Our Team

John Abikhaled, MD & Austin Surgeons

John Abikhaled, MD has extensive experience in abdominal hernia repair, such as inguinal, umbilical, incisional, ventral, epigastric, and hiatal hernias. He performs laparoscopic and open hernia repairs. He is an experienced laparoscopic surgeon, treating gallbladder disease, colon disease (including cancer and diverticulitis), hernias, acid reflux (GERD), and adrenal gland disease. He also performs robotic-assisted surgery, which can allow for more complex operations to be performed with minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques. He treats a variety of cancer conditions, including breast cancer, melanoma of the skin, thyroid cancer, and colon cancer. Dr. Abikhaled teams with Dr. Koushik Shaw whose Austin Urology Institute offers comprehensive male and female urologic care.

He has special interest in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. He treats conditions such as thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, and hyperparathyroidism. He uses advanced techniques such as MIRP (minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy) and IOPTH (intraoperative parathyroid hormone testing) to facilitate his patients’ surgery and recovery.

Dr. Abikhaled completed medical school and a residency in General Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He is a member of the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Katrina Barton, Clinic Owner, Physical Therapist

Katrina did her undergraduate study in dance and biology respectively at TCU and Texas A&M University. She graduated in 1986 with a B.S. in Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University, HSC. Her experience includes acute care, burn and wound care, work hardening, orthopedics and manual therapy. Prior to coming to Hands On Physical Therapy, she had extensive manual therapy training with Ola Grimsby, P.T. and started her journey in Myofascial Training in 1987.

She treats numerous pelvic dysfunction diagnoses such as urinary and fecal incontinence, organ prolapses, all variations of pelvic pain, rectal pain, constipation, prostate problems, pre and post surgery candidates, post cancer treatment, post partum problems, coccydynia and pelvic muscle imbalances. Her experience also includes treating chronic pain, fibromyalgia, acute pain, headaches, complex medical problems and scar tissue adhesions.

Katrina has been with Hands On Physical Therapy since 1995 having taken over 250 hours of John Barnes Myofascial Release training, as well as completing skill enhancement training at the Myofascial Release Treatment Center in Paoli, PA. She periodically assists in teaching some of these courses still. Through the Upledger Institute, she has taken classes for Cranio-sacral therapy, Somato-emotional Release and Lymphatic Drainage. She has 20 years experience in Male and Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction with advanced training through the APTA, Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehab Institute, Gail Wetzler, PT and various other independent educators who are experienced therapists. She is finishing up the process of completing the CAPP (Certified Advanced Pelvic Professional) certification process.

She is empty nesting with her husband after they successfully got their three daughters through college!

Natalie Burger, MD & Texas Fertility Center

Natalie Burger, MD is Board Certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Burger teams with Dr. Koushik Shaw when her patients need comprehensive male and female urologic care.

Dr. Burger has special interests in hysteroscopic surgery, ovulation induction, PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and recurrent pregnancy loss. She is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern.

Dr. Burger attended medical school at Medical College of Georgia and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Vermont. She also received her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Vermont.

Devin Garza, MD & Renaissance Women’s Group & Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery

Devin Garza, MD has been in private group practice in Austin for almost 25 years and has personally performed or instructed hands-on in over 1,300 surgical cases, using the da Vinci Robotics method since 2006. Dr. Garza teams with Dr. Koushik Shaw whose Austin Urology Institute offers comprehensive male and female urologic care.

He is designated as an Epicenter Mentor Surgeon based on best practice technique, good outcomes, volume and ability to teach. He is published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. He is recognized nationally and internationally for his work in the development of the Single-Site platform for Gyn surgery, and additionally for multi-site robotic Gyn surgery. He was on the founding steering committee for the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery in Austin and regularly teaches Advanced and Masters robotic courses, lectures both nationally and internationally, hosts case observations and performs live tele-surgery.

Dr. Garza graduated from the UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas and did his internship and residency at Franklin Square Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He is a member of the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Mark Glover, M.D. - Austin Surgeons

Dr. Mark Glover is a board certified general surgeon in Austin, TX who is fellowship trained in minimally invasive surgery. He has a special interest in laparoscopic and hernia surgery as an active member of the Americas Hernia Society. He also participates in prospective data collection in the Americas Hernias Society Quality Collaborative, helping to analyze hernia outcomes and areas of improvement. He treats a vast spectrum of hernias from small umbilical and inguinal hernias to large recurrent incisional hernias. He employs state of the art robotic, laparoscopic and open techniques.

Dr. Mark Glover completed his residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He then completed a minimally invasive fellowship in San Antonio, TX. He now practices with Austin Surgeons.

Ashwin Gowda, MD & Texas Sleep Medicine

Ashwin Gowda, MD is board certified in sleep medicine and psychiatry. He has been providing care to those in South Austin since 2002 and is currently the Medical Director of Texas Sleep Medicine. He offers consultations, studies, diagnosis, and treatment for a wide range of sleep disorders including sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and more.

Dr. Gowda received his board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, as well as the American Board of Sleep Medicine. His education and experience also include a one-year medical internship at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and a three-year residency in psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Following the completion of a fellowship in sleep medicine at SUNY (State University of New York) in Stony Brook, New York, Dr. Gowda began practicing sleep medicine, diagnosing and treating the entire spectrum of sleep disorders.

Dr. Gowda believes in a total body holistic approach rather than addressing symptoms in a singular nature. Above all else, Dr. Gowda finds fulfillment in contributing to the well-being of every person he cares for.

When he’s not helping patients get a good night’s sleep, Dr. Gowda enjoys exploring the Austin food scene, bicycling, and playing with his three little boys.

Douglas J Rivera, MD & Austin Cancer Centers

Douglas J. Rivera, MD, is a cancer specialist and radiation oncologist. Dr. Rivera teams with Dr. Koushik Shaw whose Austin Urology Institute offers comprehensive male and female urologic care.

Dr. Rivera earned his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine. He completed an internship in internal medicine at Columbia University. Dr. Rivera completed a residency at Duke University, where he served as Chief Resident in Radiation Oncology. He was a clinical research fellow at Harvard and the Mayo Clinic.

He is a member of the American College of Radiology, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology & Oncology, the American Brachytherapy Society and the American Medical Association and has numerous published papers and awards.

Marco Uribe, MD & Austin Area OB/GYN and Fertility

Dr. Marco Uribe’s gynecological practice at Austin Area OB/GYN and Fertility focuses on preventive care, preconception counseling, infertility, menopause, and the diagnosis and management of pelvic prolapse and urinary incontinence. This includes urodynamic bladder testing to better determine the specific causes of voiding dysfunction. Dr. Uribe has a special interest in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. He has been working with bioidentical hormones for more than 20 years and focuses on replacement therapy that helps restore a women’s hormone balance with the intent of achieving a better quality of life. Dr. Uribe also has an interest in both high risk and low risk obstetrics.

Dr. Marco Uribe is a native of Laredo, Texas and received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and Medical Doctorate from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Uribe, as well as a number of his staff, are fluent in Spanish.

Leila Williams, DO & Little River Healthcare

Dr. Leila Williams has more than 15 years experience in family medicine. She completed her family medicine residency from the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in California. She served as a Naval Officer and retired from active duty military service after serving for more than 20 years ashore and deployed in harm's way. She has worked as a staff family medicine physician, team leader, medical director, chairperson of the medical staff and chief medical officer in ambulatory care, emergency room, urgent care and inpatient settings. She has received numerous awards as a result of her outstanding service. Dr. William's priority is to provide quality care to all her patients. She cares for her patients like that are her own family.