Bio

I was born in El Salvador to a family with a long tradition in health care, and was inspired to become a doctor by my father’s commitment to his profession as a physician, and by his devotion to the care of his patients. Through his example, I learned to serve and help all communities. I believe that everyone deserves the best care available, and I am committed to being an active partner in my patients’ well-being.

I started my training at Autonomous School of Medical Sciences in Costa Rica, and completed my residency and fellowship in New York. A job offer in Eastern Washington brought me to the Pacific Northwest, and eventually to the Portland area, where I have found my heart’s home and my husband, who actively supports me in my career.

My clinical interest in geriatrics and collagen vascular diseases has taught me that we all age in different ways and at our own pace; the same disease process can present itself in different ways from one person to the next. To provide the best medical care, I believe that a doctor must consider the whole individual, including his or her lifestyle and cultural heritage. Learning about my patients’ life experiences helps me in my efforts to guide them toward the choices that will best help them to achieve their health goals.

Recognizing the rapidly evolving science of medicine, I see health care as a lifelong learning process. I strive for excellence by staying involved with the American College of Physicians, where I earned my fellowship in 2017.

Outside my clinical practice, I am revitalized by time with family and friends, by cultural activities like the opera and the contemporary arts, through quiet time in my garden or by an invigorating hike to Ramona Falls.