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Orthopedic surgeon’s new book details history of physicians in Congress
In Physicians in Congress, Rene Rodriguez, MD, FACS, reviews the roles that physicians played in U.S. politics.
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Cuban-born orthopedic surgeon Rene F. Rodriguez, MD, FACS, spent more than 5 years researching and writing his book, Physicians in Congress, which compiles information about physicians who served in the legislative branch from the Continental Congress in 1774 through the 111th Congress.
According to Rodriguez, much of the information he sought was available from the Library of Congress, but accessing it took time, as did locating photographs of each physician.
“The Library of Congress has a lot of names and history, but they do not have pictures of these doctors,” Rodriguez, who is the director of continuing medical education at Leon Medical Center in Miami, told Orthopedics Today. “While I started to do the research, I called libraries, medical societies and museums. The thing that helped me the most was the historical societies [in places] where the doctors were born or where they died. That is how I found a lot of the pictures,” he said.
Rodriguez’s interest in putting together this book began when he asked a fellow doctor, who was a senator at the time, if he knew how many physicians were in Congress. When both men realized that neither of them knew the answer, Rodriguez knew that this was a project he wanted to start.
However, when the book was finished, Rodriguez realized it might be harder to get it published than he thought.
Rene F. Rodriguez
“I went to a lot of people to see if they could help me [publish the book], but I did not know it would cost so much money to print,” Rodriguez said.
He went to the AMA, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary at the time, and they agreed to help him print the book as long as they could add information on other physicians who were historical figures involved in government, such as the Founding Fathers, signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and state governors.
“I appreciate [the help from the AMA] because I would have never been able to publish the book,” Rodriguez said. “I feel good about [the book] because I feel like I did something I wanted to do. Now, whoever wants to do research in the future and wants to know about some of the doctors who were in Congress, they will have somewhere to start,” he said.
Breaking into orthopedics
Born in Remedios, Las Villas, Cuba, Rodriguez knew he wanted to be a doctor since he was in high school.
“My mother always wanted someone to be a professional, mainly a doctor, so she started brainwashing me and I decided that was what I was going to do,” he said.
However, his interest in orthopedics happened by accident. While playing baseball, Rodriguez broke his leg sliding into third base.
“They took me to an orthopedist and, as he was putting the cast on, I knew that I wanted to go into orthopedics,” Rodriguez, of Doral, Fla., told Orthopedics Today.
The same physician who casted Rodriguez’s leg, later wrote him a recommendation letter for medical school. Rodriguez began his medical studies in Cuba and Spain, and then continued his orthopedic training in New York.
Love of politics
While Rodriguez’s interest in politics was a motivator for writing the book, he has shied away from running for political office.
“Back in Cuba, a lot of doctors used to go into politics,” Rodriguez said. “I love politics, but with my accent I was not feeling too comfortable running for anything in the years I was in Washington D.C. If I was [more comfortable] I would have run for something, but now that I am in Florida, I feel I am a little too old to run.”
Instead of political pursuits, Rodriguez founded the Interamerican College of Physicians & Surgeons and created the Spanish-language medical journal, MEDICO Interamericano, as well as Medico de Familia and Usted Y Su Medico. He also established the National Hispanic Youth Initiative, which encourages Hispanic high school juniors and seniors to pursue careers in health, sciences and biomedical research.
“People trust doctors more than other professions. We should be able to be more of an outlet for the patients, and not only in the medical aspect,” Rodriguez said. “As politicians, we will have more flexibility to do something for the community, and doctors who are able to do this should be recognized,” he said. – by Casey Murphy
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Disclosure: Rodriguez has no relevant financial disclosures.