Tarak Rambhatla, MD

Victor Maciel, M.D., is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in colorectal surgery at Baptist Health. He speaks fluent English and Spanish. Prior to joining Baptist Health, Dr. Maciel completed a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.Dr. Maciel earned his medical degree from Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Guadalajara. He then completed his general surgery residency at Ascension Health/St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, earning outstanding performance awards two years in a row. In addition to his colon and rectal surgery fellowship, Dr. Maciel completed a minimally invasive colorectal surgery fellowship at University of Texas/Houston Methodist Hospital and a minimally invasive advanced GI surgery fellowship at Jackson South Community Hospital. He also spent four years as a practicing general and minimally invasive surgeon for Broward Surgical Specialists in West Palm Beach. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. As a surgeon focused on both colorectal and weight loss surgery, Dr. Maciel believes it is especially important for him to develop positive relationships with his patients. He is committed to establishing a trusting, caring rapport with his patients to help them feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics related to their condition. When not working, Dr. Maciel enjoys spending time with his family. He is also passionate about music and the arts, often attending live shows, writing and performing music in his home studio.

Soni Chousleb, M.D., is a general surgeon and a member of Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. He specializes in surgery with an interest in minimally invasive and robotic procedures. Dr. Chousleb received his medical degree from Anahuac University School of Medicine in Mexico City. He was a research fellow at Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Temple School of Medicine, in Pittsburgh, and then completed a general surgery residency at New York Hospital Queens, Weill Cornell Medical College, in Flushing, N.Y. Following his residency, Dr. Chousleb completed a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive thoracic and foregut surgery at Boston Medical Center. He is Board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, and has performed research on microsurgery and laparoscopic surgery, critical ischemia of the lower limbs and gastric bypass complications. He is an associate professor at Florida International University’s Wertheim School of Medicine and is fluent in English and Spanish.

Juan-Carlos Verdeja, M.D., FACS, is a general surgeon and chairman of the operating committee for Baptist Health Medical Group, an organization of more than 180 physicians in multiple specialties closely aligned with Baptist Health South Florida. Dr. Verdeja is chief of surgery and founding president of the medical staff at West Kendall Baptist Hospital. Dr. Verdeja has been in surgical practice for more than two decades and specializes in general, laparoscopic and oncologic surgery. He graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was chief resident of the department of surgery. Dr. Verdeja is director of laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, and is an associate professor in the school's department of surgery as well as at Nova Southeastern University's College of Allied Health. Dr. Verdeja is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and the National Board of Medical Examiners. He lectures nationally and internationally and is published in more than 50 medical journals. He has been instrumental in the development of advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques and devices.