The last 30 years have been filled with growth, expansion, and challenges that have been met! The physicians of Southwest Surgical Associates are dedicated to providing the Houston and surrounding communities with the high-quality and compassionate care for which they are known. All SWSA surgeons are Board Certified by the American College of Surgeons, and they pride themselves on offering state-of-the art surgical techniques that are minimally invasive to allow for recovery in the shortest time possible.

 

Founded in 1993, Dr. John Fisher and his then partner Dr. Kleinman joined Dr. Tasdemiroghu “Dr. Tas” and Dr. Henry Holle to create Southwest Surgical Associates. Although the others have retired, one founding partner, Dr. Fisher, is still in practice with the group today. The group was named Southwest Surgical Associates since the main office was located at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital where Dr. Holle had served as the Chief of Staff for many years.

 

The group expanded to six surgeons in 1995 with the addition of Dr. Robert Hillery (retired 2023) and Dr. Wayne Matzelle (retired 2008).

 

Between 1997 and 2001, the group would grow to 10 surgeons with the addition of Dr. Thomas Wylie Moore in 1997 (retired 2019), Dr. Guillermo Ponce de Leon in 1998, Dr. Charles Aramburo in 2000, and Dr. Michael Todd Wood in 2001. The Methodist Sugar Land clinic would also open in 1998. The surgeons had privileges at MH Southwest, Methodist Sugar Land, and Fort Bend Medical Center during this time.

 

In 2006, Dr. Holle retired and Dr. Kelly Dempsey was brought in to take over his practice which was comprised primarily of breast patients. Dr. Dempsey would be the first female surgeon brought into the group and she would successfully lead The Breast Center of Fort Bend which would later be rebranded as The Breast Center of Southwest Surgical Associates. Also in 2006, Fort Bend Medical Center closed, and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital opened, giving SWSA an opportunity for a new clinic at MH Sugar Land.

 

In 2009, the group saw a need for general surgeons in Katy and Dr. Buckminster Farrow was recruited to spearhead that expansion. The Katy market grew quickly and resulted in the recruitment of three surgeons in 2010; general surgeons Dr. Joey Bluhm and Dr. Rick Ngo along with Dr. Liz Lee who would specialize in breast surgery. A clinic at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital would also open in 2010.

 

2014 was another busy recruitment year when we added Dr. Anne Le, the first dedicated colorectal surgeon to the group. Dr. Arlene Ricardo also joined the group as a breast surgeon after being in solo practice for many years. And Dr. W. Clay Albrecht was added support the general surgery team along I-10.

 

With the news that Memorial Hermann would be building a new hospital in the Pearland area, the group recruited Dr. Eddie Lambert in 2015 to expand into that market. Dr. Lucrecia Trabanino Sta. Ana returned to Houston in 2015 and became the dedicated colorectal surgeon along I-10.

 

2016 was yet another year in which we added three surgeons and expanded into a new market for the group… Downtown Houston. Drs. E. Leon Etter, Amanda Garza, and Adrienne Floyd had existing practices at St. Joseph Medical Center, but they joined the SWSA fold and expanded their own practices into the Pearland area.

 

2017 brought two new general surgery associates; Dr. Robert Shirley who would concentrate his practice in the Sugar Land and Richmond/Rosenburg areas and Dr. Shakir who would help support the I-10 team. And as Memorial Hermann opened their new facility in Cypress in 2017, Drs. Bluhm and Sta. Ana added clinic time there to expand their practices to that market.

 

Dr. John Abdelsayed joined the group in 2020 to support the surgeons along the 59 corridor. Despite starting during “Covid Year” he quickly became busy and made a great addition to the group.

 

In 2022, Dr. Megan Bowen joined the general surgery team along I-10 and has focused on both general surgery and breast disease.

 

2024 is on track to be another exciting year of growth with the addition of two colorectal surgeons, Dr. Bidhan Das and Dr. Lisa Haubert.

 

“Experienced, Compassionate, and Innovative” aptly describe the team at Southwest Surgical Associates, who after over 30 years continue to pursue their mission of improving each person’s quality of life by offering the highest level of surgical care in the state.