A pair of brothers studying at EnMed at the same time have similar interests and passions.
But there are a few differences, too.
For one thing, Christopher Chaftari, 23, Class of 2026, is a devoted Aggie. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering at Texas A&M before starting at EnMed in 2022.
Peter, Chris’s little brother (who is actually slightly taller than Chris), is an ardent Longhorn. The member of EnMed’s newest class studied at the University of Texas at Austin where he too earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering.
“We shared notes about the strength of the two programs a few times along the way,” Peter joked. “But we each did things our own way.”
Christopher, as the older brother, said he has always approached things with a little more deliberation than Peter.
“As kids, we both loved the same things – building with Legos and working with our hands – but I’ve always been a little more serious. I like to have a plan in place,” he explained.
Peter, 22, is more laissez-faire in his outlook. “I’m a little more open to things taking their own course, I guess. But I’m just as motivated to reach my goals,” he said.
The brothers could well be a bit genetically predisposed toward ending up in medical careers. Their father, Patrick Chaftari, M.D., is an associate professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center teaching in the Department of Emergency Medicine and treating oncological emergencies. Mom, Anne-Marie Chaftari, M.D., is also at MD Anderson, serving as an associate professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases.
“So, you could say we’ve been around medicine our whole lives,” Christopher said, noting that talking about health topics has been a lifelong norm in the family home.
The brothers attended Strake Jesuit College Preparatory high school in Bellaire where the Chaftaris – Lebanese immigrants to the U.S. – settled when the brothers were in elementary school. The two still live at home.
“Imagine not having to worry about meals or laundry,” Peter said. “It’s nice. We can concentrate on school and have a pretty short commute to EnMed.”
The two are often together, with a favorite pastime being working out at the gym. And, they’ve become used to being mistaken for each other. “Even my mom will sometimes say something to me and call me Chris before realizing she’s talking to me,” Peter said.
Both brothers believe that the marriage of medicine and engineering is the future of health care. Christopher has worked on research on microvascular networks-on-chips that mimic physiological blood vessels and help advance medical understanding and treat vascular disease.
“But I love the idea of interacting with people who need help and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship,” he said.
While Peter is just getting started at EnMed, he echoes his brother. “I love medicine and engineering, but I truly feel it is important that my future will be working directly with patients.”
Whatever their future holds, attending EnMed alongside each other is just another affirmation of the siblings’ bond.
“Sure, we’re competitive, but we enjoy seeing each other grow and accomplish our life goals,” Christopher said. “We both want to complete our studies and strive to help improve the lives of patients.”
