EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso Children’s Hospital has announced the addition of Dr. Maria Aguirre Flores as its newest pediatric geneticist, marking a first for the Borderland region.
Dr. Flores, who previously trained as a pediatric resident at El Paso Children’s Hospital, is bringing her specialty of genetics to the community in an effort to help find answers for complex medical conditions in children.
“In genetics, medical genetics, what we do is try to find answers for those very complex conditions, especially anything we get that they’re born with. Having that answer can give us a better idea of how to look forward. We’re trying to give kids their best shot,” Dr. Flores said.
The addition of a pediatric geneticist is expected to enhance the hospital’s ability to provide specialized care for children in the region, as previously, families seeking these services often had to travel as far as Fort Worth.
Speaking to KFOX14/CBS4 on Monday, Dr. Flores emphasized the significance of having such services locally, saying, “I noticed that there’s a bunch of kids that really need a local geneticist because many times we would have to send them out, but that requires a lot of extra expenses for travel, it’s difficult, and not everybody can do that. So, having that without patients having to move, it’s amazing, and it’s going to change a lot of what we do.”
In addition, Dr. Flores said, while these services can be life-changing for patients, she knows families can be hesitant about the process and encourages families not to be afraid.
“Sometimes families hear the word genetics, and they are hesitant just because of not knowing what it means, but this is not about trying to find who’s to blame for what’s happening to their kids. That’s not how it works. We’re just trying to find answers and help the entire family in the process. So don’t be afraid of it,” Dr. Flores said.
According to Dr. Flores, who is already operating within the hospital and is ready to take patients, she has already seen success with the use of these services, as she has been able to give answers to families who were struggling.
“So far, we’ve been able to give answers to families that were struggling in the hospital and with their kids constantly sick. So I’ve already seen huge success in what we’re doing just in the past month,” Dr. Flores said.
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