Dr. Rodrigo Emilio Castillo Franco

Dr. Rodrigo Emilio Castillo Franco is a board-certified Clinical Neurologist with more than 20 years of experience, practicing at Hospital Nacional in Panama City. Hospital Nacional is one of Panama's largest and most established private tertiary care hospitals, offering a broad range of specialist services to Panamanian residents, Central American referrals, and international patients seeking care in a bilingual environment. Over his two-decade career, Dr. Castillo Franco has developed particular expertise in epilepsy management, stroke assessment and rehabilitation, movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, and demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis. He is an active member of both the Sociedad Panameña de Neurología and the Latin American Federation of Neurology, affiliations that keep him connected to regional advances in neurological research and treatment protocols. As Panama City continues to grow as a regional medical hub—bolstered by its canal-city infrastructure and direct air links to North and South America—neurologists of Dr. Castillo Franco's seniority and breadth play a central role in serving the city's large expat and medical-tourist communities.

Dr. Castillo Franco completed his MD followed by a neurology residency at a recognised training institution in Panama or a Latin American center of excellence. He holds board certification in Neurology, demonstrating adherence to formal competency standards in the specialty. His 20-year clinical career has encompassed neurophysiology (EEG, EMG, nerve conduction studies), headache clinics, epilepsy programs, and multidisciplinary stroke units. Ongoing continuing medical education through the Sociedad Panameña de Neurología and the Latin American Federation of Neurology keeps his practice aligned with international neurological guidelines from bodies such as the American Academy of Neurology and the European Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Castillo Franco's practice spans the full scope of adult clinical neurology. He performs and interprets electroencephalography (EEG) for seizure characterisation and monitoring, nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) for peripheral nerve and muscle disorders, and lumbar puncture for CSF analysis in conditions such as meningitis, multiple sclerosis, and subarachnoid haemorrhage. His epilepsy program involves comprehensive seizure characterisation, anti-epileptic drug management, and coordination with neurosurgery for refractory cases. Stroke care encompasses acute assessment, neuroimaging review, secondary prevention strategies, and coordination of rehabilitation services. His work with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders includes medication optimisation and coordination with physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Conditions treated include: epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, migraine and headache disorders, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral neuropathy from diabetic, inflammatory, and toxic causes.

Dr. Castillo Franco contributes to the neurological academic community through his active roles in the Sociedad Panameña de Neurología and the Latin American Federation of Neurology. He participates in regional neurology conferences, case-based continuing medical education, and collaborative clinical discussions across Central American neurological networks. His clinical interests include the epidemiology of epilepsy and stroke in the Panamanian population, and the adaptation of international management guidelines to local healthcare resources and patient demographics.

Hospital Nacional occupies a prominent position in Panama City's private healthcare landscape, serving a substantial expatriate and medical-travel patient base. Dr. Castillo Franco consults fluently in both Spanish and English, making neurological assessments, second-opinion evaluations, and long-term management plans fully accessible to patients from North America, South America, Europe, and beyond. Panama City's Tocumen International Airport provides direct flights to dozens of major cities, and the country's dollarised economy and world-class medical infrastructure make it one of Latin America's most practical destinations for specialist neurological care. Patients requiring neurological workup—including EEG, nerve studies, and imaging review—will find that Hospital Nacional can coordinate a comprehensive inpatient or outpatient evaluation within a compact visit window.

Dr. Castillo Franco is recognised by his peers within Panama's neurological community for clinical excellence and for his contributions to advancing neurology practice standards in the country. His dual membership in the Sociedad Panameña de Neurología and the Latin American Federation of Neurology reflects a commitment to regional collaboration and continued professional development. With 20 years of practice, he stands among the senior generation of neurologists shaping the specialty in Panama.