Welcoming Dr. Gerardo Rodriguez to HSNT

Dr. Gerardo Rodriguez is a family medicine physician with a strong background in public health and a commitment to serving the community. If you meet Dr. Rodriguez, you’ll likely hear his laughter before you see him. “Laughter is the best medicine for the soul,” he shares, believing that joy and laughter are integral to fostering both mental and physical health. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Dr. Rodriguez’s journey to medicine was not a direct path.

Dr. Rodriguez attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he double majored in History and African American Studies. This education allowed him to understand the “underpinnings of marginalized communities and the social factors influencing underprivileged and under-resourced populations,” he explains. But it wasn’t until his father’s diabetes diagnosis that he became inspired to combine his love for social sciences with a desire to impact public health.

He pursued a Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan, specializing in health behavior and health education. Following this, he worked for the Texas Department of Health and Human Services for five years, developing programs, evaluating public health initiatives, and creating a technical assistance network for evaluation support across the state. “Public health tells you a lot about the population, but I wanted to know more about the clinical individual level. That's when I decided to go to medical school,” says Dr. Rodriguez.

Dr. Rodriguez earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin, and from the start, he knew family medicine was his calling. "At the heart of family medicine, it challenges you to go beyond just the individual person and understand them in the context of their family, community, and society," he explains. His dual expertise in public health and medicine allows him to bridge the gap between population health and individual patient care.

One of Dr. Rodriguez’s core beliefs is the importance of serving a community that reflects his background. “It’s very important to have a physician that reflects the community they serve,” he says. As a Mexican-American, first-generation immigrant, Dr. Rodriguez is particularly committed to working with immigrant populations and those with limited access to care. He adds, “Being born and raised in Texas, I feel at home here, and I want to give back to my community.”

Dr. Rodriguez's philosophy of care centers on empowerment. “My job is to be a guide for my patients. Some want me to take the wheel, others want us to drive together, and some prefer to do most of it themselves. My role is to help them understand what’s going on with their health and the choices they have… I want a patient to be able to say ‘I know what's going on with my body and I know what choices I can make.’” He emphasizes the importance of making patients feel heard and working together to create a plan that suits their needs. 

Outside of his clinical work, Dr. Rodriguez is pursuing an MBA to better understand the operational side of healthcare. “I want to be a well-rounded leader and understanding the financial and managerial aspects of running an institution is important,” he shares.

Ultimately, Dr. Rodriguez brings a holistic approach to medicine, combining his expertise in public health with a deep understanding of the communities he serves. His commitment to empowering patients, his passion for public health, and his dedication to reflecting the community make him an invaluable addition to the HSNT team. He wants to share this message:

"If I can help people laugh and enjoy life, I think we’ll go a long way in improving their mental, physical, and community health."