Biography
Dr. Vitarbo is double board-certified in Neurosurgery and Neurocritical Care. A native New Yorker, she completed her Undergraduate studies in Pharmacy, and went on to become a practicing Pharmacist. She then attended University of Michigan Medical School, where she graduated at the top of her class. Internship and Residency were completed at University of Miami / Jackson Memorial Hospital, where her love of Neurotrauma and Neurocritical Care flourished. During her residency, she additionally completed an NIH funded Neurotrauma Fellowship in Translational Research, under the guidance of Dr. Dalton Dietrich.
After briefly practicing general Neurosurgery, Dr. Vitarbo joined faculty at University of Florida, Jacksonville, in 2006. There, she directed the Neurotrauma Program, and was integral in establishing a Neurocritical Care Service. After going on to start additional regional Level II Neurotrauma services, she joined the University of Florida Halifax faculty in 2023. Practice interests include Neurotrauma with blunt and penetrating brain injury, Concussion, Cerebrovascular injury and Aneurysms, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Intracranial Hypertension, Hydrocephalus, Intracranial Hemorrhage and Tumors. She prides herself on being very approachable for patients and their families, in an effort to mitigate the fear and anxiety typically associated with the above life events.
When freed from Clinical responsibilities, Dr. Vitarbo enjoys the beach, cooking, and travelling the world with friends and family.