Alian Garay, M.D., FACS is a board-certified General Surgeon with fellowship training in Advanced Laparoscopic, Minimally Invasive, and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Garay first served our country in the military prior to getting into the medical field. He attended elementary school through high school in the houston area. After being honorably discharged from the military, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Houston. Dr. Garay received his doctorate of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Texas. He then went on to complete his intern and residency in general surgery at the University of Colorado Health Science Center in Denver, Colorado. He rounded out his training with a fellowship at Legacy Health Systems in Portland, Oregon in Bariatric, Advanced Laparoscopy, Foregut, and Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Dr. Garay is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) as well as the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). He served as surgical residency director of the University of Houston Graduate Medical Education Surgical Residency Program. Dr. Garay has over 12 years of Bariatric and General Surgical experience.
Dr. Garay believes in quality healthcare with excellent longterm outcomes for his patients through education. When he is not treating patients, you will find Dr. Garay in his home town of Kingwood with his wife and their two daughters.
Dr. Garay welcomes new patients and referrals with convenient online appointment scheduling.
Fellowship:
- Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, Portland, OR 6/2010 to 6/2011
- Fellow: Advanced Minimally Invasive, Foregut and Bariatric Surgery
Post Graduate Education:
- University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver, CO 6/2006 to 6/2010
- General Surgery: Resident PGY II-V
- University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver, CO 6/2005 to 6/2006
- General Surgery: Intern PGY I
Graduate Education:
University of Texas Health Science Center, Medical School, Houston, TX 6/2001 to 6/2005 Medical Doctorate
Undergraduate Education:
- University of Houston, Houston, TX 4/1997 to 5/2001
- B.S. - Summa Cum Laude, Biology-Medical Technology
- Minor: Chemistry
- University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 5/2000 to 5/2001
- Certificate of Completion Allied Health Program: towards B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences-Medical Technology
Employment Experience
- Kingwood Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Director of Bariatric Surgery, general minimally invasive surgery, Houston, TX 1/2018 to Present.
- Portneuf Medical Center, (ACS Verified Level 2 Trauma Center) Department of Surgery, Director of Bariatric Surgery, general minimally invasive surgery, Trauma Director of ICU, Pocatello, ID - 7/2011 to 12/2017.
- Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital, Department of Surgery, general surgery, Portland, OR 6/2010 to 6/2011.
- Veteran’s Affairs Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Triage Clerk, Houston, TX 8/1997 to 6/2000. Patient triage, walk-in assessments, medication refills, and various clerical duties.
- United States Department of Defense, Navy, Operation’s Specialist 2nd Class 1993-1997. Boot Camp Clear Lakes, IL, 1993; OS-A School Virginia Beach, VA, 1993; USS Truxtun CGN-35, Seattle, Washington, 1993-1995; USS Merrill DD-976, San Diego, CA, 1995-1997.
Academic Appointments
- Idaho State University: Family Practice Residency Program, Clinical Instructor 7/2011 to 12/2017
- University of Houston College of Medicine, General Surgery Residency Core Faculty Instructor 05/2018 to 04/2020
- University of Houston College of Medicine, General Surgery Residency Interim Program Director 04/2020 to 01/2021
- University of Houston College of Medicine, General Surgery Residency Associate Program Director 01/2021 to 04/2021
Hospital Appointments
- Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID – 7/2011 to 12/2017
- Medical Director of Perioperative Surgery, Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID – 8/2013 to 12/2017
- Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, Kingwood Medical Center, Houston, TX – 1/2018 to Present
Board Certifications
- American Board of Surgery, Certificate # 55792
- American Society of Clinical Pathologists, MT Board Certification # 04070481
- National Credentialing Agency, Clinical Laboratory Scientist Board Certification #2679141
Licensure
- Idaho State Board of Medicine # M-11340
- Oregon Medical Board License # MD150687
- Colorado State Board of Medical Examiners # DR 48634
- Kansas Board of Medicine # 04-40421
- North Dakota Board of Medicine # PT 14805
- New Mexico Board of Medicine # MD2017-0856
- Texas Medical Board # R4700
- United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 1 (Score-253, 99%)
- United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 2 (Scores CK-239, 97% : CS-Pass)
- United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 3 (Score-212, 87%)
Professional Organizations
- Fellow of The American College of Surgeons 2014
- Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) # 20455
Honors & awards
- American Scholars National Honor Society - 2000-2001
- American Society of Clinical Pathologists—Academic Scholarship - 2001
- Golden Key National Honor Society - 1999-2000
- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi - 1999-2001
- Biography Published, National Dean’s List - 1998-1999
Committees
- Hospital Credentials Committee: Member, HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood, Kingwood, TX – 2019-Present
- Surgical Services Executive Committee: Medical Director and Chair, Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID –2013-2017
- Surgical Services Executive Committee: Vice Chair, Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID –2012-2013
- Medical Staff Quality Committee: Member, Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID – 2012-2014
- Hospital Utilization Committee: Member, Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID – 2012-2014
- Hospital Credentials Committee: Member, Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello, ID – 2012-Present
Grants
2001 University of Texas-Houston Summer Research Program
PI’s: David W. Mercer & Emily K. Robinson, M.D.’s
“Effects of endotoxin on gastric matrix metalloproteinase activity”
$2,500.00
Research Experience
- Univ. of Texas Health Science Center, Medical School, Researcher, Houston, TX - 2002
Bench-top research leading to presented abstract and multiple publications on the role of matrix metalloproteinases in lipopolysaccharide-induced gastric injury. Lead investigators David W. Mercer, M. D., Chief of Surgery L.B.J. County Hospital and Vice Chairman of General Surgery to the University of Texas Medical School for the Harris County Hospital District; & Emily K. Robinson, M. D., Associate Professor, University of Texas Medical School-Houston and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
- University of Houston, Research Assistant, Houston, TX - 2002
Bench-top research, animal surgeries, and provided skilled technical help and advice in collecting and analyzing data. Contributions published in Shock on the role of nitric oxide and vagal afferents in endotoxic shock. Lead investigator David W. Mailman, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, University of Houston, Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Houston, Texas.
Publications
- Robinson E.K., West S.D., Garay A., Helmer K.S., Mercer D.W.: Rat Gastric Gelatinase Induction During Endotoxemia. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. March 2006; 51(3):548-559.
- J Shaver, D McRoberts, K Fritz, A Garay, H Caulfield.: Outcomes following Implementation of a Clinical Pathway for Stable Blunt Chest Wall Injuries. American Journal of Surgery. 2019
Abstracts
- Emily K. Robinson, M.D., Sonlee D. West, M.D., Kenneth S. Helmer M.D., Alian Garay, B.S., Lily Chang, B.S., Xingzhong Zhang M.D., David W. Mercer, M.D. Induction of Gastric Matrix Metalloproteinases by Salicylate: Implications in Gastric Mucosal Defense. Journal of Surgical Research. 2002;107:336. Presented at the 36th annual Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) conference, Boston, Massachusetts, 2002.
- Alian Garay, M.D., Danny V. Martinec, B.S., Valerie J. Halpin, M.D. An Innovative Technique For Circular Stapler Insertion And Wound Protection During Gastrojejunostomy. Scientific Session of the SAGES 2011 Annual Meeting: Best of Video II . Session Number: SS07. Friday, April 01, 2011. San Antonio Convention Center , San Antonio, TX
Acknowledgements
David Mailman. A Role For Abdominal Vagal Afferents In Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Hypotension. Shock. Vol 18, No. 2, pp 177-181, 2002. Acknowledged for technical contributions.
“This research was supported by LGIA and PEER grants from the University of Houston. Thanks are given for the valuable technical help of undergraduate students, Alian Garay and Jason Fulton.”
Chapters
- Alian Garay, M.D. and Valerie J. Halpin, M.D. “Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band – techniques.” In: Clinical Review of Bariatric Surgery, Edited by Matthew Goldblatt, Bradley Needleman. New York: Catalyst Publishers, January 2010.
Presentations
- “An Innovative Technique For Circular Stapler Insertion And Wound Protection During Gastrojejunostomy.” SAGES 30th Anniversary Surgical Spring Week 2011. Session Name: Best of Video II. Session Date: Friday, April 01, 2011. Session Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
- “The Optimal Treatment Strategy for Gastrinoma.” Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, Univ. of Colorado HSC, Denver, CO 1/29/2007.
- “Bowel Prep Prior to Colo-Rectal Surgery: Valuable or Useless?” Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, Univ. of Colorado HSC, Denver, CO 9/24/2007.
- “Transthoracic Vs. Transhiatal Esophagectomy.” Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, Univ. of Colorado HSC, Denver, CO 9/15/2008.
- “Endoscopic Treatment of Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease Works.” Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, Univ. of Colorado HSC, Denver, CO 3/31/2008.
- “Computer Assisted (Robotic) Surgery: Current & Future Perspectives in General Pediatric Surgery.” Citywide Pediatric Surgery Conference 3/14/2009.
- “The 80 Hour Work Week: Valuable or Dangerous?” Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, Univ. of Colorado HSC, Denver, CO 1/25/2010.
Languages
- Spanish – Speak fluently; read and write proficiently
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855 Rockmead Dr
Suite 202
Kingwood, TX 77339
