Gvido Janis Bergs has just been awarded the EACTS Advanced Intensive Post- Operative Care Fellowship for 2022.
Tell us about yourself, your specialty and where you are working now?
I’m a cardiac surgery resident in Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia. In a country with a population of around two million people, there is only one adult cardiac surgery centre, where the whole spectrum and complexity of cardiac surgery cases are admitted and managed, around 1100 surgeries per year.
At what stage was your career when you applied for the Francis Fontan Fellowship?
I submitted my application at the beginning of the fifth residency year, the last year of my training. It seemed a logic step to go abroad, acquire new skills and find new perspectives on how to approach cardiac surgery cases differently. It is one of the most prestigious fellowships in cardiac surgery and no one from Latvia has ever received it, so it was a great challenge for me to apply and be the first.
What prompted you to apply?
In my hospital, cardiac surgeons and cardiac intensive care doctors work closely in the postoperative management of patients. However, I think cardiac surgeons are more focused on surgery than postoperative management. I had this confidence inside me that I wanted to learn more advanced skills in postoperative management. When I read about the Advanced Intensive Postoperative Care Fellowship, the summary and experience of the previous fellow really caught my attention. I read it couple of times and I was certain that I had to apply.
What do you hope to get out of the Fellowship, professionally and personally?
Professionally, I want to become a better doctor. I want to learn new technical skills, gain new knowledge on how to manage complex cases, which are seen more often in high volume cardiac surgery centres. For a long time, I have had an affection for research and writing, so I also hope to improve my research and scientific writing skills and learn from doctors who have this experience and knowledge at the highest level. Personally, I want to meet new colleagues, who I can call or write to seek advice.
How do you expect it might affect the trajectory of your career?
It is great honour, yet it is also great responsibility to learn and improve as much as it’s possible during these months. I believe, that Francis Fontan Fellowship will definitely affect the trajectory I’m heading. The time will tell how great the actual impact will be.
How was your recent trip to the Aortic Forum in Bologna?
It was the first event I attended in person since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and I was excited to be there. The Forum was really well organised, with many excellent speakers and research topics. It felt astounding, how fast the field of cardiothoracic surgery is evolving. It was also great to meet some colleagues I haven’t seen in person for a long time as well as to meet new ones.
Read more in Issue 28 of EACTS News
