Dr. Roberto Jaime Rodrigues

Dr. Roberto Jaime Rodrigues, age 85, of Durham, North Carolina passed away on Tuesday May 5th 2026. Roberto was born on September 2nd 1940 to his parents Jayme Andrade Rodrigues and Ernestina Candida d’Oliveira Branco in São Paulo, Brazil. He is survived by his wife Monika, his daughter Anna, his son-in-law Justin, and his grandchildren Mara and Kit.

He grew up in São Paulo, Brazil and attended Colégio São Luís, studying medicine and completing a surgical residency at the University of São Paulo in 1966. From 1967 to 1970 he was a Fulbright Scholar in the US completing an internship and served as an Assistant Resident in Surgery at Jewish Memorial Hospital, New York. He then worked at Beth Israel Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York until 1974. He obtained certification from the American Board of Surgery in 1976. As early as 1974 he expanded his professional work into health informatics, transitioning to a career spanning over three decades of national and international career in health systems and technology design, implementation, and management. Additionally, he worked on national and international technical cooperation projects for the United Nations and multilateral organizations. In total, he practiced clinical medicine for 18 years in the US and Brazil. From 1991 to 2003, Roberto worked for the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization ultimately becoming a Regional Advisor in Health Services Information Technology. He held multiple academic appointments including adjunct faculty at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University and has 82 publications, including books. Additionally, he was very active in professional and scientific societies, holding over 34 positions. Undeniably, his impact and achievements in medicine and particularly in the field of health informatics are significant.

He met his Austrian-born wife Monika in São Paulo in 1983, their daughter Anna was born in 1985. They moved to Barbados in 1990 and then to the DC-area in 1995. In 2019, Roberto and Monika moved to Durham, NC to be closer to their daughter and her family, whom he loved dearly and supported. Also known as Bob, he held many diverse interests and skills, a true renaissance man. A critical thinker and scientist at heart, he instilled a love of science and discovery in his daughter at a young age with late-night lunar eclipse viewings or other science experiments. As a dedicated grandfather, he cherished time with Mara and Kit. Building a playground for them brought him much joy Bob was very well-read and was a walking lexicon of knowledge especially in history, astronomy, and classical music, and he appreciated in-depth dialogue and discourse on many topics. He appreciated art, having many artists as good friends. A devoted cat lover, he enjoyed the company of cats throughout his life. An avid outdoorsman, he was a member of the Izaak Walton League of America Bethesda-Chevy Chase. His training as a surgeon was a gift to his family, he was our handyman: he could fix anything and everything! As a skilled gardener, he was once asked by a neighbor in Bethesda, MD if he could work for her. He politely declined saying that he already works for “that lady” (referring to his wife). After retiring, he took up biking, which he did almost daily. This led him to co-found the “family and friends biking group” with annual biking trips with his wife by his side around Europe and the US. Traveling, particularly to his wife’s home country to visit her family, was always a highlight.

His sense of humor and realism were sources of laughter and comfort to many, in both joyful and challenging moments. For that, we are so grateful.

In lieu of flowers, please remember Bob by visiting a garden or park, learning about a new topic, or enjoying a bike ride.