Dr. Claudia Gómez is first female maxillofacial surgeon at her hospital, says ABC News
- Claudia Liliana Gómez Rodríguez is the first female maxillofacial surgeon at her hospital, breaking a long-standing male dominance in the specialty at the institution, ABC News reported.
- Many patients associate maxillofacial surgery solely with wisdom tooth extractions or minor dental problems, but the specialty requires rigorous, multi-year training.
- Their clinical work focuses primarily on the skeletal structure rather than just teeth.
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Dr. Claudia Liliana Gómez Rodríguez is the first female maxillofacial surgeon at her hospital, breaking a long-standing male dominance in the specialty at the institution, ABC News reported. Originally steered toward general medicine by her mother, a retired chemist from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Dr. Gómez Rodríguez chose dentistry with the explicit intention of progressing into maxillofacial surgery.
Specialized Training Beyond Routine Extractions
Many patients associate maxillofacial surgery solely with wisdom tooth extractions or minor dental problems, but the specialty requires rigorous, multi-year training. Dr. Gómez Rodríguez completed five years of dental school, one year of social service, and a selection process to enter the residency program at the Siglo XXI National Medical Center for four years.
Their clinical work focuses primarily on the skeletal structure rather than just teeth. Surgeries performed by maxillofacial surgeons include orthognathic surgery to correct misalignments between the upper and lower jaw, as well as complex interventions for facial bone fractures resulting from accidents.
Regional Reach at Hospital 21
Operating within the High Specialty Medical Unit (UMAE) No. 21, Dr. Gómez Rodríguez serves patients from a wide geographic area. The hospital serves Nuevo León, along with San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Chihuahua, and northern Veracruz.
Following in the footsteps of her parents—a physician and a chemist, both of whom worked at the Mexican Social Security Institute—Dr. Gómez Rodríguez chose to build her career within the institution. She emphasizes that the resources and treatments provided by the public health system offer critical access for patients who could not afford private surgical care.
Rebuilding Lives Through Complex Procedures
After seven years at UMAE 21, Dr. Gómez Rodríguez points out significant clinical challenges that show how the specialty affects patients. One notable case involved a young man named Ángel, who arrived with severe midface development, causing a 17-millimeter discrepancy between his upper and lower teeth, which resulted in functional difficulties eating and breathing.
The treatment required three surgeries, totaling 11 procedures in the operating room, performed by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. Following the successful interventions, the patient expressed the profound personal impact of the treatment to the surgical team, reinforcing the clinical responsibility involved in facial reconstruction.
Without you, I wouldn’t be here anymore.
ABC News
Future Expansion of Surgical Training
Looking ahead, Dr. Gómez Rodríguez plans to continue her practice at UMAE 21 while advocating for the creation of a dedicated maxillofacial surgery residency program at the hospital. Such a program would allow for the training of new generations of specialists and expand access to advanced surgical care within the public health network.