María del Sol García: Mexico’s first female heart transplant surgeon.
Highlights:
- Dr. María del Sol García Ortegón is the first Mexican female surgeon to perform a heart transplant in 2017.
- She is known for her unique personality, including colorful clothing, tattoos, and a love for music, which she enjoys even during surgeries.
- She recently has been recognized for her unwavering commitment to medical education and has trained numerous healthcare professionals in surgery.
- She prioritizes her patients’ well-being and is known for establishing strong connections with them.
- Dr. García Ortegón’s legacy extends beyond her surgical achievements, inspiring others to pursue careers in medicine, particularly women, and she currently serves as the president of the Mexican National Thoracic Surgery Council.
“I’m a bit peculiar. I don’t conform to what we’re supposed to be,” explained Dr. María del Sol García Ortegón. With her penchant for colorful clothing, tattoos, and her hobby of collecting heart-themed artwork given to her by artists and patients, as well as creating scrapbooks, her appreciation for mezcal, and her passion for music, she is a testament to the idea that medical excellence, art, and authenticity can coexist. “I really like pop, salsa, and bachata.” Interestingly, this passion for music even accompanies her in the operating room, where she loves to listen to it while performing surgery.
I’m a bit peculiar. I don’t conform to what we’re supposed to be.
María del Sol García Ortegón
I met her in early 2019 for an education project. Four years later, a few weeks ago, I had the honor of presenting her with an award for her unwavering commitment to medical education, being a cornerstone that contributes to the training of thousands of healthcare professionals in the field of surgery. From inspiring them with her life story to teaching them how to perform coronary bypass surgery and guiding them through the steps of a heart transplant. When she recalls her historic heart transplant, her humility is evident. On that summer day in 2017, she knew she was about to perform this complex surgery for the first time. What she didn’t know was that she would not only achieve a milestone in her career but also make history in Mexico. Following the successful transplant for Enedina, Dr. García Ortegón became the first surgeon to perform this procedure in our country, nearly three decades after Dr. Rubén Argüero Sánchez’s pioneering transplant.
“When we finished [the procedure] at three in the morning, I sat down. At 11, my mentor told me to go home. Walking on Amores Avenue, I stopped at an ice cream parlor and bought a blackcurrant popcicle. At that moment, it hit me that I had done a heart transplant.” She ended her day like any other, in fact, with some insomnia, which is common for her. In reality, the magnitude of her story only became apparent when the National Medical Center 20 de Noviembre of the ISSSTE issued a statement recognizing her achievement.
When we finished [the procedure] at three in the morning, I sat down. At 11, my mentor told me to go home. Walking on Amores Avenue, I stopped at an ice cream parlor and bought a blackcurrant popcicle. At that moment, it hit me that I had done a heart transplant.
María del Sol García Ortegón
Her legacy goes beyond the operating rooms due to her focus on establishing connections with her patients. “When I did the first heart transplant, to me, it was just another surgery.” Her priority has always been the well-being of the people she operates on, and for her, the patient’s health is what truly matters. “Enedina just celebrated six years since the transplant and is in excellent health. She survived COVID-19 twice.”
When I did the first heart transplant, to me, it was just another surgery.
María del Sol García Ortegón
“I still have many ‘firsts’ ahead of me,” she confides. She also became a member of the Board of Directors of the National Thoracic Surgery Council, where she currently holds the position of president. “It’s the first time there’s a woman president,” she proudly explained. When I interviewed her four years ago, she told me that there were only 17 cardiothoracic surgeons in Mexico. Today, that number has grown to 24, and it is undeniable that her story has inspired this generation to follow in her footsteps. “Female residents are increasingly choosing subspecialties.”
I still have many ‘firsts’ ahead of me.
María del Sol García Ortegón
Dr. García Ortegón not only inspires us with her “firsts” but also with her unrelenting pursuit of self-improvement, her commitment to making a positive impact, and her strong belief that everyone “can achieve their dreams.” When talking about her career, she revealed to me that she always wanted to be a doctor and was fortunate to have the support of her colleagues, mentors, and family. Since childhood, her mother knew that María del Sol was destined to be a doctor, and like many doctors, she played at being a scientist from an early age when she lived in Cuautla. “I remember seeing red blood cells under the microscope when I pricked my brother’s finger,” she said with a smile.
At this opportune moment, marked by the celebration of Doctor’s Day on October 23rd, it is essential to recognize figures like Dr. García Ortegón, who is genuinely shaping the future of medicine with her vision and determination. Her outstanding scientific excellence and authenticity are the true sources of inspiration that transcend all borders. Her story has reached diverse audiences, from her narrative in “Cuentos de Buenas Noches para Niñas Rebeldes,” alongside the remarkable stories of Frida Kahlo and María Félix, to the 2021 short film “Corazones Ardientes.”
