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UF Health University of Florida
UF Health Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics Center Department of Surgery in the College of Medicine
Request an appointment: 352.265.8402
Rakel M Zarb

Rakel M Zarb, MD

Assistant Professor

Department: MD-SURGERY-PLASTIC
Business Phone: (352) 265-8670
Business Email: rzarb@ufl.edu

On This Page

About Rakel M Zarb

My name is Dr. Zarb, and I am an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Surgery. My areas of focus are the hand and wrist, peripheral nerves, amputee care, and lower extremity salvage. Additionally, I perform general plastic and reconstructive surgery. Helping patients achieve better functional outcomes and quality of life is what motivates me the most.

Upon earning my medical degree, I was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. I pursued residency training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin, earning multiple awards for my research. I then completed a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at Oregon Health and Science University.

I have authored numerous publications and presented nationally on topics ranging from Dupuytren’s contractures to microsurgical reconstruction in high-risk patients. In addition to my research and clinical work, I also value mentoring the next generation of surgeons. Collaboration, innovation, and teaching are core to my practice, and I’m excited to contribute to the growing field of hand and reconstructive surgery at the University of Florida.

In my spare time, I enjoy visiting national parks, practicing yoga, attending live music events, scuba diving, Latin dancing and making fresh pasta.

Board Certifications

  • Board Eligible
    American Board of Plastic Surgery

Clinical Profile

Specialties

  • Hand Surgery
  • Plastic Surgery

Areas of Interest

  • Arthritis
  • Carpal Tunnel Release
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
  • Dupuytren Contracture
  • Foot Drop
  • Ganglion Cysts
  • Hand Tumors
  • Hand X-Ray
  • Leg or Foot Amputation
  • Lower Extremity Reconstruction
  • Muscle Function Loss
  • Nerve Injuries of the Hand and Nerve Palsies
  • Neuralgia
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Radial Nerve Dysfunction
  • Raynaud Phenomenon
  • Scar Revision
  • Scleroderma
  • Tendon Injuries
  • Tenosynovitis
  • Ulnar Nerve Dysfunction
  • Wrist Arthroscopy
  • Wrist Pain

Publications

Academic Articles

  1. A Rare Case of a Giant Intramuscular Lipoma of the Upper Extremity in a Pediatric Patient.

    Journal
    Cureus.
    Volume/Issue
    16(2)
    [DOI]
    10.7759/cureus.53575.
    [PMID]
    38445164.
    2 citations PubMed Publisher’s Site

  2. Microsurgical breast reconstruction and primary hypercoagulable disorders.

    Journal
    Microsurgery.
    Volume/Issue
    44(2)
    [DOI]
    10.1002/micr.31146.
    [PMID]
    38342998.
    2 citations PubMed Publisher’s Site

  3. Dupuytren’s Contracture Recurrence and Treatment Following Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Injection: A Longitudinal Assessment in a Veteran Population.

    Journal
    Military medicine.
    Volume/Issue
    188(9-10):e2975-e2981
    [DOI]
    10.1093/milmed/usad075.
    [PMID]
    36928340.
    7 citations PubMed Publisher’s Site

  4. Physical Examination and Radiographic Staging of Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthritis.

    Journal
    Hand clinics.
    Volume/Issue
    38(2):141-148
    [DOI]
    10.1016/j.hcl.2021.12.001.
    [PMID]
    35465932.
    7 citations PubMed Publisher’s Site

  5. Clinical course of venous thromboembolism following abdominally based microsurgical breast reconstruction: A case series.

    Journal
    Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS.
    Volume/Issue
    74(10):2550-2556
    [DOI]
    10.1016/j.bjps.2021.03.020.
    [PMID]
    33896741.
    13 citations PubMed Publisher’s Site

  6. Primary Aortoduodenal Fistula: A Case Report and Current Literature Review.

    Journal
    Annals of vascular surgery.
    Volume/Issue
    74:518.e13-518.e23
    [DOI]
    10.1016/j.avsg.2020.12.046.
    [PMID]
    33549801.
    13 citations PubMed Publisher’s Site

  7. Complications of Cosmetic Surgery Tourism: Case Series and Cost Analysis.

    Journal
    Aesthetic surgery journal.
    Volume/Issue
    41(5):627-634
    [DOI]
    10.1093/asj/sjaa092.
    [PMID]
    32291444.
    36 citations PubMed Publisher’s Site

Education

  1. Hand Surgery Fellowship

    Oregon Health & Science University

  2. Plastic Surgery Residency

    Medical College of Wisconsin

  3. Doctor of Medicine

    Medical College of Wisconsin

  4. Bachelor of Science

    St. Norbert College

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 265-8670
Emails:
Business:
rzarb@ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Street:
1600 SW ARCHER RD
 GAINESVILLE FL 32610