Rafael Allende, MD

Rafael Allende, MD, is a board-certified Neurosurgeon who came to Health First from NeuroHealth Sciences Center in Sanford, Florida, where he was the Director of Neurosurgery and the Chief of surgery at Central Florida Regional Hospital. Dr. Allende is also the Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. He served his Clinical Fellowship in Neurosurgery at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia.

Dr. Allende earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at San Diego State University in San Diego, California and attended Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts where he earned his Medical Doctor degree, as well as completing a one-year research fellowship in brain tumor research. He then completed his General Surgery Internship and Neurosurgery residency at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, as well as a year as the Neurosurgery Chief Resident. Additionally, he completed a Clinical Neurosurgery Fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. Following the completion of his residency he joined the University of Rochester Department of Neurosurgery as an Assistant Professor in Neurosurgery for 5 years prior to relocating to Florida.

Dr. Allende is licensed to practice medicine in Florida, specializing in neurosurgery. He has a particular interest in treating spinal disorders, brain tumors, and stroke, as well as managing head and spine trauma. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Allende has served in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Reserve. He enjoys tennis and traveling.

Diplomate, American Board of Neurological Surgery

Spinal disorders
Neurotrauma
Management of brain tumors
Management of stroke patients

Medical College of Georgia (Clinical Fellowship in Neurosurgery)
Augusta, Georgia

University of Rochester Medical Center (Neurosurgery Chief Resident)
Rochester, New York

University of Rochester Medical Center (Neurosurgery Resident)
Rochester, New York

University of Rochester Medical Center (General Surgery Internship)
Rochester, New York

Harvard Medical School (Medical Doctor)
Boston, Massachusetts

San Diego State University (Bachelor of Science, Biology)
San Diego, California

Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Congress of Neurological Surgeons