Personal profile

About

Maria Descartes, M.D., is a medical genetics physician at Miami Cancer Institute. Dr. Descartes specializes in evaluating patients’ family histories of cancer and providing cancer risk assessments for patients and their families during diagnosis and surveillance. She is fluent in English and Spanish. Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute in 2021, Dr. Descartes was on staff at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she was a professor of medical genetics and pediatrics and medical director of genetic counseling from 2008 to 2013. Dr. Descartes’ research has been published in peer-reviewed publications, including The Journal of Pediatric Genetics, The Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, Genetics in Medicine and the American Journal of Medical Genetics. She has served as a reviewer for many publications, including the American Journal of Medical Genetics, The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, the Journal of Pediatric Genetics, the British Medical Journal, WebMD and Clinical Dysmorphology. She has also presented at numerous industry events and conferences. Dr. Descartes’ approach to patient care is to be empathetic and honest with her patients. She is passionate about using genetics to ensure a correct diagnosis, educate, anticipate challenges and create surveillance recommendations. When she is not treating patients, Dr. Descartes enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs, supporting animal welfare organizations, hiking and reading.

Related documents

Education/Academic qualification

Fellowship in Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine

19881991

Pediatric Residency, San Juan City Hospital

19851988

School of Medicine, MD, University of Puerto Rico

19791983

School of Medicine, BS Biology, University of Puerto Rico

19771979

Ponce Regional College, AS Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico

19751977

External positions

Physician, Alabama

Jan 1 2019Jan 1 2021

Medical Director, UAB

Jan 1 2019Jan 1 2021

Chair, Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 2014Jan 1 2021

Director, Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 2013Jan 1 2021

Co-Director, Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 2013Jan 1 2021

Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 2013Jan 1 2021

Medical Director of the Genetic Counseling Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Jan 1 2008Jan 1 2013

Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 1999Jan 1 2013

Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 1992Jan 1 1999

Medical Genetics Physician, Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 1991Jan 1 2021

Medical Genetics Physician, University Hospital, Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 1991Jan 1 2021

Instructor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL

Jan 1 1991Jan 1 1992

Disciplines

  • Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Medical Genetics
  • Oncology
  • Pediatrics