Dr. Francisco Espinoza Villegas is a Medical Doctor graduated from Universidad de los Andes (2006), with a specialization in Internal Medicine from the same institution. He furthered his training with a specialization in Rheumatology at the University of Montpellier, France, and a Research Fellowship at the University of California, San Diego, USA.

He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at UANDES and as a Rheumatologist at Clínica Universidad de los Andes.

Dr. Espinoza leads research in the field of rheumatology, focusing on autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. His work also encompasses the application of cell therapies, including the use of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Additionally, he has been involved in studies on the immune response in COVID-19 patients, comparing their response with that of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

As an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at UANDES, Dr. Espinoza teaches courses in the Internal Medicine program, including the Internal Medicine Internship and Integrated Medical Clinics. His teaching approach integrates clinical practice with theoretical education, promoting active and student-centered learning.