Carlos A. Higuera Rueda MD

Carlos Higuera-Rueda, MD, has been named Center Director of Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Center and Chairman of the Levitetz Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the highest ranked orthopaedic program in Florida according to U.S. News and World Report. A board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Higuera-Rueda specializes in hip and knee arthroplasty surgery with a focus on complex revision procedures. “Dr. Higuera is an outstanding surgeon, an accomplished researcher, and a welcome addition to our growing orthopaedic team,” said Wael Barsoum, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic Florida. “As one of the region’s leading referral centers for orthopaedic care, we are committed to improving outcomes and quality of life for our patients using the latest therapies, surgical techniques and leading-edge technology. With the opening of our ambulatory surgery center in Coral Springs this summer, we will be able to provide even greater access to our orthopaedic and sports medicine services.”

Dr. Higuera-Rueda will oversee a team of 15 physicians and seven advanced clinicians who specialize in treating individuals affected by bone, joint or connective tissue disorders. In addition, he was recently named the recipient of the Amy and David Krohn Family Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Outcomes, focusing on outcomes research after joint replacements, including predictors and risk stratification, as well as research on infections involving joint replacements. Prior joining Cleveland Clinic Florida, Dr. Higuera-Rueda was a staff surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic Adult Reconstruction Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and Vice Chairman of Quality and Patient Safety for the Orthopaedic and Rheumatologic Institute. A graduate of Pontificia Javeriana University, School of Medicine in Bogota, Colombia, Dr. Higuera-Rueda completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. His advanced training includes an adult hip and knee reconstruction fellowship at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa.