My parents emigrated from Cuba to Miami when I was four years old. I grew up in South Florida and, except for my years studying medicine at the University of Kansas, I have lived here all my life. My desire to become a doctor began during my junior year at Coral Gables High School. The journey to becoming a physician was long and challenging, but it was well worth it and has been nothing less than a blessing from God.

I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Miami, earning a degree in Biology, and then attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Although I cherish my years in Kansas, returning home to South Florida was important to me. I completed my internship and residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.

During my residency, I realized that my calling in medicine was cardiology. I completed my cardiology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach, where I specialized in clinical and interventional cardiology. Since completing my training, I have remained at Mount Sinai Medical Center as a solo practitioner in private practice.

Today, I am a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease and am also board certified in Nuclear Cardiology. I am a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (FSCAI).

My Philosophy of Medical Care

Over the years, both cardiology and my approach to caring for patients have evolved. Early in my career, much of my time was spent in the cardiac catheterization laboratory performing coronary angiograms and placing stents to open blocked arteries. These procedures continue to have an important role in the treatment of heart disease and, in the appropriate circumstances, can be lifesaving.

At the same time, advances in science and what we have learned from decades of clinical research have changed the way we understand and treat heart disease. We now know that in many circumstances, preventing disease and treating it with lifestyle changes and medications can be more important to a patient's long-term health than placing a stent. That evolution in cardiology has had a profound influence on the way I practice medicine today.

My philosophy is simple: prevention is the key to healthy living. Whenever possible, I want to prevent heart disease before it develops, identify it early when it does, and keep existing disease from progressing. This means understanding each patient's individual risk factors and working together to control blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, weight, and other factors that affect cardiovascular health.

Today, the vast majority of my time is spent caring for patients in the office rather than performing procedures in the hospital. I find great satisfaction in developing long-term relationships with my patients and helping them stay healthy. When a procedure is necessary, my background in interventional cardiology allows me to recognize when it can truly benefit a patient. But whenever possible, my goal is to help my patients avoid ever needing one.

For me, practicing cardiology is not simply about treating heart disease. It is about helping people protect their health so they can enjoy longer, healthier, and more active lives.