Daniel Aragon, MD, MBA
Internal Medicine/Critical Care Medicine
Hello Everyone!
I am Daniel Aragón. I was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. My father is from Nicaragua, and my mother is from Mexico. I received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas Pan American, my medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Houston Clear Lake.
To best serve Spanish speaking patients, I decided to become a Certified Medical Interpreter through the National Board of Certified Medical Interpreters. I completed Internal Medicine Residency training at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and I am currently a Critical Care Medicine Fellow at the University of Rochester Medical Center. I am interested in all things Critical Care and would like to learn as much as possible about Cardiac Critical Care.
Education
Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, July 2023 - June 2025
University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
Internal Medicine Residency, July 2020 - June 2023
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Doctors Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas
Master in Business Administration (M.B.A), June 2019 - May 2020
University of Houston-Clear Lake – Clear Lake, Texas
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), August 2015 - May 2020
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, Texas
Bachelor of Science, Biology – Magna Cum Laude (B.S.), June 2011 - May 2015
University of Texas-Pan American – Edinburg, Texas
Minors in Chemistry and Spanish
Certifications
ELSO Adult ECMO Simulation Course at SCCM, January 2024
by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization
- 2-day hands-on course applying practical ECMO concepts to a simulation environment
- Solved various simulated ECMO scenarios with a multidisciplinary team
- Funding: University of Rochester Medical Center
ELSO Foundation: Adult ECMO Training Course, November 2023
by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization
- 8-hour course with up-to-date standards of practice & evidence-based recommendations to optimize clinical decision making
- Consisting of 53 modules, covering over 80 learning objectives foundational to Adult ECMO patient care
- Funding: Out of Pocket
Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (FCCS), May 2022, July 2023
by the Society of Critical Care Medicine
- 2-Day Course on managing critically ill patients for the first 24 hours or until appropriate critical care consultation can be arranged
- Focused on adult critical care, but included training on pregnant and pediatric patients
- Funding: Doctors Hospital at Renaissance & University of Rochester Medical Center
Advanced Cardiac Life Support, ACLS, June 2020 – Present
- from the American Heart Association
- Funding: UTRGV IM Residency Program & University of Rochester Medical Center
Basic Life Support, BLS, June 2020 – Present
- from the American Heart Association
- Funding: UTRGV IM Residency Program & University of Rochester Medical Center
The Difficult Airway Course, July 2021
- 20 Hour Course on performing appropriately assessment of patients and determining the best option for safely securing any airway. Also included topics such as the use of supraglottic devices/ extraglottic devices, performing awake intubations, nasal intubations, and the surgical airway.
- Funding: UTRGV IM Residency Program
Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), May 2020
- from Healthcare Financial Management Association
- Funding: HFMA South Texas Board Student to Professional Scholarship
National Board of Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish, 2020 - 2025
- NBCMI Registry #: 102875
- Funding: Out of Pocket
Parrot Language Certification - General Professional IL3 Spanish, April 2020
- Funding: Out of Pocket
The Medical Interpreting and Translating Institute Online, June 2019
- 60 Hour Certificate Course in Medical Interpretation
- Requirement for NBCMI Certification
- Funding: Out of Pocket
Honors & Awards
Healthcare Financial Management Association South Texas Board Student to Professional Scholarship, 2020
The Business Strategy Game Industry Champion (Company Name: Bilanz, Industry 7) , 2020
2020 Global 100 Top Performance in The Business Strategy Game in:
- Earnings Per Share
- Stock Price
John P. McGovern Student Award in Oslerian Medicine Finalist, UTMB School of Medicine, 2016
Second Place on Poster Presentation- The Southwestern Regional Latino Medical Student Association Conference, 2016
- Mosquito Collection in Prevalence Detection of Zika Virus in Southeastern Dominican Republic
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, 2015
Best Honors Thesis Presentation, University of Texas-Pan American, 2015
Memberships
Society of Critical Care Medicine, 2023-2025
Texas Medical Association, 2020 - 2023
American Medical Association, 2020 - 2023
Healthcare Financial Management Association, 2020 - Present
National Society of Leadership and Success, 2018 - 2020
The University of Texas Medical Branch Bilingual Health Track, 2015 - 2020
Student Interest Group in Neurology, 2015 - 2017
Publications
Aragon, Daniel; Patel, Namita; Okwechime, Remi. 603: A Case Report On Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Secondary To Thyrotoxicosis. Critical Care Medicine 52(1):p S275, January 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/01.ccm.0001000588.82152.c1
Luu S, Rivera J, Aragon D, Zamora V, Huayanay I, Majzoub R, Baird A, Escobar C, Sanchez E, Lopez-Alvarenga JC, Hernandez D, Chang C. Getting Ahead: A Resident Led Quality Improvement Project to Increase Diabetic Nephropathy Screening in an Underserved Hispanic-Predominant Population. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2022 Nov 7;12(6):1-11. doi: 10.55729/2000-9666.1130. PMID: 36816170; PMCID: PMC9924643.
Rivera JA, Aragon D, Thomas P, Dominici P, Menowsky M, Akala OO. RUSHing to the Diagnosis: Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm Detected Using the Rapid Ultrasound for Shock and Hypotension (RUSH) Protocol in the Wards. Cureus. 2022 Dec 15;14(12):e32565. doi: 10.7759/cureus.32565. PMID: 36540318; PMCID: PMC9754670.
Rivera JA, Aragon D, Gomez J, Arredondo H, Thomas PM, Dominici P, Akala OO, Menowsky M. Acute Hypersensitivity Reaction After Casirivimab/Imdevimab Infusion in a COVID-19-Positive Young Male: Myopericarditis or Kounis Syndrome? Cureus. 2022 Nov 5;14(11):e31125. doi: 10.7759/cureus.31125. PMID: 36382314; PMCID: PMC9636892.
Rivera JA, Aragon D, Thomas PM, Menowsky M, Akala OO, Dominici P, Hernandez D. Bitten to the Bone: A Case of Anxiety-Induced Osteomyelitis. Cureus. 2022 Nov 14;14(11):e31511. doi: 10.7759/cureus.31511. PMID: 36408316; PMCID: PMC9665332.
Poster Presentations
Aragon, Daniel; Patel, Namita; Okwechime, Remi. 603: A Case Report On Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Secondary To Thyrotoxicosis. Critical Care Congress by the Society of Critical Care Medicine in Phoenix, AZ, January 2024
Pareja H Y, Chang C H, Aragon D, George D, PhD. Quality Improvement in Resident Leadership Workshop. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine 5th Annual Research Symposium; September 2022, Edinburg, Texas
Aragon D, Rivera J, Hernandez D. Bitten to the Bone: A Case of Anxiety - Induced Osteomyelitis. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine 5th Annual Research Symposium; September 2022, Edinburg, Texas
Endari K, Flores J, Aragon D, Chang C. Navigating the Healthcare System to Increase Quality of Life in the Geriatric Population: Case of an 80-year old Male with Blindness. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine 5th Annual Research Symposium; September 2022, Edinburg, Texas
Flores J, Endari K, Aragon D, Chang C. Balancing Autonomy and Safety in the Care of a Senior Patient: To Place or Not to Place? The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine 5th Annual Research Symposium; September 2022, Edinburg, Texas
Rivera J, Aragon D, Hernandez D, et al. Getting Ahead: A Resident Led Quality Improvement Project to Increase Diabetic Nephropathy Screening in an Underserved Hispanic - Predominant Population. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine 5th Annual Research Symposium; September 2022, Edinburg, Texas
Rivera J, Aragon D, Menowsky M. A Case of Possible Casirivimab/Imdevimab Induced Myopericarditis in a COVID Positive Hispanic Male. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine 4th Annual Research Colloquium, February 2022; Edinburg, Texas
Khan A, Aragon D, Chang C, et al. Quality Improvement: Promoting Age Appropriate Preventive and Health Screening in Our Resident-Led Outpatient Clinic American College of Physicians - Texas Chapter Resident Poster Competition, October 2021
Saavedra A, Aragon D, Huayanay I, Cantazaro B. Factor V Leiden and its Association with Vascular Disease and Treatment in a Latino Patient. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine 4th Annual Research Symposium; September 2021, Edinburg, Texas
Aragon D, Wiley A, Dineley K. PPARy-Regulated Gene Expression in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s DiseaseGalveston Symposium on Alzheimer's Diseases & Related Disorders, September 2016; Galveston, Texas
Wiley A, Aragon D, Dineley K. PPARy-Regulated Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Neuronal Injury. Galveston Symposium on Alzheimer's Diseases & Related Disorders, September 2016; Galveston, Texas
Mejia T, Aragon D, Dacso M. Mosquito Collection in Prevalence Detection of Zika Virus in Southeastern Dominican Republic The Southwestern Regional Latino Medical Student Association Conference, October 2016; Houston, Texas
Research Experience
University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, Texas 2016 - 2017
- PPARy-Regulated Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Neuronal Injury
- Applied Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software to analyze and interpret the role of PPARy in neuronal injury
- Advisor: Dr. Kelly Dineley – Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch
University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, Texas 2016 - 2017
- PPARy-Regulated Gene Expression in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Applied Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software to analyze and interpret the role of PPARy in Alzheimer’s disease
- Advisor: Dr. Kelly Dineley – Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch
University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, Texas 2016
- Mosquito Collection in Prevalence Detection of Zika Virus in Southeastern Dominican Republic
- Assessed prevalence of Zika in the underserved and vulnerable populations in Bateyes
- Advisors: Matthew Dacso, MD, MSc, FACP – UTMB Center for Global Health Education, University of Texas Medical Branch; Scott C. Weaver, MS, PhD – Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch
University of Texas-Pan American – Edinburg, Texas 2013 - 2015
- Circadian Modulation of Associative Conditioning in Lymnaea stagnalis
- Identified the circadian effects on learning in the neuroscience model, Lymnaea stagnalis
- Advisor: Dr. Daniel Plas – Biology Department, University of Texas-Pan American
Quality Improvement
Getting Ahead: A Resident Led Quality Improvement Project to Increase Diabetic Nephropathy Screening in an Underserved Hispanic-Predominant Population
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Internal Medicine Residency Program at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas, 2021 - 2022
- Used a comprehensive approach, including the addition of an order set to hospital wide EMR, to increase diabetic nephropathy screening with UACR by 50% in an academic year
Promoting Age Appropriate Preventive and Health Screening in Our Resident-Led Outpatient Clinic
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Internal Medicine Residency Program at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas, 2020 - 2021
- Enhanced health screening and vaccination rates by 25% by creating a set of doctor-friendly smart phrases as screening reminders readily accessible in our EMR software
Reducing Use of Insulin Sliding Scale as Diabetic Monotherapy in an Internal Medicine Residency Program
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Internal Medicine Residency Program at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas, 2020 - 2021
- Used educational techniques and methods of reinforcement to decrease the use of insulin sliding scale by 25% in 4 months
Conferences Attended
Critical Care Congress by the Society of Critical Care Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, January 2024
- Learned about the safety and necessary protocols for the effective use of peripheral vasopressors in critically ill patients
- Presented a case report about a patient I saw in my first 2 weeks in fellowship
South Texas Healthcare Financial Management Association Leadership Conference, Austin, Texas, March 2022
- Received training on creating meaningful conversations
- Discussed Value Based Medicine, Revenue Cycle and The Role of the Physician Advisor
Linking Your Thinking Conference, May 2022
- Participated in showcases on the use of ‘Obsidian’ as a tool for thought in a wide array of professions
Speaker Presentations
Richard Witherington Hyde, M.D Conference, February 2024
University of Rochester Medical Center - Strong Medical Hospital - Rochester, NY
- Title: “Methylene Blue: A Physiologic Review”
Richard Witherington Hyde, M.D Conference, January 2024
University of Rochester Medical Center - Strong Medical Hospital - Rochester, NY
Grand Rounds Presentation, September 2022
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Internal Medicine Residency Program at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas
- Title: “2022 Update on GOLD COPD Guidelines: Diagnosis, Management and Treatment in the Outpatient Setting”
Morbidity and Mortality Conference, February 2022
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Internal Medicine Residency Program at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas
- Developed and presented results of a root cause analysis on a case of epinephrine extravasation leading to an above the elbow amputation
- Investigated current hospital protocols
- Performed extensive literature search and updated guidelines on ACLS
- Suggested hospital improvements and updates based on most current guidelines
Journal Club, September 2021
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Internal Medicine Residency Program at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas
- Led discussion on the significant findings of the PARADIGM-HF trial in implementing the use of ARNI in patients with HF who are able to tolerate ACE inhibitors
- Highlighted learning points on statistics and graphical presentations of data
Introduction to Clinical Documentation, June 2021, 2022
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Internal Medicine Residency Program at Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas
- Led discussion and training on clinical documentation to incoming intern residents during onboarding
- Provided dot-phrases to guide documentation
Binational Health Council – Ojinaga, Chihuahua/ Presidio, Texas, 2019
- Health Needs and Community Health Assessment of Presidio, Texas in collaboration with Adrian Billings, MD, PhD, FAAFP
American Family Physician Podcast – Where Do You Listen Segment, Episode 87, June 1, 2019
- In collaboration with Praveen Dev Merugumala, MD, TTUHSC, John Buie, MD, MBA, TTUHSC and Adrian Billings, MD, PhD, FAAFP
The Southwestern Regional Latino Medical Student Association Conference – Houston, Texas, 2016
- Mosquito Collection in Prevalence Detection of Zika Virus in Southeastern Dominican Republic in collaboration with Matthew Dacso MD, MSc, FACP
Service & Leadership
Resident Leadership Council March 2022 – June 2023 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Edinburg, Texas
- Resident elected position to represent residency program in UTRGV leadership meetings along with elected peers from other 9 residency and fellowship programs
- Participated in UTRGV monthly leadership meetings
- Implemented University wide initiatives in different programs and locations
Chair of Resident Leadership Council March 2022 – June 2023 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Edinburg, Texas
- Organized and lead bi-weekly weekly
- Coordinated implementation of RLC goals and objectives
Resident Leadership Workshop May 2022 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Edinburg, Texas
- Received training on Feedback styles and techniques
- Learned about Personality Styles and how they influence Conflict Management
Housestaff Emerging Academy of Leaders (HEAL) - USA January – June 2022
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- 6 month networking and professional development program designed to further develop and provide residents, fellows and supporting faculty the additional components needed, ideally, for a successful transition into the role of academic faculty.
Local COVID-19 Vaccination Effort February – June 2021 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine – Edinburg, Texas
- Supervised and oversaw the handling and administration of Pfizer COVID vaccines
Pianist – Galveston Seventh Day Adventist Church 2015 - 2019
- Organize and lead weekly worship services and bilingual seasonal musical programs
Director of Health and Stewardship 2016 - 2019
- Election Body: Galveston Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church Nominating Committee
- Co-founded "Taste the Market" where church members come together at the farmer's market to creatively present healthy ideas with the local food
Director of Health and Stewardship 2020 - 2022
- Election Body: McAllen Jordan Hispanic Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church Nominating Committee
- Established yearly educational course for church members on Heimlich Maneuver
- Establish quarterly educational health topic presentations by health professionals in our church for members of the church and the community
- Compiled a First Aid Kit for the church
Church Board Member 2016 - 2019
- Election Body: Galveston SDA Church Nominating Committee
- Voice concerns of members and effectively implement changes
- Bridge cultural and language differences between the Spanish and English-speaking congregations
Pianist – McAllen Jordan Seventh Day Adventist Church 2011 - 2015,
2019 - Present
- Led weekly worship services
Work Experience
Galveston SDA Church – Galveston, Texas
- Piano Teacher 2015 - 2017
- Instructed 5 local children in developing basic skills in music and piano performance, and incorporated them in the seasonal musical programs
McAllen Jordan SDA Church – McAllen, Texas
- Piano Teacher 2012 - 2014
- Instructed 18 children and teenagers in developing basic skills in music and piano performance
- Organized seasonal piano recitals presented by church children and teenagers.
Teaching Experience
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Edinburg, Texas
Taught MS1 Clinical Skills session on Abdominal Physical Exam April 2021
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Internal Medicine Program at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance – Edinburg, Texas
Demonstrated appropriate clinical documentation to incoming Interns on the institution’s EMR and provided guidance on good documentation practices
June 2021
International Experience
The PREMED Adventist Medical Center – Bucharest, Romania
- Adventist Medical Missionary Trip (Moldova Project) August 2018
- Assisted in the coordination of delivery of healthcare services to the rural Romanian -Moldovian border town of Cahul, Moldova and its neighboring villages
- Funded by: Private funding through the Galveston Seventh-Day Adventist Church
The PREMED Adventist Medical Center – Bucharest, Romania
- Adventist Medical Missionary Trip December 2017 - January 2018
- Assisted in the delivery of healthcare services to the underserved communities in the neighboring villages of the nation’s capital
- Funded by: Private funding through the Galveston Seventh-Day Adventist Church
University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, Texas
- Global Health Clinical Rotation – Dominican Republic May - June 2016
- Conducted research on the prevalence of Zika in the Bateyes of Southeastern Dominican Republic
- Assisted in the delivery of healthcare services to the underserved communities in the Bateyes of Dominican Republic
- Funded by: UTMB Field Site Scholarship
University of Texas-Pan American – Edinburg, Texas
- Medical Humanities Honors Course May - June 2015
- Ireland and Northern Ireland
- Funded by: Honors Study Abroad Scholarship, International Women’s Board Scholarship, and the International Education Fee Scholarship
University of Texas-Pan American – Edinburg, Texas
- Medical Humanities Honors Course May - June 2014
- Vienna, Prague, Budapest
- Funded by: Honors Study Abroad Scholarship, International Women’s Board Scholarship, and the International Education Fee Scholarship
Leuphana Universität – Lüneburg, Germany
- Special Topics in Business and Marketing May 2013
- Funded by: International Women’s Board Scholarship, and the International Education Fee Scholarship
