Background

Hometown
Irving, TX

Undergraduate School
Southern Methodist University
Major: Biochemistry & German

Medical School
Baylor College of Medicine

Bio

Ricardo “Ricky” A. Nájera, M.D. was born in Irving, TX, and raised by his mother, who is from Buenos Aires, and his father, who is from Torreón, Mexico. He graduated with honors from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Bachelor of Arts in German. While in college, Ricky participated in medical missions and had the opportunity to travel to a small piece of the Yucatan Peninsula, known as the Zona Maya, where he served as a medical interpreter for both German and American doctors and their Mayan patients. He relocated to Houston, TX, to attend Baylor College of Medicine, and completed a year of research under the mentorship of Sameer A. Sheth, M.D., Ph.D. His research focused on neuromodulation of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder and Tourette syndrome. He is excited to be in Alabama to train at UAB for the next several years. Outside of neurosurgery, Ricky enjoys learning languages, singing, playing piano, drawing, video games and watching international movies and TV shows.

Honors and Awards:

• 2022 - Oral presentation, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting
• 2018 - Cum Laude, Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
• 2018 - Summa Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts in German
• 2018 - University Honors Program Scholar at Southern Methodist University
• 2017 - Phi Beta Kappa
• 2016 - Alpha Epsilon Delta