Surgical Careers Lectures
Gimbernat Surgical Association Alumni. Former "Gimbernat Surgical Association" members now undergoing a surgical residency
24/10/2019
The first term started with the conference: “AQG Alumni”. It was given by three graduate doctors of the Pompeu Fabra University and former members of our association. The three residents were Manel Fa, who is doing traumatology and orthopedics at Hospital Sant Pau, Carlos Ruiz, who is doing his vascular surgery residency at Hospital del Mar and Celia Miñón, who is doing plastic surgery.
They shared with us their experiences in the corresponding specialisation and the hesitations they had to choose the speciality. Moreover, they encouraged us to work hard and persevere despite some small setbacks. The event was ended with a round of questions. It was a great success! We’ll sure repeat this event next year!
Medical Training in the USA: What Would I Have Liked to Know?
03/2021
With globalization, more students are considering medical training abroad, especially in the U.S. for its research and work opportunities.
We recently hosted Dr. Inés Villarroya, a Pompeu Fabra University alum who specialized in the U.S. after research stints in Canada and Germany. She explained the USMLE process and residency applications, engaging students with her detailed insights.
Afterward, she answered numerous questions and shared advice. We’re grateful for her participation and wish her well. The full talk, in Spanish with English subtitles, is available via the attached link.
Women and Medicine: a vision from different perspectives
06/03/2019
On the 6th of March we had the pleasure to welcome Olga Pané, Edurne Arriola, Belén Lloveras, Sílvia Salvans and Sílvia Pérez, all of them doctors at Hospital del Mar. It was an outstanding colloquim around the role of women in Medicine and Surgery and about the difficulties they have encountered.
We have been able to listen to reflections about their professional journeys and if they have encountered sexist environments, where they received different treatment or expected a different attitude to gender, as well as if they use some strategy to handle these situations.
Likewise, the reconciliation of family life as mothers with professional life has been discussed. Dr. Arriola has emphasized that it has been a whole learning process, an apprenticeship to be more efficient in her work in order to be able to reconcile everything.
They have also explained what their vision is about the generational change that is taking place, stressing that now the effect is beginning to be seen.
We are proud of the outcome of this colloquium and the response to it. It encourages us to continue organizing this type of activities! Finally, we want to thank Aemmar for their work together. All this highlights that with illusion and good ideas you can do things as beautiful.
And to finish, a sentence from Dr. Pané: “What is not measured, does not exist. If we want things to change, we have to write and publish”.
Global Surgery
16/01/2019
On the 16th of January we had the pleasure to welcome Dr. Carmelo Loinaz, general surgeon of Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid and coordinator of the AEC’s humanitarian collaboration committee. He began by giving us figures on the situation of health care in low and middle income countries, as well as measures that are being carried out to try to reduce avoidable deaths and the importance of surgery in this regard. He explained the concept of Global Surgery and also spoke about the integration of cooperation medicine in the training of doctors and in university education.
It was undoubtedly a good way to begin to know the world of cooperation and surgery.
Pediatric surgery as a speciality
20/02/2018
On the 20th of February we had the pleasure to welcome Dr. Xavier Tarrado, who gave a speech on Pediatric surgery as a speciality. Pediatric Surgery is the only specialty that is defined by the patient’s age rather than by a specific condition. He explained in what consist the speciality and their main career opportunities. We also were able to supervise the diagnostic, operative, and postoperative surgical care of patients from prenatal diagnosis through adolescence, as well as the most typical developmental, inflammatory, neoplastic, or traumatic diseases.
We don’t rotate in pediatric surgery in out medicine studies so it was an unknown speciality for all of us. However, It was a complete success, we were more than 120 students! We would like to thank Dr. Tarrado for his speech and for his ability to motivate the student.
Women and Medicine: a vision from different perspectives
21/11/2017
The last 21st of novembre we had the pleasure to welcome Ruth Blanco, graduated in medicine for UAB, committe membre management group eurosurg and our contact with the EuroSurg study. She explained us her experience as a member of Eurosurg group and motivated us to take part of it, pointing out the advantages of being involved in research as medical students.
The EuroSurg collaborative is an international research group led by students and surgical trainees. It was founded at the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) meeting in 2015 and has evolved quickly with active members in over 10 European and International countries. Its main purpose is to achieve significant multicenter studies in several countries around the world.
We would like to thank everyone that has made possible this conference, especially Ruth Blanco and Dr. Miguel Pera, who also said a few words a bouts his experience as a project supervisor.
Knowing the past to predict the future: a journey throughout the cardiovascular surgery
15/04/2017
Professor José Luis Pomar, cardiovascular surgeon and IDIBAPS researcher, gave a conference in which we learnt about his life as academic cardiac surgeon and the beginning of modern cardiac surgery in Barcelona.
All along the conference we had the opportunity to be driven through his life and vital experiences in the field of cardiovascular surgery. He became a doctor in the University of Navarra and since that moment, he completed his training in different hospitals such as the Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla (Santander) and the Montreal Heart Institute in Canada. Back in Spain, he started working in the recently created cardiac surgery unit at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. To illustrate his major achievement, the Professor Pomar displayed a video on the first heart transplantation performed in the Hospital Clinic. All the students learnt from his experiences and had a great time.
Former "Gimbernat Surgical Association" members now undergoing a surgical residency
07/02/2017
The second term ended with the conference: “From the Gimbernat Surgical Association to a training as surgeons”. It was the first talk of the AQG given by four graduate doctors of the Pompeu Fabra University and former members of our association. The four residents were Maria Munarriz who is doing urology in Hospital del Mar, Carlos Ruiz, vascular surgery in Hospital del Mar, Oriol Pino, general surgery in Parc Taulí and Sergio Loscos, orthopedics in El Sagrat Cor Hospital.
They shared with us their experiences in the corresponding specialisation and the hesitations they had to choose the speciality. Moreover they encouraged us to work hard and persevere despite some small setbacks. The event was ended with a round of questions. It was a great success! We’ll sure repeat this event next year!
USMLE exam: An indispensable step to do a residency or a fellowship in the US. Why, when and how
20/04/2016
Last wednesday we had the pleasure to invite Dr. Dimitri Dorcaratto, an italian surgeon related in many ways to our country. He studied medicine in the University of Milan, choosing Valencia for his Erasmus. Later, he specialized in gastrointestinal surgery in “Hospital del Mar” in Barcelona.
Afterwards, he decided to carry out the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) in order to do a fellowship in the United States. Although he passed the exam, he was chosen for a fellowship in Dublin and he decided to remain in Europe. Nowadays, he is working as a surgeon in “Hospital d’Elx”. Dr. Dorcaratto explained us how to perform the USMLE, a necessary exam if you want to work or study as a doctor in the United States. He guided us in where, when and how to do it in order to succeed. The conference was very motivating, reminding us the importance of going abroad, not just because of the experience but also because it allows you to learn different ways of working. Dr. Dorcaratto is a great example of hard working and perseverance in our profession.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery conference
01/03/2016
March began with one of the most expected conferences of the year, a conference about an almost forgotten medical speciality: oral and maxillofacial surgery.
We had the pleausure to invite Dr. Carles Martí, a renowned doctor in his work in different clinics of Barcelona.
He guided us through not only the most basic and common surgeries practiced in this field, which mostly are wisdom teeth extraction, but also through the complex part of how to make serious facial and oral transformations (and how the advance of technology has improved technical skills). We’ve seen some of his works of art, which allow us to conclude that oral and maxillofacial surgery actually is an art, that improves the quality of life in patients who have suffered severe traumas, or even birth defects.
Vascular Surgery in the XXI century: A profound technological evolution
03/11/2015
The second conference of the trimester took place on November 3rd and counted with the presence of an important guest, Dr. Vicente Riambau, head of Vascular Surgery in Hospital Clinic. He explained the importance of vascular surgery and his strong evolution during the past years.
We were able to have a clearer idea of what this surgical specialization is exactly, how to specialize in it or which important attitudes and skills a surgeon needs. Vascular surgery evolved incredibly due to endovascular surgery. A vascular surgeon performs a large range of surgeries, such as: endovascular or open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms, thoracic aortic aneurysms and thoracoabdominal aneurysms, open surgical reconstructions and balloon angioplasty and stenting in all vascular areas, carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting, bypass surgery and endovascular therapy for peripheral artery disease and gangrene of the limbs, etc. As we can see it is a wide specialization, full of challenges, but the most relevant advice Dr. Riambau gave us was to try to be the best at our work in every moment of our career.
Surgical training in the UK
22/05/2015
Professor Michael Griffin gave an insightful talk on Surgical Training in the United Kingdom, which AQG was honored to host on May 22, 2015.
Prof. Griffin, a consultant surgeon and professor at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary specialized in upper gastrointestinal surgery, presented an exuberant and captivating talk.
Following their completion of medical school, students enroll in a comprehensive two-year Foundation training regime which provides them with exposure to multiple specializations. Subsequently, they undergo the MRCP (UK) Examination and satisfy the WPBA (Workplace-based assessment).
After completing the Foundation Program, doctors undertake a two-year Core Medical Training (CMT) that concentrates on General Internal Medicine. This stage equips them with skills required for their chosen field of specialization which may vary in length. Those who pass the Specialty Certification Examination earn Certificates of Completion and are eligible to register as consultants or General Practitioners.
Our profound gratitude goes to Dr. Manuel Pera for his invaluable contribution in bringing this conference into fruition.
A personal view of my future after completing my surgical training
04/11/2014
Our association’s third conference was included in the Cicle of Surgical Career Lectures and was delivered by Dr. Silvia Salvans, who explained us the path she followed from the end of her medical career to becoming a consultant. The conference began with an introduction about the different subjects that General Surgery integrates and the necessary qualities and abilities to become a good doctor. Dr. Salvans specially insisted in the necessity of a formation in basic, experimental y clinical investigation.
The doctor started her residency in Hospital del Mar in 2006 and finished it in 2008. In between this period of time she had the opportunity of going abroad to the Hepatic Transplant Unit of the King’s College Hospital in London. She went there as an observer but she was able to help the unit anyway and to even participate in a published article. During her residency the doctor tried her best to complete her formation in investigation by attending courses and congresses. After finishing her residency she decided to focus in investigation from 2011 to 2013. To be able to suffice for herself she worked and got several scholarships during that time. Between 2013 and 2014 she went back to the United Kingdom to become a fellow in Colorectal Surgery in Oxford. She finally came back to Spain in may 2014 to focus on her PhD and present it in december of that same year. In the present time she is a General Surgery consultant in Hospital del Mar and a published author in several referenced magazines.
Dr. Silvia Salvans is a clear example of what effort and hard work can accomplish and of the importance of a good formation in investigation. Of this amazing and long path the doctor highlights not only the several aspects of her formation in medicine but also the experience, relationships and friendships established during that time.
Neurosurgery's past, present and future
04/11/2014
The second conference of this year was led by Dr. Conesa, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery in Hospital del Mar, Barcelona. He explained us his experiences through time and told us about the changes and developments of this medical specialty. His speech began in the past, with an introduction about the early imaging techniques and ended with the newest advances, the most recent changes and his perspectives for the near future.
Thus, the speaker showed us the first neurological imaging tests and how they slowly gained their importance and became fundamental tools in planning surgical interventions. Moving forward through time, Dr. Conesa told us about another type of tests as vital as the ones mentioned previously but exclusive in neurosurgery: neurophysiology maps. The ability to draw functional maps of the areas of motor and cognitive skills allowed a better understanding of tumours and decreased the harm deflected by surgery. Dr. Conesa proceeded talking about the present, mainly about the development of tools and devices used in microsurgery, in order to treat hydrocephalus and aneurysms. The speaker took us then to the future by talking about the newest advances that will allow further changes in neurosurgery. The most overwhelming examples were the possibility to operate sensitive intracranial lesions with radio frequencies, avoiding this way an invasive surgical intervention; and the recent progresses made in the area of micro electrodes in brain tissue. Micro electrode’s implantation already gave some patients the capacity of moving mechanical arms trough an electronical interface and its importance will most certainly keep increasing in the near future.
Surgery inside a third world humanitarian organization: A personal experience
27/01/2014
In january 27th, the association had the honor to bring Dr. Mario Ubach to our faculty to talk about his personal medical experience in third world countries. The conference was mainly about the doctor’s experience in surgery inside an humanitarian organization localized in Chad, a country in Central Africa, and about the country’s health sistem.
Dr. Mario Ubach is a surgeon and the president of a nonprofit organization called Mission and Development for Goundi, founded in 2003. The work of this organization is of great importance since it developed very special and life changing projects such has the creation of a hospital and the formation in health care of several young students in Chad. It’s also impressive the work this surgeon was able to develop in the poor conditions of a third world country. The differences between the work conditions in Spain and Chad are very accentuated, specially in matters of type of surgical interventions, context, culture or the surgeon’s roll. In such contexts, experience is much more important than medical specialization since it’s common to encounter a wide range of health problems. During the conference, the doctor shared some photographs that describe the daily reality of a country in such a complex situation.
Also, the book “Goundi, different vacations” was available to anyone who might want to adquire it. The book was written by Isabel Rodríguez Villa, a nurse, photographer and Dr. Ubach’s wife and it describes the adventures she experienced in Chad.
Dr. Ubach’s enriching words awaked an interest for the world of health in third world countries in many of the event’s participants.
Surgery performed by women: two stimulating experiences
08/10/2013
The first conference of the new academic year was protagonized by two female doctors with a known international trajectory: Dr. Joana Ferrer, surgeon in the hepatobiliopancreatic unit of Clínic Hospital in Barcelona and Dr. Esther Kreisler, surgeon in the colorectal unit of Bellvitge Hospital in Barcelona.
The aim of the conference is to draw female students to the possibility of choosing surgery as a medical speciality in the future. Both doctors shared some of the keys to obtain the necessary and wanted experience in both professional and personal contexts.
USMLE exam, an essencial step to work in the USA
01/02/2013
Dr. Dimitri Dorcaratto, a specialist in general and gastroenterological surgery inaugurated the events of 2013 by telling us his experience with the USMLE exam (United States Medical Licensing Examination). The doctor explained what the USMLE exam exactly is and how it is divided in three different exams: one theoretical exam about the basic sciences, another one.
about clinical and surgical knowledge and a practical exam to evaluate diagnostic skills, empathy, education and the capacity of dealing with complex and difficult situations. The theoretical exams can be taken in Barcelona, but the practical one has to be in the USA, specifically in one of the five hospitals that are allowed to perform it. Also, the students may choose to take the exams before finishing the bachelor’s degree in Medicine. The cost of taking the three exams is around 3000 dolars without including the trip or the stay in the USA.
To complete a specialized surgical formation in USA's excellence centers: an enriching personal adventure
26/04/2012
Dr. Miguel Pera, head of the Colorectal Surgery Unit of Hospital del Mar and Dr. Constantino Fondevila, specialist in the Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplant Unit of Clínic Hospital in Barcelona shared their experiences with the conference’s attentive audience.
Both doctors explained their personal experiences shortly after a presentation performed by the association president, Sergio Loscos and the association honorary president, Professor Manuel Pera. Afterwards, the audience had the opportunity of asking the doctors information about how to complete medicine studies abroad: available options, application forms, access, and so on.