An accomplished plastic surgeon, leader and educator in burn care, Ramon Zapata-Sirvent, M.D., has been an integral part of the surgical team at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Galveston for the past three years.
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Zapata-Sirvent knew at a young age that he wanted to become a surgeon and help others. Early in his career, working in the University of Colorado’s burn unit under the mentorship of John A. Boswick, M.D., one of the founders of the American Burn Association, and John F. Hansbrough, M.D., he found his true passion for helping burn survivors. Dr. Zapata-Sirvent went on to author eight books on burn care and plastic surgery and hundreds of papers specific to reconstructive care, sharing his knowledge with burn care professionals across the globe.
Before returning to the U.S. to work for Shriners Hospitals for Children, Dr. Zapata-Sirvent became known in Venezuela and across Latin America as a medical leader, working to improve burn care in a country with a large oil and gas industry (which can involve dangers that lead to burn injuries), and later founding the Venezuelan Burn Association. Dr. Zapata-Sirvent also served as president of the Venezuelan Society of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Maxillofacial Surgery, and is currently a member of the board of directors of the Ibero-Latinoamerican Federation of Plastic Surgery.
He enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren who live in the U.S., and continues to use his surgical talent and passion for helping children with burn injuries live without being confined by their scars.
