Dr. Sta. Clara finished her degree in doctor of medicine at the University of Sto. Tomas and took her residency in general surgery at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Afterwhich, she had her training in minimally invasive surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery at National University Hospital, Singapore. She is a:

Fellow, Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Lifetime member, Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia

She is a co-author in a chapter in 2 textbooks and 5 internationally published articles with interests on minimally invasive surgery and hernia. She is also a member of the training committee and the intern’s monitor of the department of surgery at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. She is the training officer for the minimally invasive surgery fellowship at Rizal Medical Center and is a consultant at the University of Perpetual Help Dalta Medical Center, Las Pinas.