Meet the Neighbors: The Sorianos
Jacob Slaton
Héctor and Cassandra grew up in Mexico and immigrated to the United States for Héctor’s fellowship at the Barrow Institute in Phoenix. After two years in Arizona, they moved to North Carolina for his neurosurgery residency at Wake Forest, and later pursued another fellowship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. After a brief stint in Georgia, the family finally settled in Little Rock in 2023.
Héctor and Cassandra first met while he was finishing his first neurosurgery residency at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City. While studying at the same place, Héctor asked Cassandra if he could join her for lunch. She was a bit hesitant to date him at first, and their first date wasn’t perfect – but a little bit of music at the end of the date changed everything for her.
“We both love Jamiroquai, and it turned out that his songs really became part of the soundtrack of our lives,” Cassandra said. “By the end of that date, a shared love of music turned our conversation around and changed everything.”
When they moved to Little Rock, Héctor landed the role of Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Director of Neurosurgical Spine Surgery, Medical Director of the Spine Service Line, Co-director of the Combined Spine Fellowship and Director of the Spine Research Fellowship.
“Héctor truly loves his work in a way that few people do,” Cassandra said. “He’s meticulous and enjoys carefully planning his cases, and he finds deep fulfillment in improving his patients’ lives through this hands-on, skilled profession. He also really enjoys teaching residents and passing on what he knows.”
Jacob Slaton
Héctor and Cassandra have two kids who keep their lives lively and bright. Sophia, 6 years old, brings magic energy to their family. Currently enrolled in kindergarten at Episcopal Collegiate School, Sophia spends her free time enjoying music and dancing. She spends days after school at Rock City Dance Center, where she has fun with gymnastics.
“She’s fluent in both English and Spanish and has been a book lover since she was tiny, often making trips to the library to pick out new stories,” Cassandra said.
The baby of the family is Santiago, born in June 2023, the cheerful, energetic boy of the family.
“Santiago loves balls, toy cars, dinosaurs and is a big fan of ‘Spidey and His Amazing Friends,’” Cassandra said. “He’s an outdoor enthusiast who loves spending time at the park and exploring. He even has a natural rhythm and can’t help but dance when he hears a good beat.”
Although Héctor works full-time at UAMS, he’s not the only one in the family with a full-time job. Cassandra is the self-proclaimed “CEO of the household,” and has her hands full with their two children. Before she became a mom, she worked in pharmaceutical marketing. When she’s not with her kids, she’s running the family business, RX Properties, where she manages, buys and rents properties to provide affordable housing in Little Rock.
“My favorite part of this new venture is that it lets me involve the kids,” Cassandra said. “For example, Sophia helped me assemble furniture for one of the rental homes over the summer, and it was such a sweet experience to share that time with her and show her how we can put love and effort into something that benefits others and our family.”
When they moved to Arkansas, the Soriano’s found the community to be incredibly welcoming. Through the hospital, they’ve been able to connect with other families from Mexico and parents with children the same age as their own. This made the transition easier for them.
“We also have a beautiful network of Hispanic friends who feel like family now, giving our kids a chance to practice their Spanish and share cultural ties,” Cassandra said. “Plus, the Episcopal school community has welcomed us with open arms, and we’ve built strong friendships there, too. In short, we’ve found it wonderfully easy to become part of the community here, and we hope to be just as welcoming to others who come to join us in Arkansas.”
Jacob Slaton
Connections and Community
“[Héctor] ended up at UAMS thanks to Dr. Analiz Rodriguez, a fellow neurosurgeon who had worked with him during his residency at Wake Forest,” Cassandra said. “In a casual conversation, she mentioned they needed more people in the department and encouraged him to interview. It turned out to be a fantastic opportunity. He loves the cutting-edge technology, the supportive multidisciplinary team and the chance to perform complex spine surgeries in a genuinely collaborative environment.”