Yvette Almendarez, MD, FAAP
Dr. Almendarez was born in Austin and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas along with her twin brother. She knew she wanted to become a doctor from the age of five. As a senior in high school, Dr. Almendarez was accepted into the Premedical Honors College – a combined eight-year undergraduate and medical school scholarship through the University of Texas Pan American and Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Almendarez graduated Summa Cum Laude with a major in biology and minor in chemistry.
While enrolled at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Almendarez completed additional course work in the International Health Track and engaged in various endeavors to care for the medically underserved and uninsured population of Houston. She would frequently volunteer to serve the homeless population in Houston. In addition, Dr. Almendarez developed a special interest in alternative medicine.
After medical school, Dr. Almendarez completed her residency in Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital, the country’s largest children’s hospital. While at Texas Children’s Hospital she had the opportunity to evaluate and manage many rare diseases while caring for patients from all over the world. After completing her residency she was invited to join her colleagues and mentors at Texas Children’s Pediatric Associates – Hillcroft. She thoroughly enjoyed working with such wonderful mentors. While at TCPA she had the opportunity to teach residents and medical students as a clinical preceptor and volunteer faculty.
After one year, her husband was accepted into his Gastroenterology Fellowship at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. Upon moving to Dallas, Dr. Almendarez accepted a job at the Plano location of MyChildren’s Clinic, a subsidiary of Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed Lead Physician and Lab Director of the clinic. Additionally, she served on both the Physician Leadership Committee and Risk Management Committee. At the end of her husband’s fellowship, they collectively decided to move closer to family and made the move to San Antonio, Texas.
Upon arrival in San Antonio, she worked at Live Oak Pediatrics for five years. While working in San Antonio, she became very active in the American Academy of Pediatrics. She completed a three-year leadership program through the Young Physician Leadership Alliance and was accepted to complete a 15-month leadership fellowship with the Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine. She has also become more active with the Texas Pediatric Society and sits on the Pediatric Council. She is excited to be opening Aquarius Pediatrics, where she will deliver state-of-the-art, evidence-based medicine in a compassionate and caring environment.
Ewelina Young, MD
Dr. Young was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Texas with her family when she was 7 years old and likes to consider herself a native Texan. She attended Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas where she grew up as the middle child of three girls. Ewelina attended Texas A&M University where she majored in Biomedical Sciences and became involved in various organizations that kindled her interest in medicine. She cultivated her passion for pediatrics while serving on the leadership team of Starlight Aggies, an organization whose mission is to provide respite for hospitalized children and their families. After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Spanish, Ewelina headed to San Antonio to attend medical school at UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine. Dr. Young quickly felt at home in the hospitable and laid-back Alamo City.
After medical school, Dr. Young matched to UT Health San Antonio for residency with her husband, Will, who is completing his training in Orthopedic Surgery. Throughout her Pediatric Residency, Dr. Young found her passion in the primary care setting where she cultivated relationships with families while caring for the children of San Antonio in her resident clinic. During this time, Ewelina has also been actively engaged in her community as a mentor to foster youth through the Pearls Court organization of Bexar County.
When not at work, Ewelina and her husband enjoy spending their time outdoors. On sunny days, you can find them kayaking on the Guadalupe River, backpacking, or hiking with their two dogs, Teddy and Louise, in the Texas Hill Country. She also enjoys spending time cooking traditional Polish meals, trying out new recipes or baking her tried-and-true chocolate chip banana bread.
Dr. Young is excited to join Dr. Almendarez and her wonderful team at Aquarius pediatrics where she will be able to continue serving the children of San Antonio. She is looking forward to fostering strong relationships with her patients and families as a primary care pediatrician. She is eager to join a practice of compassionate, devoted physicians dedicated to growing with their patients through every stage of childhood.
Nafisa Ahmed, MD
Dr. Ahmed is a board certified pediatrician who was born and raised in West Texas. She attended Texas Tech University where she was in the Honors College and awarded a research fellowship with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Ahmed graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Cell & Molecular Biology and a double minor in Chemistry and Philosophy. Thereafter, as an awardee of the Texas Tech University School of Medicine Early Acceptance Program, she started medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Upon graduating from medical school, Dr. Ahmed spent a year working on a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Pediatric residency took Dr. Ahmed to Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Upon completion of residency, Dr. Ahmed joined a medical practice in Shreveport in a medically underserved community, a population that holds a special place in Dr. Ahmed’s heart. During this time, she continued to serve on faculty at LSUHSC, sharing her love for and knowledge in Pediatrics with medical students and residents.
Dr. Ahmed moved to San Antonio in 2016 and has been a part of Aquarius Pediatrics since 2021. She cherishes her role in providing comprehensive and preventative medical care for the children of San Antonio as a part of the knowledgeable, compassionate group of pediatricians at Aquarius Pediatrics.
Lila Estrada Fajardo, MD
Dr. Estrada Fajardo was born in Mexico City and raised in Estado de Mexico. She knew from a young age she wanted to be a doctor because she looked up to family members and friends who were physicians and deeply admired their profession.
She graduated from medical school in 2011 from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, the largest University in Mexico and Latin America. Following graduation from Medical School, she pursued her dream to continue her medical education in the United States. She completed her Pediatric Residency at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in 2017 in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After residency, she relocated to San Antonio where she worked as a Primary Care Pediatrician at a Community Health Center until 2021. She then has been working as an Urgent Care Pediatrician at a local Pediatric Urgent Care, where she has gained valuable experience.
During her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending quality time with her son and family. She also loves to cook and bake for family and friends. She is very excited to be joining Aquarius Pediatrics and looks forward to treating your little ones soon!
