Texas Medical Board Disciplines Physicians and Adopts Rule Changes

TX Medical Board Newsroom

Published December 23rd, 2025

Detected February 27th, 2026

Summary

The Texas Medical Board disciplined 13 physicians and adopted new rules for physician licensure, including pathways for foreign-trained physicians, mandated by HB 2038. The board also proposed new rules for parenteral ketamine therapy.

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What changed

The Texas Medical Board has finalized rule changes and taken disciplinary actions against 13 physicians. Key rule adoptions include new provisions for "Physician Graduates" and "Provisional License to Foreign Medical License Holders with Offers of Employment," stemming from HB 2038, which aims to create new licensing pathways for foreign-trained physicians and medical school graduates. Additionally, proposed rules for "Parenteral Ketamine Therapy" offer further guidance on its therapeutic uses.

Healthcare providers, particularly those involved in physician licensing and foreign-trained physicians seeking licensure in Texas, should review the adopted and proposed rule changes. The disciplinary actions highlight various violations, including standard of care, unprofessional conduct, and impairment. While specific compliance deadlines for the new rules are not detailed, entities should ensure their practices align with the updated licensing requirements. The proposed ketamine therapy rules may require adjustments for providers offering such treatments.

What to do next

Review adopted rule changes for Physician Graduates and Provisional Licenses for foreign medical license holders.
Review proposed rule changes concerning Parenteral Ketamine Therapy.
Ensure physician licensing practices align with HB 2038 requirements.

Source document (simplified)

December 23, 2025 At its December 12, 2025, meeting, the Texas Medical Board disciplined 13 licensed physicians.

The disciplinary actions included: one related to impairment, three orders related to peer review or other states’ actions, four orders related to standard of care, one order related to unprofessional conduct, one voluntary surrender, one Mediated Settlement Agreed Order, and two Final Orders.

RULES CHANGES ADOPTED

CHAPTER 161. PHYSICIAN LICENSURE
The adopted new rules, §161.48, titled Physician Graduates, and new rule §161.53, titled Provisional License to Foreign Medical License Holders with Offers of Employment, are mandated by the passage of HB 2038 (89th Regular Legislative Session) which amended the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 155. HB 2038, known as the "DOCTOR Act," provides new pathways to licensing foreign trained physicians and medical school graduates who do not match into a resident training program.

RULES CHANGES PROPOSED

CHAPTER 173. PARENTERAL KETAMINE THERAPY
The proposed new rule concerning Chapter 173, Office-Based Anesthesia Services, Subchapter B, concerning Parenteral Ketamine Therapy, §§173.6-173.15, offers additional guidance and regulations regarding various therapeutic uses for low-dose ketamine.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Agreed Orders

Impairments:

Vela, Mario Jack, M.D., Lic. No. T0376, Laredo

Peer Review/Other States’ Actions:

Emer, Jason Joel, M.D., Lic. No. T4355, West Hollywood, CA
Paris, Christopher, M.D., Lic. No. S4542, Luling, LA
Yatsu, John Shigeru, M.D., Lic. No. G9020, Austin

Standard of Care:

Chamsuddin, Abbas Afif, M.D., Lic. No. S3500, Amarillo
Snook, Murray Alan, M.D., H8419, Georgetown

Unprofessional Conduct:

Lopez, Jesus Antonio, M.D., Lic. No. L1649, San Antonio

Voluntary Surrender:

August, Brian James, M.D., Lic. No. H9762, El Paso

Agreed Orders on Formal Filing

Standard of Care:

De Jesus, Alex, M.D., Lic. No. H5866, San Antonio
Rosen, Joel David, M.D., Lic. No. H1197, San Antonio

Mediated Settlement Agreed Orders

Standard of Care:

Letsou, George Vasilios, M.D., Lic. No. J8298, Houston

Final Orders

Bowden, Mary Talley, M.D., Lic. No. K9770, Houston
Chapa, Maria Dolores, M.D., Lic. No. M5096, San Antonio

To view disciplinary orders and Board action history, visit the TMB website, click on "Look Up a License," accept the usage terms, then type in a licensee's name. Click on the name shown in the search results to view the licensee's full profile. Within that profile is a button that says, "Current Board Action.” All releases and bulletins are also available on the TMB website under About Us > Newsroom.