New short film on YouTube featuring many of the thoracic surgeons you’ve seen profiled here on BogotaSurgery.org – Dr. Nelson Renteria, Dr. Stella Martinez, Dr. Andres Jimenez, Dr. Mario Lopez, Dr. Juan Carlos Garzon, and Dr. Ricardo Buitrago.
Hoping the next film is ‘live action’.
Spent most of the day over at Hospital Santa Clara with Dr. Stella Martinez, thoracic surgeon.. Despite having three cases, Dr. Martinez apologized for the paucity of scheduled OR surgeries due to the upcoming religious holidays.. (Despite Bogota’s booming population – this is a familiar scene, repeated around the city – kind of like people putting off surgery until after Christmas..)
Dr. Martinez, in the OR
I’d been warned by several people about Hospital Santa Clara – it’s one of the poorer public facilities, but to be frank, despite the aging exterior, it beat out some of the homegrown facilities I’ve been to.. While it was obviously a less affluent facility; with a campus style layout, no CT scan, and a 1950’s feel; the hospital was clean, all of the equipment worked, much of it was new – courtesy of a new administration..
Dr. Stella MArtinez, Thoracic surgeon
Dr. Martinez is impressive, both in and out of the operating room – with an extensive resume, and skill set. She’s currently the Director of the thoracic surgery residency program at Hospital Santa Clara, and she takes resident training seriously. She’s also interested, and active in research, and maintains a busy surgery practice at several facilities. There’s a lot more to say about this talented surgeon , but you’ll have to wait to read the rest.
While I am still finalizing some of my interviews for the week – it’s looking promising, so far..
Plans to go to the OR with Dr. Buitrago (thoracic surgeon) and Dra. Stella Martinez (thoracic surgeon)
To the operating room, and interview with Dr. Maldonado (cardiac surgeon) – and we’ll see if I was just imagining that southern accent..
Interview with Dr. Fabian Emura, gastric cancer specialist, and general surgeon.
Emailed several more orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, so hopefully, I’ll hear back..
My early morning surgery plan fell apart – so I will try again next week. Met with Dr. Jairo Ramirez, MD, FACS over at Santa Fe de Bogota this morning. Dr. Ramirez is a vascular and thoracic surgeon, and the Chief of Vascular Surgery (at SF de B) but he reports the majority of his practice is the treatment of venous disease such as varicosities and venous stasis ulcers.
This afternoon, I met with Dra. Stella Martinez Jaramillo, (thoracic surgeon) and she is a fascinating lady. We had a great chat – and scheduled a day for me to see her in action..I am definitely looking forward to it.
Spoke with Dr. Javier Maldonado, cardiac surgeon on the phone today to set up an appointment next week over at Clinica Colombia. Now, I thought he completed some of his training in the USA but I could swear I heard soft traces of a southern accent – and Cleveland is a far cry from my native Virginia.. There must be a story there – or my overactive imagination.. I’ll keep you posted.
It’s good to be back in Bogota! Now, if only I could line up all my appointments as easily.
I had anticipated more neurosurgery this week, but with the big neurosurgery conference in Mexico, it’s not turning out that way. So far, it looks like it’s going to be more of a Thoracic surgery week – with some orthopedic surgery and general surgery mixed in..
I’m going to see Dr. Osorio again, at the hospital in Chia this time, (if I can find it…)
I’m hoping to meet with Dr. Stella Martinez too.. I’ve heard a lot of great things about her from several of her colleagues, so I am really looking forward to it.
I’m still trying to arrange a meeting with Dr. Jimenez sometime this week – so I will keep you updated with how that turns out..
Tomorrow, I’m interviewing Dr. Klaus Mieth, an orthopedic surgeon – and I am hoping to catch up with Dr. Roosevelt Fajardo, (general surgeon) over at Santa Fe de , to get together later this week..
There are a few other physicians, I am still hoping to hear back from – so we’ll see how the week unfolds.
Update: 6 April 2011
Met with Dr. Klaus Mieth yesterday – interesting gentleman; speaks three languages; english, german and spanish.. Works full time as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in knee procedures – but also serves as the Director of the largest (and non-profit too) bone and tissue bank in Colombia..
Love, Life and Surgery in Latin America is now Colombian Culture & Cuisine 