Our Team

Dr. David M. Yates, DMD, MD, FACS

Dr. David Yates, MD, DMD, FACS is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Craniomaxillofacial Surgeon recognized for his leadership, clinical excellence, and international contributions to craniofacial care. He is the inaugural recipient of the El Paso Children’s Hospital “Physician of the Year” Award and the 2025 American Cleft Lip and Palate Association “Emerging Leader Award.” He has also been honored as a “Diplomate Making a Difference” by the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons. He recently received the Rosa Del Desierto Award, recognizing extraordinary individuals who serve the El Paso–Ciudad Juárez region—awarded for his extensive work with cleft and craniofacial patients across both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border.

Dr. Yates serves as the Division Chief of Cranial and Facial Surgery at El Paso Children’s Hospital, where he has been central to establishing and expanding complex craniofacial surgical care in the region. He directs the hospital’s Craniofacial Clinic and co-directs the El Paso, Las Cruces, and Juárez Cleft & Craniofacial Teams. He is also the Fellowship Director of the El Paso Cleft & Craniofacial Fellowship and has served on the national committee for Cleft, Craniofacial, and Pediatric Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.

With numerous publications on craniosynostosis and cleft lip and palate, Dr. Yates has been featured in multiple news stories highlighting the children and families he has impacted. His work has taken him around the world—both as a speaker at international conferences and as a surgeon caring for children from diverse countries.

Dr. Yates is a founding director of both the nationally recognized Cleft Lip and Palate Symposium and the internationally attended Endoscopic Craniosynostosis Symposium. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in Endoscopic Craniosynostosis and remains deeply committed to serving children with facial and cranial differences. He is grateful for the opportunity to care for families throughout the greater El Paso, Las Cruces, and Juárez region, where he lives with his wife and four children.

Dr. Ziyad A. Makoshi, MBBS, MSc, FRCSC, FAANS

Dr. Ziyad Makoshi is the Medical Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Vice Chair of the Neuroscience Department.

He completed his neurosurgical residency and general neurosurgery fellowship at the Ottawa Hospital, in Ottawa, Canada, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He completed his American Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgery

accredited Fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He has a Master’s degree in Clinical Neuroscience from University College London, England.

He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center of El Paso, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. He is the author of multiple publications and book chapters on craniosynostosis, cerebral palsy and spasticity, pediatric brain tumors, Chiari malformations, traumatic brain injury, and brain mapping.

He is also a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation. He treats all neurosurgical conditions with particular interest in craniosynostosis, pediatric brain tumors, epilepsy disorders, hydrocephalus, and cerebral palsy and spasticity. With access to brain mapping software, robotic stereotactic neurosurgery, and the latest technological advances available, Dr. Makoshi and his team provide the highest level of care to children with neurological disorders.

Meet Our Team

At El Paso Craniofacial Team, excellence begins with our people. Our surgeons and the multidisciplinary Cranial and Facial Clinic team are dedicated to advancing the field of craniofacial care while providing compassionate, family-centered support. Together, we deliver world-class treatment for children with craniosynostosis and craniofacial conditions—ensuring every patient receives the highest level of expertise from diagnosis through recovery.

The Cranial and Facial Clinic Team

El Paso Craniofacial Team is the first and only program of its kind in our region, offering truly comprehensive care for children with craniofacial differences. From the moment of diagnosis through surgery and long-term follow-up, our multidisciplinary team is committed to ensuring that patients not only achieve the best possible outcomes but also thrive well into the future.

Meet the Experts Dedicated to Your Child’s Future

Behind every successful outcome is a team driven by precision, innovation, and compassion. At El Paso Craniofacial Team, we are proud to combine globally recognized expertise with a patient-focused philosophy, ensuring that families never face this journey alone.