He received his medical degree from Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, and completed his preliminary general surgery residency at Mayo Medical Center, his categorical general surgery residency at Creighton University Medical Center, and his surgical critical care fellowship at Hartford Hospital. Dr. Perez was a faculty general surgeon in the United States Air Force from 2006-2010, was appointed Major in July, 2006, and was a trauma surgeon in Afghanistan during five-month deployment in 2007.