El Paso Sleep Center Medical Staff

Our Sleep Specialists are Experts

GONZALO DIAZ, MD, FCCP, DBSM

Dr. Diaz received his training in sleep disorders medicine at the prestigious Montefiore Hospital at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York. He is trained in pulmonary medicine and has subspecialty certification in sleep disorders and pulmonary medicine. He served as Medical Director at Sierra Medical Center, Del Sol Medical Center, Providence Memorial Hospital and is currently Medical Director at El Paso Sleep Center.

Dr. Diaz is an AASM and ABIM-Certified Sleep Specialist and Associate Professor at Texas Tech University Health Science Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine from the Department of Internal Medicine. He has a private practice focused on pulmonary medicine and sleep medicine and has taught fellows, medical students, resident physicians, respiratory/sleep technicians and students since 1985. He has published articles and is currently involved in clinical research in sleep disorders. His areas of special interest are obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia in adults and sleep disorders in children.

LARRY TREMPER, DO

Dr. Tremper is the owner of Pediatric Pulmonary Services. He graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and served residency at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center Department of Pediatrics, with a Fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonary at the University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Tremper has authored numerous pediatric journal articles. He is a Diplomat on the National Board of Osteopathic Medicine and a Diplomat on the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

DAVID F. BRIONES, MD, DLFAPA

Dr. Briones opened the first sleep disorders center in the El Paso region with Dr. Gonzalo Diaz in 1985. He is Founder of the Department of Psychiatry at Texas Tech University HSC-El Paso, where he served as Regional Chair for more than 25 years. Dr. Briones has authored more than 30 medical literature publications covering a wide range of topics. He continues to be very active in research, including current work in psychotic phenomenology, epidemiology, cross-culture medicine and sleep disorders.

He is Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry at the Texas Tech University Paul Foster School of Medicine, where he provides patient care and supervises the training of medical students and residents. He is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Briones graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch and received his specialty training in psychiatry at The University of Texas HSC-San Antonio.  In 2011 Dr. Briones was awarded the Distinguished Service Award at the annual meeting of the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians. He has been awarded Distinguished Life Fellow status, the highest achievement of the American Psychiatric Association.

JORGE ARANGO, MD

Dr. Arango is a board certified Otolaryngologist, practicing in El Paso since 1992. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelors of Science.

Dr. Arango received his Medical Doctors Degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. During his education he was honored with Magna Cum Laude status and recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America. In 1992 he joined El Paso Ear, Nose and Throat Association.

Dr. Aragon’s   research interest is in Tumor Biology, Drug Resistant Pathologies and Sleep Medicine. He is currently a visiting Professor at Texas Tech University and a member of the El Paso County Medical Society, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Foundation and the El Paso Sleep Center.

PATRICK GOMEZ, MD

Dr. Patrick Gomez is a board certified Otolaryngologist and a long time southwest area resident. Dr. Gomez was born in Alamogordo, New Mexico and received his Medical Doctors degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

He completed his internship and surgical residency at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. Dr. Gomez served at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, Fleet Hospital Five in Operation Desert Storm. He completed his service to our country as a Naval Lieutenant Commander in 1991. In 1992 he joined El Paso Ear, Nose and Throat Association.

Dr. Gomez has multiple publications in toxic shock syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, and sleep medicine. He is currently a visiting Professor at Texas Tech University. He is a member of the El Paso Medical Society, American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, and the El Paso Sleep Center.

TRENT C. FILLER, DDS

Dr. Filler is Assistant Professor and Director of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. A graduate of Texas Tech University and Baylor College of Dentistry, Dr. Filler did his residency training at William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

Dr. Filler fulfilled multiple Army hospital assignments, both as a clinician and an educator. He ended 20 years of service to our country as Chief of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and officer-in-charge of hospital dentistry at Darnall Army Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas.

In 2009 Dr. Filler joined the surgery faculty at TTUHSC. He was specifically hired to establish an oral maxillofacial surgery service due to his interest and expertise in reconstructive maxillofacial surgery. Services include orthognathic surgery for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Dr. Filler is a Diplomat of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the El Paso Dental Society, the American Dental Society, and the Southwest Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Dr. AGHAEGBULAM UGA

A well-rounded physician, board certified in Psychiatry and Internal Medicine Dr. Aghaegbulam Uga is extensively trained to provide exceptional care in both fields. Dr. Uga began his career in Nigeria where he completed a residency training in General Adult Psychiatry and a fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. He then completed dual residency training in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at Southern Illinois University, Springfield, Illinois.

Dr. Uga relocated to El Paso to join the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Paul L. Foster School of Medicine as a member of the Faculty in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry Departments.

Dr. Uga has a passion for educating of the next generation of physicians. He founded the Combined Internal Medicine-Psychiatry Residency Training Program at TTUHSC and is currently the director of the program.

He is also committed to research with specific interest in integrated care and effects of comorbid psychiatric and medical on the individual, with several publications in the field. Dr, Uga is a compassionate physician and approaches each patient with a holistic problem solving technique in order to provide complete care for the individual.

SALVADOR AGUIRRE-HAUCHBAUM, M.D.

Dr. Aguirre is a graduate of the Facultad de Medicina of the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua.

He has extensive training in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at the National Medical Center in Mexico City and subsequently trained in Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine at the Houston Medical Center.

Dr. Aguirre is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Texas Tech University Paul Foster School of Medicine where he has served for 38 years. He joined the sleep specialists at El Paso Sleep Center in 2017.

Dr. MARIA MENDOZA, DNP, FNP-C, APRN, MSN, BSN

Dr. Maria Mendoza received her Doctor Degree in family nursing practice in 2014 from the University of Texas at El Paso. During her Doctoral education program, Dr. Mendoza implemented a COPD order set based on standardized guidelines with eligible adult patients in an acute care setting in El Paso Texas. The use of the guideline resulted in no readmissions among the participants within 30 days of discharge.

Dr. Mendoza received her Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration in 2008 from the University of Texas at El Paso. During her Masters program, Dr. Mendoza completed over 100 practicum hours in the specialty of pulmonary care under the direct supervision of a pulmonologist at El Paso Pulmonary Association. During this time, Dr. Mendoza committed herself to being part of the solution to alleviate the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Dr. Mendoza received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2004.

Dr. Mendoza is certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, is a member of the American Academy of Sleep medicine, is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, a member of the Texas Nurse Practitioners Association, and a member of the El Paso Area Advanced Practice Nurses Association.

She has received numerous honors and awards, including Chancellors list during 2005-2006. In 2014 she was selected for the Paso del Norte Health Foundation Graduate Fellows Program award for academic excellence and leadership.

As part of the El Paso Sleep Center Medical Team, Dr. Mendoza  shares the goals of the team, to provide the highest possible quality care to all patients, and to share principles and values of a team-based care approach.

Mr. Gabriel Sanchez, FNP-C

A native El Pasoan, Nurse Practioner Sanchez attended undergraduate and graduate school locally, including earning a Masters of Science degree in Nursing (MSN), at The University of Texas at El Paso. He is Board Certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Mr. Sanchez has compiled a number of years of practical clinical work experience that includes over four years in Urgent Care and Occupational Medicine, gaining expertise in helping, diagnosing and treating patients in a fast-paced environment.

Gabriel joined the El Paso Sleep Center in 2015 with a commitment to provide quality clinician services in restoring and promoting people’s health, and encouraging productivity in all areas of their lives.

Joseph Arteaga, RST, RPsg.T., CSE. CCSH

Joseph graduated from the Stanford School of Sleep Medicine in 1985. He was one of the first 300 technologists in the United States to become a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (R.Psg.T.). Joseph obtained his Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) credential 2011. In 2014, he acquired the Certified Clinical Sleep Educator (CSE) designation.

Arteaga is a member in good standing of the America Association of Sleep Technologist (AAST) since the 1986. Together with Dr. Gonzalo Diaz, M.D. they started the first Sleep Disorders Center in the El Paso area.

Joseph has been in the field of sleep medicine for over 30 years.  Prior, he gained expertise as a respiratory therapist, pulmonary technologist, EEG technologist and hyperbaric technologist as part of medical teams at several El Paso area hospitals.

RONALD BLUMENFIELD, MD

Dr. Blumenfield earned his Medical Degree from the University of Illinois.  He served a General Surgery Residency at Wadsworth VA-UCLA before being chosen for an Otolaryngology Residency at the University Illinois Research and Educational Hospital.

He also was an American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology Fellow, American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Fellow, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas Tech School of Medicine and is a member of the American Academy for Otolaryngology Allergies.

Dr. Blumenfield enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from July, 1966 to July, 1968.  He earned an honorable discharge.  He serves as Chief of Staff at  Providence Memorial Hospital,
where he is on the Board of Governors. Dr. Blumenfield serves as  President of the El Paso County Medical Society and Governor of the American Academy of Otolaryngology.

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