A doctor focused on you

Ileana Esparraguera, MD

Internal Medicine

Dr. Esparraguera arrived in this country as a Cuban refugee at the age of two, and her family had to start from scratch. By the age of four, she expressed to her parents her desire to become a doctor. Her early experiences, including repairing bird wings with popsicle sticks, set her on a path of academic excellence and unwavering dedication to her goal. During her time in college, she worked in a microbiology lab, where she discovered her tolerance for hands-on procedures, such as removing fresh livers from guillotined rats. She also took a full-time job as a nursing assistant at Shock Trauma 4C, working from 3 to 11 pm while studying premed. This job solidified her passion for empathetic care, despite the challenging circumstances, and instilled a strong aversion to motorcycles.

Encouraged by her professors to pursue medical school, Dr. Esparraguera chose a non-traditional path due to financial constraints and went to Spain to study medicine at the Autónoma de Madrid, one of the country’s most prestigious institutions. During her final year, she earned a scholarship to Boston University. Following her graduation, she returned to the U.S. due to her father’s illness. She conducted research in Hematology at George Washington University during the AIDS epidemic, focusing on blood draws and protocols involving Low Molecular Weight Heparin. She co-authored a book chapter on the subject with her mentor, Dr. Craig Kessler.

Dr. Esparraguera passed the board exam, allowing her to complete her residency at GW, where she worked approximately 136 hours per week for four years, during the peak of the AIDS crisis. She managed Clinica del Pueblo for two years and also ran an STD Clinic in Southeast DC. Although she worked for a private practice in Virginia during her residency, she yearned for university exposure. In 1995, she established her private practice, which has grown through word of mouth since its inception.

Dr. Esparraguera’s journey has been marked by a deep commitment to humanity and patient care. Her transition to a new practice model aims to maintain the same level of personalized care despite the financial challenges imposed by changes in insurance practices. She remains dedicated to working diligently for her patients’ optimal health and hopes that her care continues to be appreciated. Her commitment to being a doctor is unwavering and will remain so indefinitely. Patients who are native Spanish speakers or prefer Spanish will be pleased to know that Dr. Esparraguera is fluent in Spanish and has been bilingual since childhood.