Current Fellows

Arnulfo Duarte, D.O. - PGY5

Dr. Duarte grew up in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. He completed his medical training at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and his internal medicine residency at UT-Tyler. He is particularly interested in bedside procedures, point-of-care ultrasound, and teaching. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing tennis, wrestling with his dogs, and trying new restaurants with his wife. His awards and associations includes Resident of the Year, Internal Medicine Class of 2023. Top student in Molecules to Medicine Class. I chose to stay at UT Tyler for my fellowship because my training in internal medicine there exposed me to a diverse and critically ill patient population. I was confident I would gain valuable skills and knowledge, particularly in advanced procedures like point-of-care ultrasound, flexible bronchoscopy, robotic bronchoscopy, tracheostomy, and advanced airway management. As the tertiary center for East Texas, UT Tyler offers exposure to a wide range of complex pathologies not typically encountered in smaller centers, providing a comprehensive and challenging clinical environment. His hometown is in Edinburg, TX. A fun fact about him is, If the music is good enough, he will do the worm.

He received his education from:
Undergraduate Degree: University of Texas-Pan American
Master's Degree: University of North Texas Health Science Center
Medical Degree: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

Christine Kang, D.O. - PGY5

Dr. Kang’s hometown is Cerritos, California.

She received her education from:
Internal Medicine Residency UT Tyler Health Science Center
Medical School: Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Melissa Bunke - PGY4

She is passionate about providing highly specialized care to critically ill or pulmonary patients using current technology such as ultrasound for procedures and rapid interventions with an emphasis on teamwork, and communication. She is particularly interested in managing sepsis and less common pulmonary diseases in addition to teaching medical students and residents. She also values a work-life balance and is passionate about finding ways to combat physician-burnout. Outside of medicine, she enjoys running races and playing soccer or just being active outside. She also spends a lot of time playing with her dog, Winnie. She rescued her during her third year of residency, and she has been bossing her around ever since. Her awards and associations include Alpha Omega Phi – Society of Honor and Community Service and Career Commitment Scholarship in medical school. From day one, UT Tyler made her feel like she was part of the team and their energetic, welcoming atmosphere was palpable. UT Tyler also provides exposure to a diverse patient population with a spectrum of pathology - some particularly unique to the southern US. It was clear that the program has the support to focus on her training so that she will be well-versed in the knowledge and skilled in all the procedures needed. She was born in Louisville, Kentucky but grew up in Charleston, South Carolina for the majority of her life and her family still lives there. Fun facts about her are, she once trained for and competed in a half-ironman on a dare. Coming off of a marathon, she only had 11-weeks to get comfortable with the bike and open-water swimming. She has also trained her dog to use word-buttons to communicate with her. Now she bosses me around.

She received her education from:
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean in Sint Maarten
Internal Medicine Residency: Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA
Internal Medicine Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Fellowship: University of South Carolina/Prisma Health

Sai Priyanka Pulipaka - PGY 4

She is driven by the opportunity to use POCUS and advanced technology to enhance patient outcomes and enjoy the procedural aspects of both critical care and pulmonology. Her goal is to become a critical care physician who can provide life-saving care to some of the most vulnerable populations. She has developed a newfound love for pulmonology, especially in the context of COVID and its complex complications. Treating these patients, has been both challenging and rewarding, and it’s strengthened her passion for the field. She is also eager to explore interstitial lung disease and hopes to pursue interventional pulmonology, refining her skills to make a meaningful impact in patient care. She had an incredible interview experience at Tyler—everyone was welcoming, genuinely supportive, and eager to make the program as strong as possible. When she spoke with one of the fellows, she was amazed by the number and variety of procedures he had performed within just a few months, with a strong emphasis on ultrasound training. The opportunity to teach medical students also stood out, as did the unique pathology in East Texas, where limited medical resources create invaluable hands-on learning experiences. The combination of excellent clinical exposure and a close-knit, supportive environment made Tyler the perfect choice for her fellowship. Additionally, having family in Texas makes the location even more ideal, allowing her to stay connected to her roots while advancing her career. Her hometown is Hyderabad, India. Fun facts about her are, she is powered by coffee (it’s practically her fuel), love a good cleaning session (seriously, it’s therapeutic) and she can’t get enough of working out (endorphins are her jam). Cooking is her happy place (watch out, she might just whip up a gourmet meal). Family ties are really important to her, and she always make sure to spend quality time with her loved ones. She also on a mission to explore the world, one adventure at a time—her bucket list is ridiculously long.

She received her education from:
Medical School: Mamata Medical College, Telangana, India
Internal Medicine Residency: Hackensack University Medical Center (Palisades)