Christopher Olivares, D.O., gained a deep respect for the medical field at an early age. While growing up as a third-generation El Pasoan, his family inspired him to work hard to pursue his dreams. Raised by his mother, a retired Texas state district judge of 20 years, and his father, a board-certified anesthesiologist who has served in El Paso for over 37 years, Dr. Olivares understands well what it means to pursue a career dedicated to service.
“From a young age, I was raised to value the importance of family, education, hard work, honesty, and respect,” he shared. Inspired by his parents’ dedication to their fields and to serving the sick and less fortunate in El Paso, Dr. Olivares decided to pursue the field of medicine and become a physician. His older brother chose a similar path as well, following in their father’s footsteps to become an anesthesiologist here in El Paso.
After graduating from Cathedral High School, Dr. Olivares completed his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a Mechanical Engineering Concentration at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Dr. Olivares then went on to get his Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. From there, he completed his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating with honors from Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth.
Dr. Olivares had discovered a passion for urology; following completion of his doctorate, he pursued his residency at John Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, which he will complete in June 2020.
“I chose to do my urology residency training at Cook County Hospital because I knew I would graduate a well-rounded, competent urologist immediately upon completion of my residency,” said Dr. Olivares. “Many people describe Cook County Hospital’s urology residency as ‘hard-nosed’ and ‘old school’ for our high surgical volume, unique and extreme pathology, and our expertise in open surgery.” Yet this approach allowed Olivares to quickly develop his skills while gaining extensive experience. “Very early on in my residency, I became proficient in kidney stone, BPH, and endoscopic bladder tumor treatment,” he added. “Furthermore, as one of the leading trauma centers in the world, Cook County Hospital provides excellent training in reconstructive surgery. I am excited to bring this skillset to El Paso.”
While at Cook County, Dr. Olivares shared that it’s not unusual to hear five different languages being spoken among staff and patients at the hospital. It’s a unique environment, and it’s one of the things he appreciated most about working there. “Specifically, as a Mexican-American, it gave me great pride to serve the Spanish-speaking population of Chicago,” he said. “Learning in this unique environment has enlightened me to the urologic concerns and needs of this population.”
And Dr. Olivares plans to bring the knowledge and experience that he gained when he joins the physician team at Rio Grande Urology this August. He’s currently wrapping up his residency at Advocate Christ, a Level 1 Trauma Center on the south side of Chicago, where he is honing his robotic and minimally invasive surgical skills.
Looking ahead, Dr. Olivares is excited to join RGU and return to his hometown of El Paso. “Looking forward, my goals as an attending physician include providing a high level of care using cutting-edge technologies, establishing myself as a leader in improving healthcare in my community, continuing my history of innovation as a biomedical engineer, and fostering strong professional relationships with my peers, clinical staff, and patients,” said Dr. Olivares. “I plan to lead by example and work in accordance with the principles I was raised to value.”
When he’s not working, Dr. Olivares and his wife enjoy traveling, trying new foods, and attending cultural events. “I am a big fan and collector of art by El Paso artists,” he said. “I am excited about the current renaissance of art and culture in El Paso.” And he never misses a UTEP football or basketball game.
Join us in welcoming Dr. Olivares to RGU!
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