Rafael is a full-time Surgeon, Educator, Speaker, Patient Advocate, & Healthcare Futurist; an Immigrant- originally from Caracas, Venezuela. After doing his surgery residency in Ann Arbor, MI, USA, he developed as a General, Trauma, Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic surgeon and now practices in the USA. After performing the first ever live surgery with Google Glass in 2013, becoming a 6X TEDx speaker, an advisor and consultant to multiple entities, he’s become a global advocate for the use of exponential technologies, especially XR & AI to augment the human clinician, and bring humanity back to healthcare. His passion focuses on the intersection of innovation technology and healthcare. Throughout his career, he has focused on tapping the paradoxical power of technology to coexist with better, more humane medical care. As a healthcare futurist, being a full-time practicing surgeon, gives him the rare skills, qualities and advantages that clinicians have but most technology innovators lack. That duality of expertise makes him a voice that definitely should be heard. A voice that impacts and addresses both ends of the spectrum, diversifying the target audience, feeding multiple interests and curiosities.