Our Doctors
Jorge Paz-Rodriguez, M.D.
Board Member & Medical Director
As Board Member & Medical Director at Stem Cell Institute, Dr. Paz leads a team of experienced doctors in our efforts to improve patient lives through stem cell therapy.
Dr. Paz received his medical degree from the School of Medicine at the University of Panama. He performed his internal medicine training at Lincoln Hospital in New York City as part of the New York Medical College Program “A”. He is also board-certified in internal medicine.
Dr. Paz is the former medical director of the Wellmed Clinic in San Antonio, Texas, and also former director for its chronic disease control program (diabetes, congestive heart failure, and ischemic heart disease). Presently, he is the director of Wellmed Clinic in Panama.
Julio Sierra, M.D.
Clinical Director
Dr. Sierra is a graduate of Florida International University in Chemistry, Anthropology/Sociology. He received his medical degree from Universidad Autónoma de Centroamérica in Costa Rica in 1998.
He then returned to South Florida and devoted the next 15 years to medical research in HIV, endocrine, and stem cell studies.
Dr. Sierra joined Medistem Panama in 2014 and became the Stem Cell Institute Clinical Director in 2016.
Aileen Barnett, M.D.
Staff Physician
Dr. Barnett studied at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in México and received her medical degree as a Médico Cirujano (Medical Surgeon) in 2002.
She received her certification as a doctor in Panamá after completing internships at the Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano Dr Arnulfo A. Madrid and at the Hospital Regional Nicholás A. Solano.
Prior to joining the Stem Cell Institute team, she served as a medical supervisor at Hospital Nacional. She also worked as medical editor and writer for Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company.
Dr. Barnett kicked off her career at the Stem Cell Institute in 2011 as clinic manager and staff physician. She completed a clinical research program at the University of South Florida in 2012 and nutrition program at Universidad de Navarra in 2022.
Pamela Burgos, M.D.
Staff Physician
Dr. Burgos comes from a family of doctors and shares their passion of keeping people healthy. She enjoys learning new skills and acquiring new knowledge to help improve her professional patient care with empathy.
Dr. Burgos received her medical degree in 2018 from Universidad Latina de Panamá. She completed her internship at Hospital Santo Tomás in 2019 and at Hospital Bocas del Toro in 2020.
Carolyn De La Guardia, M.D.
Staff Physician
Dr. De La Guardia is an efficiency-driven physician who is passionate about overall human health, fitness and nutrition. She believes that all people should have healthy bodies, be able to live their lives to their fullest, and that stem cell therapy is the future of medicine.
Dr. De La Guardia received her medical degree from Universidad Latina de Panamá. She also received specialization in clinical medicine from Universidad Nacional de Panamá.
She completed an observership at UT Health – Memorial Hermann in Houston, TX, as well as at Universidad de Navarra – La Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.
Prior to joining the team at Stem Cell Institute, Dr. De La Guardia performed at a medical practice in the public health system in Panama.
Verónica Gaez, M.D.
Staff Physician
Dr. Gaez’s primary interests are anti-aging and orthomolecular medicine as well as hospital management. She studied medicine in order to help people via regenerative medicine, which piqued her interest in stem cell therapy.
Dr. Gaez completed her medical degree at Universidad Latina de Panamá in 2015. She later completed her medical internship in 2018 at Manuel A. Nieto Hospital. Dr. Gaez also holds a certification in scientific research from the Hospital del Niño de Panamá.
Hernan H. Hernandez, M.D.
Staff Physician
Dr. Hernandez received his medical degree from Latina University in the Republic of Panama in 2002 where he specialized in health services management. He also worked as the general director for health care at La Joya Center.
He has been involved with direction for community programs involving patients with tuberculosis, HIV and other chronic infectious diseases in Panama´s Eastern region. Dr. Hernandez was the medical liaison between Panama’s Ministry of Health and the European committee for the patients at La Joya Center.
Cindy Leu, M.D.
Staff Physician
Dr. Leu’s driving purpose in life is to promote wellbeing through holistic therapies to help people achieve their best possible inner and outer beauty.
Dr. Leu received her medical degree from Universidad Latina de Panama in 2005. She completed her internship at the Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano Dr Arnulfo A. Madrid and at the Hospital Regional Nicholás A. Solano in Chorrera.
She has received multiple certifications and completed postgraduate courses in aesthetic and anti-aging medicine. She has participated in the development and execution of several clinical studies in Panama.
Prior to joining the Stem Cell Institute team, Dr. Leu worked as a general physician with a focus on aesthetic medicine including alternative therapies.
Guy Nachio, M.D.
Staff Physician
Dr. Nachio studied medicine at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in México. He did his medical training in Panama in Santo Thomás and the Complejo Hospitalario del Seguro Social, Hospital Aquilino Tejeira in Penonomé, and Hospital Regional de Chepo.
He was the head of the Clínica Laboral, as well as an ER physician, at Clínica San Fernando. He also completed a masters degree in primary healthcare in Madrid, Spain.
