Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Torres knew even as a teenager that she wanted to become a doctor. “I am very fortunate to have been raised in a family of strong and positive women,” she says. “And both of my parents gave me the message, early on, that a woman could do anything a man could do.”
While attending Mayo Medical School, Dr. Torres first planned to be a cardiac surgeon. “But then I started thinking about how much I wanted to raise my own family, and how the cardiac surgeon lifestyle would make that more difficult. I grew up in the Spanish culture, where nothing is more important than family.” With a desire to do something that involved women’s health care, and being surgically oriented, the ob/gyn specialty was “perfect for me.”
Today, Dr. Torres’ upbringing continues to influence her life — and the type of doctor she is. “Growing up, we were never forced to do anything; instead, we were shown all the options that were available to us, and guided along in our decision. I like working with women of all ages … listening to them, and letting them know that I am ready to help them with the decisions for their current and future health. I really enjoy educating each patient and providing her with the tools for a healthy lifestyle through all the stages of womanhood.”
When not at work, Dr. Torres is with her family: her husband, Dean, and their two sons and a daughter. She balances her work schedule with a busy family life; her children are very involved in multiple sports and dance. She says her middle son shares her passion for cooking Latin food and watching the Food Network; she and her husband like to play golf and travel, and she enjoys being the team photographer at her kids’ sporting events. Her favorite novels are “Pride and Prejudice” and “Under the Tuscan Sun,” and she loves relaxing to the music of Il Divo.
“Now that I’m getting older, I really look forward to seeing patients come back every year, and I love hearing their stories — what they’ve been up to, what their kids and grandkids are doing … just listening to what’s new with them. I have patients whose daughters now come to see me as patients — daughters I’ve delivered! It’s a privilege to be a part of their lives ... and I’m so honored to be able to do what I do.”