Catalina Ruiz Mesa, MD

Hospice and Palliative Care Physician

Catalina Ruiz Mesa, MD, is originally from Colombia and specializes in pediatric hematology and hospice and palliative care. She earned her medical degree from Fundacion Universitaria San Martin in Medellin, Colombia. After medical school, she worked as a general physician, gaining valuable experience before moving to the United States to begin her pediatric residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, NY.

Dr. Ruiz Mesa completed her pediatric hematology oncology fellowship at the University of Miami (Jackson Memorial Hospital). She then served for four years as a pediatric hematology oncology physician at Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, FL. At Broward Health, she gained extensive experience in pediatric cancer and blood disorders care and had the opportunity to work with and train pediatric residents.

Driven by a passion for supporting children and families facing life-threatening illnesses, Dr. Ruiz Mesa completed a hospice and palliative care fellowship at Children’s National. After her fellowship, she worked as hospice medical director at Capital Caring Kids program. Dr. Ruiz Mesa now works as a palliative care physician at Children’s National, where she provides compassionate care for children with serious illnesses and at the end of life.

• PANDA Palliative Care