Heron E. Rodriguez, MD, is a passionate educator, advocate and leader within the Hispanic community. His journey from a small rural town in Mexico to becoming a prominent vascular surgeon in Chicago is one of dedication, resilience and an unyielding commitment to serving his patients.
Growing up in Mexico, Rodriguez became aware of vascular surgery through what he describes as "sheer luck" during his final year of training when he participated in Mexico’s social service program. This program, which requires medical students to serve in remote locations, placed him in a small town with a population of a few thousand individuals. There, he encountered a patient who had scars all over his legs, who explained that he had undergone surgery in Mexico City to receive new arteries. The encounter left a lasting impression on Rodriguez, sparking his curiosity about vascular surgery and setting him on a path to pursue it as his specialty.
Not long after his experience in Mexico, Rodriguez found himself in Chicago, training to become a general surgeon. During his General Surgery residency at Columbus Hospital, he was exposed to vascular surgery and fell in love with the specialty. In 2001, he became a vascular surgeon at Northwestern University and has dedicated his career to academic medicine. Today, he works at Northwestern Memorial Hospital as the program director, educating vascular surgery residents. Beyond his clinical duties, Rodriguez is deeply involved in education at various levels, from high schools to academic societies.
For Rodriguez, education is at the core of his mission.
"I believe that the solution to many of the problems that we have here in Chicago, in our community, but also in our country and the world, stems from an inferior education and the lack of understanding of who we are as human beings," he explained. He emphasized the importance of education, particularly for the Hispanic community, to help individuals understand their rich cultural heritage and realize their potential.
Rodriguez’s dedication to education extends beyond the hospital. He is a board member of Altus Academy (www.altusacademy.org), a school located on the west side of Chicago that he asserts “provides high-quality, tuition-free education to underserved communities, primarily Hispanic and Black students.” The school’s first class is now graduating from college, a milestone that fills Rodriguez with pride. "Our students have been the recipients of some of the most prestigious scholarships for high school and now even for college," said Rodriguez.
His commitment to the Hispanic community also drives his work with Cirujanos Vasculares de Habla Hispana (CVHH) (www.cvhh.org), a global organization that brings together Spanish-speaking vascular surgeons. As the president of CVHH, Rodriguez is passionate about fostering connections within the Hispanic medical community and promoting the representation of Hispanic patients.
"When patients find somebody that can speak their language and understand their values and culture, the relationship between the patient and the doctor becomes one of empathy and equality," he said. This deeper connection, he believes, leads to better outcomes for patients and helps doctors become better healthcare providers.
Rodriguez also represents the Hispanic community through other diverse activities. He is co-founder of AIMS, a trans-Atlantic forum where innovators and educators discuss issues related to mentorship, wellness and innovation (www.aimssummit.com)
For Rodriguez, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and reflect on the contributions of the Hispanic community. CVHH will hold its next meeting in October 2025, coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month. The event will be “a celebration of Hispanic culture and an opportunity for surgeons to come together and honor their heritage.” Rodriguez encourages all Hispanic or Latino vascular surgeons, or those with ties to the Hispanic culture, to join the society and be part of the community.
In addition to his work in medicine and education, Rodriguez advocates for supporting young people at the community level. He believes waiting until residency or medical school to help aspiring doctors is too late. Instead, Rodriguez champions investing in elementary and high schools that promote inclusion and diversity. He encourages Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) members to engage with the work of the SVS Foundation and take steps to get involved.
"It's evident that by promoting these activities, the SVS Foundation is truly investing in diversity and inclusion in a meaningful and transcendent way," Rodriguez said. "Supporting the Foundation ensures that we're providing opportunities to others who may not have had the same opportunities you did."
When you donate to the SVS Foundation, you support Voices of Vascular's important work in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more and make your gift today.