Dr. Candas joined the Children's Clinic in 1994 after completing his Pediatric residency training at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. He is a graduate of the University of Ankara Medical School and is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. He has served as Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and Chief of Staff at Driscoll Children's Hospital. Dr. Candas continues serving in numerous quality improvement and assessment committees. He has also served as a board member of the Coastal Bend Blood Center since 2004. In August 2009, he was Selected to be the President of the The Children's Clinic.
Dr. Candas is accepting new patients at the Alameda and Saratoga locations.
Location: Saratoga
Dr. Espiritu has practiced with The Children's Clinic since 1992. Dr. Espiritu received his medical degree from Far Eastern University in Manilla, Phillippines. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Dr. Espiritu is currently accepting new patients at the Children’s Clinic Saratoga location.
Location: Alameda
Dr. Callegari-Puente joined the Children's Clinic after completing her pediatric residency training at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. She is Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
She is accepting new patients at our Alameda office.
Location: Alameda
Dr. Debra Purcell has practiced with The Children's Clinic since 1994. Dr. Purcell received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Irvine and her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She completed her residency at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Dr. Purcell is currently accepting new patients at the Alameda office.
Dr. Walter Santiago was born and raised in New York City, graduated from high school from Fort Allen Naval Base, Puerto Rico, graduated from college in PR as an ASCP Board Certified Medical Technologist, then graduated form medical school in Ponce, PR ( a US accredited medical school). He did his pediatric residency with the Air Force at Keesler Medical Center, Biloxi, MS and served 12 years active duty as an Air Force pediatrician in the US and Europe. Upon separating from the Air Force, he served 2 years as Chief of Pediatrics for the Kings Daughters Clinic in Temple, Texas before coming to Corpus Christi to join our group. He has been with us over 12 years. He has one son. He is fluent in Spanish and is accepting new patients at our Alameda and Saratoga offices.
Location: Alameda
Dr. Berenguer has practiced withThe Children's Clinic since 2000. Dr. Berenguer received his medical degree from the University de Monterrey in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. He completed his residency at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Dr. Berenguer is currently accepting new patients at Alameda.
Dr. E. Richard Cortes has practiced with The Children's Clinic since 2001. Dr. Cortes received his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville and his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He also completed his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Dr. Cortes is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. He is married to Suzanne and is the father of 3 children. Dr. Cortes is accepting new patients at the Alameda and Portland locations.
Locations: Alameda and Five Points
Dr. David Dohi has practiced with The Children's Clinic since 2007. Dr. Dohi received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University in New Haven and his medical degree from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Forth Worth. He completed his residency at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dr. Dohi is currently accepting new patients at the Alameda and Five Points locations.
Location: Alameda
Dr. Etuknwa comes to The Children's Clinic with 13 years of experience in pediatrics medicine. Dr. Etuknwa received her medical degree from the University of lle-Ife, Oyo State Nigeria and completed her General Pediatrics Residency at Howard University Teaching Hospital in Washington, DC and Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dr. Etuknwa is Board Certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Etuknwa is currently accepting new patients at the Alameda location.
Dr. Mavie Narcise received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines from which she also obtained her medical degree. She completed a general pediatrics residency at Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines and a second pediatric residency training at Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is happily married to her childhood sweetheart, Aris. They are blessed with four children- Antonie, Aaron, Armand and Adrielle.
Dr. Narcise is currently accepting new patients at the Alameda and Portland locations.
Dr. Adjetey obtained both her Bachelor's Degree in Human Biology and her medical degree from the School of Medical Sciences in Kumasi, Ghana. She then completed a Pediatric Residency with Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, Texas where she also served as Chief Resident. She returns to Corpus Christi after 5 years of Practice as a Pediatrician in Junction City, Kansas. She is married to her medical school sweetheart Vincent and they have 2 children.
She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is accepting new patients at the 5 points and Alameda locations.
Dr. Ojo obtained his medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria. He also received his Master’s Degree in public health at the Harvard School of Public Health. He proceeded to complete his pediatric residency training at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas after which he served as a chief resident and pediatrician in the hospital for 1 year before joining The Children’s Clinic. Dr. Ojo is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. He is happily married to his medical school sweetheart, Tomola and are both blessed with kids.
He is accepting new patients at our Alameda and 5 points locations.
Dr. Tomola Ojo grew up in Nigeria and obtained her medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She completed her general pediatrics residency program at Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas and served as the chief resident and hospitalist just prior to joining The Children's Clinic. Dr. Tomola is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. She is happily married, with kids, to her medical school sweetheart Femi.
She is accepting new patients at our Alameda and Portland locations.
Dr. Maria Alejandra Castillo was born and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela, where she obtained her medical degree at La Universidad del Zulia. She later completed a Pediatric Residency program at the same University and worked as a Pediatrician in her hometown before moving to the USA. Later, she proceeded to complete her second pediatric residency training at Driscoll Children’s Hospital, and has joined The Children’s Clinic.
She is happily married and with 3 lovely kids.
Dr. Castillo is fluent in English and Spanish and would love to accept new patients at Alameda and 5 Points.
Dr. Vittorio D’Andrea Marin joins The Children’s Clinic with a wealth of knowledge and more than 20 years of experience.
Originally from Venezuela, Dr. D’Andrea attended medical school at the Central University of Venezuela Luis Razetti School of Medicine in Caracas and completed his residency at the University Hospital. Before transitioning to pediatrics, Dr. D’Andrea excelled in the field of obesity management, bariatrics, and minimally invasive surgery. Having a lifelong dream of being a pediatrician, he moved to the United States and completed his residency at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, TX. Due to his commitment to medical excellence, during his residency, he was recognized and received the prestigious Resident of the Year Award each year from 2021 to 2024. In addition, in 2024, he also received the John G. and Elena Seuss Kenedy award for devotion to the welfare of children.
Outside his professional life, Dr. D’Andrea Marin enjoys spending quality time with his medical school sweetheart Ive and their two children. He is passionate about cooking and loves to explore new destinations through travel. Dr. D’Andrea is fluent in English and Spanish and is accepting new patients at Alameda and Portland.
Location: Alameda
Jose Acebo has practiced with The Children's Clinic since 2000. Joe received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his master’s degree from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. He is a certified family nurse practitioner. Joe is married to Eva and is the father of 3 children.
Location: Saratoga
Laura Gonzales has practiced with The Children's Clinic since 2002. Laura received her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is a certified family nurse practitioner. Laura has 2 children.
Location: Portland
Cecil Rousseau has practiced with The Children's Clinic since 2003. Cecil received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is a certified family nurse practitioner. Cecil is married to Pat.
Location: 5 Points
Kimberley French has practiced with The Children's Clinic since 2004. Kimberley received her bachelor’s degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and her master’s degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She is certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). Kimberley is married to Darren and has 3 children.
Location: Alameda
Leilany Ramos is a Nurse Practitioner certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB). She received her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Post – Master’s Certificate from Kent State University in Ohio. She has her Master of Arts in Nursing from Concordia College, Manila and earned credit hours in Master in Management from the University of the Philippines.
In the Philippines she was a military nurse specializing in pediatric nursing, then worked in Ohio as a Registered Nurse before moving to Texas. Prior to joining The Children's Clinic, she was with Driscoll Children’s Hospital as a Professional Practice Specialist.
Location: 5 Points
Shelly Garcia has practiced with The Children’s Clinic since 2015. Shelly received her associate’s degree in nursing from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas and her master’s degree from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Shelly is married to Edward and they are blessed with two wonderful children.
Melissa Granberry grew up and graduated from Gregory-Portland High School. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Nursing from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She currently lives in her hometown of Portland, TX with her two boys. She is excited to join our team as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.
Location:
Sandra graduated from Texas A & M University in Corpus Christi with a Master’s of Science in Nursing. She is licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing and is Board Certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She currently lives in Taft, TX with her husband and two lovely children and is honored to join the Children’s Clinic team.
PEDIATRIC CENTER
3435 S. Alameda St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78411-1728
PEDIATRIC CENTER WEEKEND HOURS (Sick visits only)
Saturdays and Sundays
9 a.m.—12 noon
CONTACTS
Phone: (361) 855-7346
Fax: (361) 855-7579
SATELLITE LOCATIONS
Saratoga South
Portland Pediatric Center
Northwest Regional Medical Plaza