About Dr. León Espinoza
Dr. Sebastián León Espinoza is a PGY-1 general surgery resident. Prior to residency, he completed a two-year Surgical Education and Simulation Fellowship at Penn Department of Surgery, where he contributed to curriculum development, virtual reality simulation, and global surgical education. His research interests include surgical education innovation, immersive simulation, clinical outcomes in minimally invasive surgery, global surgery, and the application of artificial intelligence in surgical training. His future plans include pursuing an academic career in general surgery with a focus on surgical education and minimally invasive techniques. Dr. León Espinoza will be continuing his research work with the simulation education team at Penn during residency.
Education
2023 - 2025
Surgical Education and Simulation Fellowship
Penn Medicine-Department of Surgery
2022 - 2023
Intern - Universidad Internacional del Ecuador
2016 - 2022
MD - Universidad Internacional del Ecuador
2012 - 2016
BS - Dalhousie University/Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Societies
2023 - present
American Medical Association (AMA) – Member
Awards
2025
Benjamin and Mary Siddon Measey Immersive Simulation Program Grant
2025
Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship (PURM) Grant
2024
Finalist, Ali Naji, MD, PhD Research Symposium, Penn Surgery
2024
Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship (PURM) Grant
2022
Medical School High Honors Award
Research
Dr. León Espinoza’s research focuses on surgical simulation, virtual reality-based training, global surgery capacity building, and clinical outcomes in bariatric and foregut surgery. He has led and co-authored multiple studies evaluating the role of immersive simulation in technical and cognitive skill acquisition, including randomized controlled trials. His interests also include the application of artificial intelligence in surgical training and resident evaluation. He has published on perioperative risk factors in bariatric surgery, outcomes in elderly surgical patients, and educational innovations in low-resource settings. Additionally, Dr. León Espinoza has collaborated with engineers and trainees to design and validate 3D-printed anatomical models and cost-effective task trainers for surgical skills education. During his time at Penn, he has worked closely with the Simulation Center, the Division of Bariatric Surgery, and the Department of Bioengineering to integrate technology and education in advancing surgical training.
Publications
Original papers
- Leon S, Lee S, Perez JE, Hashimoto DA. Artificial intelligence and the education of future surgeons. Am J Surg. Published online February 19, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2025.116257
- Leon S, Rouhi A, Perez JE, Alberstadt A, Tewksbury C, Gershuni V, Altieri M, Williams N, Dumon K. Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Preoperative Therapeutic Anticoagulation: A 2015-2021 MBSAQIP Database Study. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2024;20(12):1260-1269. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2024.07.018
- Leon S, Rouhi A, Roberson J, Shreve L, Nadolski G, Williams N, Dumon K. Safety of Elective Enteral Access in Elderly Patients: A Comparative Analysis of Perioperative Risk. J Gastrointest Surg. 2024;28(9):1472-1478. doi:10.1016/j.gassur.2024.06.011
- Leon S, Rouhi A, Perez JE, Tewksbury C, Gershuni V, Altieri M, Williams N, Dumon K. Perioperative Outcomes of Staple Line
Reinforcement During Laparoscopic and Robotic Sleeve Gastrectomy: An MBSAQIP Cohort Study of 284,641 Patients. Obes Surg. 2025;35(3):992-1000. doi:10.1007/s11695-025-07727-6
- Rouhi A, Leon S, Roberson J, Shreve L, Nadolski G, Williams N, Dumon K. Comparison of Gastrostomy Techniques in Stroke Patients with Dysphagia: An Entropy-Balanced Analysis. J Surg Res. 2024;303:579-586. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2024.09.064
- Ndong A, Diallo A, Rouhi A, Diao M, Leon S, Dia D, Alberstadt A, Tendeng J, Williams N, Cisse M, Dumon K, Konate I. Learning Curve of Laparoscopic Appendectomy in a Low-Resource Setting: A Cumulative Sum Analysis of Operative Length. Surgical Endoscopy. June 2024; 38(7):4042–4047.
- Dumon KR, Rouhi AD, Leon S. Older adults undergoing major elective surgery experience significant emotional distress: insights into the surgical patient experience. Evid Based Nurs. Published online November 28, 2024. doi:10.1136/ebnurs-2024-104124
- Ndong A, Diallo A, Rouhi A, Dia D, Leon S, Diao M, Alberstadt A, Tendeng J, Williams N, Cisse M, Dumon K, Konate I. Head-mounted camera as a debriefing tool for surgical simulation-based training: a randomized controlled study in Senegal. BMC Medical Education. 25, 67 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06598-2
Poster and Oral Presentations
- Leon S, Rouhi AD, Golberg DW, Hwang J, Weber D, Fernandez FB, Duffy CC, Williams NN, Dumon KR. Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation for Technical Skills Acquisition in Pneumothorax Management and Chest Tube Insertion: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among General Surgery Interns. 18th Annual Meeting of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Surgical Simulation Summit, March 2025, Chicago, IL.
- Leon S, Duffy C, Weber D, Atkins J, Williams, N, Dumon K. Development and Validation of a Virtual Reality emergency front of neck access (EFONA) module. Oral Presentation: Penn Medicine Biannual Simulation Research Dinner. 02/25/25. Philadelphia, PA.
- Leon S, Ndong A, Rouhi A, Sarr N, Duffy C, Williams N, Dumon K. Feasibility of Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation for Pneumothorax and Chest Tube Clinical Knowledge Acquisition in Low- and High-Resource Settings: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Study. Oral presentation: Ali Naji, MD PhD Research Symposium Finals, Penn Surgery; 05/08/2024. Philadelphia, PA.
- Pizarro S, Leon S, Weber D, Williams N, Dumon K. Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship (PURM) Final Poster Presentation. Poster presented: Development of a Low-Cost Suture Pad Solution for Use in Augmented Reality Training. Philadelphia, PA. 08/28/2024.
- Thway E, Leon S, Weber D, Williams N, Dumon K. Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship (PURM) Final Poster Presentation. Poster presented: Design and Manufacture of Cost-effective Anatomical Models for Laparoscopic Appendectomy Training
- Rouhi A, Leon S, Ghanem Y, Suarez-Pierre A, Choudhury R. Poster presented: Rigid Plate Fixation versus Wire Cerclage for Sternotomy Closure after Cardiac Surgery: A Decision Analysis. Oral presentation: Academic Surgical Congress. Las Vegas, NV. 02/12/25
- Ndong A, Diallo A, Rouhi A, Dia D, Leon S, Tendeng J, Williams N, Cisse M, Dumon K. ACS Surgical Simulation Summit. Poster presented: Head Mounted Camera as a Debriefing Tool for Bowel Anastomosis Simulation-Based Training: A Pilot Study in Senegal. Chicago, IL. 03/15/2024.
- Ndong A, Diallo A, Rouhi A, Dia D, Leon S, Tendeng J, Williams N, Cisse M, Dumon K. SAGES. Poster presented: Laparoscopic Appendectomy Learning Curve for a Single Surgical Team in Senegal: A Cumulative SUM (CUSUM) Analysis of Operative Time. Cleveland, OH, United States of America; 04/19/2024.
- Tewksbury C, Mahoney L, Leon S, Giovinazzo C, Collins J, Williams N, Dumon K, Prout E. ASMBS. Poster presented: Preoperative Physical Activity Status and Postoperative Outcomes in Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Patients. San Diego, CA. 06/14/2024
- Rouhi A, Leon S, Perez J, Vasisht S, Tewksbury C, Altieri M, Gershuni V, Williams N, Dumon K. Concomitant Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Bariatric Surgery: Current Insights from the 2015-2021 MBSAQIP Database. Oral presentation: SAGES 2025. 03/14/2025. Long Beach, CA
- Rouhi A, Leon S, Roberson J, Shreve L, Nadolski G, Williams N, Dumon K. Comparison of Gastrostomy Techniques in Stroke Patients with Dysphagia: An Entropy-Balanced Analysis. Oral presentation: Society of Asian Academic Surgeons Conference; 09/06/2024. New Orleans, LA, United States of America.
- Lawal SG, Mbuthia W, Leon S, Weber D, Williams N, Dumon K, Snow J. Design and manufacture of a cost-effective laparoscopic training box. Oral presentation: Penn Bioengineering Preceptorship; 05/15/2024. Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.