Orlando Rodriguez, MD ’83 : A beloved physician tends to farmworkers of the Salinas Valley

The role carries a major responsibility that the longtime Salinas, California, physician knows he doesn’t have the bandwidth to fulfill. But in many other ways, Dr. Rodriguez serves as a guiding light for the largely Spanish-speaking population he has treated for his entire career.

“I love taking care of my patients,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “I treat everyone exactly the same, whether you’re a CEO or a field worker.”

Dr. Rodriguez immigrated to the United States from Colombia with his family as a small boy. He put down roots in the lush agricultural Salinas Valley during his UCSF residency. “I chose Salinas,” he says. “I feel a real commitment to my community and feel that everyone should have access to really good health care.”

Meeting that goal is no simple task. More than 70 percent of Dr. Rodriguez’s patients either toil in local fields and packing houses or are family members of those who do. Many struggle with diabetes and other chronic medical conditions but delay care for fear of lost wages from time off work and other concerns.

Dr. Rodriguez and his colleagues strive to make their practice a safe haven for all. The office has extended hours and is fully bilingual. “Communication is a big deal,” he says.

Known for his gentle and reassuring bedside manner, Dr. Rodriguez treats multiple generations of the same families. Until recently, he routinely delivered the babies of children he delivered – “more than I can count,” he says. He has proudly watched some of those children follow in his footsteps to medical school.

Julie Wooten, MSN ’03, a nurse practitioner in his office, marvels at Dr. Rodriguez’s skill set, recounting how he once determined a patient had a pituitary tumor after simply shaking the patient’s hand. “He’s using his brain to diagnose something but also using his heart and using his personality to set people at ease,” she says.

“Crazy busy” is how Dr. Rodriguez describes his practice. And his contributions extend beyond direct patient care. For over 30 years, he was a respected clinical instructor and mentor to generations of UCSF medical students, helping them grasp the challenges of the migrant community in rural California. Some of those trainees now practice in the area.

A longtime health leader in the community, Dr. Rodriguez gladly steps up to deliver bilingual information to the public about the flu and other medical issues. While serving as chief of staff at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, he rallied the entire medical staff to help fund a new comprehensive diabetes care center to address the region’s number-one health threat. More than half of the county’s population is either diabetic or prediabetic.

It’s no wonder that Dr. Rodriguez has little time to spare. He wouldn’t have it any other way. Simply put, “I love what I do,” he says.

Dr. Rodriguez is the recipient of a 2019 UCSF Campaign Alumni Award paying tribute to his compassionate care.