Coomtacto inglés parte 1

ISSN 2011-3579

A MAGAZINE FOR COOMEVA MEDICINA PREPAGADA HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS VOL. 10 • No. 3 JANUARY 2018

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CONTENTS January 2018

18 | Carlos Andrés Lores Orthopedist Technology, talent and teamwork save lives

5 | EDITORIAL 0 ¡10 years of publication and we want to celebrate with you!

6 | MEDICAL ADVANCES 0 10 medical achievements for the future

1 9 | Diana Alejandra García Londoño Pediatrician I am in love with pediatric patients

08 | HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT

We all participate in the health care system

0 | Alberto Latorre 2 Abisambra Interventionist radiologist Another Alternative within radiology

10

10 | PROMISING COLOMBIAN DOCTORS. COMMITMENT, PASSION AND HEART

11 | Mario Angulo Mosquera Pediatric endocrinologist A fighter for gender discrimation 1 2 | Sandra Marcela Gómez Ramos Gynecologist and obstetrician A friendly voice during a sweet and complex pregnancy

10 PROMISING COLOMBIAN DOCTORS

10

6 | Metabolic Syndrome 2 The modern disease at last has a treatment

1 4 | Sebastián Quintero Oncologic mastologist A warrior on daily battle against breast cancer

8 | Cancer 2 Science has been able to target tumoral cells

General manager Coomeva Medicina Prepagada

Editorial committee Pascual Estrada Garcés, MD Health National Head Martha Liliana Cifuentes National Coordinator of Relationships and Healthcare Providers Bertha Lucía Varela, MD National Medical Audit Chief Julián Adolfo Villegas Health Risk Management National Head Ana María Correa Quality National Auditor Marco Emilio Ocampo Medical National Auditor Juan Fernando Saavedra Publicity and Marketing National Head David Montes Communications National Coordinator

Producción editorial Legis S.A.

0 | Cardiovascular 3 diseases Its prevention is one of the great medical challenge

1 5 | Jorge Enrique Medina Rosas (R.I.P.) Nephrologist and rheumatologist “Medical research is my passion”

17 | Juliana Gutiérrez Quiceno Odontopediatrician The true challenge is long standing and sustained prevention

3 | Aging and the 2 elderly’s health The Challenge of get old in these times 4 | Depression 2 and suicide Mental disorder burden in Colombia

13 | Gabriel Ortiz Intensivist The mistery of an accurate diagnosis

1 6 | Javier Mauricio Lobato Neurosurgeon Above all, devotion to service

2 | THE DECADE’S 10 2 BIGGEST HEALTH ISSUES

Jorge Zapata Builes

2 | Respiratory and 3 Pollution diseases With high impact on life and economies

22 42

THE DECADE’S

10 BIGGEST

HEALTH ISSUES

4 | Mother-infant Health 3 Mother and child are central to medical attention 6 | Child and 3 adolescent health Infant Mortality decrease, a great achievement

www.xpandia360.com

mercadeorelacional@legis.com.co Tels.: (1) 4255255, exts.: 1516, 1312, 1889, 1845 Sales: María Cristina Arévalo Durán Cel.: 3112862724 maria.cristina.arevalo@gmail.com ISSN 2011-3579

8 | Musculoskeletal 3 ailments Modern man carries a very heavy “load” on his back

VOL. 10 • No. 3 ENERO 2018

0 | Oral health 4 A challenge despite the achievements 1 | Humanitarian aid 4 Coomeva in solidarity with victims of Irma

41 4 JANUARY 2018

2 | Towards the future 4 Taking care of yourself is loving yourself

Photo: © 2018 SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTOS

EDITORIAL

10 YEARS OF PUBLICATION and we want to celebrate it with you!

I

n 2007, Coomeva Medicina Prepagada had already reached the privilege of grouping over 6,500 health care professionals to cover the needs of the whole country. They were already well-trained professionals willing to continue studying their fields and updating their knowledge. And the organization felt the need to develop a communications system that would allow us to interact in a more direct way with the doctors, while divulging our identity as well as the positive perception of our organization. This is how what we came to know now as COOMTACTO magazine was born.

We started this road that would take us even closer to our health care professionals, publishing an eight-page newsletter originally intended to share with them all sorts of medical advances, as well as important institutional information. Soon it became clear to us, we also needed an adequate graphical image that could create a business model around it that would make it feasible for the long-term and would also give us an even more interesting editorial structure. So, we forged an alliance with an expert on this type of projects, it was Legis S.A., a strategic and successful alliance until today. Also, Tecnoquímicas, a prestigious and well-respected organization committed to health care professional’s education, supported the project financially.

From the beginning, even though it was not intended to be a textbook, we wanted it to have scientific precision. And it still has it.

So, the readers received COOMTACTO very well from the start. Gradually the page number increased until it got to 24 by 2015. However, the time requirements and the medical community’s need led us to change the product even more. We turned it into to the magazine you are reading right now. Its first number was published on March 2016, with a new editorial design that was also well received. We also felt the need to open the publication, we started acknowledging outstanding medical efforts and initiatives in all the specialties, we created the sections called “Research interview” and “Merits”. And we also gave more relevance to “Medical world”, an interesting section devoted to the academic and gremial activities in every medical area.

Technical and scientific content of the articles improved, while the cover changed, so our doctors became the protagonists. On the other hand, this new beginning of our magazine turned it into an international publication, foreign readers can read it digitally in English.

Ten years have passed since we started this fascinating trip through trustworthy medical information. During this time, we have been able to build a community around this magazine

Jorge Alberto Zapata Builes General Manager Coomeva Medicina Prepagada

while the editorial quality improved. As a matter of fact, in the last satisfaction survey among the readers (October 2017), 63% of them effectively read it, with a 75% acceptance; while, on the other hand, only 1% don’t read it, because either the magazine doesn’t get to them or they lack the time.

In response to this acceptance we decided to give you a special present: a collector’s edition including the most relevant medical topics we published during this decade. This number has been prepared with mysticism and dedication for your enjoyment, but also to make it useful and lasting. We hope you like it.

And another thing: we would like for you to take a few minutes to tell us about your impressions with this issue. Otherwise we won’t be able to fully celebrate this anniversary we are sharing with you.

Finally, COOMTACTO magazine will continue committed to informing on current medical advances. And we also intend to use all technological publishing alternatives available today to make it available where ever you are, making it always a useful tool. We will soon announce these new ways to access its content.

Welcome to the COOMTACTO magazine 10-year celebration, a very attractive issue allover.

JANUARY 2018

5

MEDICAL ADVANCES

COLOMBIA: THE LATINAMERICAN CARDIAC UTOTRANSPLANT PIONEER

From left to right, doctors Albert Guerrero, associate assistant of the Cardiovascular Surgery team at FCI; Juan Pablo Umaña, medical director and head of the surgical team at FCI; Gabriel Mena, anesthesiologist and United to Cure Children Foundation’s director; and Andrés Mauricio Palacio, cardiovascular surgery resident at FCI.

A medical team at Fundación Cardioinfantil performed a cardiac autotransplant, to treat a paraganglioma, with the cooperations of Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston MD Anderson Cancer Center and United 2 Cure Foundation.

This complex surgery has only been performed 16 times in the whole world. It lasted 10 hours. After extracting the heart, the tumor was dissected, then the organ was returned to the patient’s thoracic cavity, where it started working perfectly fine, without complications.

SOURCE: ARTICLE “FUNDACIÓN CARDIOINFANTIL, PRIMERA INSTITUCIÓN EN LATINOAMÉRICA EN REALIZAR UN AUTOTRASPLANTE CARDÍACO PARA EXTRAER UN TUMOR DE CORAZÓN”, PUBLISHED ON FUNDACIÓN CARDIOINFANTIL’S WEB PAGE. COLOMBIA. NOVEMBER 2017.

10

medical achievements for the future

FUSION PROSTATE BIOPSY: MORE PRESICION WITH LESS DISCOMFORT According to Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, in Colombia, 1 out of every 7 men over 50 years will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. So, we are searching for new and more efficient ways to diagnose it, such as the fusion prostate biopsy available at Clínica de Marly. This is a more efficient test, that can be performed either transrectally or perineally, using the new Artemis machine. It allows doctors to fuse real time multyparametric magnetic resonance images of the prostate with its ultrasound, allowing the biopsy needle to be guided to the suspected site of the malignancy. Also samples can be taken, when necessary, from other areas of the prostate. This technology increases the test’s sensibility and the specificity.

SOURCE: ARTICLE “BIOPSIA DE PRÓSTATA POR FUSIÓN. PARA EL DIAGNÓSTICO PRECISO DEL CÁNCER DE PRÓSTATA”, PUBLISHED AT CLÍNICA DE MARLY WEB PAGE. COLOMBIA. SEPTEMBER 2017.

During this past decade, COOMTACTO has recorded medical developments, innovations and achievements in this section, and it has been very well received by our readers. On this opportunity we decided to mention the 10 medical advances that will have the most impact on medical practices in general, and particularly in Colombia’s health care system.

IMPLICATIONS OF BREAST FEEDING ON THE PREVENTION OF SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME Studies show the many benefits of breast feeding. And now, new research suggests that during the first 2 to 4 months after birth it could reduce the risk of sudden death syndrome in newborns. This conclusion was based on a review of eight international papers, involving in all 2,200 cases and 6,800 control cases. It suggests exclusive breast feeding protects infants, enhancing the immune system it prevents viral infections and reduces the risk of sudden death syndrome.

SOURCE: ARTICLE “DURATION OF BREASTFEEDING AND RISK OF SIDS: AN INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANT DATA META-ANALYSIS”, PUBLISHED IN PEDIATRICS. HOLAND. OCTOBER 2017..

TASY: CHOOSING BETTER HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT Efficient management systems are high priorities for clinics and medical centers. Considering this, Philips launched TASY. A tool designed for hospital management. This informatics solution allows a centralized medical, organizational and administrative process management. The system offers 72 models including electronic medical records, personnel assistance, bed management and room programming, stocks, patient attention, supply management, financial reports and invoices.

It also enhances patient’s safety and makes attention optimal with the implementation of guidelines based on science and advanced algorithms that quickly detect sepsis and infections. TASY also offers new oncology tools that include chemotherapy, new guideline implementation and cycle controls.

SOURCE: ARTICLE “TASY, UN SISTEMA DE GESTIÓN DE LA SALUD”, PUBLISHED ONT PHILIPS WEB PAGE. COLOMBIA. NOVEMBER 2017.

6 JANUARY 2018

FEMTO Z8: NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR CATARACT SURGERY A cataract is an eye disease that can appear at any age, however it is more frequent over 60 years. And when it reduces the vision, surgery is indicated in order to extract the cataract and implant an intraocular lens. Femto Z8 is a precise laser at Clínica de Oftalmología de Cali that could render the scalpel obsolete for this procedure. This advanced procedure is called a Z cataract.

The laser performs complex and sensitive aspects of the surgery that used to be hand-made. This procedure reduces corneal asthygmatism and inflammation.

SOURCE: ÓSCAR PIÑEROS, OPHTHALMOLOGIST WITH A SUBSPECIALTY ON CORNEA AND REFRACTIVE SURGERY. CLÍNICA DE OFTALMOLOGÍA DE CALI. COLOMBIA. OCTOBER 2017.

LONG LIVE PROBIOTICS

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH CAN BE PREDICTED! Risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia and a family history of cardiovascular disease are very relevant for vascular aging, increasing the probability of an acute myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular events.

Today, with a non-invasive biomechanical vascular study it is possible to predict, at least 10 years ahead, cardiovascular health in patients. Also, doctors are able to visualize changes related to aging and detect arteriosclerosis in a subclinical phase, as well as premature aging, in order to delay its effects on the vascular walls.

SOURCE: ARTICLE “ESTUDIO DE BIOMECÁNICA VASCULAR”, PUBLISHED IN CENTRO DE DIAGNÓSTICO INTEGRAL DE BIOMECÁNICA VASCULAR Y CARDIOLOGÍA WEB PAGE. COLOMBIA. SEPTEMBER 2017.

Research grows favoring probitic therapeutic use.

According to Bionutrec, besides it uses in acute diarrhea, probiotics reduce the severity and duration of these episodes. Also, prebiotics and zinc, ether separately or combined, prevent and treat these diseases. S boulardi is the most commonly uses strain. Probiotics can be found in milk and dairy products, as well as in some medicines and supplements. Since it is known that they are heatsensitive, now it is possible to pack them for protection, and they can now be used in children.

These are called intelligent formulas.

SOURCE: DR. LUIS GUILLERMO JIMÉNEZ VILLA, SCIETIFIC DIRECTOR AT PHARMETIQUE LABS. COLOMBIA. OCTUBER 2017.

CT SCANS COULD SHOW CONSCIOUS STATE OF PATIENTS WITH CEREBRAL LESIONS

SOURCE: ARTICLE “EARLY DETECTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY”, PUBLISHED IN BRAIN. UNITE KINGDOM OCTOBER 2017.

The coma patient conscience level has been troubling for doctors over the years. Early assessment could help the patient’s family as well as doctors to decide about the patient’s treatment. New CT scans could detect such an activity, according to Neurotechnology Center and Neurologic Recuperation at the Massachusetts General Hospital. They studied 16 severe brain lesion patients at the intensive care unit. Functional magnetic resonance images together with electroencephalograms showed to be very useful evaluating the level of consciousness, particularly when standard neurologic tests could misinterpret certain movements and reactions.

THE FRACTIONED CO2 LASER REVOLUTION

Many people have dreamt to return skin youth, and the fractioned CO2 laser is very helpful to fulfill this wish. It is used to make it tense, improving the fine creases on the eyebrows, the temple, the forehead and the rest of the face.

The idea is to recuperate the vitality of these tissues, reducing pigmentation of the skin on the face, the neck, the cleavage and the hands. And this equipment can be found right now at Clínica de Oftalmología de Cali. This technique is called Resurfacing, and promotes the complete exchange of the facial epidermis. Fractioned CO2 laser mycrocolumns penetrate the dermis, dissecting it, triggering skin remodelation that reduces creases and improves skin color. The laser penetrates the skin, burning a column in a controlled manner that extends to the deeper layers of the dermis, while surrounding cells regenerate the tissue. Finally, the fractioned CO2 laser pixels the treated area and stimulates a quick healing process.

SOURCE: ANTONIO QUINTERO, OPHTHALMOGIST, SUBESPECIALIST IN OCULAR PLASTICS AND REFRACTIVE SURGERY. CLÍNICA DE OFTALMOLOGÍA DE CALI. COLOMBIA. OCTOBER 2017.

REMOTE SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT This ailment is attributed to breath interruption while sleeping, and it could have severe complications. The multinational Phillips Corporation at Colombia presented EncoreAnywhere recently. It is a new web based system designed to treat this condition. It allows the doctor to access patient’s records anywhere, in order for him to follow-up the situation with real time data, so he can decide on whether the mask should be used and adjust it to the patient’s current requirements.

SOURCE: ARTICLE “ENCOREANYWHERE. TODO UN MUNDO DE DATOS DE PACIENTE A SU ALCANCE CUANDO Y DONDE LOS NECESITE”, PUBLISHED IN THE PHILIPS COLOMBIA WEB PAGE. COLOMBIA. NOVEMBER 2017.

JANUARY 2018 7

SPECIALS

HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT

WE ALL PARTICIPATE in the health care system

H

By: JUAN ADOLFO VILLEGAS GÁMEZ

National Director of Health Risk Management

Coomeva Medicina Prepagada

ealth risk management are activities and processes useful in any sector or corporation, designed to handle, reduce, transfer, eliminate or avoid risks. Risks within the health care system can be classified as primary, technical, operative, public image and financial. And in this particular sector, risk can be faced through different strategies: from the point of view of the government, the insurance company, the health care provider and the person.

Health care brings together many interests. OMS defines health as “a complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, so it’s not only the absence of diseases”. This all-encompassing perspective requires a collective participation in the health care system. Particularly if we consider Lalonde’s health criteria, established more that 40 years ago (Diagram 1).

So, we can consider a general approach to each person’s priorities and obligations within the health care system, including other sectors of the government and the economy.

GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC POLICIES The government develops the policies that will promote a healthy lifestyle, such as smoke-free spaces, tobacco and sugar drink taxes, public areas devoted to physical activities and the publication of the nutritious facts on the foodstuffs.

• Considering human biology, policies promote care of women, before, during and after conception, while stimulating excusive breastfeeding, maternity leaves, and other procedures that have decreased the newborn and infant biological risks.

• In order to improve the environment, intersectorial policies cover basic needs and guarantee everybody has access to safe drinking water, as well as the elimination of wastes and basic education, among other important health care factors.

• The government designs and regulates a health care system with inclusion and exclusion plans for the users, that covers most common diseases and needs, where everybody has the right to receive adequate health care services. And, in case of an adverse event, people should not have financial risks. All this within a sustainable health care system for the long term.

8 JANUARY 2018

ENSURERS AND HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT Ensurers are companies that manage benefit plans, and affect the community directly with adequate handling of the health care services and the promotion policies of a healthy lifestyle. This work starts by studying the population in order to identify the primary risks and define health care strategies that will reduce the probability of getting sick or that will decrease the impact on the health of the already sick population.

In order to identify the risks, there are several methods directed to analyze, classify and set priorities straight according to biopsychosocial characteristics of the population, allowing us to establish technical risk management strategies, such as health promotion, induced demand, early disease detection and prevention and disease management.

In order to improve risk management, the companies that manage benefit plans implement integral attention models, including, particular groups. So, for a certain medical condition, they can promote actions to detect and treat the disease early on, and establish practices and other goals. So cure and rehabilitation can be planned adequately, with more efficient administrative processes.

Operational risks are related to negotiations, contracts and management information required to make adequate decisions. They are intended to make an efficient use of resources and allow a healthy sustainable situation for the business end of the company. So recently, business models have been put in place where the health care results and the financial risks are shared in order to improve quality, innovation, health care results and the system’s financial wellbeing.

THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND ATTENTION SAFETY Health care providers are crucial because of the need for them to offer safe health care services, avoiding or diminishing adverse events during their activities, be it in the hospital setting or in the walk in clinics.

There are several instruments and methods that allow ensurers to implement safe and efficient actions. They can

Diagram 1.

Potential contribution to the morbi-mortality reduction HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

10%

ENVIRONMENT

20%

HUMAN BIOLOGY

LIFE STYLE

51%

19%

SOURCE: ADAPTED FROM “A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE HEALTH OF CANADIANS” (LALONDE, 1974) Y “AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL MODEL FOR HEALTH POLICY ANALYSIS” (DEVER, 1976)

overview the infrastructure, implement clinical guidelines, dependent services and reference processes, use definitions, medicines and other resources warehousing and use, the definition of waste disposal, among other alternatives.

Also, notwithstanding, health care service providers have developed adequate attention processes. People must be treated the same way we would like to be treated themselves, so health care workers should be well selected and trained.

THE PERSON AND SELF CARE EHealth is affected tremendously by the personal life style.

So, the individual is also responsible for his own health, in that sense he manages his own health risks. The person identifies them, orders them by priorities and develops strategies to avoid or diminish them.

But this strategy requires will power. The Psychological American Association defines it as “the capacity to resist short term temptations in order to achieve long term goals”. So, it is very helpful to establish a clear-cut goal, also to be committed and to monitor the behavior. Also, the equilibrium between happiness, on the one hand, and will, on the other, should be considered. Excessive self-control leads to physical and mental fatigue, with emotional alterations, and ultimately depression. It can also, in the end, turn out to be unhealthy.

So, motivation based on beliefs and experiences is important to change. Cultural modifications are required in order not to stop thinking about health only when it is at risk and consider it to be somebody else’s responsibility. Personal care is crucial.

Also, when in trouble, it is important to trust institutions. This is based on the idea that all participants in the health care system are managing their own risks. Therefore people, the users, also audits the health care system. The patient can criticize and offer new ideas in order to improve state policies, as well as the insurers and the health care providers services.

10

promising Colombian doctors.

Commitment, passion and heart

10 JANUARY 2018

MARIO ANGULO MOSQUERA Pediatric endocrinologist

A fighter for gender

DISCRIMINATION He leads a multidisciplinary group that cares for families and children with transgender identity issues, he also educates and guides the community in order to prevent ill-treatment and segregation in this area. The clinic he heads will most certainly change the way we treat these cases in Colombia. emerged on the gender affir-

literature, he has published three

mative model, and statistics

books and is about to publish his

drastically improved.

fourth, it is not difficult to get close

The challenge was to

to children and adolescents in or-

find a way to do it. Doctor

der to understand how they think,

Angulo was interested, as well

feel and what they want.

as several other colleagues and

He studied medicine with two

researchers, and formed a multi-

goals in mind: the wish to serve and the love of

disciplinary team that includes other

science, particularly biology, and he devoted himself

endocrinologists, pediatricians, psychologists, psy-

to the protection of children’s rights.

chiatrist, plastic surgeons and geneticists. Putting

He is Mario Angulo Mosquera, a pediatric endo-

aside their ideologies and religious beliefs, based

crinologist and the head of Clínica de Género para

on clinical evidence, they recently founded at Fun-

el Niño y el Adolescente, Fundación Valle del Lili, “I

dación Valle de Lili, in Cali, the first Clínica de Géne-

studied pediatrics because I like working with chil-

ro para el Niño y el Adolescente in Colombia.

dren, and I chose pediatric endocrinology because

“Our view stems from the gender affirmative

I found it was practical, there were few specialists in

model. It starts by accepting that identity is es-

this area in Valle del Cauca, and also the endocrine

tablished early on, even before birth. But some-

system is beautiful and important. Hormones ex-

times identity and biology do not fit. And when

plain most of what happens in the body”, he says.

they don’t, transgender identity occurs, and we

For 18 years he has worked protecting children’s

must use psychological tools to achieve the best

health, particularly in a controversial area, the trans-

possible fit between body, identity and society”,

gender population, vulnerable people, always at

explains doctor Angulo.

risk of being discriminated and ill-treated. “A time-

After a year we opened the clinic, applying suc-

ly intervention can completely change their lives,

cessful strategies proven elsewhere. “Today we have

as well as their family’s”, adds the doctor, proud of

created guidelines according to international stan-

leading such an innovative project with international

dards”, he says.

acknowledgement.

He knows this is just the beginning: “We want to answer all patients and families questions regarding

LET’S CHANGE HISTORY

gender issues. For those people that, after a care-

For 12 years now several groups have studied

ful and professional evaluation are diagnosed with

transgender identity. In the beginning they used

a transgender identity, we can offer them a wide

reparative strategies intended to direct the identi-

range of medical and psychological tools in order

ty according to biology. But mental complications

to help them achieve a fulfilling life. For instance,

were higher than in the general population: suicide

in the case of a transgender girl, in other words a

was 40% more frequent among these patients, also

feminine identity with a masculine body, favor the

self mutilation was more likely, 35%, and depression,

harmonic development of her life and her body and

anxiety and drug addiction. Only after 2014, evidence

her feminine identity”.

Photo: JORGE MEJÍA

F

or a man that writes children’s

A RESEARCHER AND A CARING FATHER Doctor Mario Angulo Mosquera is the son of a couple from Popayá, but he was born in the United States and he grew up between Bogotá and Cali, where he has stayed for last 15 years. He is now 44, and has become an outstanding researcher with a lot to offer to the community. He graduated from Colegio San Carlos, then he became a doctor at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and a pediatrician at Universidad del Valle. After that he obtained his master’s degree in pediatric endocrinology at Universidad de Barcelona in Spain.

Also, he is the father of “two marvelous girls”, enjoys nature, planting trees and horseback riding. He also loves writing children’s literatura. As a matter of fact, he has published three books of this sort: “Palabras mágicas que curan”, “Besos para los que se han ido” y “Tibatí y el día que la comida se volvió ladrillo”.

JANUARY 2018 11

SANDRA MARCELA GÓMEZ RAMOS Gynecologist and obstetrician

10 PROMISING COLOMBIAN DOCTORS

A FRIENDLY VOICE DURING a sweet and complex pregnancy As a daughter, a mother and a doctor she has always been interested in a humane relationship with the patients, and she has been able to grossly improve her communication skills.

W

hen doctor Sandra Marcela Gómez Ramos treated

Studying, and also with her personality, her

to obstetrical patients for the first time in medi-

love and her wish to serve, she discovered the

cal school, she immediately knew that was her

secret ingredient: to empathically understand the

passion, and devoted her life to “the biggest of all

patient. And she has been very successful at this.

miracles: maternity”.

Planned, prepared and controlled materni-

ty, she means, so women need guidance and

This attitude is related to “a better understanding of the disease, more treatment adherence and, therefore, solving medical problems even faster.

a friendly face. She decided to work with “those awe-inspiring women that decide to give it all for a new life”, and started working on humanizing medical care.

Regrettably people are not well informed about hormones and their impact on different

“Humanized medicine is a fundamental

aspects of sexual development throughout the

principle. At the medical school this essential

lifespan”, doctor Gómez clarifies. She considers

aspect of the doctor patient relationship is con-

it necessary “to develop educational policies for

sidered very important, so we are always trying

women in order to teach them early on in their

to improve”, says doctor Sandra Marcela, a gy-

lives about these changes”.

necologist, an obstetrician and a specialist in reproductive medicine at Clínica de Marly.

Photo: PHOTOGRAPH

EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL

Meanwhile, from reproductive medicine, a specialty covering gynecological endocrinolo-

She has the abilities, the qualities and the moral

gy, she has managed to teach the patients, in

values she received at home from her parents,

intelligible ways, about the hormonal changes,

plus she is an empathic person. “I developed the

making life easier for them, build sort of a bridge

capacity to listen carefully and try and solve prob-

between medical language and the future mom’s

lems. That way I decided I could use these abili-

language, taking into consideration her own per-

ties in medicine”, she warmly says.

sonal experience as a daughter, a mother and a doctor.

A PROUD WOMAN ABLE TO GIVE LIFE Doctor Sandra Marcela Gómez Ramos is a gynecologist, an obstetrician and a specialist in reproductive medicine, born in Bogotá. She thinks of herself as “a proud woman of being a mother and doctor”.

“I am a mother, a wife and a daughter. And I am absolutely convinced that women are the most perfect beings in the creation”, she reflects while she is tending for her first baby of the day, a beautiful girl just a few months old.

She studied medicine and specialized in gynecology and obstetrics at Universidad Militar Nueva Granada. Then she subspecialized in reproductive medicine at Fundación Universitaria Sanitas.

Now she works as a gynecologist and an obstetrician at Reproductive Medicine Group-Clínica de Marly, where she performs endoscopic surgery and works at the delivery room. Also, in her private practice, she works on fertility and gynecologic endocrinology. And on her spare time she enjoys reading, swimming and going to the movies.

Pregnancy involves hormonal changes, she insists, “with humanized medical attention things will be easier for the pregnant women, even though they are beautiful, they can also suffer severe symptoms, even maternal diseases”.

Her message is clear and caring: “pregnant women should be aware that they are changing physically and mentally, and there are doctor who can help them at this time”. As a matter of fact, she has achieved to become a friend guiding patients.

She knows first-hand what it is to be pregnant, she has experienced motherhood, and she is keen on offering patients “more security on topics related to pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding”.

12 JANUARY 2018

GABRIEL ORTIZ Intensivist

THE MISTERY OF

an accurate diagnosis He started studying medicine at 14, graduated at 20 and by 24 he was already an internist from Universidad Nacional.

Today, at 28, he is a teacher, a student and a researcher…

H

is mother’s family comes from Norte de Santander, while the paternal family comes from Santander, located in the south. Gabriel Ortiz was born in Pamplona, where the church bells still sound at five in the morning. Soon after that, his father’s work, also a physician, took him to Málaga, an even smaller

and secluded town. During the first 6 years of his life he lived with his grandparents and other family members, friends, at school and was exposed to the advanced education his aunts and his mother gave him. So, when he arrived at Bogotá, his was able to

A MARATHON Gabriel Ortiz was only 14 when he entered medical school at Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

By 20 he was a doctor and his residency in internal medicine, he finished it by 24. To this health marathon he added his work within emergency rooms and the intensive care units. He is also a truly motivated researcher. And his next project is to specialize in cardiology. For now, marriage has not ever occurred to him.

finish high school by 14.

He always knew what he wanted to do. His parents worked

depends on it. Diseases might not be ob-

in health-related areas. His father used to be a dedicated student,

vious and can change quickly, and even

he had studied to be a technician on a scholarship at Universidad

become deadly if they are not adequately

Nacional, and then he decided to return home. Medical books

diagnosed and treated. Every night, critical

could be found everywhere at doctor Gabriel’s house, together

patients arrive at the emergency rooms

with the friendly conversations, stories about hospitals, research,

and the intensive care units where he

night shifts, patient gratefulness and also condolences from time

works. His diagnosis and treatments alter

to time. In a nutshell, he grew up in a world full of knowledge used

the course and outcome of their diseas-

to help others. The goal of learning and researching in order to

es. To comprehend what’s happening with

help others, even save lives, gave a purpose to his life.

that person, in that situation, brings happi-

He is now 28 years old, and an experienced internist. An un-

ness to the patients and their families, but

dergraduate teacher at Universidad Nacional that works as an in-

also to Gabriel, who thanks God for that. His

ternist at Hospital Universitario, that also teaches internal medicine

specialty requires him to help people, and even

residents and other related specialties. At Clínica de la Mujer he

to accompany some of them to die in the best

works at the obstetric intensive care unit and at Clínica Miocardio

possible conditions.

he also works at the intensive care unit with patients in the perioperatory stages of cardiac surgery.

He is committed to teaching echocardio-

Photo: LUCERO RAMÍREZ

graphy and other uses of ultrasound to medical specialties

He is passionate about studying and his challenge is diagnosis

other than radiology and cardiology. As we speak, he is involved

precision. Most of his time is devoted to reading and researching,

in four research projects at Clínica de la Mujer, one of them, in the

like he says, the most dangerous thing for a doctor is to stop con-

final stages, shows a correlation between training and adequate

sidering himself a student. It is a requirement to learn something

diagnosis.

every day with the patients, answer questions, solve doubts and fill

Finally, he is also considering cardiology as another specialty

gaps. So, teaching is probably the best way of practicing medicine,

for him in the future, even though he also wants to pursue his

since future doctors and patients depend on it.

career as a teacher and a researcher, just like his father did, an

As an internist, when Gabriel cares for a patient he commits to an accurate and timely diagnosis, it is very important, life

ophthalmologist and a professor at Universidad Nacional. Gabriel Ortiz is always committed to Colombian’s health.

JANUARY 2018 13

SEBASTIÁN QUINTERO Oncologic mastologist

10 PROMISING COLOMBIAN DOCTORS

then was admitted to the general surgery pro-

A WARRIOR ON DAILY

Cancer is one of the most difficult diseases to treat, and this mastologist from Bogotá spends his time searching for the best treatments. This includes becoming their friend. And he has also decided to live fully.

A

mong many things his patients have taught him life is feeble, so you must live fully. When we asked doctor Sebastián Quintero, an oncologic surgeon, a mastologist,

where does he find time to tend for his patients, operate, head his foundation, handle the breast cancer prevention campaign, rest and share with his family, he answers there is always time for everything.

This talented 41 year old doctor gradua-

ter that he studied at the European Oncology Institute in Milan, where he met doctor Umberto Veronesi, the father of mastology.

He then specialized in serology technique at Universidad de Barcelona, “but I still felt I was lacking knowledge, so I returned to Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, they gave me the mastology title, so I graduated in 2010”, the doctor explained.

He started working at Clínica del Country and Clínica Reina Sofía, both in Bogotá. “Doctor José Joaquín Caicedo, also a mastologist, invited me to Fundación Ámese to work with him on his social initiative with women with Photo: PERSONAL FILE

battle against breast cancer

gram at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Af-

breast diseases. I worked there for three years.

Then I decided to create IPS Integrative, with the goal of offering cancer patients, mental health services, as well as promotion and prevention, nutrition, genetic counseling and physical rehabilitation”.

Then he became the spokesperson for the campaign “More than just touching a tit”, a very well received initiative. And finally, he started a couple of years ago with Fundación Sebastián Quintero, an organization oriented towards cancer education.

“From there I work with related founda-

200% DEVOTED

tions, such as Avon, Ámese and Liga Contra

Today mastologist Sebastián Quintero, a suregeon specialized in the treatment and prevention of mammary benign and malignant diseases, as well as melanomas and soft tissue sarcomas, is the executive president of the council of Fundación Sebastián Quintero and the scientific director of Integrative Ips, an organization that works on the patient’s well-being through integrative oncology. He also works in his private practice and at Clínica Reina Sofía and Clínica del Country.

better”, he says.

ted from Gimnasio Los Cerros in Bogotá. He

el Cáncer. And the more things I can do, the

THE OUTLOOK For now, for doctor Quintero, it is troubling to consider statistics in Colombia are inaccurate, they are derived from 2012 Globocan.

“We don’t have a national population cancer registry, and comparing cities, the real number might be larger than current estimates and most certainly, it will continue growing. Cervical cancer used to be the most frequent cancer in women, but today it is breast cancer”,

confesses he was never very at ease with

La Sabana. “I wanted to be a neurosurgeon

numbers, while biology allured him. In spite

and then a cardiovascular surgeon, but when

According to doctor Quintero the good

his father is one of the pioneer mastologists in

I went to Instituto Nacional de Cancerología,

news is that breast cancer now considered a

Colombia, doctor Elías Quintero, in the begin-

I fell in love with mastology. It is a specialty in-

chronic disease, it is no longer a catastrophic

ning he did not intend to follow in his father’s

volving aspects from several specialties, plas-

disease. Quality of life has improved even for

footsteps. He rather considered being a pilot.

tic surgery, radiology, nuclear medicine”, he

patients with metastasis. “We are witnessing

And he is still convenience someday he will

recalls.

the development of new medicines, with ex-

he concludes.

Then he traveled for several months to

cellent results that will improve the patient’s

Finally he chose medicine, and graduated

Australia and returned for his social service

quality of life, such as immunotherapies and

in one of the first groups from Universidad de

year at Teletón. He graduated in 2003 and

directed therapies”, he explains.

learn how to fly.

14 JANUARY 2018

JORGE ENRIQUE MEDINA (R.I.P.) Nephrologist and rheumatologist Editor’s note A month after COOMTACTO magazine special edition was published, doctor Jorge Enrique Medina regrettably died. All the people that worked with him in the magazine as well as in Coomeva Medicina Prepagada deeply regret his demise. We want now to give our condolences to his family and associates, and to share with them our solidarity during these very difficult time.

The following text is based on an interview doctor Medina gave Betsabé Castro, one of our journalist in Cali on October 2017. We have decided to publish it in its digital format because doctor Medina had already authorized us to do so. We consider it a posthumous homage and also an acknowledgement of his outstanding career as a nephrologist and a rheumatologist for the benefit of the patients. Rest in peace and courage to his family.

“Medical research IS MY PASSION” He was an internist, a rheumatologist and a nephrologist, and enjoys being a researcher and a teacher. He has also been an excellent student, who is committed to clinical work and his students.

H

e was 38 years old (at

in particular diseases, for instance, you can see

the time of the interview

only lupus patients, register the data, and then

in October 2017), and

publish the findings. People respond to treat-

divides his time among

ments in different ways according to where

his patients, students,

they live, even in Colombia”.

research groups, his

HIS GOAL IS TO RESEARCH

athletic activities, the

family and his 4 pets.

His training and experience help his re-

Jorge Enrique Medina Rosas was born into

search, he has been able to document, com-

a family of doctors. “My father is a public health

pare and publish articles in prestigious journals.

specialist, my uncle a cardiologist and my my destiny lies”, says the doctor gleefully.

He was born at Sevilla in northern Valle del Cauca, but he grew up and studied at Popayán.

He works with the research group at CenPhoto: JORGE MEJÍA

brother, a colon surgeon; it’s easy to see where

tro Médico Imbanaco and with the groups he formed in Toronto. Canadian rheumatology guidelines are not like ours, so he wants to study these differences.

He was always an excellent student, and then

“There is a very interesting aspect: European

he studied medicine at Hospital Universitario

and American guidelines do not have some

del Valle, and then became an internist, a ne-

characteristics that are specific to some areas

phrologist and rheumatologist.

in our country. For instance, Chagas and ma-

“While studying, I found what really interes-

laria are very rare in those countries, so they

ted me weren’t the dyalisis, but clinical nephro-

de La Sabana, where one of the main interest

are not considered interesting research topics”,

logy and the immune diseases of the kidney.

areas is this disease.

he explains.

So I worked for sometime as a nephrologist,

“Research on this type of diseases started

He considers an early diagnosis give us the

and then decided study rheumatology”, he

with my teacher, doctor Fernando Londoño,

opportunity to offer an adequate treatments,

explains.

so we were always close to them, that gave me

decreasing suffering and improving the pa-

the opportunity of learning about it”.

tient’s, and his family’s, life quality.

PASSION AND DEVOTION

nada and in the south western Pacific region.

A DEDICATED STUDENT AND A CURIOUS PERSON

So his research is moving along in Ca-

He is an outstanding student and a re-

Also the doctor is an athlete: he runs 15 kilo-

“With my colleagues at Imbanaco, we have 3

searcher. When he was in his second year of

meters 5 times a week. His voyage to Canada

projects: the first one on rheumatoid arthritis,

residency, he was awarded a scholarship as

changed his mind set: he enjoys life, and he

we want to know why some patients develop

the best rheumatology resident by Asocia-

always has time for his mom, his sister and his

cardiovascular disease while others don’t, and

ción Colombiana de Reumatología. With the

three nephews.

we have been following these patients for 10

price money he traveled to study at Univer-

“There I saw the lives of those doctors.

years”. The second research project has to do

sidad de Toronto. And he was also awarded

Teachers were humane and calm, they took

with severe diseases in patients using biological

the Goeff Carr Lupus Fellowship scholarship

time to explain and share their knowledge.

medicines. He would also like to start working

in Ontario.

Now I am at ease with patients and students,

in a new project involving a strategic alliance

And as we speak he is doing an epidemio-

and I try to make it a pleasant experience for all

with radiology. “Some researchers say hand re-

logy master’s degree; he wants to research lo-

of them”. Medicine is his passion. “It’s a way of

sonance can show inflammation even in

cal infectious diseases and is also interested in

life, I love what I do, I am happy doing it”.

asymptomatic patients”.

spondiloarthropaties. He had the good fortune

He dreams of a research center, like the

of specializing in rheumatology at Universidad

one he saw in Canada. “They are specialized

He is very satisfied to know that most medical centers are interested in researching.

JANUARY 2018 15

JAVIER MAURICIO LOBATO Neurosurgeon

10 PROMISING COLOMBIAN DOCTORS

ABOVE ALL, devotion to service He works with a distinguished specialist group at Fundación Valle de Lili. With his hands, talent and professional commitment, he improves the life quality for epilepsy and abnormal movement patients. He is brilliant and humble.

“We have been able to correlate last generation diagnostic images with the epilepsy diagnosis. We have functional magnetic resonance, and we use it with particular guidelines that allow us to identify memory points, as well as language and movement areas, avoiding lesions in these crucial parts of the brain during the procedure. These treatments have changed dramatically”, explains doctor Lobato.

However, these procedures are not indicated for all patients. In epilepsy there are 2 considerations: “first, the patient is required to have had at least 2 failed medical treat-

Photo: JORGE MEJÍA

ments; and second, it must be a secondary epilepsy to a lesion, for instance a tumor or a cortical displasis”, he clarifies. In movement alterations there are also guidelines, as well as an extensive discussion within the

COMMITTMENT TO LIFE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

interdisciplinary team. According to doctor

Neurosurgeon Javier Mauricio Lobato is an epilepsy and abnormal movements expert, he is also trained in radiosurgery and brain tumors.

He started studying medicine at Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, and then he specialized in neurosurgery at Universidad del Bosque. Later he was a visiting resident at the neurosurgery department in the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, USA. He was also a functional and radiosurgery stereotactic surgery fellow at Pittsburgh University, also in the States.

Now he is doing a bioethics master’s degree at Instituto Borja de Bioética at Universidad Ramón Llull in Barcelona, Spain.

He is a neurosurgeon at Fundación Valle de Lili in Cali since 2006, and he is also part of their Research Ethics Committee and the Clinical Ethics Committee.

And he teaches neuroanatomy, semiology and neurosurgery at Univesidad Icesi in Cali.

He has published scientific papers and lectured both locally and abroad.

patients with dystonias, essential tremor and

J

Lobato, these procedures are indicated in Parkinson’s disease. “So we work on circuits involved in movement control, even though the disease will not be cured, symptoms will decrease”, he added.

Doctor Lobato and his team use the most recent advances, such as localization of the lesions with a 2 Tesla resonance, identifying precisely the brain nuclei where the electrodes should be placed.

“We want to increase the number of pa-

avier Mauricio Lobato Polo

Today he is 41 years old and a well-known

tients. We want to help a wider range of peo-

was born in Santander. His

expert on surgical treatment of epilepsy and

ple with these diagnoses. However these types

passion is the brain, that

movement alterations. Two abnormalities

of treatments are very expensive in Colombia,

magnificent organ made

that severely deteriorate the patient’s quality

because of the costs and the prolonged ap-

up mainly of neurons that

of life.

proval times within the health care system.

PATIENTS WITH LIFE QUALITY

surer’s administrative personnel about these

Doctor Lobato and his team talk to the in-

regulates the body. When he was young in Barran-

ca he started reading, particularly history

Patients requiring this type of surgeries

procedures, in order to increase the cover-

books. And he discovered neurosurgery in

from all over the country arrive at his office

age and reduce costs. “A patient might spend

a Reader’s Digest article he found once: it

at Fundación Valle de Lili in Cali. “In 2009 we

350 dollars (approx.) monthly in anticonvul-

was about a surgery on the children’s brain

formed a multidisciplinary group, including

sive medicines, and this cost increases for

stems, an exciting novelty in the 70s and

neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, neu-

people do not live in big cities, because they

80s.

ropsychiatrists, neuropediatricians. We do our

have to travel far away in order to get them.

Since then he was fascinated by the way

best so that patients will have access to state

So the personal and social impact is huge”, he

the body works. His father was the head of

of the art and well indicated surgeries”, says

emphasizes.

Hospital de Ecopetrol at Bucaramanga, so he

doctor Lobato. At least 60 people with move-

For the time being doctor Lobato will con-

spent a great deal of his time reading medical

ment abnormalities and another 60 with epi-

tinue his research while working with the pa-

books at the library there.

lepsy have been operated.

tients with the best available resources.

16 JANUARY 2018

JULIANA GUTIÉRREZ QUICENO Odontopediatrician

THE TRUE CHALLENGE

is long standing and sustained prevention”

Photo: PERSONAL FILE

“There is no day I do not enjoy work, I simply follow my gut instincts no matter what”. She is a committed odontopediatritian in Risaralda.

E

ver since she

passed, and I understood I wanted to serve others in order to

was a girl, Ju-

solve my own conflicts, respecting others, naturally, so my

liana Gutiérrez

choices became medicine or dentistry, and finally I chose

Quiceno, a den-

this marvelous world”.

tist specialized in

For some it was difficult to accept. “A fifteen year old

odontopeditrics

living in a big city by herself, quickly I found that if I did what I

at Universidad

really wished, it turned into an adequate decision and it was

CES, she has had

worth taking those risks. Nothing’s impossible”, she says firm-

2 strengths: “the capacity to defend

ly, and after 2 years working as a general dentist, she studyed

my own ideas, a lesson I got from my

odontopediatrics.

parents, both of them are lawyers,

From the start, she knew she was going to make it. Her

and an inclination towards serving

devotion for children grew every semester, and one of her

people”, she explains.

teachers oriented and helped her a great deal during this

She used to enjoy playing

period. As a matter of fact they are now close friends. “This

doctor. But, “as time went

allowed me to choose this specialty, and start working pro-

by, I stopped being the

perly”, she adds.

doctor”, she started researching for health care

KEY ASPECTS

careers, like physiothe-

Integral attention requires commitment, a particular at-

rapy, psychology, nu-

titude, knowledge and skill, in order to change the point of

trition, medicine and

view of patient’s care. “I am inclined to work more every day

dentistry, as well

on prevention. While parents learn how dental problems turn

as laws. “Time

into diseases, they also find out more about available tools for them. The idea is to give each child the best possible experience, while improving dental health indexes”.

SHE ADORES EXPLORING NEW CULTURES Juliana Gutiérrez is a 29 year old dentist and an odontopediatritian born in Pereira.

She lived 10 years in Medellín. “I am thankful to that city, I was formed there in every sense. And in December 2015 I decided to return to Pereira. I missed my family and my boyfriend. But I also believed in my town’s potential, and decided to return. “It was the right decision”, she says.

Even though she works 12 hours a day, she has an active social life, not everything is work. She sleeps well, because she is very tired when she gets home. Her husband is a doctor, and they share the love of horses. She adores pasta and sangría. But she considers “traveling is the best investment, to be able to explore and meet new cultures, to become familiar with other ways of seeing the world”.

“There is no day, I do not enjoy work, I simply follow my gut instinct no matter what”, she says merrily.

Through her work, she wants to solve problems such as childhood dental cavities and malocclusion. Even though “they belong to different odontopediatric areas, they share environmental factors”.

So prevention is important. “To treat a patient with a problem and particular solution is one thing, but to make it last over the long term is quite another, and that is the real challenge”, she assures. As a matter of fact, her prevention programs covering Eje Cafetero are outstanding.

Parent cooperation is indispensable. “They convey the messages to the child. They are involved in the whole process, so we form teams that help us succeed”.

She also teaches at 2 dental faculties in Pereira, where she lives. “I enjoy academy, I think I will always be a teacher, it helps me help patients”.

JANUARY 2018 17

CARLOS ANDRÉS LORES Orthopedist

10 PROMISING COLOMBIAN DOCTORS

TECHNOLOGY, TALENT and team work save lives Robotic surgery helps bone cancer patients, and that’s this orthopedist’s passion.

T

o be an orthopedist is a privilege. Being able to

AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY

help patients with limita-

Doctor Lores thinks technology has

tions, trauma, infections,

brought him the most satisfying aspects of

tumors, degenerative

his career. He is proud to work at an institu-

alterations, is very grati-

tion with such a group of experts, orthope-

fying”. These are doctor

dists, clinical oncologists, radioncologists,

Carlos Andrés Lores Restrepo’s words, an or-

pathologists, reconstructive plastic surgeons,

thopedist and a bone tumor surgeon at Cen-

interventionist radiologists and palliative care

tro Médico Imbanaco.

specialists, with high tech resources, like navi-

He specialized in oncologic orthopedics

gation systems and smart operating rooms,

and bone transplant reconstructive surgery

putting it on the par with the most advanced

at Hospital Italiano in Buenos Aires, Argenti-

centers in the world.

na, a well known world reference center. He

“I’m always in contact with all the spe-

works with bone and soft tissue tumors, both

cialties, and together we choose the best ap-

in adults as well as in patients with immature

proach for that particular patient. It is profitable

Photo: CENTRO MÉDICO IMBANACO COURTESY

skeletons.

to work with these professionals, we always

Magnetic resonance images together with

He is quite dedicated. He doesn’t pay no

do the best we can for the patients”, he adds.

computer axial tomography, in a Diacom for-

attention to schedules, because he carefully

Advances like navigation or computer

mat –digital imaging and communications in

evaluates each patient, taking into considera-

assisted surgery are available in Colombia,

medicine- are transferred into a navigation

tion his medical records, the physical exam

particularly for bone tumor patients. “It is diffi-

system – Kolibri ENT- that processes it and

and the diagnostic tests, looking for the best

cult to access lesions in locations such as the

combine them creating a 3D model. This

therapeutic alternative. And he is very trou-

column and the pelvis, but navigation allows

technology is used to plan the surgery with an

bled when patient arrive “with big advanced

a precise margin resection, keeping healthy

infrared camera, a monitor and a tracker, so

masses, making everything difficult, not im-

tissue available for reconstruction and a bet-

that the surgeon can now arrive precisely to

possible”, he adds.

ter prognosis”.

the site of the osteotomy.

“This achievement helps patients a great

THE PRIDE OF REPRESENTING VALUABLE PROFESSIONALS

deal, particularly those with cancer lesions in

“I’m from Cali, I grew up here and I love my city, I studied medicine and then orthopedics at the Universidad del Valle, at the University Hospital of the Valley,” exclaims Dr. Carlos Andrés Lores with pride. Then, with the rigor demanded by the career, he specialized in Oncological Orthopedics and Reconstructive Surgery with Bone Transplants.

He’s married; his wife is a pediatric surgeon, and they have two children, ages 7 and 6. “We like to go out to eat, enjoy the children and share with the family,” he says. Friends define him as a consecrated man and with a great spirit of service, the same one that accompanies him as a child and that was accentuated by seeing his father’s love for work. “I have had great teachers whom I admire and decided to continue, like my teacher Dr. Jorge Enrique Navia Giraldo (q.e.p.d.)”.

He is the president of the Colombian Society of Musculo-Skeletal Tumors, a chapter of the Colombian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology. “It is a source of pride to represent a guild of people so valuable and recognized throughout the country,” he says.

cers, in other words metastasis. While others

18 JANUARY 2018

bone and soft tissues secondary to other canare primary bone and soft tissue tumors in any age patients, explains the doctor.

Knowledge generates more knowledge, and it must benefit society, so doctor Lores teaches and also heads the orthopedic oncology program, an alliance between Centro Médico Imbanaco and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Cali. Frequently he travels abroad to operate on particular cases.

“Thanks to this multidisciplinary treatment patients are no longer amputated and mutilated the way they used to”, doctor Lores sums up.

DIANA ALEJANDRA GARCÍA LONDOÑO Pediatrician

“I AM IN LOVE

with pediatric patients” Working with children is her daily joy; and she is particularly interested in nutrition, in order to prevent obesity.

E

ver since her childhood,

children and adolescents are obese. And in

Diana Alejandra García

Colombia, 1 in 6 children are obese, accord-

Londoño has loved to

ing to Encuesta de la Situación Nutricional

share, listen and help.

(Ensin) 2015. She wants to help, offering them

These characteristics lead

and their families the best available tools and

her into the medical world,

knowledge. As a matter of fact she is finishing

particularly with children

right now a specialization on pediatric nutri-

and adolescents, that’s

tion at Boston University.

why she chose pediatrics.

NUTRITION IS A KEY ELEMENT

Also: “when I was 8 years old, I was hos-

Doctor García Londoño considers a se-

at the hospital made me feel at home: they

vere problem of our culture it the associa-

celebrated my birthday and made me forget

tion between childhood, sweets, pizza and

for a moment where I was. So I decided then

burgers. “At school children tend to eat junk

I wanted to be just like them, a doctor that

food because their parents have the belief

could help patients”.

that it is not that important to take care of

She studied medicine and became a pediatrician. “I fell in love with the work with children, their energy and attitude, particularly with the way they cope with problems.

Photo: PERSONAL FILE

pitalized for 2 weeks. I was ill, and the people

their nutrition from childhood and also these food-stuffs are linked in some mysterious way with happiness. That’s where pediatrician start their work”, she tells us.

I learned from them. Their joy is contagious,

She has shifted her work’s focus: “by 6

and it makes it easier to keep them smiling

Nutrition is what interests her the most.

months after birth, I talk to my patient’s pa-

and accompany their parents throughout the

What troubles her is the alarming increase

rents about nutrition’s importance throughout

process”, she says.

in worldwide obesity, more than 223 million

the developmental stages. I answer their questions and give them alternatives”.

ATHLETIC AND ACTIVE Doctor Diana Alejandra García was born at Abejorral, Antioquia, she is 34 years old, single and lives fully every day.

“I enjoy waking up early in order to make the best of the day: I work in my private practice, I train daily for an hour at home with functional personalized exercises and usually I run 10 kilometers every weekend, I love nature”.

She studied medicine at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, at Medellín, and is a pediatrician from Universidad CES, also in Medellín, where she has been a teacher for the last 3 years. She has published research papers like “Perfil clínico de los pacientes con trastornos tiroideos y su respuesta al tratamiento” and “Ventilación mecánica en pacientes pediátricos con sepsis en unidades de cuidado intensivo pediátrico”.

But she also enjoys fine food, and likes to discover new restaurants where ever she goes. “I also enjoy history, reading about it, as a matter of fact, I’m reading right now about the cursed french kings”.

Mainly she is fascinated by puericulture, the medical area that studies the development of the healthy child, and provides education, sleep prophilaxis, behavior and positive discipline. “I’m inclined to the Montessori type of education, it offers excellent results”.

It is not only to give them a list of healthy things to eat, it is counseling them on alternatives in order to develop children with proper nutritional habits. “We must explain the international children nutrition guidelines, in order to avoid in the future diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity. And this perspective involves the nutrition of the whole family, simply the best way to teach is practical, through example of good nutritious practices”, she says.

She feels happy when “I see children grow, feeling such a connection with them, as if I were a family member. My work satisfies me a great deal, and I want to do it in the best possible manner. I’m in love with pediatrics”, she says.

JANUARY 2018 19

ALBERTO LATORRE ABISAMBRA Interventionist radiologist

10 PROMISING COLOMBIAN DOCTORS

RADIOLOGY

He is the pioneer of interventionist radiology in the Colombian Caribbean. His perseverance took him along a road towards minimally invasive procedures that used to require surgery.

I

t was hard for doctor Alberto Latorre Abisambra when he first started working as an interventionist radiologist at Barranquilla. Only 20 years ago it was an almost completely unknown medical specialty. So he started teaching about the advantages of minimally in-

vasive treatments for some pathologies that used to require surgeries. It was not easy to accept that a radiologist could do things other than diagnosing through images. “I persevered and performed the first procedure 4 months after I returned to Barranquilla”.

There are several doctors within doctor La-

Photo: HAROLD BAKER

Another alternative within

PROFILE OF A VISIONARY Alberto Latorre Abisambra is a doctor from Universidad del Norte with a specialty in radiology and diagnostic images from Universidad de Cartagena, also trained in interventionist radiology at Clínica de Marly, Hospital San Ignacio and Fundación Santa Fe, Bogotá.

He is certified by Asociación Colombiana de Radiología recertification’s board. Also he is a Sociedad Iberoamericana de Intervencionismo (SIDI) member and an American Radiology Society associate member. And he is the scientific director at Cerid Imágenes Diagnósticas in Barranquilla.

torre’s family, and he chose medicine because of his wish to serve. Since he was a child, he saw his with shorter hospital stays and lesser surgi-

perform every interventionist radiology pro-

He specialized in radiology and diagnostic

cal morbimortality. Doctor Latorre has been

cedure in our country, and sometimes new

images at Universidad de Cartagena. Early on

awarded several times at Congreso Nacional

products arrive here first, because of the legal-

he started performing simple interventionist

de Radiología.

ization procedures in the States and the Euro-

father working “with great devotion to patients”.

procedures, self-taught, the specialty didn’t exist in Colombia at that time. “I found out

pean countries. And he is planning to create

ON THE CUTTING EDGE

about the advantages other diagnostic image

Doctor Latorre explains interventionist ra-

techniques could offer us, such as fluorosco-

diology is a wide field that is continually grow-

py, ultrasound and tomography, and also that

ing with new materials and techniques, either

we could get to parts of the body with direct

diagnostic or therapeutic, for any organ.

vision and a minimally invasive technique for diagnosis and treatment purposes”.

an integral unit for the diabetic foot treatment.

SHARING KNOWLEDGE GRATIFIES Doctor Latorre has lectured on these topics

“It is an evolving subspecialty. Thanks to the

in different institutions, promoting the advan-

industry’s support and the work interventionist

tages and benefits of interventionist radiology

Later on, in 1994, he was trained formally

radiologist do every day, techniques are always

in order to make it easier for the patients to

with doctor Héctor Espinosa García, the pio-

improving. For instance, we are now develop-

get the health care system to approve these

neer of interventionist radiology in Colombia.

ing new technologies for cancer treatment,

procedures.

He had already performed in 1975 the first ar-

as well as aneurism endoprothesis, medicat-

He teaches at the undergraduate program

teriography at Hospital San Ignacio. By 1999

ed balloons, biodegradable stents for arterial

at Universidad del Norte and also helped cre-

the first interventionist radiology program was

occlusive disease, new mycrocatheters and

ate the residence there in radiology and di-

established at Universidad de Antioquia.

embolization materials, always trying to get to

agnostic images. “This experience stimulated

Using several imaging modes “we are able

more peripheral areas, widening our field with

me to keep on researching and teaching”, he

to perform diagnostic and therapeutic mini-

complex procedures with excellent results and

adds. He thinks doctors should have ethics,

mally invasive procedures through access

less morbimortality”, he explains.

respect, humility and perseverance, and these

routes other than incisions”. The point is to

The best part is that in Colombia we have

decrease surgical and anesthesia exposures,

an excellent level in this specialty. “We can

20 JANUARY 2018

are the most important things he can teach students.