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Dr. Angela Rodriguez: Happy as a mom, doc
By None
ROCKFORD WOMAN
Dec 20, 2007 @ 01:00 AM
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Born in the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez moved to New York City at age 11, when she already knew she wanted to be a pediatrician. Raised by a bookkeeper father and factory-working mother, the middle child in a family of seven children, she attended medical school in Mexico and came back to New York City as a divorced mother of three to complete her internship, residency and fellowship in neonatal medicine. In 1984, she and her children came to Rockford, where she took a position at Rockford Memorial Hospital.
Age: 64
City of residence: Roscoe
Family: Son, Albert Ferrabone, quality and operations manager for SwedishAmerican Medical Group. Daughters, Natalie Southard, customer service supervisor for Southwest Airlines in Little Rock, Ark., and Stephanie Tyson, EMT and homemaker in Rockford. Four grandsons, Tyler, Ethan, Noah and Wyatt
Education: Fellowship, residency and internship at Nassau Hospital, Mineola, N.Y.; medical degree from Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
Career: Physician in neonatal intensive care unit of Rockford Memorial Hospital from 1984 to 1989. Since then, pediatrician in the Alpine Road office of Rockford Health Systems.
Daily work:
I’m in the office five days a week, up to nine or more hours a day, seeing 30 to 35 patients on an average day. I do a lot of well-child exams, sports and school exams, preventive care and, of course, diagnosing illness and prescribing medications. Common problems include respiratory infections, especially this time of year, ear infections, strep throat, fevers, viral infections, pneumonia, minor trauma. My favorite patients are the babies with multiple problems, the neonatal intensive care “graduates.” They’re the most challenging because they can’t tell you where it hurts.
Most rewarding part of your job:
In the neonatal unit, the doctor was the hero and every case was an adrenaline-provoking event. I thought when I went to general pediatrics, it might be boring. I’ve found it’s rewarding because of the long-term relationships you establish with families. They trust the well-being of their child to you. You develop a relationship initially with the parents and, later on, with the child. Being able to help children, to diagnose the illness and prescribe treatment so they get better, that’s rewarding.
Role models:
Women in our family, older women now who were hardworking, tender and good mothers, faithful wives. They struggled through economic difficulties but overcame day-to-day challenges and continued to spread optimism and encouragement. To this day, they are full of life and energy.
Toughest part of your job:
Trying to give each patient as much time as you can and still seeing the next patient on time. And sometimes, trying to figure out what’s wrong, especially with the little ones.
What would you do differently if you could live your life over?
I have no major regrets. I’m glad I’m a mother, glad I’m a doctor, glad I’m the person I am.
What do you do to reach young women?
I try to make a difference on the boards I serve on and try to be a role model every day with the teenagers I see.
Accomplishments:
Raising three children who are productive citizens. That’s first. After that, the career I’ve been able to establish for myself.
Remembered for?
That I was somebody who did things because I cared, for my children, my patients and the community.
If you had been born now?
The use of technology.
What do you love to do but hardly ever do?
See musicals and plays.
Three ways you relax:
Garden, read novels and biographies, and listen to music. I love new Flamenco and all old songs.
