BEAUMONT, Texas — For years a Beaumont surgeon has been changing lives one patient at a time at Baptist Hospital, but his story began thousands of miles away.
Dr. Alex Ordonez is blazing his own path and improving the quality of life for thousands of patients across Southeast Texas.
"I always thought it was interesting what you do, or what you're capable of, your ability to change people's lives when you're a physician," said Dr. Ordonez.
While Dr. Ordonez may be practicing medicine in Southeast Texas, his go all the way back to Quinto, Ecuador.
"My father was a business owner and my mom was a stay at home mom," said Dr. Ordonez.
Dr. Ordonez says that while his parents never went to college, they made sure he excelled at academics.
"The thing with Latino moms, they will make sure that you have to do things perfect," said Dr. Ordonez.
That didn't take much convincing, because at 13 Dr. Ordonez already knew he wanted to be a surgeon. After graduating medical school he moved to the U.S. to start his own practice in 2006.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, only 6% of doctors in the U.S. are Hispanic.
"Here there is not a lot, but I think it's important that we recognize the contributions the Latino community has made here," said Dr. Ordonez.
Dr. Ordonez found his calling in bariatric medicine, helping patients lose weight with his newest piece of equipment that he nicknamed Roxy.
"I've been using the robot a little over two years. I have completed over 12 hundred surgeries," said Ordonez.
This robot has changed the game for patients.
"Back in the day they would do a 10-15 inch incision which would mean much more pain, much more complications," said Dr. Ordonez.
Patients like lifelong friends Londie Jones and Ronald Bates credit Dr. Ordonez for changing their lives.
"A lot of things I had to do on a walker or a cane that I don't have to do now," said Jones.
Dr. Ordonez also provides inspiration for future generations.
"I'm very proud of where we come from and I tell my kids that too. I hope that we can keep moving forward, advancing, doing more and better things," said Dr. Ordonez.
Dr. Ordonez says that his daughter is even interested in following in his footsteps as a surgeon.