Estelamari Rodriguez, MD, MPH
Dr. Estelamari Rodriguez is a triple board-certified hematologist and oncologist, and internist at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her clinical interest is in the early detection and treatment of mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as in developing programs to eradicate disparities in health care.[1]
Education and Career
Dr. Rodriguez earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Sociology at Columbia College, Columbia University, and her medical degree at the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine.
She completed her internal medicine residency at Columbia University’s New York-Presbyterian Hospital and her medical oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where she was named Chief Fellow. Dr. Rodriguez also earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain.[1]
After completing her education, Dr. Rodriguez spent several years as the Medical Director of Thoracic Oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida.
Dr. Rodriguez is now an oncologist at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, seeing patients at several locations in Miami and Deerfield Beach. She is the clinical research lead for the thoracic site disease group and the Associate Director of Community Outreach. In addition to thoracic cancers, she specializes in treating breast cancer.
In addition to the care she provides her patients, she is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Miami Medical School and clinical research lead for the thoracic site disease group.
Dr. Rodriguez is an integral part of Sylvester Cancer Center’s annual Miami International Mesothelioma Symposium. Dr. Rodriguez says that patients seeking treatment at Sylvester come from all over Florida and the world.
She notes that many are veterans who were exposed in Navy yards, while others were exposed to asbestos in their homes or workplaces. She says, “It’s important for people to recognize the symptoms of mesothelioma, even though it’s rare. We must have a whole team of people that care about doing this well.”[2]
Research
Dr. Rodriguez’s research focuses on early detection of lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, as well as addressing health disparities.
She recently participated in a noted study titled “Social Determinants of Health Impact on Survival of Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma” and a report on steps being taken by Sylvester to address health disparities titled “A multi-level system quality improvement project to reduce disparities in lung cancer screening: The Sylvester Lung Screening Project.”
Professional Memberships
- American Society of Hematology
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- American Association for Cancer Research
- Florida American Society of Clinical Oncology- FLASCO
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
