Meet Estela Rodriguez, WHNP: Compassionate Care for Every Stage of Womanhood
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Estela Rodriguez, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, brings her passion for women to Health Services of North Texas (HSNT), where she serves women of all ages with empathy, understanding, and a personal touch.
Originally from El Salvador and raised in Long Island, New York, Estela earned her nursing degree from Molloy College before moving to Texas eight years ago to complete her Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program at Texas Woman’s University. “Texas Woman’s University had the program that I was looking for,” she explains. “I was ready for a change.”
Before joining HSNT, Estela worked at Parkland Health, specializing in gynecologic oncology and caring for a diverse patient population. As a native Spanish speaker, she found it especially meaningful to connect with patients in their own language while serving people from all backgrounds and cultures. “I loved being able to speak with patients in the language they’re most comfortable with,” she says. “HSNT offers that same opportunity while allowing me to care for a wide range of patients.”
Estela knew she wanted to be a nurse from an early age. “Ever since I was four years old,” she says with a smile. “My first Halloween costume was a nurse.” That early dream led her to a lifelong calling in women’s health. “When I was 18, I worked as a medical assistant for an OB-GYN in New York who’s also a family friend. I saw the way he took care of females and the way he explained to females how our body works and what they do. He was the one that inspired me to be in women’s health.”
At HSNT, Estela’s approach to care is rooted in connection and understanding. “Approaching everyone as a person, an individual, is a big one for me,” she explains. “Getting to know the person, talking to them, getting a little bit of their background really helps me to care for everybody."
Estela also believes in HSNT’s mission of providing care for all. “Providing resources to our patients, to our community, it’s crucial,” she says. “Being able to just care for patients who are uninsured, that have the lack of access, I think that’s what I like the most about HSNT.”
Committed to continued education, Estela is an active member of both the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Association and the National Certification Corporation. She is currently working toward her menopause certification, with a special interest in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). “My goal is to have the menopause certification soon,” she shares. “I’m very interested in HRT, and I want to add that to my skill set.” This additional certification will allow Estela to further support women navigating menopause and help them live healthier, more empowered lives.
Outside of work, Estela enjoys spending time with her two children and loved ones. “We enjoy being outdoors. We like to explore and travel,” she shares.
For patients who may be nervous about their first visit, Estela offers a thoughtful reminder: “As females, we have to get to know our body a little bit more. We must be more educated about our health. Preventative care is huge for us. Just caring as a whole would really improve our quality of life.”
Her message to every woman she serves is simple: “I want them to feel comfortable coming to this HSNT and talking about their issues. Whether in regards to physical health, mental health, or emotional health. I want [women in our community] to feel comfortable coming to me and talking about anything that they need to and provide them with the resources to help them overcome barriers to getting healthy and staying healthy.”