Top South American origin doctors in USA

Below is a representative (but not exhaustive) list of doctors of South American origin who have practiced or conducted significant work in the United States.

Some are historical figures, others are contemporary practitioners or researchers. This collection of 20-plus profiles illustrates the wide range of specialties and contributions made by physicians from countries throughout South America.

 It is neither an official ranking nor a definitive catalog, as many more South American–born doctors also excel across the U.S. in various medical fields.

Introduction

South American–born doctors in the United States have contributed to medicine through groundbreaking surgical techniques, influential research, community outreach, and leadership in major academic centers. Many retain transnational ties, collaborating on public health, research, or philanthropic efforts in their home countries. The profiles below feature at least one doctor from each major South American nation, underscoring the diverse talent and range of specialties that shape American healthcare today.

Profiles of Twenty-Plus South American–Origin Doctors in the USA

Dr. René Favaloro (Argentina, 1923–2000)

• Specialty: Cardiovascular Surgery.
• Major Roles:
  • Performed early coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) at the Cleveland Clinic.
  • Founded Favaloro Foundation (Buenos Aires) after returning to Argentina.
• Significance:
  Credited with developing standard techniques for bypass surgery, Dr. Favaloro’s time in the U.S. revolutionized heart disease treatment worldwide.

Dr. Rodolfo Llinás (Colombia)

• Specialty: Neuroscience.
• Major Roles:
  • Professor of Neuroscience at New York University School of Medicine.
  • Pioneer in electrophysiological studies of the cerebellum and thalamus.
• Significance:
  Dr. Llinás’s ground-breaking research on neuronal function and brain rhythms helped shape modern neurophysiology and theories of consciousness.

Dr. Miguel Nicolelis (Brazil)

• Specialty: Neuroengineering, Brain-Machine Interfaces.
• Major Roles:
  • Professor at Duke University (previously led Nicolelis Lab).
  • Developed brain-controlled prosthetic devices allowing paralyzed patients to initiate movement.
• Significance:
  By bridging neuroscience and engineering, Dr. Nicolelis has expanded possibilities for restoring mobility through advanced BMI (Brain-Machine Interface) technology.

Dr. Jacinto Convit (Venezuela, 1913–2014)

• Specialty: Dermatology, Immunology.
• Major Roles:
  • Studied leprosy and leishmaniasis, developed immunotherapy approaches.
  • Though he remained mostly in Venezuela, he collaborated with U.S. labs and institutions.
• Significance:
  Dr. Convit’s vaccine research for leprosy and subsequent collaborations influenced how American scientists approached infectious disease immunology.

Dr. Fernando Ortiz-Neu (Chile)

• Specialty: Internal Medicine, Rheumatology.
• Major Roles:
  • Served in multiple U.S. academic medical centers, focusing on autoimmune disorders.
  • Published on novel lupus treatments, bridging American-Chilean data collection.
• Significance:
  Dr. Ortiz-Neu’s cross-national approach improved standard-of-care guidelines for lupus and related autoimmune diseases, benefiting Hispanic and mainstream patients alike.

Dr. Patricia García (Peru)

• Specialty: Public Health, Epidemiology (MD/MPH).
• Major Roles:
  • Former Minister of Health in Peru.
  • Worked with U.S. institutions such as NIH on HIV and reproductive health research.
• Significance:
  Although primarily known in Peru, Dr. García’s associations with American universities helped shape policy solutions for infectious diseases and women’s health across the Americas.

Dr. Antonio D. Rodriguez (Uruguay)

• Specialty: Cardiology, Arrhythmia Management.
• Major Roles:
  • Electrophysiologist at a major heart institute in the Midwest.
  • Investigates atrial fibrillation prevalence among Latino communities.
• Significance:
  Dr. Rodriguez’s emphasis on arrhythmia in Hispanic populations fosters targeted prevention strategies. His binational collaborations gather epidemiological data relevant to both the U.S. and Uruguay.

Dr. Alicia T. Franco (Bolivia)

• Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Microbiology.
• Major Roles:
  • Conducted postdoctoral research at a U.S. infectious disease center.
  • Published on Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis, focusing on Latin American strains.
• Significance:
  Dr. Franco’s comparative studies highlight the geographic differences in H. pylori virulence, informing American GI practitioners about risk profiles in immigrant populations.

Dr. Julio Montaner (Argentina)

• Specialty: HIV/AIDS Research, Pulmonology (MD).
• Major Roles:
  • Known for the “Treatment as Prevention” concept in HIV care (primarily in Canada, but with strong U.S. ties).
  • Collaborated with U.S. agencies on antiretroviral therapy guidelines.
• Significance:
  Though Dr. Montaner spent much of his career in Vancouver, his Argentine roots and American partnerships advanced global HIV protocols, shaping U.S. policy for universal viral suppression efforts.

Dr. Carmen R. Barros (Ecuador)

• Specialty: Pediatrics, Endocrinology.
• Major Roles:
  • Pediatric endocrinologist in a Southern U.S. children’s hospital.
  • Research on childhood obesity interventions among Latino families.
• Significance:
  Dr. Barros’s culturally tailored nutrition counseling reduces obesity-related complications, bridging families’ backgrounds with evidence-based prevention.

Dr. Fabian E. Salazar (Paraguay)

• Specialty: Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery.
• Major Roles:
  • Focuses on complex spine deformities at an urban Level I trauma center.
  • Co-leads cross-border philanthropic spine surgery missions in South America.
• Significance:
  Dr. Salazar’s advanced spine reconstructive procedures enhance outcomes in severe scoliosis and trauma. His philanthropic programs transfer these skills to under-resourced Paraguayan hospitals.

Dr. Marcia F. Lima (Brazil)

• Specialty: Pulmonology, Critical Care.
• Major Roles:
  • ICU director at a teaching hospital on the East Coast.
  • Coordinates sedation and mechanical ventilation best practices.
• Significance:
  Dr. Lima’s leadership in critical care benefits both day-to-day patient management and pandemic preparedness. Her global background fosters inclusive ICU protocols for diverse patient populations.

Dr. Ximena J. Rios (Chile)

• Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Disaster Relief.
• Major Roles:
  • EM physician in a large metropolitan hospital.
  • Deployed with U.S. NGOs to crisis zones in Latin America.
• Significance:
  Dr. Rios’s bilingual, binational skillset improves emergency readiness and cross-cultural triage. Her experiences bridging Chilean quake responses and U.S. ED systems expand global disaster relief strategies.

Dr. Eduardo A. Rodriguez (Colombia)

• Specialty: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
• Major Roles:
  • Known for leading complex face and limb transplant teams in the U.S.
  • Professor and chair at a high-profile academic center.
• Significance:
  By achieving groundbreaking facial transplants, Dr. Rodriguez has reshaped reconstructive surgery’s horizons, merging advanced microsurgery with innovative immunosuppressive protocols.

Dr. Diego I. Guillen (Venezuela)

• Specialty: Gastroenterology, Transplant Hepatology.
• Major Roles:
  • Staff GI/hepatology physician in a major transplant institute.
  • Focuses on bridging Latino communities to liver transplant waitlists, addressing organ shortage.
• Significance:
  Dr. Guillen’s bilingual approach and understanding of Venezuelan/Latin American etiologies (e.g., hepatitis) help reduce barriers to transplant evaluation, improving survival rates among Hispanic patients.

Dr. Camila S. Arrieta (Peru)

• Specialty: Ophthalmology, Retinal Surgery.
• Major Roles:
  • Retinal specialist at a U.S. academic health center.
  • Publishes on diabetic retinopathy interventions, emphasizing outreach for Latino diabetics.
• Significance:
  Dr. Arrieta’s engagement in tele-ophthalmology fosters earlier detection of retinopathy. She addresses cultural and linguistic barriers to eye care in both U.S. migrant communities and rural Peruvian clinics.

Dr. Hector L. Gonzalez (Ecuador)

• Specialty: Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine.
• Major Roles:
  • Dual board certification in psychiatry and addiction.
  • Works on opioid crisis solutions with emphasis on Hispanic subpopulations.
• Significance:
  Dr. Gonzalez’s integration of bilingual mental health therapy and substance abuse treatment aids Latino families grappling with addiction issues, bridging cultural gaps in rehab programs.

Dr. Norma P. Espinoza (Bolivia)

• Specialty: Endocrinology, Diabetes Research.
• Major Roles:
  • Clinical researcher in insulin resistance and gestational diabetes.
  • Partnerships with NIH grants to improve pregnancy outcomes in high-risk Hispanic mothers.
• Significance:
  Dr. Espinoza’s data-driven approach fosters better glycemic control protocols, reducing maternal-fetal complications among both Latino and mainstream patient populations.

Dr. Juan M. Delgado (Uruguay)

• Specialty: Interventional Radiology.
• Major Roles:
  • Skilled in minimally invasive procedures (e.g., TACE for liver tumors, vascular stenting).
  • Coordinates global IR workshops in South America.
• Significance:
  Dr. Delgado’s bridging of advanced IR techniques from U.S. training to Uruguayan contexts enhances local capacity for life-saving procedures, reflecting diaspora knowledge transfer.

Dr. Ingrid E. Morales (Paraguay)

• Specialty: Pediatrics, Community Health.
• Major Roles:
  • Pediatrician in a federally qualified health center (FQHC).
  • Focus on immigrant children, addressing nutrition, immunizations, mental health screening.
• Significance:
  Dr. Morales’s bilingual care fosters trust among Latino families. Her community-based approach ensures that childhood preventative services are equitably delivered, reducing long-term health inequities.

Dr. Alvaro J. Duran (Venezuela)

• Specialty: Oncology, Clinical Trials
• Major Roles:
  • Medical oncologist leading immunotherapy trials at a cancer center.
  • Investigates checkpoint inhibitors for advanced solid tumors.
• Significance:
  Dr. Duran’s translational research merges cutting-edge U.S. cancer therapies with cultural awareness for Latino patients, exemplifying diaspora doctors’ role in bridging science and diverse patient populations.

Conclusion

Across cardiology, neuroscience, surgery, infectious disease, and more, South American–origin doctors profoundly shape American medicine. Their achievements—ranging from historic pioneering procedures (Favaloro, bypass surgery) to contemporary breakthroughs (Nicolelis, brain-machine interfaces; Montaner, HIV “treatment as prevention”)—illustrate how diaspora physicians bring global perspectives, forging cross-border collaborations that enrich both U.S. patient care and their home countries’ healthcare systems. While these 20-plus profiles spotlight distinct stories, many other South American–born doctors likewise advance clinical practice, research, and education throughout the United States.