New surgeon joins Windom Area Health Dr. Marc "I would say empathy. You have to be a real person when you are dealing with people." Remarkable equipment Fernandez is a new surgeon at Windom Area Health and comes to the job with strong family val- ues and vast experience in modern minimally- invasive surgical tech- niques. Fernandez heard about the opportunity in Windom through his work performing surgeries at other hospitals in need. Fernandez plans to be at Windom Area Health on a monthly basis. His specialties are bowels and intestines. He is also very willing to assist and complement other surgeons on staff. From his experience in Florida, Fernandez understands the important interplay of doctors, nurses, supplies and procedures in getting a robotics program started. "I'm very familiar with the process, and it is a pro- cess," Fernandez states. "I've done it twice at other hospitals in the last six or seven years." Fernandez has a quick and warm smile and truly believes in building a connection with patients. He is coming to Windom from Florida, where he was raised in a military family. He now lives in a small community south of Tampa called Inverness. Fernandez has been mar- ried to his wife Heather for 33 years and they have three grown children. He knows how to do open surgeries, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted sur- geries. Fernandez says that his most common robotic- assisted surgeries are for gall bladders, ventral her nias, and inguinal hernias. He enjoys hunting, fish- ing, and traveling with his wife. "I like the variety of procedures as a general surgeon, and you know, I always felt like you're really fixing something," Fernandez says. Dr. Marc Fernandez "I really enjoy being out side. I like camping, and I do a lot of fishing," says Fernandez. Fernandez has had the opportunity to travel around Cottonwood Coun ty, the cities, and take in some great restaurants in the area. What strikes him about Windom so far? "I like the nice people. People here are friendly," Fernandez says. "You get in a big city and every. body's in a rush. People here will talk to you. I like that." When asked what he considers the most impor- tant quality for a doctor to have, Fernandez responds, right there, like you could reach out and touch it." Fernandez explains that the ability to see inside the body and to carefully control the equipment is so important for patients. Laparoscopic and robotic- assisted surgeries do not require opening the body up nearly as far. Small in- cisions are used, and this helps with pain, recovery time, and reduced chances of complications or infec- tions. Goals and advice Fernandez looks for- ward to sharing his skill, experience, and personali- ty at Windom Area Health. His mother was an Eng- lish teacher so he knows the power and importance of words and communica- tion. His father taught him perseverance as he was shot down as a bombardier in WWII and was held captive in a German POW camp. He later became a vocational instructor in Florida after 25 years in the Air Force. With two of his own sons now about to be married in the next year, Fernandez has a lot to look forward to. Fernandez gets excited talking about the capability of some of the new equip. ment, especially in robotic assisted surgery. Windom Area Health is using the latest version of a surgical platform called DaVinci and he compares the up- He says, "My wife is hoping and praying for grandkids that we can go dote on and take here and there and all different kinds of places." When asked for a gener. al piece of medical advice that he would like to give people, Fernandez replies, grade to going from riding a "Get a doctor that you like, bike to driving a car. "The technology is re- ally mind-boggling," Fer- nandez explains. "Instead of looking at a TV screen six feet away, like we used to do, now when you do robotics and you move the camera in, it's like you are and then consider what they say carefully. Get the checkups that you should get, and don't wait. It's like a car. Check your tires. Well, they look fine. Yeah, but if they're not, you get a blowout." -PAID ADVERTISEMENT- New surgeon joins Windom Area Health Dr. Marc " I would say empathy . You have to be a real person when you are dealing with people . " Remarkable equipment Fernandez is a new surgeon at Windom Area Health and comes to the job with strong family val ues and vast experience in modern minimally invasive surgical tech niques . Fernandez heard about the opportunity in Windom through his work performing surgeries at other hospitals in need . Fernandez plans to be at Windom Area Health on a monthly basis . His specialties are bowels and intestines . He is also very willing to assist and complement other surgeons on staff . From his experience in Florida , Fernandez understands the important interplay of doctors , nurses , supplies and procedures in getting a robotics program started . " I'm very familiar with the process , and it is a pro cess , " Fernandez states . " I've done it twice at other hospitals in the last six or seven years . " Fernandez has a quick and warm smile and truly believes in building a connection with patients . He is coming to Windom from Florida , where he was raised in a military family . He now lives in a small community south of Tampa called Inverness . Fernandez has been mar ried to his wife Heather for 33 years and they have three grown children . He knows how to do open surgeries , laparoscopic , and robotic - assisted sur geries . Fernandez says that his most common robotic assisted surgeries are for gall bladders , ventral her nias , and inguinal hernias . He enjoys hunting , fish ing , and traveling with his wife . " I like the variety of procedures as a general surgeon , and you know , I always felt like you're really fixing something , " Fernandez says . Dr. Marc Fernandez " I really enjoy being out side . I like camping , and I do a lot of fishing , " says Fernandez . Fernandez has had the opportunity to travel around Cottonwood Coun ty , the cities , and take in some great restaurants in the area . What strikes him about Windom so far ? " I like the nice people . People here are friendly , " Fernandez says . " You get in a big city and every . body's in a rush . People here will talk to you . I like that . " When asked what he considers the most impor tant quality for a doctor to have , Fernandez responds , right there , like you could reach out and touch it . " Fernandez explains that the ability to see inside the body and to carefully control the equipment is so important for patients . Laparoscopic and robotic assisted surgeries do not require opening the body up nearly as far . Small in cisions are used , and this helps with pain , recovery time , and reduced chances of complications or infec tions . Goals and advice Fernandez looks for ward to sharing his skill , experience , and personali ty at Windom Area Health . His mother was an Eng lish teacher so he knows the power and importance of words and communica tion . His father taught him perseverance as he was shot down as a bombardier in WWII and was held captive in a German POW camp . He later became a vocational instructor in Florida after 25 years in the Air Force . With two of his own sons now about to be married in the next year , Fernandez has a lot to look forward to . Fernandez gets excited talking about the capability of some of the new equip . ment , especially in robotic assisted surgery . Windom Area Health is using the latest version of a surgical platform called DaVinci and he compares the up He says , " My wife is hoping and praying for grandkids that we can go dote on and take here and there and all different kinds of places . " When asked for a gener . al piece of medical advice that he would like to give people , Fernandez replies , grade to going from riding a " Get a doctor that you like , bike to driving a car . " The technology is re ally mind - boggling , " Fer nandez explains . " Instead of looking at a TV screen six feet away , like we used to do , now when you do robotics and you move the camera in , it's like you are and then consider what they say carefully . Get the checkups that you should get , and don't wait . It's like a car . Check your tires . Well , they look fine . Yeah , but if they're not , you get a blowout . " -PAID ADVERTISEMENT