AnorectalFistula near Fleming Island, FL

Care Philosophy: At Nona Minimally Invasive Surgery, the majority of the treatments and procedures performed are minimally invasive (i.e. robotic-assisted, laparoscopic, or mini-incision surgery) in nature – meaning you will experience less pain, smaller scars and faster recovery than with the traditional, "open" surgical methods employed by some physicians.

Care Philosophy: Waycross has been my home for the past 17 years and I am proud to be a part of a team who is committed to improving the health of our region.

Care Philosophy: My philosophy centers on ensuring patients always feel supported and have immediate access to their physicians, especially when they need it most. A very important aspect is patient connection and making sure the patient never feels alone. One thing I always like to tell my patients is that once I operate on you, we are together for life. My team follows up with each patient one day after their procedure and then again after one week. If there are any concerns, the patient will have immediate access to me.

Care Philosophy: Patients should never feel they have to choose between superior surgical skills and warm, compassionate care. As general surgeons, we have vast experience with both traditional open techniques and minimally invasive approaches. We're known for our expertise in hernia repair. We've performed thousands of procedures on the abdomen, intestines, esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, thyroid and parathyroid glands, skin and breasts.We are experts in the surgical treatment of all types of cancer, including colon cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, stomach cancer, gallbladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer. When cancer is diagnosed and a surgical procedure is done, we make sure patients are scheduled with the appropriate specialists, including medical oncologists and radiation oncologists.Because healing and recovery are typically faster and easier with a minimally invasive approach, our philosophy is always to use the least invasive approach possible that brings the best possible likelihood of a great outcome. We complete 98% of our surgeries laparoscopically, so patients experience less pain, less blood loss and a shorter hospital stay. Our surgeons pursue ongoing education to ensure they remain up to date on the latest techniques and technology.

Biography: Dr. Valerie Vazquez, MD, is a board-certified General Surgeon with HCA Florida Lake City Hospital. Dr. Vazquez provides the highest quality surgical care possible while focusing on each patient's treatment to provide a team approach to healing.Dr. Valerie Vazquez, MD obtained her undergraduate degree from Universidad de Puerto Rico in 2012 and continued her education by receiving her medical degree from Ponce Health Sciences University in 2018. Dr. Vazquez attended the University of Central Florida-HCA Florida Ocala Hospital in 2023 for her residency.In her free time, she enjoys horse riding, gardening, and travel.

Care Philosophy: My Golden Rule is to treat patients as individuals as I myself would want to be treated. I strive to provide the best care possible. I try to make certain that the patient understands their condition, the operation required if necessary, and all available alternatives. I enjoy treating a wide variety of conditions from simple skin lesions to complex intra-abdominal malignancies.

Care Philosophy: Creating safe and expedient fixes for surgical patients.