Daniel Aragón, MD, MBA
Cardiothoracic Critical Care Medicine
Mission, TX Galveston, TX Edinburg, TX Rochester, NY Cleveland, OH McAllen, TX
What I am building toward.
Bilingual intensivist in ECMO, resuscitation, and mechanical circulatory support. Combining language, culture, business, and medicine to bring equitable and culturally competent critical care to the Rio Grande Valley and the families who call it home.
Education and Training
Cardiothoracic Critical Care Anesthesia Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, Ohio
- Critical Care Echocardiography CCEeXAM Board Testamur Status (2025)
- Board Eligible for Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography, PTEeXAM (2026), with 205 TEE examinations logged (186 performed, 20 reviewed)
- 181 unique ECMO cases managed, including hybrid configurations
- Extensive experience in Heart Failure ICU, Critical Care Ultrasound and Echocardiography (TTE/TEE), Lung Failure/Transplant, VV ECMO, Cardiogenic Shock, VA ECMO, CVICU, ECMO Transport, and ECMO Cannulation
Mobile ECMO / CICU Rotation
University of Minnesota Fairview East Bank - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
University of Rochester Medical Center - Rochester, New York
Internal Medicine Residency
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
University of Houston-Clear Lake - Clear Lake, Texas
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) - Galveston, Texas
Bachelor of Science, Biology - Magna Cum Laude (B.S.)
University of Texas-Pan American - Edinburg, Texas · Minors in Chemistry and Spanish
Professional Certifications
ELSO Adult ECMO Simulation Course at SCCM
Extracorporeal Life Support Organization
- 2-day hands-on course applying practical ECMO concepts to simulation scenarios
- Multidisciplinary problem solving across the full range of ECMO scenarios
Funding: University of Rochester Medical Center
ELSO Foundation: Adult ECMO Training Course
Extracorporeal Life Support Organization
- 8-hour course covering 53 modules and 80+ learning objectives
- Up-to-date evidence-based standards of practice for adult ECMO patient care
Funding: Out of Pocket
Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (FCCS)
Society of Critical Care Medicine
- 2-day course on managing critically ill patients for the first 24 hours of care
- Adult, pediatric, and pregnant patient critical care
Funding: Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
American Heart Association
Basic Life Support (BLS)
American Heart Association
The Difficult Airway Course
- 20-hour course on airway assessment, supraglottic and extraglottic devices, awake intubations, nasal intubations, and surgical airway
Funding: UTRGV IM Residency Program
Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP)
Healthcare Financial Management Association
Funding: HFMA South Texas Board Student to Professional Scholarship
National Board of Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish
NBCMI Registry #: 102875
Parrot Language Certification - General Professional IL3 Spanish
Medical Interpreting and Translating Institute Online
60-hour Certificate Course in Medical Interpretation · Requirement for NBCMI Certification
Recognition
HFMA South Texas Board Student to Professional Scholarship
The Business Strategy Game Industry Champion
John P. McGovern Student Award in Oslerian Medicine - Finalist
UTMB School of Medicine
Second Place Poster - Southwestern Regional Latino Medical Student Association Conference
Mosquito Collection in Prevalence Detection of Zika Virus in Southeastern Dominican Republic
Best Honors Thesis Presentation
University of Texas-Pan American · Circadian Modulation of Associative Conditioning in Lymnaea stagnalis
Professional Memberships
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Speaker Presentations and Teaching
LUCAS: Indications and Limitations
Richard Witherington Hyde, MD Conference · University of Rochester Medical Center - Strong Memorial Hospital
Advances in CPR: Heads Up
Richard Witherington Hyde, MD Conference · University of Rochester Medical Center
Methylene Blue: A Physiologic Review
Richard Witherington Hyde, MD Conference · University of Rochester Medical Center
Facts and Fiction on Contrast Nephropathy
Richard Witherington Hyde, MD Conference · University of Rochester Medical Center
Hypoxic/Hypercapnic Ventilatory Responses
Richard Witherington Hyde, MD Conference · University of Rochester Medical Center
Root Cause Analysis: Epinephrine Extravasation Leading to Above-Elbow Amputation
Morbidity and Mortality Conference · UTRGV IM Residency at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
- Investigated current hospital protocols and updated ACLS guidelines
- Suggested hospital improvements based on most current guidelines
PARADIGM-HF Trial: ARNI in Heart Failure (Journal Club)
UTRGV IM Residency at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
Introduction to Clinical Documentation
UTRGV IM Residency · Onboarding training for incoming interns · Provided dot-phrases for documentation
MS1 Clinical Skills Session: Abdominal Physical Exam
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas
Health Needs and Community Health Assessment of Presidio, Texas
Binational Health Council - Ojinaga, Chihuahua / Presidio, Texas · In collaboration with Adrian Billings, MD, PhD, FAAFP
American Family Physician Podcast - Where Do You Listen Segment
Episode 87 · In collaboration with Dev Merugumala, MD, TTUHSC; John Buie, MD, TTUHSC; and Adrian Billings, MD, PhD, FAAFP
Mosquito Collection in Prevalence Detection of Zika Virus in Southeastern Dominican Republic
Southwestern Regional Latino Medical Student Association Conference - Houston, Texas · In collaboration with Matthew Dacso, MD, MSc, FACP and Scott Weaver, MS, PhD
Poster Presentations
Research Experience
PPARγ-Regulated Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Neuronal Injury
University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, Texas · Advisor: Dr. Kelly Dineley
- Applied Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software to analyze the role of PPARγ in neuronal injury
PPARγ-Regulated Gene Expression in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, Texas · Advisor: Dr. Kelly Dineley
- Applied IPA software to interpret the role of PPARγ in Alzheimer's disease
Zika Virus Prevalence in the Bateyes of Southeastern Dominican Republic
University of Texas Medical Branch · Advisors: Dr. Matthew Dacso (UTMB Center for Global Health Education); Dr. Scott Weaver (Microbiology and Immunology)
- Assessed Zika prevalence in underserved and vulnerable populations in Bateyes
Circadian Modulation of Associative Conditioning in Lymnaea stagnalis
University of Texas-Pan American · Advisor: Dr. Daniel Plas (Biology Department)
- Identified circadian effects on learning in the neuroscience model Lymnaea stagnalis
QI Projects
Enhancing MICU Conferences Through Quality Improvement in Learning (QuIL) Course
Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, Ohio
- Presented at IHI 2nd Annual Research Day, Cleveland Clinic, May 14, 2026. Poster #92
Getting Ahead: Diabetic Nephropathy Screening in an Underserved Hispanic Population
UTRGV IM Residency at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
- Added a UACR order set to hospital-wide EMR
- Increased diabetic nephropathy screening by 50% in one academic year
- Resulted in peer-reviewed publication
Age-Appropriate Preventive and Health Screening in a Resident-Led Outpatient Clinic
UTRGV IM Residency at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
- Created doctor-friendly smart phrases as screening reminders in the EMR
- Increased health screening and vaccination rates by 25%
Reducing Insulin Sliding Scale as Diabetic Monotherapy
UTRGV IM Residency at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
- Used educational techniques and reinforcement methods
- Decreased sliding-scale-only insulin therapy by 25% in 4 months
Conferences Attended
Advanced Ultrasound Hands-On Workshop, Intensive Care and Resuscitation
Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, Ohio
- 2-day course: cardiac ultrasound (valvular disease, VExUS/diastology, MCS assessment) and multi-organ ultrasound (respiratory, transplant)
Intensive Care and Resuscitation: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Mechanical Circulatory Support Course
Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, Ohio
- 3-day course covering VV ECMO, VA ECMO, eCPR, mechanical ventilation on ECMO, cannulation strategies, and echocardiography for ECMO/MCS
- Hands-on workshops with Cardiohelp, Centrimag, LivaNova, Heartmate III, and Impella devices
Critical Care Congress, Society of Critical Care Medicine
Phoenix, Arizona
- Safety and protocols for the effective use of peripheral vasopressors in critically ill patients
- Presented a case report about a patient seen in the first 2 weeks of fellowship
Linking Your Thinking Conference
- Showcases on the use of Obsidian as a tool for thought across a wide array of professions
South Texas Healthcare Financial Management Association Leadership Conference
Austin, Texas
- Training on creating meaningful conversations
- Value Based Medicine, Revenue Cycle, and the Role of the Physician Advisor
Service and Leadership
Chair, Resident Leadership Council
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas
- Organized and led bi-weekly meetings; coordinated implementation of RLC goals
- Represented IM residency in UTRGV-wide leadership meetings alongside elected peers from 9 other residency and fellowship programs
Housestaff Emerging Academy of Leaders (HEAL) - USA
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- 6-month networking and professional development program for transition into academic faculty
Resident Leadership Workshop
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas
- Training on feedback styles and techniques
- Personality styles and their influence on conflict management
Local COVID-19 Vaccination Effort
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
- Supervised and oversaw handling and administration of Pfizer COVID vaccines
Director of Health and Stewardship · Church Board Member · Pianist
Galveston Seventh Day Adventist Church (2015-2019) · McAllen Jordan Hispanic SDA Church (2020-2022)
- Co-founded "Taste the Market" - farmer's market health education series
- Established yearly Heimlich Maneuver course and quarterly health-topic presentations
- Bridged cultural and language differences between Spanish- and English-speaking congregations
- Led weekly worship services; taught piano to children and teenagers
International Experience
Adventist Medical Missionary Trip - Bucharest, Romania
PREMED Adventist Medical Center · Healthcare delivery to underserved villages near the capital
Funding: Private funding through Galveston SDA Church
Global Health Clinical Rotation - Dominican Republic
University of Texas Medical Branch · Zika prevalence research and healthcare delivery in the Bateyes
Funding: UTMB Field Site Scholarship
Medical Humanities Honors Course - Ireland and Northern Ireland
University of Texas-Pan American
Funding: Honors Study Abroad Scholarship; International Women's Board Scholarship; International Education Fee Scholarship
Medical Humanities Honors Course - Vienna, Prague, Budapest
University of Texas-Pan American
Special Topics in Business and Marketing - Lüneburg, Germany
Leuphana Universität
Funding: International Women's Board Scholarship; International Education Fee Scholarship
Languages
Want to know what I'm building?
I built danielaragon.me because the map I needed did not exist when I was finishing training. Here is the map.