Mega Doctor News
Across operating rooms in the Rio Grande Valley, two surgeons are helping shape the future of medicine while redefining what leadership in surgery looks like. Dr. Sandra Esquivel and Dr. Krystha Cantu represent different generations, yet they share a commitment to precision, innovation, and compassionate patient care.
With more than three decades in surgery, Dr. Esquivel has witnessed—and helped drive—remarkable change in the field. Beginning her career at a time when women made up only about 17% of surgeons nationwide, she built her reputation through discipline and a firm focus on excellence. Her leadership was instrumental in launching the robotic surgery program at STHS Edinburg in 2015, bringing advanced minimally invasive procedures to the region and helping transform recovery experiences for thousands of patients.
Dr. Cantu represents the next wave of surgical talent at STHS McAllen. A Rio Grande Valley native, she returned home after training at some of the nation’s most respected institutions with a clear mission: expand access to high-quality surgical care in the community that shaped her. Combining general and robotic surgery, she has already completed more than 1,000 procedures and is focused on using technology to improve outcomes while strengthening connections with her patients.
Together, these physicians illustrate how experience and emerging expertise can work hand in hand to elevate healthcare across the region. Both emphasize communication, teamwork, and patient-centered decision-making, and both are passionate about mentoring the next generation—especially young women who may be considering careers in medicine.
In this issue of Mega Doctor News, we invite you to go inside the stories of these exceptional surgeons. Discover what motivates them, how robotic technology is changing lives, and why their work continues to have a lasting impact on the Valley. Their journeys are not only about surgical skill, but about purpose, progress, and the power of bringing advanced care closer to home.
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