About
I am an anatomic and clinical pathologist, cytopathologist, and dermatopathologist. My work begins with what almost no one can see with the naked eye: a cell, a tissue sample, or an organ. I examine them to understand what is happening in the body and help reach a diagnosis.
One slide can hold an entire biological story.©
Why this universe exists
In conversations with patients, I began noticing something: many people reach an advanced stage of disease without understanding what was happening inside their body and, in some cases, when signs or screening are available, without knowing what to look for or when to get tested.
I saw the other side online. Myths can push people to delay a test, self-medicate, or try remedies that may cause harm.
That is why I started building this universe. I want to explain the body in everyday language without taking away the science, so you can ask better questions, know when to seek care, and make decisions with your doctor.
I also truly enjoy teaching, both students and the general public. It makes me happy to take part in the training of future health professionals. And I am motivated by the thought that something I explained in class, to a patient, or in a video could help someone schedule an exam, get a test, or make a concrete decision about their health.
My path
I spent seven years in medical school at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) in Mexico. That is where I discovered something that still shapes how I think: to understand a disease, I need to follow it all the way through and truly understand the mechanism behind it, from molecules and cells to organs and symptoms.
After graduating, I worked for three years as a primary care physician in Mexico. Sitting with patients and families showed me how heavily questions and misinformation can weigh. I also learned that a clear explanation is part of treatment: it helps people understand their options and take part in their decisions.
Then I moved to the United States. I completed a four-year residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Indiana University, a one-year Cytopathology fellowship at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and a one-year Dermatopathology fellowship back at Indiana.
Medical school
Primary care physician
Residency
Fellowship
Fellowship
What I do today
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I am an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). I examine cells, tissues, organs, and fluids. I also perform fine-needle aspiration biopsies on patients with a lump or mass, and I use ancillary studies such as stains, immunohistochemistry, and molecular testing to reach a diagnosis, understand prognosis, and find information that can help guide treatment.
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I am passionate about medical education. I enjoy teaching medical students and residents in Pathology and Dermatology at UCSF. Every class brings me back to the basics, keeps me learning, and strengthens my own knowledge.
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My research and academic work span several areas of pathology. I have worked on skin tumors, including melanoma, as well as other types of cancer. I also study inflammatory and infectious diseases, including conditions related to HPV and HIV, as well as COVID-19.
Google Scholar
It has been a long road, but a rewarding one. Today, between diagnosing and teaching medical students, residents, and fellows, I have made it my mission to share what I have learned with as many people as I can, in language we can all understand. I want us to become not only better informed about health and our bodies, but healthier. Being able to move the needle even a little in that direction is what drives me.
Thank you for your support and your trust, and for helping me get there.
Health and science for everyone.
