Choosing our Team

Cook Children's Infectious Diseases team is dedicated to providing excellent, patient-centered care, as well as access to the most up-to-date therapies and leading-edge clinical research.

We offer care for children and teens with diseases caused by bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses. Our team provides a broad range of services including diagnosis, inpatient and outpatient consultations, immune deficiency evaluations and treatment of recurring infections.

Meet our doctors:

Esra Akkoyun, MD

Infectious Disease
Headshot of Dr. Esra Akkoyun
Accepting new patients

Raquel Cao, MD, PHD

Infectious Disease
Headshot of Dr. Raquel Cao
Accepting new patients

Ana Maria Rios, MD

Infectious Disease
Headshot of Dr. Ana Maria Rios
Accepting new patients

Nicholas Rister, MD

Infectious Disease
Headshot of Dr. Nicholas Rister
Accepting new patients

Mary Whitworth, MD

Infectious Disease
Headshot of Dr. Mary Suzanne Whitworth
Accepting new patients

Kaitlin Williamson, MD

Infectious Disease
Headshot of Dr. Kaitlin Williamson
Accepting new patients

Pediatric nurse practitioners

  • Catherine Duarte
    MSN, RN, CPNP

  • Angela Miller
    DNP, RN, CPNP

Pediatric and adolescent services

Our team provides the following services to infectious disease patients:

  • Evaluation and treatment by board certified infectious disease doctors.
  • Easy access to the outpatient clinic at Cook Children's Medical Center.
  • Intravenous (IV) therapies for diseases requiring routine infusions.
  • Inpatient consultation at several, local hospitals.
  • Consultation for the management of pediatric infections.
  • Immunizations for international travel of children and their families.
  • Primary care for children who have been exposed to or have HIV in Tarrant County and West Texas.
  • Medical evaluation of foreign adoptees.

We act as consultants for primary care doctors of children and teens with infectious disease. It is important that your child also remain under the care of their primary care physician, who will be able to consult with the infectious disease physician treating them.

We're here to help.

If your child has been diagnosed, you probably have lots of questions. We can help. If you would like to schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak to our staff, please call our offices at 682-885-1485.