ABOUT ||| RGC

Dr. Rafael S. Garcia-Cortes is a transplant cardiologist and bilingual writer (Spanish/English), originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, now based in Indianapolis. His professional journey began in a different field—after earning a degree in electrical engineering, he pivoted to medicine, later completing a Master’s in Population Health Sciences and training in cardiology and heart transplantation at Washington University in St. Louis, one of the nation’s top medical institutions. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and is widely regarded as a compassionate and respected physician. While his day-to-day work focuses on medical science and patient care, storytelling has always been a driving force in his life.

After the pandemic, he returned to writing and published his debut novel in Spanish, Catarsis, a psychological thriller. The book won the Isabel Allende International Latino Book Award for Most Inspirational Novel in 2023 (Silver, Spanish) and was later translated into English at the publisher's request, following critical acclaim. The experience reignited his passion for fiction and storytelling.

Garcia-Cortes’s work blends speculative fiction with themes of identity, science, and cultural heritage, often exploring the intersections between medicine and magical realism. His latest unpublished novel, The MicroUniverse, weaves together misattributed alternate realities, parallel timelines, and a sweeping family saga.

As a proud Puerto Rican writer, he's drawn to stories that bridge cultures, challenge perspectives, and speak to the universal desire for connection. He believes literature, like medicine, holds the power to heal, inspire, and transform.

  • Internal Medicine Residency (2012), Adult Cardiology Fellowship (2016), Advanced Heart Failure | Transplant Cardiology Fellowship (2017) and Master in Population Health Sciences (2017)

    Washington University in St. Louis – School of Medicine | Barnes-Jewish Hospital

    University of Puerto Rico-School of Medicine

    Medical Doctorate Degree (2009)

    Graduated magna cum laude

    Final Medical School Class Rank: 10th (Top 10%)

    University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez

    B.S. Electrical Engineering (2005)

    Graduated summa cum laude

    Final Engineering Class Rank: 1st (Top 1%)

    Centro Residencial de Oportunidades Educativas en Mayagüez (CROEM)

    High School Degree

    Graduated top 10%

  • Catharsis awarded the prestigious “The Isabel Allende Most Inspirational Fiction Book Award – Spanish (Silver)” by the International Latino Book Awards (ILBA)

    Indianapolis Monthly Top Doctors List - Cardiology (2022 and 2023)

    2023 Castle Connolly Top Hispanic & Latino Doctor

    Catharsis awarded Maestría Certification (2022)

    Knowlton Incentive for Excellence Award by the Division of Medical Education at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (2014)

    Selected as Chief Resident of John Cochran – VA Hospital in St. Louis / Barnes-Jewish Hospital Division (2011-2012)

    Inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha (ΑΩΑ) Medical Honor Society, University of Puerto Rico Chapter (2008)

    Biography | photography published in the national Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) calendar 2006

    Inducted to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Alumni Hall of Fame 2005

    George Simon Ohm Award, Electrical Engineering Department Award, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (2005)

    General Engineering Faculty Award, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (2005)

    Luis Steffani Raffucci Award, Chancellor’s Award, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (2005)

    General Motors scholar for academic performance (2004)

    Boeing Co. scholar for academic performance (2002-2005)

    Ford & HSF scholar for academic performance (2002-2005)

    Kimberly Clark scholar for academic performance (2002)

    National U.S. American Scholar Award’s Winner, Dean’s selection (2002)

    National Collegiate Minority Leadership Award’s Winner, Dean’s selection (2002)

“Navigating my name can be quite the adventure—it’s lengthy and often gets misspelled. But I like to keep things simple. To my dear friends, I’m Rafa. When it comes to my patients, I’m Dr. Garcia. For fellow readers, Rafael Garcia or RGC works perfectly fine. And for my beloved mom, I’m always Rafaelito.”

→ Literature (@Catarsis full details)