Dr. Gauri Kanhere is a board-certified Internist practicing in Rio Grande City for almost 20 years. She completed her postgraduate medical degree (M.D.) from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 2001. After completing her internal medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center located in Bronx, New York, Dr. Kanhere came to the Rio Grande Valley in October 2001. She worked as a physician at Family Medical and Specialty Clinic for 19 years. Dr. Kanhere went on to start Valley Pediatric & Health Clinic in May 11, 2020 with a mission to provide compassionate and comprehensive health care to the community of Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Kanhere is affiliated with Starr County Memorial Hospital and Doctors Hospital at Renaissance. She has also been an associate professor of Internal Medicine for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) residency students since 2018.
Dr. Luis Valencia is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and board-certified in Pediatrics. He has been practicing in Starr County since 2000. Dr. Valencia completed his postgraduate medical degree (M.D.) from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico in 1992. His training in general surgery took place in Hospital Universitario, Monterrey, Mexico in 1997. Dr. Valencia then trained in pediatrics three years later in Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Corpus Christi, Texas. He worked at Community Action Corporation of South Texas from 2000-2009, a non-profit organization providing a variety of healthcare services throughout South Texas. Dr. Valencia also worked as a pediatrician at Family Medical & Specialty Clinic for 13 years. He started Valley Pediatric & Health Clinic on May 11, 2020. His pediatric practice provides services from newborns to adolescents, and he provides care for patients with behavioral problems, autism and ADHD.
Kyara Trevino has been a family nurse practitioner since 2016. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012 from the University of Texas Pan American (UTPA). She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in 2016.
Jose Luis Martinez received his Associate Degree in Nursing from South Texas College in 2009 and became a registered nurse working at the Emergency Department at Starr County Memorial Hospital for over 10 years where he enjoyed helping and taking care of our community. While continuing to work at SCMH, he was able to earn a Bachelor in 2018 and Master of Science in Nursing in 2021 from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Michelle Guerra received a Bachelor degree in nursing from Texas A&M International University in 2017. She worked at Starr County Memorial Hospital as a registered nurse for over 5 years. She graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2023 from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Tiffany Smedley received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas A&M Health Science Center in 2012. She worked at Starr County Memorial Hospital for almost 12 years as a registered nurse while obtaining her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2023. She has been working as a nurse practitioner at Valley Pediatric and Health Clinic since March of 2024.
Melany Benavides has been a family nurse practitioner since 2015. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011 and later attained her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas Pan American (UTPA).