Humberto has dedicated most of his adult life to academic pathology, lung biology and mentoring. He obtained his MD with honors (summa cum laude) from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. Seeking to improve his medical training, he relocated to Chicago in 2006, where he was a post-doctoral fellow researching lung cell biology at Northwestern University. Impressed by the power of microscopy and the importance of making the right diagnoses, he followed his medical training with a residency in Anatomic Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a fellowship (as Chief-Fellow) in Thoracic Pathology. He is currently an Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of South Florida and Section Head of Thoracic Pathology at Moffitt Cancer Center.
While understanding the molecular alterations in lung cancer and pathology have been some of Humberto’s main interests in life, teaching and mentoring have always been a part of Humberto’s best qualities as a physician. At Northwestern, he won the Best Teaching Award for a postdoctoral fellow for his dedication to teaching medical students, residents, and fellows. At Pitt Med, one of Humberto’s greatest achievements was becoming an Advisory Dean and mentoring hundreds of medical students. Some of his responsibilities included helping them transition into their role as medical students, guiding them through the journey of successfully applying to residency, and writing many Medical Student Performance Evaluation letters. Humberto is also very familiar with the medical school admission process, having been on the Pitt Med Admissions Committee for many years. In this role, he reviewed hundreds of medical school applications, interviewed hundreds of applicants, and participated in countless admissions and ranking meetings. His familiarity with teaching pathology and the overall medical school curriculum were fundamental in awarding him an executive position at Pitt Med ongoing curriculum reform (only granted to the top 40 educator at Pitt Med), which he continues to support after relocating to the University of South Florida. There, he continues to mentor medical students in their doctoring clinical experience course, participates in the pathology residency admissions process, and teaches and mentor pathology residents and fellows. He is currently the selected Fellowship Director for the upcoming Thoracic Pathology Fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center. Lastly, his dedication to teaching at the University of Florida was recognized by receiving the 2023 Anatomic Pathology Teaching award.
When he is not helping to find a cure for lung cancer or teaching residents and medical students, Humberto enjoys putting Legos together and spending time with his family, especially with their rescued dog Lucy. He is also passionate about traveling, learning languages, exercising, and enjoying the warmth of the many Florida beaches.
