This site exists to answer the questions patients actually ask about hernias and gallbladder disease, in plain language, written by your operating surgeon.
Pick your condition below for a plain-language guide: what it is, why it happens, your treatment options, and a downloadable PDF you can keep.
Gallstones, biliary colic, and when it's time to have the gallbladder removed, usually as same-day robotic surgery.
Read the guide →The most common hernia in men and women. Learn the anatomy, then choose open or robotic repair to see what recovery looks like for each.
Read the guide →Hernias near the navel in adults: why they form, when to fix them, and open vs. robotic repair.
Read the guide →For hernias that form at a prior incision, including complex cases that need an abdominal wall rebuild, open or robotic eTEP.
Read the guide →How Dr. Rodriguez decides which approach is right for you, and what to expect from each.
Read more →Retired Navy Captain. Combat surgical deployments, trauma fellowship at Shock Trauma in Baltimore, and surgery residency at Walter Reed.
One of a small number of surgeons nationally certified in both Robotic Surgery and Hernia Surgery.
Active researcher and textbook editor, on faculty for training the next generation of surgeons.
Medical Director of Acute Care Surgery at Texas Health Fort Worth, a Level I trauma center and American College of Surgeons verified Emergency General Surgery program.
"He explained everything in a way I could actually understand, and I was back to work in a week."
"I was nervous about robotic surgery. The team walked me through every step before and after."
"Caught a problem another surgeon missed. Grateful for his attention to detail."
Have you been a patient? Call our office. We'd be glad to hear about your experience and feature it here (with your permission).
Most weekends, you'll find Dr. Rodriguez in the kitchen making the family's pizzas, out back manning his 900°F Ooni, or, alongside his wife Sarah, cheering on their son Eli as he competes in distance swimming around the Metroplex. He believes a surgeon who's honest about real life understands his patients better.
Meet Dr. RodriguezNotes on robotic surgery, gallbladder and hernia care, and how Dr. Rodriguez actually uses technology in practice. Updated regularly as a reference for patients and colleagues.
June 25, 2026
Robotic surgery doesn't mean the robot is doing the operating. Here's what it actually involves, and how I decide between a robotic and an open approach for each patient.
Read more →June 24, 2026
I've had a LinkedIn page for years and never used it. Here's what's changing, and what I'll actually be writing about every week.
Read more →June 24, 2026
I tried using AI to draw the biliary anatomy for a patient education video. One tool invented bile ducts that don't exist. Here's what that taught me about using AI for medical illustration.
Read more →800 5th Ave, Suite 400
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Office: (817) 250-7030
Fax: (817) 250-7031
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Closed major holidays.
This site is for patient information. For urgent symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. After-hours, our answering service reaches the surgeon on call.
