Hello,
My personal journey to med school was similar to many youngsters, applying for the most competitive spots in the best universities.
I devoted all my heart, mind, and strength to its preparations. Everyone who has been through this stage knows the immense pressure you face. It was even harder for me as being a doctor was just not what I had imagined myself to be. It was quite tough, but I was determined not to cheat myself. I put my heart and soul into it like any other student who aimed to become a doctor.
Becoming a doctor then became my goal and I was focused on achieving it. I knew I would nail it. However, this is a bittersweet journey, and I suspect all who have been through it would agree.
In the end, started med school in one of the most prestigious universities in South America, the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP).
After med school, I’ve decided I wanted to become a surgeon, so I started the residency in the same institution. It was during the residency I had one of the best opportunities of my life, spending one month in an Observership program in Madrid, Spain. There I had, for the first time, a glimpse of what it looks like to live and work in a great city and in a world-class hospital. I was already thinking about becoming a thoracic surgeon, so I learned Toronto had the best division in this field.
One year later, I quit my job, left my stability behind, and moved to Toronto with my family. I was living the dream.
In Canada, I have worked amongst the best, I dived deep in medical research and innovation, I published my work in the best scientific journals in the world (Nature, Lancet e Science), I won international scientific prizes, I wrote and granted international patents, as long as being honored with a clinical fellow position in one of the 5 best hospitals in the world, the Toronto General Hospital. I learned how the North American and the European healthcare systems work, and I have been part of teams with other international physicians. After my fellowship, I have decided to shift my career and, instead of focusing only on the medical care of patients, I also work with medical education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
I am one of the founders of Imigramed. This project focuses on helping other international physicians to live and work abroad.
In my free time, I love playing the electric guitar. I am an obsessive reader. Get to know my manifesto here (don’t forget to activate English CC’s in the video!).