María José Escobar Domingo, MD, MPH
Dr. María José Escobar Domingo was born and raised in Cali, Colombia. She earned her medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in 2023, graduating summa cum laude. During medical school, she completed her sub-internship year at Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, a high-volume trauma center in Medellín, and worked as a surgical assistant in a private plastic surgery clinic.
After graduating, Dr. Escobar joined the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, as a postdoctoral research fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Bernard Lee. She led Dr. Lee’s research team for over a year, designing and coordinating multi-institutional studies focused on improving outcomes and operative efficiency in breast reconstruction. She also contributed to manuscript and grant writing, statistical analysis, and data interpretation. In parallel, she participated in a NIH R01-funded translational research project in lymphatic surgery using a swine model under the mentorship of Dr. Dhruv Singhal.
Dr. Escobar recently completed her Master of Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, with a concentration in Clinical Effectiveness and Public Health Leadership. Her academic interests center on improving surgical care through data-driven, cost-effective, and patient-centered approaches. She is thrilled to join the UPMC Plastic Surgery team as a research fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Rubin, where she will contribute to cost-effectiveness analyses of innovative surgical technologies.
Outside of the hospital, Maria finds joy in salsa dancing, discovering new coffee spots, doing yoga, gardening, and spending quality time with her family and close friends. She also loves being outdoors—whether hiking, running, or simply walking while listening to a good podcast.
Awards
- Top Scoring Abstract, American Association of Plastic Surgeons (2025)
- Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2024)
- Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies (2024)
- Top Scoring Poster, American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery (2024)
- Top Scoring Oral Presentation, New England Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (2024)
- Top Scoring Poster, American Association of Plastic Surgeons (2024)
- Top Scoring Poster, Plastic Surgery Research Council (2024)
- Top Scoring Oral Presentation, Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (2023)
- Summa Cum Laude, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (2023)
- National Neuroscience Champion (2021)
- Best Poster Award, Xaverian Research Day (2019)
- Javerian Honor Roll (2018)
- Magis Excellence Scholarship (2016–2023)
Dr. Escobar has co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications, textbook chapters, and scientific abstracts. She has presented her work at more than 80 regional, national, and international meetings.