Mario A. Sabates, MD is a native of Camaguey Cuba and arrived in the US in 1967 at the age of 7 with his family. Both of his parents are pharmacists and he has five siblings. His older brother, Eduardo, is an Interventional Cardiologist in South Florida. Many other members of the Sabates family are medical doctors, both locally and across the US.

Dr. Sabates attended schools locally, graduating with honors from Hialeah Miami Lakes in 1978. He played youth baseball, football and soccer. Winning the Florida State Championship in Soccer in 1978 as a senior in high school. Dr. Sabates turned down several offers to play soccer in college in order to pursue the field of medicine. He continued to play soccer at the club level and traveled to other countries to play professional teams.

He attended the University of Miami for his undergraduate degree and graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1986, graduating in the top quartile.

Dr. Sabates completed his Ophthalmology Residency at Tulane University from 1988 to 1991. During his third year he won the “Best Research Award” for his study on the “Effects of Smoking on Aqueous Levels of Vitamin C”. He completed a Fellowship in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery at Tulane University from 1991 to 1992, under the tutelage of Doctors Delmar Caldwell, Miles Friedlander, and Peter Kastl.

Dr. Sabates is the author of many peer review articles and book chapters. He has presented multiple papers at the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISCRS) and was involved for several years in skill transfer courses in Refractive Surgery with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Dr. Sabates has been in private group practice in Miami since 1992 and has privileges at Mercy Hospital and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He is Board Certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and maintains an active medical license with the State of Florida.

Dr. Sabates is married to Dr Maria Cortinas, an internist, and they have six children, ranging from 16 to 25 years in age. He has been involved in coaching sports for 20 years and is the cofounder of the Coral Gables Toros FC. He is Past President of the Big Five Club and served on its board for 10 years. He’s also Past President of the Cuban Society of Ophthalmology in exile. He’s presently on the Governing Board of Bayside Ambulatory Center at Mercy Hospital.

Dr. Sabates is an avid athlete and presently competes in USTA tennis at the local level. He also enjoys playing competitive softball and snow skiing.