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Guillermo Ponce de Leon, MD, FACS, is a skilled general and bariatric surgeon at Southwest Surgical Associates. He is proud to serve patients in Sugar Land, Texas, and throughout the greater Houston area.

Dr. Ponce de Leon, a native of Cuba, earned his Bachelor of Biochemistry at Houston Baptist University in Texas. He then moved on to medical school at the University of Texas at Houston, completing a transitional internship and earning his doctorate in medicine. For his residency, Dr. Ponce de Leon moved to Dallas, Texas, where he completed his general surgery training at Baylor University Medical Center. 

Dr. Ponce de Leon is a pioneer in advanced laparoscopic general surgery, recently performing the first, single-incision adrenalectomy in Texas. He specializes in bariatric surgery, including lap band. Recently certified to perform a new robotic surgery called the da Vinci® procedure, Dr. Ponce de Leon continues to stay on the cutting-edge of medical advancements. Being a constant learner helps Dr. Ponce de Leon achieve his goal of providing the best possible care to each of his patients. 

Dr. Ponce de Leon is a fluent Spanish speaker and stays active in the Hispanic community. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.

Dr. Rezk is fellowship-trained in minimally-invasive as well as complex gynecologic surgery and has done hundreds of robotic procedures. He graduated from Cairo University School of Medicine with distinction in 1995 and subsequently trained in Internal Medicine at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, before pursuing a career in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Rezk completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training at the Albany Medical College in Albany, New York, followed by a Pelvic Reconstruction Research Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York. He obtained his Masters in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research from the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences in New York, New York. Dr. Rezk’s scientific research is presented at regional and national meetings and published in reputable journals, including the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Amanda Garza, MD, is a board-certified general and breast surgeon at Southwest Surgical Associates, serving the community in Sugar Land, Cypress, Pearland, and Katy, Texas, and throughout the greater Houston area. 

A Texas native, Dr. Garza was born in the city of Mission in the Rio Grande Valley area. After her grandmother passed away from breast cancer, she dedicated herself to her studies to become a doctor to help families in similar circumstances. 

Dr. Garza holds a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine. She specializes in general laparoscopic procedures and diseases of the breast.

Dr. Garza is an expert in treating gallbladder disease, appendicitis, hemorrhoids, skin lesions, masses, and cysts. She truly enjoys performing laparoscopic Nissen procedures for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and spleen and thyroid procedures.

When not working, Dr. Garza enjoys reading mystery and crime novels, playing with her dogs, and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Rezk is fellowship-trained in minimally-invasive as well as complex gynecologic surgery and has done hundreds of robotic procedures. He graduated from Cairo University School of Medicine with distinction in 1995 and subsequently trained in Internal Medicine at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, before pursuing a career in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Rezk completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training at the Albany Medical College in Albany, New York, followed by a Pelvic Reconstruction Research Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York. He obtained his Masters in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research from the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences in New York, New York. Dr. Rezk’s scientific research is presented at regional and national meetings and published in reputable journals, including the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Robert M. Shirley, MD, FACS, is a native of Oklahoma. He works as a general surgeon for Southwest Surgical Associates, serving patients in Sugar Land, Texas, and throughout the greater Houston area. 

Dr. Shirley attended medical school at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Kentucky in Louisville. 

He and his wife, Heather, moved to the East Texas area, where he enjoyed a successful surgical practice for nine years. They then relocated to the coast to be closer to family and were drawn to the Sugar Land/Richmond/Rosenberg area because of the community's friendliness and the vast array of amenities that the region has to offer.

Dr. Shirley wanted to be a surgeon from an early age and considers improving his patients' health and increasing their longevity his lifelong calling. He specializes in board-based general, laparoscopic, and robotic surgeries. Dr. Shirley is also board-certified by the American College of Surgeons. 

When away from the hospital, Dr. Shirley enjoys saltwater fishing, golfing, biking, kayaking, and most of all, coaching and playing sports with his son, Daniel. He also participates in medical missions and has had the opportunity to volunteer his services over the years in several villages in Ecuador and Malawi, Africa.

Guillermo Ponce de Leon, MD, FACS, is a skilled general and bariatric surgeon at Southwest Surgical Associates. He is proud to serve patients in Sugar Land, Texas, and throughout the greater Houston area.

Dr. Ponce de Leon, a native of Cuba, earned his Bachelor of Biochemistry at Houston Baptist University in Texas. He then moved on to medical school at the University of Texas at Houston, completing a transitional internship and earning his doctorate in medicine. For his residency, Dr. Ponce de Leon moved to Dallas, Texas, where he completed his general surgery training at Baylor University Medical Center. 

Dr. Ponce de Leon is a pioneer in advanced laparoscopic general surgery, recently performing the first, single-incision adrenalectomy in Texas. He specializes in bariatric surgery, including lap band. Recently certified to perform a new robotic surgery called the da Vinci® procedure, Dr. Ponce de Leon continues to stay on the cutting-edge of medical advancements. Being a constant learner helps Dr. Ponce de Leon achieve his goal of providing the best possible care to each of his patients. 

Dr. Ponce de Leon is a fluent Spanish speaker and stays active in the Hispanic community. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.

Kelly S. Dempsey, MD, FACS, is a breast cancer surgeon on the team at Southwest Surgical Associates. She is committed to providing superior care to women in Sugar Land, Texas, and throughout the greater Houston area. 

Dr. Dempsey is a native of Louisiana and earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Newcomb-Tulane College in New Orleans. She went on to earn her Doctor of Medicine Degree from LSU School of Medicine and completed a residency at the University of Texas at Houston. She also completed a Craniofacial Research Fellowship at the same institution. 

Dr. Dempsey has dedicated her career to women’s breast health issues and breast surgery. She specializes in minimally invasive biopsy techniques, partial breast irradiation, and breast-conserving therapy when appropriate. Dr. Dempsey is also a specialist in oncoplastic breast surgery, which combines cancer treatment and cosmetic outcomes. 

She leads a very busy life between caring for her patients and spending time with her family.

Dr. Kelly Dempsey speaks on the local news about male breast cancer. Watch here 

Charles J. Aramburo, MD, FACS, practices general surgery in the Houston and Sugar Land, Texas, offices of Southwest Surgical Associates. He is skilled in the surgical treatment of a wide range of conditions and specializes in advanced laparoscopic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, and hernia surgery. 

A native of Louisiana, Dr. Aramburo graduated medical school from Meharry Medical College in Tennessee. He completed a residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston along with an additional fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, focusing on minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. 

Dr. Aramburo prides himself on excellence in patient care. He enjoys the field of general surgery but has devoted much of his practice to mastering advanced laparoscopic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, and hernia surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons

and board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Aramburo also maintains membership with multiple professional organizations, including the Texas Medical Association and the Harris County Medical Society.

Dr. John D. Fisher, MD, FACS, practices general surgery in the Houston and Sugar Land, Texas, offices of Southwest Surgical Associates. 

He is one of the founding partners of the practice. Dr. Fisher has been practicing in the region as a general surgeon for over 15 years. 

He specializes in general surgery and performs advanced laparoscopic procedures to reduce pain and recovery time. He is highly skilled in the areas of breast disease and cancer, appendicitis, gallbladder disease, colon disease and cancer, hemorrhoids, hernia repair, thyroid and parathyroid disease and cancer, skin lesions, masses, and cysts.

A native of Houston, Dr. Fisher completed a residency at the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston. He achieved a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston (UT Health) after completing his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and graduating Cum Laude from Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. Fisher enjoys teaching and mentoring others in the field. He serves as a Clinical Instructor at the Department of Surgery.

He is a fellow at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and a member of the American Society of General Surgeons (ASGS), American Society of Abdominal Surgeons (ASAS), Texas Medical Association (TMA), Houston Surgical Society, and SAGES- Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

When not fulfilling a lifelong goal of caring for patients, Dr. Fisher enjoys art and traveling.