[citation needed] He was a resident of West University Place, Texas, United States, a city surrounded by Houston.

[1][2] He was employed at the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center in Houston, Texas, and a professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine.

Espada was known to travel from Houston to Guatemala on a monthly basis to treat underprivileged patients requiring special cardiothoracic procedures.

He was the main guest speaker for the Vascular Meeting of the Brazilian Society in Rio de Janeiro in June 1998.

[4] Dr. Espada is vice chairman of the board of directors of the Washington-based think-tank Global Financial Integrity.