Our founding surgeons
Hope Oncology Group is comprised of professionals from all areas of health related to cancer treatment. However, it was four surgical oncologists who, with a philanthropic vision, medical passion and vocation of service, gave life to this project. Learn more about them.
Dr. Josías Juantá Castro
Training
• Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous School of Medical Sciences of Central America (1993-1997).
• Specialty in Oncologic Surgery, San Juan de Dios Hospital – University of Costa Rica (2004-2009).
• Postdoctoral fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery, Ángel H. Roffo Oncology Institute, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina (2009-2010).
• Clinical Observership – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA (2010, 2015, 2017).
• International Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery, IFHNOS, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA (2015-2017).
• Training in basic laparoscopy,
Roosevelt Hospital, Guatemala (May-June 2005).
Specialized Training
• Training at TOETVA – Police Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand (2018); Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA (2020).
• Microsurgical Reconstruction, European Master of Microsurgery, University of Barcelona, Spain (2010-2011).
• Training in Radiofrequency Thyroid Ablation
1. Master Course of Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation – Chicago, USA (August 2024).
2. Advanced course “Thyroid RFA Workshop” – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (September 2023).
Oncologic surgeon and head and neck surgeon with 15 years of experience in the surgical, ablative, and multidisciplinary treatment of head and neck tumors. He is a pioneer and the only surgeon in Costa Rica to perform transoral endoscopic vestibular thyroidectomy (TOETVA).
Expert in microsurgical and complex locoregional reconstruction, Mohs surgery, and facial reconstruction for cancer, with extensive teaching experience and active participation as a speaker, coordinator, and organizer at national and international conferences.
Professional Experience and Hospitals
Principal surgeon and consultant in highly complex procedures requested for his expertise at the following CCSS hospitals: Mexico Hospital, Calderón Guardia Hospital, National Children's Hospital, Cartago Hospital, Alajuela Hospital, San Ramón Hospital, Puntarenas Hospital, San Carlos Hospital, Golfito Hospital, and Liberia Hospital.
Foreign Hospitals:
• High Technology Medical Institute, Montería, Colombia.
• Northern Medical Union Clinic, Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Positions and Appointments
• Coordinator of the Head and Neck and Microsurgery Unit – San Juan de Dios Hospital, San José, Costa Rica.
• Metropolitan Hospital – Cancer Center (2020-present), member of the Cancer Board.
Hospital Clínica Bíblica (2011-present).
• Undergraduate Professor (Medicine) – University of Costa Rica (2011-present).
• Postgraduate Professor (Oncologic Surgery) – University of Costa Rica (2011-present).
• Full Professor – Latin American Federation of Head and Neck Surgery Societies (2015-present).
• Faculty – AO Foundation, Oral Cancer Diploma Program (2022-present).
Dr. Eduardo Sáenz Corrales
Dr. Eduardo Saenz Corrales is a general surgeon, surgical oncologist and hepatobiliary surgeon with expertise in the surgical management of hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal pathology, as well as soft tissue tumors.
He is a general surgeon and oncologist, with postdoctoral training in surgery of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, stomach and intestines. He masters advanced open and laparoscopic techniques. He specializes in the use of intraoperative ultrasound in gastrointestinal surgery. He also specializes in tumor surgeries on the trunk and extremities.
Educational background
• General surgery, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
• Oncological surgery, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
• Laparoscopic Surgery, CCMI, Caceres, Spain.
• Soft tissue surgery, Institut Gustave Roussy, France.
• Hepatobiliary Surgery, Paul Brousse Hospital, France
Dr. Yerald Peraza Solís
He is a general surgeon and oncologist with a special interest in the field of digestive surgery. He specializes in endoscopic surgical techniques. He also specializes in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and trans anal endoscopic microsurgery. He is an undergraduate and graduate professor at the University of Costa Rica, and a collaborator and advisor for the treatment of cancer in Costa Rica.
Educational background
• General Surgery, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
• Oncological Surgery, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
• Masters in Endoscopic surgery tecniques, UAB, Spain.
• Laparoscopic Digestive Surgery, Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital, Spain.
• Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery, Vall D Hebron Hospital, Spain.
• Colon and Rectum Unit, National Center of Cancer, Japan
Dr. Hermann Barquero Melchor
Educational background
• Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, UCR, Costa Rica.
• Doctor in Advances in Surgery: Surgical Oncology, • University of Salamanca, Spain.
• Specialty in General Surgery, UCR, Costa Rica.
• Specialty in Surgical Oncology, UCR, Costa Rica.
• Specialty in Senology and Breast Pathology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
Specialist in Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, UCR.
Specialist in Senology and Breast Pathology
Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Head of Service, Surgical Oncology, Hospital México, CCSS
Licensed Interim Professor, School of Medicine
Faculty of Health Sciences, UCR.
Ad Honorem Professor, Postgraduate in Surgical Oncology
PPEM, SEP, UCR.
Local postgraduate coordinator, Surgical Oncology headquarters Hospital México, PPEM, SEP, UCR
Dra. Natasha Loría Terwes
General Surgeon and Oncologist with an emphasis in upper digestive surgery (esophagus and stomach), with a postgraduate degree in advanced laparoscopy with emphasis in oncology.
Currently, she is part of the Department of Hemato-Oncology at the Hospital Dr. Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia and is a professor at the Center for Research in Surgery and Cancer (CICICA) of the University of Costa Rica. She is also Vice-President of the Association for Gastric Cancer Care of Costa Rica.
Educational background
• General Physician, University of Costa Rica Specialty in General Surgery, University of Costa Rica.
• Specialty in Oncologic Surgery, University of Costa Rica.
• Postgraduate in Advanced Oncologic Laparoscopy, Universidad Autónoma de México.
• Observership in Oncologic Laparoscopy, Hospital Juárez de México.
• Observership in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Montreal General Hospital.
• Observership in Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
• Observership in Peritoneal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Virgen de Arraixaca, Murcia, Spain.
Support team
Medical Oncology (Chemotherapy)
Radiotherapy
Reconstructive surgery
Palliative Care and Pain
Nutrition
Psychooncology