Mega Doctor News
It’s an alarming statistic: Globally, the number of people living with a nervous system condition stands at about 3.4 billion, per the World Health Organization. That’s about 43% of the world’s entire population.
Health experts predict that number will increase in the coming years due to the world’s aging population since many neurological disorders are common in older adults.
Additionally, the concurrent increase in lifestyle risk factors, such as a lack of physical activity, poor diet and unhealthy weight, have led to an increase in global cases of obesity, which has been linked to multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders.
But residents in the Rio Grande Valley can depend on South Texas Health System and STHS Clinics to provide surgical care for neurological conditions with the addition of Dr. Ricardo Cortez, a board-certified neurological surgery specialist with expertise in treating neck pain and spine problems, spinal fusion and other neurological disorders.
“What I‘ve noticed is that a lot of patients previously had to leave the Valley in order to have surgery or even get an evaluation from a specialist,” says Dr. Cortez, a Harlingen native who served in the U.S. military. “Now that I’ve joined the STHS Clinics team, we’re going to be able to give Valley residents access to the neurological care they so desperately need.”
For more than 20 years, Dr. Cortez has specialized in neurosurgery, a field dedicated to diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
He attended the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, completed his residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and pursued a fellowship in spinal surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Florida.
“After completing that fellowship, I knew I was well-equipped to manage most, if not all, spinal disorders,” says Dr. Cortez, who credits his time in the military for helping improve his ability to treat different spinal trauma.
Beyond his expertise in spinal procedures, Dr. Cortez is also skilled in treating carpal tunnel, herniated discs and conducting minimally invasive procedures and microsurgery, a specialized technique that uses an operating microscope and precision instruments to repair or rebuild exceedingly small parts of the body, like nerves.
Dr. Cortez has been treating patients locally since August, when he officially joined the STHS Clinics neurosurgery team. It’s an experience that he’s thoroughly enjoyed.
“This is where I grew up, so it’s a great privilege for me to help provide quality, compassionate care to Rio Grande Valley patients in need of neurological treatment and surgery,” says Dr. Cortez. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to return home and and contribute to the community that helped shape me into the physician I am today.”
Dr. Cortez’s practice is located at the STHS Clinics Neurosurgery Clinic, located at 1801 S. 5thSt. Suite 122 in McAllen. For more information or to make an appointment, call (956) 762-5500 or visit the STHS Clinics website at www.sthsclinics.com.
