Recommended Medical Professionals and Clinics

You’ve finally got your new life settled in Medellin. You got an apartment, found a grocery store that sells peanut butter and kale, met an awesome circle of friends…. and then it happens. You notice a slight tingling in your right molar. Or maybe a nagging pain in your wrist.

And you think Oh.

F*&k.

I really hope this goes away on it’s own.

It is bad enough to go to the dentist/doctor/OBGYN/ in my own country. Who knows what it’s like here!

Well now you can breathe easy because here we present a list of medical professionals that have been personally tried and tested by our closest friends.

All doctors are from personal recommendations and don’t even know they’re on this list. Below each doctor are the comments received from the friends who recommended them.

We did our best to indicate which providers speak English. While many speak English, most receptionists who take your call will only speak Spanish.

If you would like to make your own recommendations, please leave the relevant information in the Comments section at the bottom. 

Alternative Medicines (Acupuncture, Homeopathy)

• Provider: Dr. Roberto Moreno Zuluaga (there are two Dr. Moreno’s – you want Roberto)
• Address: Circular 73B #39B-115, Room 201, Laureles (behind Carulla)
• Tel: 411-4891
• English: Yes

“My friend saw him for hip pain, and highly recommended him to help treat my lower back pain. He initially worked as an orthopedic surgeon, but after going to France, he returned to Medellin and began treating patients with acupuncture, holistic/herbal medicines (like creams he makes himself), and exercise plans. He is popular so it may be a few days before you can get an appointment…[cost is] 130,000 pesos ($65) initial visit, 65,000 pesos ($35) every visit after that. Visits generally last 45 minutes to an hour, mostly spent with the needles in just relaxing.”

Cosmetic Procedures

• Provider: Pilar Ochoa
• Address: Torre Intermédica, Calle 7 #39-197, Room 1207 – PBX
• Tel: 321-8567
• Email: info@mdpilarochoa.com
• Website: www.mdpilarochoa.com
• English: Yes

“Leg laser peels and Botox… She is awesome. There is no other.”

Dentists and Oral Surgeons

Two of my friends who do not know each other recommended two dentists at the same facility.

• Provider: Dental Center
• Address: Calle 11 #30A-21, Poblado
• Tel: 268-6922
• Website: www.dentalcenter.com.co
• English: Yes

1. Dr. Abad

“This is the cousin or nephew or something of the famous Dr. Abad- human rights defender who was murdered here and his son wrote that excellent book Oblivion (English translation) or El Olvido que Seremos. Anyway, the guy is super kind, went above and beyond to save me from having to spend 1,000 dollars on transplants and worked with me to find a solution. This dentist was recommended to me from a trusted Colombian friend and [I] have been going there now for over a year.”

2. Dr. Hernán A. Velez

“Dr Velez is great, been going to him for two years now. The dental seat in his office looks out over a little garden… he speaks fluent English. Everything from routine care to root canals, crowns, and implants. When I visited in 2011, based on an American friend’s recommendation, I was very impressed with the routine cleaning, the repair of a chipped tooth, and the low prices. I’ve been going back ever since.”

As of April 2014, a routine cleaning with Dr. Velez cost 110,00 pesos ($55).

• Provider: Dr. Fernando Velez
• Address: Belen/Laureles
• Tel: 305-229-0437
• Email: Martineevelez@hotmail.com
• English: Yes

“All modern equipment… speaks English, inexpensive, great work, friendly dude.”

Dermatologists

• Provider: Dra. Alejandra Sanudo and Dr. Gener Alejandro Mancilla Díaz
• Address: Carrera 48 #19A-40, Room 1514, Torre Medica in Ciudad del Rio, Poblado
• Tel: 418-2249 (Spanish), Cell: 301-256-3838 (English)
• English: Yes

“I’ve used both providers on multiple occasions. They’re super friendly, and offer a quality of service similar to what I’ve had in the United States.”

• Provider: Dra. Mary Ann Robledo
• Address: Calle 33 #42B-06, Torre sur, 1122, Centro Comercial San Diego
• Tel: 262-9678
• English: Yes

“She cured me of a nasty-ass skin disease.”

• Provider: Dra. Maria Cristina Lotero Acevedo
• Address: Carrera 48 #19A-40, Room 1211, Torre Medica Clinica Clofan in Ciudad del Rio, Poblado
• Tel: 235-5428
• English: Unconfirmed

“She’s a regular down to earth dermatologist.”

• Provider: María Teresa Vélez Velásquez
• Address: Calle 2 Sur 46-55, Room 253, Fase II 219, Clinica Las Vegas, Poblado
• Tel: 268-7270
• English: Unconfirmed

“Removed my suspect moles cheerfully and with skill.”

Emergency Services

• Facility: Clinica El Campestre
• Address: Calle 17 sur #44-06
• Tel: 444-2006
• Website: www.clinicadelcampestre.com
• English: Unconfirmed

“Great for emergency treatment (x-ray and diagnosis) and follow-up physical therapy was cheap and sort of even fun (at times a killer workout).”

• Facility: Clinica Las Vegas
• Address: Calle 2 Sur 46-55, Poblado
• Tel: 315-9000
• Website: www.clinicalasvegas.com
• English: Varies by doctor, ask at reception

“If you must be admitted to hospital for anything, go there. It is clean and comfortable. One roommate had to be admitted 2 days for hand surgery following an accident and they were very good; the room was positively luxurious. Hospitalization costs are negligible in Medellin compared to procedure costs (the opposite in the US).”

General Practice

• Provider: Dr. Mauricio Alvarado Vasquez
• Address: Clinica Las Vegas, Fase I, Room 320, Poblado
• Tel: 266-8098
• English: Yes

“Speaks pretty good English. I’ve seen him twice this year for help managing my high cholesterol, and an unknown flu-like virus. On both occasions, I felt comfortable, and we had good conversations. In short, I trust his judgement. Will use again.”

Gynecologists

• Provider: Dr. Mauricio Arango Gonzalez
• Address: Salud Sura, Carrera 43A #1-50 , Torre 3, Room 1004, San Fernando Plaza
• Tel: 604-1361
• English: Unconfirmed

“He is lovely. Absolutely lovely.”

Imaging Services

• Facility: Diagnosticarte
• Address: Carrera 48 #10-45, Sótano S2, Centro Comercial Monterrey
• Tel: 444-9411
• Website: www.diagnosticarte.com
• English: Unconfirmed

“They charged only 600,000 for an MRI when the others wanted double.”

• Facility: IATM (Instituto de Alta Tecnologia Medica)
• Address: Carrera 48 #19A-40, Torre Medica, Ciudad del Rio, Poblado
• Tel: 448-4481
• Website: www.iatm.com.co
• English: No

“Went here for a CT scan of my spine, and was thoroughly impressed with the service and facilities. The location is only a few years old, and is impeccably clean. Even though the staff who assisted me didn’t speak English, they were friendly and made me feel comfortable. Best of all, it only cost me 300,000 pesos ($150). They’re open 24 hours a day.”

Orthopedists

• Provider: Dr. Julian Cock
• Address: Clinica de Fracturas Centro, Carrera 45 El Palo #53-38
• Tel: 444-1516
• Website: www.clinicadefracturasdemedellin.com
• English: Unconfirmed

“This is a no-frills clinic but [my husband] received excellent care including physical therapy and also an anesthesia procedure on his back…”

• Provider: Dr. Alvaro Toro
• Address: Carrera 74 #49-11, Estadio
• Tel: 230-6844
• English: Yes

“A doctor friend referred me to him, apparently he’s one of the Medellin’s top orthopedists. [I went here] last year when I had injured my back. He speaks basic English (I brought a friend to help translate, but it wasn’t really necessary).”

Pediatricians

• Provider: Dr. Luis Fernando Gomez Uribe
• Address: Centro Cial, Calle 33 #42B-06, Torre Sur San Diego, Room 12-09
• Tel: 262 09 68, (Cell): 300-526-96 26
• English: Unconfirmed

“[My son] has been to see him for his wellness checks as well as when he was sick.  The guy is awesome with kids, very sweet, as well as very knowledgeable and experienced.”

Physical Therapists

• Provider: Jesus A Plata Contreras
• Address: Calle 51 #45-93, Room 102, Clinica Soma, Centro
• Tel: 512-7280
• Website: www.soma.com.co
• English: Yes

130,000 pesos ($65) initial visit

36,000 pesos ($18) for follow-up therapy visits

“…my dermatologist friend recommended to me. He specializes in treating back pain. He oversaw a month-long course of physical therapy for me, and also ordered a CT scan.”

If you would like to make your own recommendations, please leave the relevant information in the Comments section at the bottom.