ECRMC welcomes new surgeon onto staff
In an effort to address the few amount of general surgeons locally available, El Centro Regional Medical Center recently announced it will be welcoming an additional surgeon onto its hospital staff.
On Sunday, ECRMC will welcome Luis Carlos Cajas-Monson, MD, MPH, to its multidisciplinary team of surgeons, stated an ECRMC press release.
Cajas will specialize in general surgery treating patients with a variety of conditions from digestive diseases to cancer.
“I am thrilled to become a member of the Imperial Valley and to serve the community,” said Cajas. “I look forward to listening to and caring for my patients’ surgical needs, whatever they may be.”
ECRMC is a clinical affiliate of University of California, San Diego Health. Cajas’ presence at ECRMC is part of the university’s ongoing effort to enhance ECRMC’s ability to deliver high-quality, integrated and cost-effective care to patients in the Imperial Valley the press release stated.
The recruitment of Cajas to El Centro was enabled through a partnership between ECRMC and UC San Diego to address a local shortage of general surgeons.
The recruitment was spearheaded by Dr. Bryan Clary, professor and Chair of Surgery at UC San Diego Health.
Clary is a graduate of Imperial High School who retains family ties in the Imperial Valley.
“Dr. Cajas is an exceptional surgeon who is excited to live and serve in the Imperial Valley,” said Clary.
“At UC San Diego, he distinguished himself as one of the best residents in the past 10 years. He has outstanding judgment and exceptional technical skills. He is fluent in Spanish and has established himself as a real humanitarian in every community in which he has resided.”
Cajas has been a member of Big Brother Big Sister since 2012. In 2016, he received the Big Brother of the Year award in San Diego.
He has served as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity as well as student-run free clinic services.
He has also served as a speaker and childcare officer for Adelante Familia, a group supporting victims of domestic violence in Maryland.
Cajas has also served as an interpreter for Nobel Peace Prize recipient Rigoberta Menchu, an indigenous rights activist from Guatemala.
Born and raised in Guatemala, Cajas’ interest and involvement in medicine began early in his life after he experienced a pair of dramatic and traumatic events that would reveal both the patient and physician side of medicine to him.
“When I was a teenager, I had two pivotal experiences that drew me to medicine. At 16, I was accidentally shot in the chest and suffered a collapsed lung. Then at 17, I contracted malaria,” said Cajas. “I know what it is to be a patient. I understand what it’s like to be in a hospital bed, feeling vulnerable. These experiences made me want to help others as a surgeon.”
Cajas received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry and biophysics from Oregon State University.
He earned a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Cajas completed his internship and residency in general surgery at UC San Diego Health.
Cajas is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Medical Association. In 2017, he received the Housestaff Kaiser Excellence in Teaching Award.
Cajas’ research has explored risk factors for ocular infections in children, colorectal cancer and disease, post-operative outcomes in colorectal cancer and robotic approaches to colorectal surgery.
“Dr. Cajas is a welltrained, minimally invasive surgeon who is certified to perform robotic surgery. Dr. Cajas will partner with other UC San Diego surgeons to provide specialty surgical services at ECRMC,” said Clary.
Clary explained that Cajas will offer the full spectrum of general surgery services to the patients at ECRMC.
“For conditions that can be safely treated in the Valley, Dr. Cajas will bring the same level of quality and expertise that exists in our San Diego hospitals. For rare conditions or highly complex medical situations that cannot be managed in the Valley, Valley residents will have a seamless process to tap into the world-class experts at the UC San Diego Health and for those experts to partner with local surgeons to minimize the need for medical-related trips to San Diego.”