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HouseCall • Find a physician: 866-683-DOCS
HOUSECALL
RECENTLY
SPOKE
with
Iumy Torres-Barja, MD, a surgeon on staff
at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth.
Here are some highlights from that
interview.
Q
What is your
specialty?
A
I’m a general surgeon.
Q
Can you tell us a bit about your
background and what led you here?
A
I was born in Cuba and lived in
Cost Rica as a young girl. I also
lived in Miami for over 25 years and
went to Florida International University
there. I returned to Costa Rica to attend
Universidad Autónoma de Centro América
Medical School, and I began my surgical
training at Jackson Memorial Hospital
at the University of Miami. I transferred
to Methodist Hospital in Houston for the
remainder of that five-year program and
then accepted the position at Southeast
Texas Surgical Associates.
Q
Does your job give you opportunities
to use the latest technology?
A
Yes. For example, we use high-
definition laparoscopic surgery at
St. Elizabeth. This is minimally invasive
surgery, which uses several small inci-
sions instead of one large one. The instru-
ments we use give a better view of the
internal organs, and the high definition
gives very fine detail.
Q
What aspects of care at St. Elizabeth
stand out for you?
A
The breast navigation system
really helps patients get treatment
quickly. It’s a bi-weekly conference where
a variety of specialists discuss all the
breast cancer patients in the hospital.
This expedites the process from diagno-
sis to treatment, and women who need
a biopsy and surgery can get it within a
week. In larger cities, that can take three
weeks.
Q
Have you been involved in other
women’s health events?
A
Last year I was on a panel with
other surgeons and oncologists
at the CHRISTUS LiveWell
TM
Women’s
Conference. It’s an event that brings
together doctors from many specialties.
We try to educate the community about
every aspect of healthcare for women. The
year before, I gave a conference on breast
cancer and cancer prevention.
Q
What recognitions and awards have
you received?
A
I graduated with honors from medi-
cal school, and I was chosen intern
of the year at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
I’m also a member of the American
College of Surgeons.
Q
What do you do in your
spare time?
A
I enjoy the slower pace in Beaumont,
compared with Miami or Houston. I
try to find time for painting and drawing,
which I’ve done for many years. My work
has received much recognition in Miami. I
also practice karate.
FIRST PERSON:
“We try to
educate the
community
about every
aspect of
healthcare
for women.”
–
Iumy
Torres-Barja, MD
Getting to
know Dr. Torres
A trusted face at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth
To make an ap-
pointment with
Iumy Torres-Barja,
MD, call our Find a
Physician line at
866-
683-3627
and ask for
a referral.