chief resident Dr. Harneet Ranauta offered heartfelt remarks: “These three years have been some of the most challenging and rewarding of our lives. Together, we’ve grown not just as physicians, but as people. I’m honored to have walked this journey with all of you.”
The DeTar Family Medicine Residency Program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), continues to serve as a vital training ground for future physicians who are dedicated to compassionate, comprehensive care across South Texas and beyond.
To learn more, visit https://detarresidency.com.
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