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Duriel Hardy, MD, is a pediatric neuroimmunologist in UT Medicine Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s, a clinical partnership between Dell Children's Medical Center and UT Medicine, and an adult neurologist in the UT Medicine Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center. He specializes in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology and related inflammatory disorders. At Dell Children's, he also serves as a pediatric neurologist and pediatric neuroimmunologist. Additionally, Dr. Hardy is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Neurology at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Hardy earned his bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Brown University and his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine. He also completed the University of Michigan’s Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). He completed his internship and residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric neurology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, followed by a second fellowship in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology disorders at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Hardy's clinical interests include pediatric demyelinating disorders, including multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disorders and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). His research interests include multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, with collaborative projects focused on MOG antibody-associated disorders diagnosed in children. He believes in a multifaceted continuum of care in which patient care is coordinated among care team members across cohesive clinical practices to bridge gaps in care and ensure a seamless transition from pediatric to adult care.

Max Holtz, MD, MPH, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist in Women’s Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Holtz is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Women’s Health at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Holtz earned his medical degree from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and his master’s degree in public health from Washington University in Saint Louis. He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Dr. Holtz's clinical excellence has been recognized with several honors, including the Eugene W.J. Pearce Outstanding Resident Award from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Outstanding Laparoendoscopic Resident Surgeon from the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons, and the Outstanding Resident Award from the North American Society of Pediatric.

Dr. Holtz is an obstetrician-gynecologist with Ascension Medical Group Seton Women’s Health.

Saleema Kherani-Ali, MD, MPH, is a board-certified ophthalmologist in UT Medicine’s Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute. She specializes in adult and pediatric uveitis, cataracts, and anterior segment disorders of the eye. Additionally, Dr. Kherani is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Ophthalmology at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Kherani-Ali earned her medical degree from Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan and her master's degree in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed a residency in ophthalmology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, a fellowship in uveitis and ocular immunology at Northwestern University, and a postdoctoral research fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.

Dr. Kherani-Ali's research focuses on the outcomes of various treatments for ocular inflammation. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and presented at national and international conferences.

Eileen Bowden, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist in UT Medicine's Mitchel and Shannon Wong Eye Institute. She specializes in adult and pediatric glaucoma, cataracts, and anterior segment disorders of the eye.
Additionally, Dr. Bowden is an assistant professor and serves as the Associate Residency Program Director for the Dell Medical School Department of Ophthalmology at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Bowden earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from The University of Texas at Austin and her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. She completed a transitional internship at the Dell Medical School, a residency in ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, and a fellowship in glaucoma at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Dr. Bowden's research focuses on outcomes of glaucoma surgery and improvements in policy and patient education. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

Sara Green-Otero, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and a Clinical Program Manager for UT Medicine’s Health Social Work care team. She specializes in using an interdisciplinary approach to supporting youth, individuals, and their families with brief strengths-based, solution-focused, client-centered interventions to meet their goals and improve their overall well-being.

Sara Green-Otero earned her bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Iowa, where she worked with families experiencing domestic and intimate partner violence, and her master's degree in social work from the The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work. She formerly served as the Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) Pediatric Lead at a Federally Qualified Health Center, where she received training regarding the use and implementation of the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) Model working with youth, individuals, and their families.

Sara Green-Otero has worked with various interdisciplinary teams, including medical, school, and child welfare settings. She is committed to mentoring and supervising fellow social workers and hosting social work students during their placements. With a strengths-based, servant leadership approach, she fosters the growth and development of learners while advocating for the needs of individuals and her teams through quality and program improvement initiatives.

Charley Peterson, PT, DPT, is a board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist in Women’s Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Medicine. She specializes in bladder and bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic floor dysfunction for individuals of all genders.

Charley Peterson earned her bachelor's degree in the Plan II Liberal Arts Honors from The University of Texas at Austin and her doctorate degree in physical therapy from Texas State University. She has completed additional training in male pelvic health, pediatric pelvic health, perinatal physical therapy, and vulvodynia. She has also completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training.

Charley Peterson’s clinical interests focus on inclusive trauma informed care. She is passionate about creating a comfortable and empowering space where patients feel heard and can take charge of their therapy plan at their own pace. She is a member of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and the American Physical Therapy Association.

Charley Peterson is a pelvic floor physical therapist with UT Medicine.

Jillian Bissar, MSSW, LCSW-S, is a licensed clinical social worker and a part of UT Medicine's Health Social Work care team. She specializes in providing care management and psychotherapy services to address patients’ psychosocial needs.

Jillian Bissar earned both her bachelor’s degree in social work and her master’s degree in social work from The University of Texas at Austin. She has additional training in comprehensive lifespan sexual health and healthy relationship curriculum, Our Whole Lives (OWL), and Enriching Communication Skills for Health Professionals in Oncofertility (ECHO). With these trainings, she supports patients in their lives around the intersection of sexual health, chronic disease, and disability.

Jillian Bissar formerly worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a Radiation Social Work Counselor and Social Work Supervisor, supporting cancer patients and their support systems. Prior to that, she spent 12 years in HIV services as a social work case manager and supervisor, where she served children, adolescents, and adults living with HIV. She also has experience working with adolescents around sexual health and pregnancy as well as women’s health, child protection, and Intimate Partner Violence work. Her clinical interests include helping patients to live fulfilling lives, increase coping skills, improve relational functioning, and achieve their desired goals and outcomes as they navigate acute and chronic health challenges. She is a member of the Association of Oncology Social Work, Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Work, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare.

Shuyuan Li, MD, PhD, is an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon in UT Medicine's Foot and Ankle Clinic within the Musculoskeletal Institute. She specializes in caring for adult and adolescent patients with congenital and acquired deformities, arthritis, acute and chronic trauma, sports-related injuries, as well as diabetic wounds and joint arthropathy of the foot and ankle. Additionally, Dr. Li is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Li earned her medical degree from Weifang Medical University in Shandong, China, and her doctorate degree in sports medicine from Peking University in Beijing, China. She completed a residency in orthopedics at Shandong Provincial Hospital at Shandong University in Shandong, China. Following her residency, she began practicing as an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at the Foot and Ankle Center at Capital Medical University in Beijing, China. She held two postdoctoral research positions, one in sports medicine at the General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Beijing, China and the other in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Li completed a fellowship in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery at the University of Colorado, where she spent eight months rotating at Children’s Hospital Colorado, focusing on pediatric lower extremity deformity correction. She also completed a fellowship in orthopedic foot and ankle reconstruction at both The University of British Columbia in British Columbia, Canada and the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy. Please note: Dr. Li will begin seeing patients on Oct. 13, 2025. She is currently only scheduling patients with MAP insurance or those who are self-pay.

D. Jeffrey Newport, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Director of Women's Reproductive Mental Health of Texas. He specializes in providing psychiatric care during pregnancy and the postpartum period, including preconception planning for women with mental health conditions. Additionally, Dr. Newport is Associate Chair for Research for the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Women's Health at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Newport earned his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and his master’s degree in clinical research from Emory University. He completed both a residency in general psychiatry and a research fellowship in biological psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine.

Dr. Newport’s research focuses on women’s mental health with a particular emphasis on the psychobiology of psychiatric illness and substance use disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. His work also explores the pharmacokinetics of psychotropic medication during pregnancy and lactation as well as the long-term neuroendocrine and behavioral impact of traumatic experiences during childhood. He is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the American College of Psychiatrists, the American Medical Association and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. He has authored numerous publications in leading journals across multiple specialties, including the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Journal of Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, Bipolar Disorders, British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, JAMA, Neurology, Pediatrics, Psychological Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology.

Lizette Taboada, RD, LD, is a registered dietitian in Women's Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Medicine. She also serves as the Nutrition and Behavior Change Lead for UT Medicine's Health Social Work care team. She specializes in nutrition education and dietary counseling focused on weight management, gastrointestinal issues, and diabetes.

Lizette Taboada earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition from The University of Texas at Austin, where she completed a dietetic internship through the Coordinated Program in Dietetics.

Lizette Taboada has 18 years of experience working with multidisciplinary teams and in the community as a clinical dietitian. Her previous roles included Dell Children’s Medical Center’s Childhood Obesity Program, the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program, and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. When counseling patients, she combines a patient-centered approach and motivational interviewing techniques to empower patients to achieve healthy lifestyle changes. Her main goal is to support patients by creating healthy eating habits as they strive for a better quality of life.

Lizette Taboada is a registered dietitian with UT Medicine.