I'm Dr. Vega-Croker, originally from Panama. I decided to pursue my orthopedic surgery residency at Barcelona's Hospital Clínic—one of the best hospitals in Europe and the world. My training in orthopedic surgery there was exceptional and shaped my surgical expertise.

After residency, I completed a Master's in arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine with the Spanish Arthroscopy Association (AEA) and Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid, followed by a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at Universidad de Barcelona.

I've invested significant time in 3D reconstruction for training models and surgical planning. This work widened my understanding of the critical importance of mechanical alignment and function. Using 3D printed models, I can simulate how dysfunction at any joint in an extremity causes a chain reaction of dysfunction throughout the entire extremity over time with use.

This is why I started seeking alternatives to prevent progression through precise reconstruction and planning. But when biology is absent because tissue has been irreversibly damaged, stem cells can augment the functional cells near the damaged location to allow healing. You need functional cells to be able to heal. If the damage encompasses the entire joint, a replacement will be needed.

That's when I created SCAARS—a systematic approach that combines biomechanical correction with biological augmentation. It's not magic. It's precise surgical planning, mechanical realignment, and strategic placement of stem cells where they can actually regenerate tissue alongside existing functional cells.