Dr. Félix Rodríguez
How One Person Can Expand the Reach of the CMA
Dr. Félix Rodríguez is no stranger to the Catholic Medical Association. In fact, according to past president Dr. Paul Braaton, he is an invaluable member.
“Dr. Rodríguez is truly an example and inspiration to all of us in the Catholic Medical Association,” Dr. Braaton said. “He embodies all the noble qualities of his profession and embraces the beauty and truth of the Catholic Faith in the science and practice of medicine.”
Dr. Rodríguez is the founding president of the Palm Beach Physicians Guild and has served in that role for the past three years. He helped start the CMA student chapter at Nova Southeastern University School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2017. He is also on the CMA’s national Media and Communications Committee and serves as chair of the Spanish Outreach Subcommittee. All that while caring for patients on a daily basis through his 17-year-old private oncology practice in Boynton Beach, Florida. It is now part of the 21st Century Oncology multi-specialty network.
“I am still in some disbelief at the number of things I am involved in for the CMA,” Dr. Rodríguez said.
“I see the role of leadership as a service call. Many colleagues within the CMA will agree that we have a very important calling as health care professionals to collaborate with the plan of the New Evangelization. The concept is to find innovative ways of delivering the Good News of Jesus Christ to both our colleagues and to the community at large.”
Participation in the association at the local, state and national level also fills another need according to Dr. Rodríguez: “I have found that the fellowship provided by the CMA is key to my own spirituality as a Catholic man and as a physician.”
Dr. Rodríguez feels blessed to be in Florida, a state so well represented by CMA guilds, and under the leadership of the state director, Dr. Diane Gowski, those guilds have a strong relationship and identity.
“Knowing we are part of that big ensemble of committed Catholic physicians in the state has provided a solid spiritual support,” Dr. Rodríguez said. “We are one of the few states with a guild in each diocese, and that leads to a good sense of accomplishment for the work of the Holy Spirit within us in the service of His people.”
Currently, Dr. Rodríguez is focused on his role as chair of the Spanish Outreach Subcommittee. He and its members, including Drs. Barbara Cardona, Felipe Vizcarrondo, Jose Santos, Peter Rosario and Fr. Scott Francis Binet, ensure the rich resources of the CMA are available to Latino physicians and health care professionals while also increasing their membership.
As part of that effort, Dr. Rodríguez, at the request of Fr. Scott Francis Binet, the Region V co-director, spearheaded the founding of the first CMA guild in Puerto Rico. It was the culmination of prayers and hard work that also involved his friend and former spiritual director, Monsignor Fernando Felices of the Archdiocese of San Juan and Dr. Iván Lladó, a San Juan cardiologist who is also ordained as a deacon for the Archdiocese of San Juan.
Dr. Lladó was among the 17 physicians from Puerto Rico who joined physicians from all over the world in Rome for the special meeting with Pope Francis, who consecrated the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (see story on page 14). After that meeting, Dr. Llado and the others felt called to start a guild.
“Catholic Puerto Rican physicians are facing the same professional and spiritual pressures we endure in the continental U.S.,” Dr Rodríguez said.
He traveled to Puerto Rico for a Sept. 7 meeting where he gave a presentation on the vision, structure and benefits of the CMA to more than 20 health care professionals comprised mainly of physicians. Members of the Puerto Rico Knights of Columbus leadership were also in attendance, and together with those present, committed to establishing the first CMA guild in the Diocese of San Juan with the goal of establishing a guild in every diocese.
According to Dr. Rodríguez, they welcomed the fellowship and spiritual growth the CMA would provide, but they also wanted to take advantage of the resources the association has to offer, especially in the areas of political action. The issues of conscience protection and religious freedom are being intensely debated on the Island.
“The CMA in the U.S. will be greatly enriched by these very dynamic and devout physicians from Puerto Rico,” Dr. Rodríguez said. “Please pray for the intercession of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, the first Puerto Rican to be declared blessed, for the growth of the CMA in Puerto Rico. I have been asking for his help about this initiative since the idea came up two years ago.”