Dr. Peña Manuel received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in 1981. After completing his general surgery residency and fellowship at Charity Hospital, Tulane University and Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami, he would return to MCG to complete his plastic surgery residency. While a good student and a now a well-respected alumnus, an article featuring Dr. Peña in the latest MCG magazine focuses not on his professional accomplishments as a plastic surgeon, but on his mission trips and philanthropy.
Dr. Peña came to the United States with his family in 1964. Leaving Cuba just a few years following Castro’s rise to power, the Peña family spent several months in Mexico waiting for visa approval before finally landing in Miami, where Dr. Peña and his parents were reunited with his sister who had earlier been sent to live with godparents.
Life in those early years was not always easy for the Peña family, but all the same, Dr. Peña remembers the newly free family being together and supportive. All of these things – leaving Cuba, finding a new home, adjusting to a new county, dealing with economic and social disparity – likely played a role in Dr. Peña’s desire to help, serving to fuel his mission work later in life.
“We were together, we were free, and the world was there for the taking.” – Dr. Peña
Dr. Peña has completed nine mission trips and provided surgical care for over 250 patients who otherwise would have gone without assistance. In addition to his mission trips to Africa, Burkina Faso, Jamaica, and South America, Dr. Peña routinely hosts fundraisers in and around Naples to raise money for the equipment and supplies needed on these trips. Contact our office to learn how you can help support these mission trips.
“There’s a great old Chinese proverb. It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. You do just a little bit. That’s all you can do. You can’t fix the world, but if something comes up and you can fix it, you do it.” – Dr. Peña
Dr. Peña is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving Estero, Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, and surrounding areas from his office in Naples. If you are looking for an experienced, dedicated, and caring plastic surgeon in Florida, give us a call at 239-348-7362 to schedule a consultation today.
