Dr. Rafael is a cardiothoracic surgeon specializing in advanced heart failure, heart transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, and minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery. He currently serves at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where he is the Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Surgical Director of the Valve Clinic, and Founder and Medical Director of the Hispanic Cardiovascular Institute.

Born and raised in Jauja, Junín, Peru, Dr. Rafael has dedicated his life to advancing cardiovascular care and expanding access to life-saving treatment in underserved communities.  In 2013, he founded Salvando Corazones, an international humanitarian initiative that provides free, life-saving cardiac surgeries and medical education in Peru. Through this program, medical teams from the United States and Peru have worked together to bring hope and healing to patients who otherwise would not have access to specialized care.

Most recently, in 2026, Dr. Rafael led the 18th Salvando Corazones Medical Mission at Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo in Lima, where complex open-heart surgeries—including minimally invasive and robotic procedures—were successfully performed. He has also led international educational efforts to train medical professionals across Latin America, helping expand access to advanced cardiac care in countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, and Mexico. His mission is guided by a powerful principle: to save lives, educate future generations, and bring world-class cardiac care to communities that need it most.