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Providers

The friendly, professional staff at Houston Fibroids is committed to your care. Our convenient, comfortable offices allow us to provide personalized, office-based care to patients across the greater Houston area, throughout Texas, and beyond.  We are here to respond to your questions and your healthcare needs.  Each member of our team is specially trained to support you in determining your best treatment option. Call or visit us soon to learn more about how we can help you to take back your life and avoid surgery!

Ryan Armstrong, M.D, Board-Certified Vascular Interventional Radiologist

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Dr. Ryan Armstrong is Board Certified in Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology. Devoted to improving the lives of patients, Dr. Armstrong continually seeks new techniques within interventional radiology to improve the patient care.

Dr. Armstrong is a graduate of Brown University before returning to Texas to earn his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He completed the residency program at the University of Texas Health Science at Houston and earned his fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

With over 20 year’s experience in the medical field, Dr. Armstrong has been affiliated with the Michael E DeBakey Veterans Affairs Hospital, West Houston Radiology Associates, and served as both the Radiology Medical Director and Chief of Staff Elect for Oakbend Medical Center in Richmond Texas.

In his spare time, Dr. Armstrong enjoys the outdoors. His passions include running, cycling, golfing, grilling, and coaching his three sons in various sports.


AJ Valenson, M.D., Board-Certified Vascular Interventional Radiologist

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Dr. AJ Valenson is an Interventional Radiologist and vein specialist who has been practicing in the greater Clear Lake area for over 5 years. He is board certified in diagnostic radiology and completed additional fellowship training in vascular interventional radiology. He is also a member of the Society for Interventional Radiology, American Vein and Lymphatic Society, Harris County Medical Society, and the Texas Medical Association. Dr. Valenson is fluent in Spanish and enjoys working with Spanish-speaking communities in both professional and voluntary settings.

Dr. Valenson graduated with Honors from the University of Houston, before going to Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Here Dr. Valenson proudly did extensive amounts of volunteer work with under-served communities, as well as cancer and orthopedic research. He then completed surgical internship at Cook County Hospital and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, before returning to Yale to complete residency training in diagnostic radiology. Dr. Valenson then returned to Chicago to receive advanced fellowship training in Interventional Radiology at Rush University Medical Center.

Dr. Valenson was born in New York City and raised in both Houston and Honduras, giving him a diverse and multicultural upbringing. He enjoys spending time with his extended family in Houston and going to his nephew’s baseball and basketball games. In his free time he enjoys traveling, is an enthusiastic fan and practitioner of numerous sports, running and nature, and an avid reader who enjoys interesting conversations and learning from his patients.


Sarah Applegate, Physician Assistant

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Meet Sarah Applegate, a devoted Houston native and seasoned physician assistant with over ten years of expertise in vascular treatment.

Sarah's academic journey is marked by excellence, holding a bachelor's degree in Nutritional Sciences from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Baylor College of Medicine.

After completing her studies at Baylor, Sarah spent two years in internal medicine before transitioning her focus to vascular and interventional radiology, demonstrating her commitment to specialized care.

Residing in Katy with her husband, two children, and two golden retrievers, Sarah prioritizes family time. She pursues personal interests such as supporting the Astros and Aggie sports teams, spending time outdoors, and maintaining an active lifestyle through exercise. 


Katie Connor, Physician Assistant

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Katie is a Nashville native and moved to Houston after falling in love with the city’s culture and extensive food scene. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Tennessee. After completing her undergraduate degree, Katie attended Lincoln Memorial University School of Medical Science where she graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

Katie has a background in emergency medicine, but has a special passion for the care and management of vascular diseases. Her areas of expertise include venous disease, peripheral arterial disease, and uterine fibroid embolization. Katie enjoys creating lasting relationships with her patients. You can find her at our Bellaire and Katy Texas Endovascular locations.

Katie lives in central Houston where she enjoys exploring the city, trying new restaurants, and staying active with friends.


Molly DiMola, Family Nurse Practitioner

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Molly DiMola was born and raised amid a rich mosaic of cultural heritage in the foothills of North Carolina. Today she’s proud to call Houston home and share her skills and expertise with her local community.

She graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. She completed her BSN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) and FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) degrees at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she graduated summa cum laude.

After graduating from George Washington University, Molly worked as an emergency room Registered Nurse and travel nurse for five years. During this time, she traveled to Africa to research HIV/AIDS as part of a public health study and worked in outbreak mitigation for Orange County, CA.

When she’s not working, Molly enjoys exploring Houston, traveling, running, baking, or achieving a new PR at her local CrossFit gym.


Keonna Parham, Physician Assistant

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Keonna is a Louisiana native that is now proud to call Houston home. She received a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Southern University and A&M College. She then went on to obtain a Master’s of Physician Assistant studies from Louisiana State University School Health Sciences Center.

Keonna has a background in Orthopedic Trauma and Interventional Pain Management, but has a special passion for the care and management of uterine fibroid and vascular diseases.

Keonna lives in Katy with her husband and son. When she’s not working, Keonna enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, volunteering with her beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and supporting the Southern University Jaguars.


Christa Duarte, Family Nurse Practitioner

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Christa Duarte received her Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health from Texas A&M University and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from University of Texas Health Science Center.

She previously worked as a Nurse Practitioner in both Allergy and ENT setting as well as urgent care setting. Prior to that, she worked as a registered nurse at Houston Methodist Hospital in the OB/GYN setting. Christa’s passion lies in patient care, and she is driven by the opportunity to help her patients and enhance their quality of life.

Christa finds joy in spending quality time with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys exploring new restaurants, staying active with her Peloton, and cheering for her favorite teams, the Fightin’ Texas Aggies and the Houston Astros.


Diana Garcia, Family Nurse Practitioner

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Diana Garcia is a Houston native Family Nurse Practitioner. She obtained her Bachelor’s in the Science of Nursing and her Master’s in the Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner from Texas A&M University.

Diana is experienced in primary care, women’s health, and the management of acute and chronic diseases, including vascular disease. Diana is also certified in neonatal intensive care nursing (RNC-NIC). She has 7 years of experience in neonatal nursing and has worked at Houston Methodist and The Woman’s Hospital of Texas.

Diana lives with her husband near the West Bay of Galveston. In her free time, Diana enjoys volunteering for her church and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. She also enjoys reading, practicing yoga, hunting, and fishing with her husband and two dogs.


Carrie Pottmeyer, Physician Assistant

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Carrie is a Houston native with a unique pathway to becoming a physician assistant. After completing her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University, Carrie worked for six years in the Dallas area as a field clinical specialist in the cardiac rhythm management and ablation divisions for Abbott. Wanting to further her medical knowledge and patient care responsibility, Carrie was accepted to Baylor College of Medicine where she accomplished her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

Carrie comes to Texas Endovascular with clinical and procedural experience in Neuro/Spine Interventional Radiology. Her diverse expertise is now focused on uterine fibroid and vascular diseases where she applies her passion for elevating women’s health standards and advocating for her patient’s mental well-being during their treatment.

Outside of work, you’ll find Carrie at Pure Barre, rating her recent book on Goodreads, planning her next travel experience, dining at her favorite restaurants with friends, and spending time with her family.

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