Dr. Aaron J. Russell

Dr. Joaquin Rodriguez is a board-certified physician specializing in surgery. His professional interests surgical procedures for  breast cancer, foregut, bariatric, weight loss and general surgery as well as hiatal hernia, robotic hernia repair and gastroesophageal reflux disease. A native of Texas, Dr. Rodriguez is passionate about providing compassionate care for adult patients in his community. Dr. Rodriguez is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He is proud to be the first minimally invasive-trained surgeon at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple since joining the surgery department in 2000. Outside of work, Dr. Rodriguez enjoys photography. Dr. Rodriguez is highly rated in 25 conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Obesity, Paget Disease of the Breast, Breast Lump, Lymphadenectomy, and Sleeve Gastrectomy. Dr. Rodriguez is board certified in General Surgery- American Board Of Surgery. Dr. Rodriguez is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Howton attended University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where he received his MD in 1990. He then went to Baylor University Medical Center Dallas, Texas, and completed his Internship in 1991 and Residency in 1995. Fellowship training was completed in 1996 at Baylor University Dallas, Texas. He is board-certified in general surgery and colon and rectal surgery. He has a special interest in colonoscopy for the prevention of colon cancer, laparoscopic colon surgery, colon and rectal cancer. He also has a special interest and training in the treatment for hemorrhoids, including methods of treatment completed in the medical office setting.Dr. Howton takes special interest in the treatment for fecal incontinence. Many patients with fecal incontinence are sometimes embarrassed by this problem and their quality of life is affected in a negative way. He has received certification and training in the Sacral Nervous System treatment used to control fecal incontinence. Patients who have had this procedure are very happy with change it has made in their lives. When not seeing patients, Dr. Howton enjoys spending time with his family, watching his sons play sports and following Baylor athletics. Dr. Howton is highly rated in 13 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hemorrhoids, Turcot Syndrome, Gardner Syndrome, Ureteroscopy, and Bladder Reconstruction. Dr. Howton is board certified in Colon And Rectal Surgery- American Board Of Colon And Rectal Surgery and General Surgery- American Board Of Surgery. Dr. Howton is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Eckford was born and raised in Starkville, MS, and moved to Oklahoma after high school. There, he worked as a paramedic for seven years while attending college and medical school. Dr. Eckford has been practicing with Baylor Scott & White Health in Texas since 2002. He has an interest in abdominal surgery with a focus in colon surgery and hernia repairs. Dr. Eckford has been married since 1994 and has two children. His hobbies include off-roading in his jeep, hiking, camping, general aviation and saltwater aquaria. Dr. Eckford uses robot-assisted technology to perform minimally invasive surgery. Patients benefit from shorter hospital stays, less pain, and a lower risk of infection due to the nature of the procedure. Learn more about robotic surgery . Dr. Eckford has been recognized as a Top Doc 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 by Austin Monthly Magazine. Winners are nominated by their peers as among the best in their region/nation in their medical specialty. Dr. Eckford has been selected as a 2023 Super Doc by Texas Monthly magazine. The honor recognizes providers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Dr. Eckford-Ii is highly rated in 14 conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hernia, Hemorrhoids, Acute Pancreatitis, Gallbladder Removal, and Hernia Surgery. Dr. Eckford-Ii is board certified in General Surgery- American Board Of Surgery. Dr. Eckford-Ii is currently accepting new patients.