DR. SUSY PACHÓN CUNHA
MASTERS DEGREE IN GLAUCOMA AT THE INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO FERNANDEZ-VEGA (IUFV)
“MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AT IUFV IS THE MOST COMPLEX AND COMPREHENSIVE ONE IN COMPARISON WITH THAT LIVED IN BRAZIL AND NORTH AMERICA, AS IT HAS COVERED ALL THE NECESSARY ASPECTS FOR THE TRAINING OF A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL”.
Ophthalmologist graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the ABC Paulista in Brazil. Specialist in Glaucoma by the Hospital de las Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. Has undergone a yearlong fellowship in clinical research in glaucoma at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, USA. Currently a doctoral candidate in Health Sciences and is finishing a Masters Degree in Glaucoma at the Instituto Universitario Fernández Vega (IUFV).
¿WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO FERNÁNDEZ-VEGA (IUFV)?
Due to the strong tradition of ophthalmology in Spain, one of the pioneering countries in the refining of surgical techniques, also I was always curious to find out more about clinical and surgical practice. I had the privilege of meeting Dr Ignacio Rodríguez Uña, who offered me the possibility of studying here, I didn’t hesitate for a second and took the opportunity before me to study the Masters Degree in Glaucoma and obtain a Doctorate in Health Sciences.
HAS THE EXPERIENCE AT IUFV MET YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
Certainly! It did not only meet my expectations, but it surpassed them. Spending every day observing Dr Pedro Pablo Rodriguez Calvo both in the consultation room and in the operating theatre enabled me to learn new surgical techniques and the clinical management of patients, but I also had the opportunity to learn much more; I mean the opportunity to acquire human values such as patience, empathy and respect towards the patients.
From all my personal and professional experiences, in comparison with that lived in Brazil and North America, the one at the Institute has certainly been the most complex and comprehensive one, as it has covered all the necessary aspects for the training of a healthcare professional.
The experience provided an advanced clinical and surgical knowledge, and put me in direct contact with the most state-of-the-art equipment and eye tests. Furthermore, in the scientific field, thanks to the continuous seminars given by the IUFV I was able to learn more about basic sciences and obtain knowledge of the different research lines carried out at the IUFV.
It is also worth noting that the Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega offered me the opportunity to present scientific publications carried out by the unit of research in glaucoma in meetings of great national and international prestige.
Drs. Ignacio Rodríguez Uña and Pedro Pablo Rodríguez Calvo
together with Dr. Susy Pachón.
Los Drs. Jesús Merayo and Ignacio Rodríguez Uña
together with Dr. Susy Pachón.
¿HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IN THREE WORDS YOUR TIME AT THE IUFV?
I think that the three words that best define my experience at the institute are: challenge, because I had to face ophthalmology, that is already complex enough in itself, in a country with a different language and traditions; dedication, because I gave myself almost exclusively to the Institute, to ophthalmology and to scientific research; and learning, for all the knowledge acquired in clinical and surgical practice as well as in the seminars offered by the institute.
Dr Susy Pachón attends a glaucoma surgery by
Pedro Pablo Rodríguez Calvo
¿WHAT VALUES HAVE YOU LEARNT FROM THE DOCTORS?
The list of values I have learnt is really long, but I can name some of the most important ones that range from human values such as respect, empathy and patience as I have mentioned before, to professional values such as tenacity, dedication and humbleness to know that we are always learning something new and we reinvent ourselves in the face of every challenge.
WHAT WOULD YOU HIGHLIGHT FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE FOUNDATION FERNÁNDEZ-VEGA?
Being part of the Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega meant a great personal development through the visits to the centres with people with disabilities, where I could understand beyond ocular diseases and help individuals that due to different reasons cannot access a specialised doctor.
I am deeply grateful to the Instituto Universitario Fernández-Vega and especially to doctors Ignacio Rodriguez Uña, Pedro Pablo Rodriguez Calvo, and Jesús Merayo for giving me the opportunity of living this enriching and intense experience. I can say that I am currently a professional with a much more comprehensive training.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUR FELLOW OPHTHALMOLOGISTS?
I would encourage them to come. It is one of the best and most rewarding experiences that a doctor may have in his or her training. One can do it through one of the different programmes: Doctorate, Masters Degree, Experts, Courses, etc. as well as clinical or research fellowships.
It is incredible how much one can grow both as a person ad professionally. It is undoubtedly one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. The working environment is great, human quality is spectacular, scientific rigour is very high; I once again encourage you to come and keep improving.
