San Ignacio,
Interviewed a pair of thoracic surgeons this morning, the esteemed Dr. Hernando Russi Campos, the senior thoracic surgeon and Professor of Thoracic Surgery at Hospital San Ignacio and Dr. Jose Andres Jimenez Quijano, his junior counterpart.
Planning on following Dr. Jimenez into the operating room soon – so I’ll report back.
Bogota’s Hottest Young Surgeons is my latest article on Colombia Reports – talking about some of the great young surgeons here in the capital;
1. Dr. Juan Pablo Umana (cardiac surgeon)
2/3. Dr. Ivan Santos and Dr. Freddy Sanabria, (plastic surgeons)
4. Dr. Costanza Moreno (orthopedics)
5. Dr. Juan Carlos Garzon (thoracic surgeon) and
6. Dr. Jose Felix Castro (general surgeon)
and some of the things they are doing (which all of my loyal readers already know all about!)
It was a different style of writing than I am used to – but I enjoyed it, and hope to do another article in the future.
Update: After getting a few requests – I’ve re-posted the article here. (But, I’d appreciate it if you went to Colombia Reports anyway, so the editors can know how many people are reading the articles – and hope that they will publish more in the future!)
From Colombia Reports.com
Bogota’s Hottest Young Surgeons
Don’t let their youth fool you. These young Bogota surgeons are well versed in the latest technologies and the newest surgical techniques, and are changing the face of, and bringing new sophistication to the capital’s medical community.
Dr. Juan Pablo Umana, 46, Cardiac surgeonA Bogota native, Dr. Juan Pablo Umana, with his Stanford education, quintessential rugged good looks and a refreshing outlook, brings a California flavor to Fundacion Cardioinfantil, where he has been the Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery since 2004. He, along with Dr. Nestor Sandoval have ushered in a new era of Cardiac Surgery in Bogota with a expanding and state-of-the-art cardiac surgery service line. Notably, in 1997, Dr. Umana along with Dr. Memhet Oz invented the first mitral clip for percutaneous valve repair. During surgery, he is focused, meticulous and unflappable. Despite being the most senior of the surgeons listed here, he is just hitting his stride.
Dr. Ivan Santos operates at Clinica Shaio, and is one of a trio of celebrity plastic surgeons here in Bogota. Genetically blessed, he looks ten years younger than his 41 years. In spite of his boyish good looks and shy nature, Dr. Santos is a confident and talented surgeon; more importantly, he gets results. Watching Dr. Santos operate is similar to watching a symphony conductor orchestrate classic music composures with 160 musicians. He never misses a beat, and he is simultaneously aware of everything around him. With his precision in the operating room and aggressive post-operative therapies, patients recover faster, with less pain, and leave his office looking and feeling their best.
Dra. Constanza Moreno is orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and microsurgery such as digital reattachment after traumatic injury, reconstructive surgery and correction of congenital deformities. After training with the famed Dr. Harold Kleinert and Dr. Breidenbach III in Louisville, Kentucky, she returned to Bogota in 2005. She is currently developing a hand transplant program for victims of landmines. Next week, she is presenting her proposal at the International Hand and Composite Tissue Allotransplantation Society in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Juan Carlos Garzon is a man of action; operating at several facilities across Bogota. Trained in Hong Kong, Dr. Garzon excels at the more difficult thoracic cases. As one of just a few board-certified thoracic surgeons in Colombia, he is using video-assisted thoracoscopy to able to treat complex disease with minimal incisions. He is also teaching this technique to surgeons across Colombia. During cases, he is relaxed, controlled and ready for anything.
Dr. Freddy Sanabria, a young Richard Gere look-a-like, makes his own pretty women as one-half of the Sanabria plastic surgery practice. Trained at the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University, he brings skill, dedication and the latest cosmetic innovations to a well-established surgical clinic. While operating, he is confident, focused and detail oriented, and his surgical team anticipates his every need.
Dr. Jose Felix Castro is a staff surgeon at Clinica del Country. This magna cum laude academic scholar is one of a few of the talented young general surgeons in Bogota who have embraced single port laparoscopy, which means abdominal surgery without a scar. While Dr. Castro is the youngest of our line up, he brings a wealth of experience to the operating room.
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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..
In Medellin this weekend, meeting with Adriaan Alsema, the editor-in-chief of Colombia Reports, the largest English-language news website for Colombia. He’s published a couple of my articles in the past, so when I had a chance to meet him in person, I jumped at it.
He’s an interesting guy, a Dutch ex-pat who has been here in Medellin for the last three years – keeping the english speaking world up to date on all the news and happenings in Colombia. He’s a blunt, forthright, sophisticated journalist who doesn’t sugar-coat anything for anyone. (So, naturally, we got on famously.)
As much as I’m enjoying Medellin (hope to be back for book three), I will be glad to return to Bogota tomorrow and get back to work!
Spent the morning with Dr. Juan Fernando Ramon, neurosurgeon at Hospital Centro de la Policia. (He also operates at two other hospitals). Dr. Ramon is one of only a handful of neurosurgeons in Colombia who performs neuroendoscopy.
We toured the hospital – and then I watched him perform a small procedure for radiculopathy (in a patient with chronic back pain.) The hospital has a fully-equipped $4 million dollar neuro-suite (not seen in photo below.)
The patient kindly gave permission for the use of the photos
Had a long, but exciting day, with some interesting doctors – who are strikingly passionate about their work, which is always wonderful to see.
This morning, I traveled out to Chia, to the University of Sabana to visit with Dr. Camilo Osorio Barker, MD who is the Dean of Medicine, (and a practicing thoracic surgeon.) Like many thoracic surgeons here in Colombia, Dr. Osorio practices at several locations, (primarily out in Chia at the University-affiliated hospital) but he also sees patients at Cardioinfantil. (He is partnered with Dr. Tellez and Dr. Garzon, both of whom we’ve interviewed previously)
One three- day weekend a month, he sees patients in Medellin. He primarily specializes in the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excess sweating of palms, facial flushing) by thorascopic sympathectomy. He report that this makes up about 90% of his practice – with the remainder of cases as VATS lung resections, and other lung procedures. There’s a lot more to tell – but it’s been a long day, and I have an early appointment tomorrow with Dr. Ramon (neurosurgery) at Hospital Centro de Policia..
Don’t worry – I will be seeing Dr. Osorio again soon.
Next stop was Dr. Fernando Hakim, a neurosurgeon at Santa Fe de Bogota. He was a fantastic interview – while he does the whole spectrum of neurosurgical procedures for vascular malformations, tumors, spinal problems, etc, he is best known for his treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
(As I mentioned in a previous post) It seems almost inevitable, or inescapable that the son of the famed Dr. Salomon Hakim (who developed the first treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus) – has carried on his father’s legacy. But Dr. Fernando Hakim is passionate about neurosurgery, and has certainly made his mark..
He clearly loves his work – I could have interviewed him for hours, and hours (but he’s a busy neurosurgeon, so I didn’t). I will be seeing him again soon – (next week) and I’ll bring more information then.
Lastly, I stopped in to see Dr. Jose Felix Castro, general surgeon for a quick visit to get some last minute information for another project I am working on..
Dra. Constanza Moreno is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and microsurgery. She specializes in the treatment of traumatic injuries such as digital and limb re-attachment, reconstructive surgery and correction of congenital deformities. Next week she is traveling to Atlanta, Georgia to give a presentation at the International Hand and Composite Tissue Allotransplantation Society on the Hand Transplant Program she is developing at Santa Fe de Bogota. Her aim is to restore limbs (and functionality) to the lives of Colombians affected by landmines.
I hope to follow her to the operating room when she returns.. Look for more exciting news from this gracious physician in the future..
21 April 2011 – since I originally posted, I’ve received a lot of questions about hand tranplantation.. Here’s a Yahoo article discussing a recent hand transplant.
Delving into the depths of neurosurgery today with Dr. Enrique Jimenez-Hakim at Santa Fe de Bogota. For someone like me with no neurosurgery background (other than the required rotations in school), this brings a lot of trepidation. But Dr. Jimenez – Hakim was exceedingly kind and patient despite all of my questions.
Dr. Jimenez – Hakim is part of a busy four surgeon Neurosurgery department at the Santa Fe de Bogota, which performs 500 – 600 cases per year, with a neurosurgery residency program through El Bosque University.
Interestingly, Dr. Jimenez – Hakim has personal legacy of neurosurgery. Both he and his cousin, Dr. Fernando Hakim Daccach are second generation neurosurgeons. Their fathers, were some of the first neurosurgeons in Colombia. Notably, Dr. Salomon Hakim (Dr. Enrique Jimenez-Hakim’s uncle) was a pioneer in the treatment of hydrocephalus and the develpment of the first unidirection valve for drainage of excess CSF. (There was an early valve developed in 1949 by another neurosurgeon but it was poorly functioning.) All valves developed since Dr. Hakim’s valve have been based on his design.
This legacy has certainly been something for Dr. Jimenez – Hakim and Dr. Fernando Hakim to live up to – and they have. (more about that later).
Planning to to go the operating room with Dr. Jimenez – Hakim as soon as he returns from giving a lecture at the Latin American forum in Mexico City – on awake craniotomies.
More about Dr. Jimenez – Hakim, and neurosurgery in Bogota, Colombia.
Dr. Juan Pablo Umana, cardiac surgeon
Dr. Juan Pablo Umana
Cardiac Surgeon at Fundacion Cardioinfantil
Spent the morning in the operating room with Dr. Juan Pablo Umana. Dr. Umana is the Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at Cardioinfantil.
Ran into an old friend while I was there..
Dr. Jose Pomares, Anesthesia
Dr. Pomares was a anesthesia resident over at Medihelp in Cartagena, when I was writing hidden gem.. I recognized those emerald eyes right away.. (not sure if I would have recognized him without the mask.)
Dr. Umana had another case, but so did I – over at Santa Fe de Bogota..
Went back to see Dr. Ricardo Nasser, Chief of Bariatric Surgery. He just returned from the Bariatric Surgery conference in Cartagena, and was back at work, in the operating room.
Dr. Ricardo Nasser
Bariatric Surgeon – Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota
Dr. Richard Nasser, Bariatric surgeon
Back in the operating room today with Dr. Ivan Santos at Clinica Shaio. Dr. Santos was in perfect form, as always.. (I swear, watching him in the operating room is like watching a conductor with a 160 member orchestra..He sees and notices everything.)
Between cases with Dr. Ivan Santos, plastic surgeon
He was assisted by Dr. Julie Alfonso today.
with Dr. Julie Alfonso, plastic surgeon
If you want to see & learn more about Dr. Ivan Santos – he has his own YouTube channel.. (It’s in Spanish.)
Single port laparoscopy with Dr. Arias
Over at Medscape – everyone is excited about single port laparoscopy.. But as Dr. Arias and Dr. Castro can tell you, that’s nothing new in Bogota, Colombia – just standard operating procedure.
Single Port Laparoscopy article at Medscape
Youtube movie with Dr. Arias – filmed several years ago.
with Dr. Freddy Sanabria, plastic surgeon
Spent the morning with Dr. Sanabria, at his clinic in North Bogotá (Usaquen) which was a treat. (I have lots of great things to say – but for more in-depth information, you’ll have to buy the book. 😉 I will say that surgical conditions were excellent, technique and skills were impeccable.
Working on my next possible article, which just may feature the good doctor.. Guess you’ll all have to wait and find out. (If the editor passes – I’ll post here.)
Update: 3/2012: Readers know that I put little stock in ‘testimonials’ but I’ll include them (by readers multiple requests) when I find them.. or otherwise stumble across them – since this isn’t an ad agency..
Dr. Freddy Sanabria
Dr. Juan Pablo Umana, Cardioinfantil
Since starting the Bogota project, I’ve followed the reported statistics for the blog – which tells me what my readers are looking for, and what they want.. Much of this is as expected – heavily advertised plastic surgeons bring a lot of traffic to the site – and the cardiovascular topics (cardiac surgery, carotid disease) bring quite a few readers to the sister site, cartagenasurgery, so I’ve tried to gear some of the discussions to what people have been looking for..
But then, there are findings that are not what I expected:
And the biggest surprise of all has been the continued fascination/ success / popularity of Dr. Juan Pablo Umana..
in the operating room with Dr. Juan Pablo Umana
Or perhaps, I should phrase that better: after meeting and interviewing with Dr. Umana – his professional success as Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Cardioinfantil is certainly NO surprise.. what has surprised me is his consistent ranking as the #1 search term for this/ and the cartagena surgery website..
In fact, this week; “Dr. Juan Pablo Umana”, “Juan P. Umana,” and “Umana, cardioinfantil” are the top three search terms, respectively.
I spoke to him about it (he’s just as surprised as I am; heart surgeons are not usually web celebrities, if you exclude Dr. Oz) and we are planning to meet again, so I can try and give my readers what they want.. So, if there is anything specific that you want to know – drop me a line or a comment, and I will be sure to ask him at our next meeting. But now I’ve got to run and meet Dr. Sanabria..
Dr. Cabal, (left) and Dr. Rojas, Orthopedic Surgeons
Good morning over at Clinica del Country with Dr. Francisco Cabal, and Dr. Jaime Rojas in an interesting orthopedic case this morning.. Everything was beautifully smooth – great anesthesia with Dr. Douglas Leal.. Attended a nursing lecture on orthopedic patients..
Interview with Dr. Edgar Prieto, General and Biliary surgeon this evening.. Clinica de la Mujer is reviewing my credentials before I check out their OR. Supposed to hear back this evening – in time for Dr. Prieto’s cases..
Love, Life and Surgery in Latin America is now Colombian Culture & Cuisine 