Yoel A. Rojas Ortiz, MD

Page Updated: March 6, 2020

Dr. Yoel A. Rojas Ortiz joined Long Island Plastic Surgical Group in 2017. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico in 2003, graduating Summa Cum Laude and earning a perfect GPA of 4.00. Dr. Rojas received his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in 2007, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He went on to complete a residency in general surgery at the University of Puerto Rico in 2012. He also undertook a burn surgery fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, finishing in 2014. Dr. Rojas also pursued a plastic surgery residency with Long Island Plastic Surgical Group in conjunction with Nassau University Medical Center.

Dr. Rojas is an avid researcher, with authorial credits in numerous prestigious publications. He has received many awards, including the Best Student in Surgery Medal and the Academic Excellence Award, both from the UPR School of Medicine. He specializes in burn care and facial reconstruction, procedures that he has researched, published, and presented on extensively throughout his academic career.

Having completed a two-year burn fellowship during his residency, Dr. Rojas has a passion for reconstructive surgery for burn patients, as well as experience in the management of chronic and difficult wounds. This reconstructive background complements his keen eye in matters of facial and body aesthetics. Additionally, Dr. Rojas performs gender affirming surgical procedures for transgender patients, including facial surgery, transmasculine top surgery, and transfeminine breast augmentation.

Outside of surgery, Dr. Rojas enjoys traveling, watching movies, reading, swimming, and working out at the gym.

Education

Honors/Awards

June 2012: Best Teaching Senior Resident – Given upon graduation from general surgery residency and selected by 3rd and 4th year medical students completing their surgical rotations.
June 2007: Best Student in Surgery Medal – Given by the UPR School of Medicine Surgery Department to the student who showed genuine interest in surgery and obtained the highest grade and clinical evaluations during surgery rotation.
June 2007: Academic Excellence Award, UPR School of Medicine – Given upon graduation from UPR School of Medicine for maintaining academic excellence throughout medical education.
June 2007: Leadership Medal – Given upon graduation from UPR School of Medicine for showing exceptional leadership skill throughout medical education.
April 2006-Present: Member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society – Selected as third-year medical student (Junior).
February 2004-2006: UPR School of Medicine Honor Roll Recognition – Given by the Medical Faculty for being in the top 5% of the class.
February 2005: Physiology Award – Given by the Physiology Department of the UPR School of Medicine for obtaining the highest grade during physiology course.
February 2005: McGraw Hill Award – Given by McGraw Hill & Co. for obtaining 4.00 GPA during first year of medical school.
September 2003: Academic Excellence in Biology Award – Award given by the UPR Department of Biology for obtaining the highest GPA (4.00) in Biology and demonstrating interest, aptitude and diligence in my studies.
May 2003: Summa Cum Laude Medal (GPA 4.00) – Given at graduation from Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the UPR Río Piedras Campus.
April 2002-2003: “Who’s Who Among Undergraduate Students Award” – Given due to outstanding academic performance during undergraduate period.
Jan 2000-May 2003: UPR Honor Studies Program – Awarded membership into UPR Honors Program which enabled me to take multidisciplinary courses at college including French, World Cultures and Honors Thesis about the behavioral and neurochemical effects of androgens on alcohol sensitivity through the GABAergic system.
1999-2003: Dean’s List Award – Given during college education for performance during Biology Bachelor.
1999-2003: UPR Río Piedras Campus Honor Roll Recognition – Given by the Department of Biology for being in the top 5% of specialty.

Professional Associations/Affiliations

Publications/Presentations

September 2016: “Complications with the use of Medpor and Silicone Implants for Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeries of the Mid and Lower Face: Review of Literature From the Last 20 Years” – Oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society Of Plastic Surgery Annual Meeting. Senior Residents Conference.
February 2016: “Three dimensional modeling for preoperative planning in burn surgery” – Poster and Oral CME presentation at the 38th Annual John A. Boswick Burn and Wound Symposium in Maui, Hawaii.
February 2016 “Can Dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Membrane Allografts be used as an Alternative for Autologous Tissue Transfer in Small Wounds? Our Initial Experience at Jacobi Medical Center: A Care Series” – Poster presentation at the 38th Annual John A. Boswick Burn and Wound Symposium in Maui, Hawaii.
December 2015: “Complications with the use of Medpor and Silicone Implants for Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeries of the Mid and Lower Face: Review of Literature From the Last 20 Years” – Oral presentation at the Annual Clinic Day of The American College of Surgeons Brooklyn & Long Island Chapters and The Nassau Surgical Society.
December 2014: “National Epidemiological Characteristics of Hand Burn Injuries: 10-Year Analysis” – Poster and Oral presentation at the Annual Clinic Day of The American College of Surgeons Brooklyn & Long Island Chapters and The Nassau Surgical Society.
May 2012: “Recuperación Rápida y Confortante” – Buena Vida Magazine. Hospital’s Choice Awards Special Edition. P 24-25. I was honored with opportunity to write an article on laparoscopic surgery in Puerto Rico’s main health magazine. I discussed the history of laparoscopic surgery in Puerto Rico, its applications, advantages and challenges for the future.
September 2010: “Chronic Liver Disease and the General Surgeon” – Presented at the monthly General Surgery and Gastroenterology conference at UPR School of Medicine. Conference organized in conjunct by the Department of Surgery and the Department of Gastroenterology. Discussed the importance and implications of chronic liver disease in the perioperative care.
June 2010: “Gastric Stress Ulcers in the ICU” – Presented at the monthly General Surgery and Gastroenterology conference at UPR School of Medicine. Conference organized in conjunct by the Department of Surgery and the Department of Gastroenterology. Discussed risks, latest management options and prevention strategies of gastric stress ulcers in ICU patients.
May 2010: “Case of the Day: Tracheal Stenosis” – Interesting case during Cardiothoracic Surgery rotation selected for presentation at the monthly surgical conference organized by the UPR School of Medicine Surgery Department.
April 2010: “Case of the Day: Mucocele of the Appendix” – Interesting case during Community Surgery rotation selected for presentation at the monthly surgical conference organized by the UPR School of Medicine Surgery Department.
October 2006: Carcinoid Tumors and the Carcinoid Syndrome – Final presentation given during my externship/elective in general surgery at Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital.
January 2006: Rojas Y, Rivera-Ramos I, Rundle V, and Jorge JC (2006) Modulation of elevated plus maze behavior after chronic exposure to the anabolic steroid 17α-methyltestosterone in adult mice. Hormones and Behavior Journal, 49(1):123-8, 2006. – This was my main research project performed at UPR School of Medicine, Anatomy Department. It was published in the prestigious Hormones and Behavior Journal.
June 2004: Rivera-Ramos I, Rundle V, Rojas Y, and Jorge JC (2004) Exposure to an anabolic steroid prevents the anxiolytic effects of ethanol. IBNS, 13: P33, 2004. – Poster presented at the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society held in Key West, Fl. on June 2004.
February 2003: Barreto-Estrada J, Fortis A, Fortis Y, Rojas Y, Corretjer G, and Jorge JC (2003) Sex-specific behavioral effects of anabolic steroids in mice. IBNS, 12:P22, 2003. – Poster presented at the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society held in San Juan, PR. on February 2003.