Meet Our Team

Dr. Diaz-Gutierrez is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Minnesota, with more than 19 years of experience in healthcare. Dr. Diaz-Gutierrez was born and raised in Mexico City. Growing up in a developing country contributed to Ilitch’s spirit of helping others that are less fortunate, whether it is because of age, gender or socioeconomic status. Since his early childhood, he has volunteered in multiple organizations to help underserved communities. He took part in medical missions, first led by his father who was also a doctor, and then during medical school where he organized medical student trips to impoverished areas. Later on in 2007, Dr. Diaz-Gutierrez joined CARITAS Internationalis, a faith-based non-profit organization in Mexico City providing primary care at low cost. In September 2017, he participated in a temporary medical response team in Morelos, Mexico, after a devastating earthquake destroyed many neighboring hospitals.

In line with Dr Diaz-Gutierrez’s humanitarian goals, he joined the Alzheimer’s Association in 2022, where he serves as a community educator for the Minnesota-North Dakota chapter. He provides education to families and caregivers that struggle with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and collaborates with local organizations and governmental agencies to expand educational programs throughout the Midwest, with particular interest in the Hispanic community.

In Mexican culture, the concept of family is sacred, with tradition and values that provide a strong sense of identity. Due to these deep-rooted ties, as people get older, they continue to be emotionally and socially engaged with their families. Dr. Diaz-Gutierrez brings his life-long altruism, his professional experience and cultural background to SPIRIT Care Homes.

As a RALS™ (Residential Assisted Living Specialist), Ilitch has earned the highest level of professional certification in the industry.