LaparoscopicAppendectomy near Lakeland, FL

Biography: Roberto Arias, MD, is a board-certified surgeon who completed his internship in general surgery at Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Center, New York, NY, and general surgery residency at New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, where he also completed a fellowship in Advanced GI/MIS. Dr. Arias has been a surgeon at Nuvance Health at Putnam Hospital Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, since 2022, and before that, served as a general surgeon at UNC Health at Southeastern in Lumberton, NC. As an assistant professor of general surgery at New York Medical College at Metropolitan Hospital in New York City, he conducted a wide range of general surgical procedures and mentored and supervised surgical residents and medical students.

Care Philosophy: W. Raleigh Thompson, MD, FACS, is a former US Navy surgeon who is double-board certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery. As the Medical Director of Pediatric Surgery at AdventHealth for Children, he is an acknowledged leader in his field who performs complex, minimally invasive and highly delicate surgeries to address congenital diseases and birth defects in young children. A compassionate physician who is fluent in both English and Spanish, he clearly and thoroughly communicates with parents about their childvvvs condition and treatment options. Areas in which he specializes include pediatric surgery, general surgery and surgical critical care. Dr. Thompson is a proud graduate of the University of South Florida College of Medicine and completed his residency training at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, followed by his advanced fellowship training in pediatric surgery at Childrenvvvs National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Differentiators Dr. Thompson has extensive experience, having performed more than 10,000vprocedures in busy pediatric centers over the past 25 years.

Care Philosophy: Christopher Anderson, MD, FACS, is double-board certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery with advanced training in minimally invasive surgery techniques for pediatric surgery. He is dedicated to providing the most advanced and effective treatments for thoracic and abdominal conditions in children, and his clinical expertise and outstanding patient outcomes have been recognized with Clinician of the Year and Surgeon of the Quarter awards from AdventHealth. A Phi Beta Kappa and honors graduate of the University of Iowa, he earned his medical degree at the same school before undertaking his residency training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He also completed a research fellowship and two clinical fellowships in pediatric endoscopy and pediatric surgery at the Children's Hospital of the University of Alabama and the University of Texas Health Science Center/MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, respectively.

Care Philosophy: Dr. Santa-Cruz speaks English and Spanish and is dedicated to providing the best care for each patient's body, mind and spirit.