Meet the Doctor

Dr. Karim Benítez-Marchand, MD
Certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery

Dr. Karim Benítez-Marchand, MD has been in practice since 2004. He completed his General Surgery internship at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston and a General Surgery residency at the University of Puerto Rico before completing his Plastic Surgery residency in the University of Illinois Hospital and Cooks County Hospital in Chicago.

He obtained board certification in General Surgery in 2002 and board certification in Plastic Surgery in 2006. He is a member of the armed forces and served as Chief of Surgery of Iraq's Al Asad Air Base in 2010. He also served as Axillary Professor at the University of Puerto Rico before dedicating completely to his private practice at State of the Art Plastic Surgery.

He has a broad based practice in aesthetic Plastic Surgery of the body and face and has treated several Celebrities and Beauty Pageant contestants including:

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2011 - Viviana Ortiz Pastrana
Miss Intercontinental Maydelise Columna
Nuestra Belleza Latina - Vanessa de Roide
As well as thousands of patients from all over the world who come to him for aesthetic improvements.

His approach to plastic surgery problems is to individualize care taken, by his patients specific wishes and demands, as a priority to achieve satisfaction in plastic surgery.

Board Certifications:

CV:

Education

University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus
M.D. July 1991 – June 1993

Universidad Central del Caribe Medical Sciences Campus
M.D. July 1989 – June 199

Loyola University of New Orleans
BS – Biology August 1985 – June 1989

Honors

Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, 1986 – 1989
National Dean’s List, 1988
American Heart Association of Louisiana, Research Grant in Biology, 1988
Honor Scholarship University of Puerto Rico, 1992 – 1993
ARMY Scholarship, 1998 – 2001
Physician Recognition Award, American Medical Association, 1996-1999
Chief of the Surgery Department at Ashford Presbyterian Hospital, January 2009, July 2011

Professional Experience

University of Puerto Rico Auxiliary Professor of the School of Medicine, Jan 2005 – Jan 2008
Private/solo Plastic Surgery practice in Puerto Rico, since September 2004
Plastic Surgery Fellowship, 2001 – 2004
Deployed to Irak with the US Army as chief of surgery at Army Hospital at ASAD Irak, December 2010 – March 2011.

Residency

University of Puerto Rico
General Surgery Resident , 1996 – 2001

New England Medical Center
General Surgery Resident , 1994 -1996

New England Medical Center
General Surgery Internship , 1993 – 1994

Research

Bovine Brain Analysis for Enzyme Activities with Clathrin Coated Vesicles
Universidad Central del Caribe, June through August 1992.

Supernumerary Chromosomes Study Loyola University of New Orleans, June 1988 through June 1989.

Osteointegrated Implants Experience at the University of Illinois at Chicago
December 2001 through June 2002.

Presentations

“Supernumerary Chromosomes in Populations of Tradescantia Ohiensis”
Loyola University Biological forum, June 1989.

“Carboxypepsidase Activities of Bovine Brain Clathrin Coated Vesicles”
8th Student Forum for Scientific Research of the University of Puerto Rico, April 1993.

“Osteointegrated Implants: the University of Illinois Experience”
Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgery Meeting, Chicago, IL. April 2002.

Plastic Surgery Senior Resident Conference,
Milwaukee, WI. March 19, 2004.

“Body Contouring After Massive Weight Loss.”
Puerto Rico Chapter meeting of The American College of Surgeons. February , 2006.

“Body Contouring After Massive Weight Loss.”
Annual meeting of The Dominican Republic Surgeons Society, Plastic Surgery Chapter, Guest Speaker. May , 2006.

“Body Contouring After Massive Weight Loss.”
Annual Meeting at Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos de Puerto Rico. Rio Grande, PR. November , 2007.

“Priorities in Post-Bariatric Reconstruction” Annual meeting of the San Juan Chapter of Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos de PR., February , 2009.

Publications

“Carotid Artery Thrombosis and Stroke After Blunt Pharyngeal Injury.”
The Journal of Trauma 42(3) 541-543, 1997.

“Neuropeptide-like tmmunoreactivities and Carboxypeptide H Activity Associated with Bovine
Brain Clathrin Coated Vesicles.” Neuropeptides. 28(6): 341-349, June 1995.

“Osteointegrated Implants in Craniofacial Rehabilitation: The university of Illinois Experience.”
Submitted for publication at The European Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.

Military Service

Army Scholarship 1998-2001
Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve Medical Corps.

Licenses

Puerto Rico Medical License #12277, 1996 to present

Illinois Medical License #036-104842, 2001 to 2004

Societies & Organizations

Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos de Puerto Rico, August 1996 to present.
American College of Surgeons, 1998 to present.
Sociedad de Médicos Graduados de La Universidad de Puerto Rico, 2001 to present.
Massachusetts Medical Society, July 1993 to June 1994.
American Society of Plástic and Reconstructive Surgeons, 2006 to present.
Sociedad de Cirujanos Plasticos de Puerto Rico, July 2004 to present.
Asociación Médica De Puerto Rico January 2005 to present.

Our Team

Providing compassionate and individualized patient care.

Zulma Guzman

Surgical Technician

Zulma has over 16 years as surgical technician and has been working with Dr. Karim Benítez-Marchand, MD in the State of the Art Plastic Surgery center since 2007. She has a great knowledge of general musculoskeletal anatomy and surgical procedures. She is also “the right hand” of Dr. Karim Benítez-Marchand, MD and is available to assist him in all his operations. Zulma has received her Surgical Technician degree from the Antilles School of Technical Careers in 1998. In addition she earned her Bachelor of Education degree at Universidad del Este in 2012. Her passion for the surgical field, her continuous contact with patients and her experience gained during all these years, lead not only to her growth as a medical professional, but also as a person.

Dr. Karim Benítez-Marchand, MD refers to her as his “surgeon emeritus”, because of her contributions as a team member and her excellence in all other areas in the State of the Art Plastic Surgery center.

Yacmet Colón

Perioperative Nurse

Yacmet Colón graduated from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus in 2011, earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing and later she worked in perioperative nursing at the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital. In 2013 she joined the group of medical professionals at the center of plastic surgery State of The Art Plastic Surgery, the office of Dr. Karim Benitez Marchand, MD. Here we offer the most comprehensive solutions available to meet your aesthetic needs from facial fillers (non-surgical) to complete surgical reconstructions. I understand that nursing is the profession of the direct patient care and I have learned to value this profession beyond the question of compassion or the ability to complete routine procedures.

Initially my motivation spawned from my love of God and my desire to be a part of something much bigger than myself. In patient care I offer all that I can give. And together with the team of professionals at State of The Art Plastic Surgery we bring excellent care with love.

Evelyn Muñiz

Receptionist

Evelyn Muniz has been working at the State of the Art Plastic Surgery since 2006 as the customer service representative for our Office. Whenever you call us or visit our office in San Patricio, Puerto Rico, you will be welcomed by Evelyn, with her ability to offer extraordinary quality of service to all our patients.

Evelyn earned the associate degree as a dental assistant in 1987 from Ramirez College. She worked as a dental assistant from 1987 to 2002. Evelyn has been part of the health industry for many years. These years of Evelyn’s experience with clients and patients benefit our patients with her kindness and professionalism. She is an important member of our team, as she is not only in charge of customer service, but also works with health plans and sales of the products in our facilities.

Angy Milena Hernández Rivero

Esthetician

Born in Colombia, Angy Milena Hernández Rivero graduated from the Health Training School in Colombia and from the Rogers Institute in Puerto Rico. Our Esthetician has a high level of professionalism and the extensive experience in the area of aesthetics and beauty. She developed an excellent relationship with our patients by always giving the best in all aesthetic treatments. She has experience in treatments such as: postoperative lymphatic drainage massages, cavitation, radio frequency body treatments, vacuum therapy, facials, peels, acne treatment with Skinmedica® products and with all the latest in esthetic technology.