I was born in Argentina but grew up a local New Orleanian and learned English as a second language when I was seven years old. I remain fluent in Spanish and learned French in high school and college where I almost made it a career before choosing to go to medical school. My parents were both doctors and it was always in my mind as a hard choice but a good way to help people and that is what I wanted to do. My aptitude testing came out that I should be a social worker.I went to Tulane University Newcomb College initially, then transferred to Louisiana State University where I received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology in 1988. I attended medical school in New Orleans at Louisiana State Health Sciences Center and received my degree n 1992. I loved patient care of all types, and enjoy using my brain to sort through problems and discuss the best options with the person affected. My younger self was very impatient and needed immediate feedback and results, which is why I chose general surgery training as the next step in my medical training. I went to New York City and completed a five year apprenticeship in general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. It is a free standing, community based residency program. At the time my program was affiliated with Cornell University, but it is now associated with NYU. After completing my residency I returned to New Orleans to practice general, bariatric and laparoscopic surgery. I became board certified in general surgery in 1999 and re-certified in 2009. I am a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and belong to the Society of American Gastroendoscopic Surgeons and the American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery.My training in surgery included training in the care of both children and adults in the OR, ER and recovery room. This makes taking care of people in urgent care a natural transition for me. Practicing in an urgent care setting has allowed me to enjoy a new change of pace as well as increased communication with my patients.
