Leadership

Cynthia Cantu, DO

Medical Director, Medical Management Program 

---

Dr. Cynthia L. Cantu is a first-generation physician whose passion for the South Texas community is seen through her dedication to primary care. Her interests in medicine include chronic disease management, nutrition and disease prevention by delivering care through a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model. She has led and participated in multiple quality improvement research projects to improve delivery of vaccinations, increase awareness and education of obstructive lung diseases and among others. Dr. Cantu has been awarded presentations in various conferences nationwide.

Dr. Cantu completed her undergrad with honors at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she obtained bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Science.  She completed medical school at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth and internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Health San Antonio. Throughout her career, Dr. Cantu has been involved deeply in the community through various volunteer projects including Habitat for Humanity and mentoring students from underserved communities interested in health professions. Dr. Cantu was also elected by peers in residency to represent over 800 residents for two consecutive years to work directly with Graduate Medical Education office, Designated Institutional Officer (DIO) and hospital leadership to work on projects of concern among the residents’ clinical learning environment.

Apart from her medical passion she is a running enthusiast, enjoys watching movies and exploring the multicultural food and community events in San Antonio with her husband.

Emily Walker

Medical Management Program 

---

Dr. Emily Grace Walker is an internal medicine physician in the Medical Management Program at the Mays Cancer Center, where she provides comprehensive primary care for patients undergoing cancer treatment and surveillance. She is deeply committed to caring for patients with complex medical needs alongside active oncology therapy, with a focus on thoughtful coordination, continuity, and truly person-centered care.

Dr. Walker earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, graduating with distinction, where a strong foundation in science, service, and values shaped her calling to medicine. She completed her medical degree and internal medicine residency at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in recognition of her compassion and dedication to patient-centered care. Throughout residency, Dr. Walker was repeatedly honored for her commitment to patients and colleagues, earning the Most Compassionate Resident of the Year Award in each year of her training. She has also received institutional recognition for mentorship, quality improvement efforts, and scholarly work in general internal medicine and hospital medicine.

Clinically, Dr. Walker has a special interest in caring for patients with complex and cancer-related medical conditions. She has been actively involved in oncology-focused research through the Mays Cancer Center, with work exploring cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with breast cancer and advancing health equity for underserved populations. Her research has been presented at national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Walker believes that meaningful medical care begins with listening. She strives to build trusting, collaborative relationships with her patients and works closely with oncology teams to provide steady, individualized care that supports patients not only through treatment, but through the broader journey of illness and healing.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Walker finds grounding in her faith, family, and community. She values spending quality time with loved ones, hiking and swimming, and traveling to visit family and explore new places.

Mellyruth Maldonado, FNP

Medical Management Program 

---

NP Maldonado is a first-generation, bilingual nurse practitioner who is passionate about delivering compassionate, patient-centered care, with a particular interest in diabetes, hypertension, and chronic disease management.

She completed her undergraduate studies with honors, earning dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing and Biology from UT Health San Antonio and St. Mary’s University. She went on to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing from UT Health San Antonio.

Prior to earning her graduate degree, NP Maldonado worked for eight years in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she developed strong clinical expertise and a deep commitment to high-quality care. She has a strong interest in research and evidence-based practice and spent two years at the UT Health Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies. During this time, she was involved in six human clinical research studies, with a special emphasis on metabolomics.

Outside of patient care, NP Maldonado enjoys reading, watching soccer matches, and exploring new restaurants throughout San Antonio.