I am a pediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. I treat children and adolescents with a variety of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, constipation, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagitis and nutritional concerns.

I am one of three children born to two immigrant parents who fled communist Cuba and immigrated to the United States in the late 1960s. From an early age, my parents were determined to obtain an education and provide their future children with the hope for a better life with the principle that every individual is capable of great things. This drive and fortitude have instilled within me a strong sense of family, community and public service that I bring to each patient encounter.

When I embarked on my medical school career, I knew I wanted to devote myself to a specialty where I could be a voice for the voiceless. As I progressed in my pediatric training, I witnessed the diversity that gastroenterology provides. Whether managing inflammatory bowel disease or hepatitis or intervening with gastrointestinal bleeds or ingestions, gastroenterologists possess unique responsibilities in the medical field.

I love becoming a team with my patients and their families. My desire to restore quality of life embodies my belief that being a physician is much more than diagnosing and treating a patient. The bond between myself and my patients’ families is rooted in trust, compassion, patience and empathy. I always strive to listen and understand my patients while never stopping to provide the care they deserve. I believe that no two patients are affected in the same way, and it is my responsibility to create an individualized approach that also considers specific social determinants of health.

This patient-centric approach helps patients understand their condition and often relieves the anxiety associated with it. My goal is to present all the options and treatments for a patient’s condition because a well-informed family with clear communication results in an empowered patient with unparalleled results.

Before joining Memorial, while completing my medical training, I also served as a
research instructor at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.

Languages

• Spanish
• English

• Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
• Memorial Hospital Miramar
• Memorial Hospital West
• Memorial Regional Hospital