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ΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΗ
Tεύχος 28 | Mάρτιος - Απρίλιος 2024
Η ακόλουθη συνέντευξη πραγματοποιήθηκε μέσω Zoom. Απομαγνητοφώνηση & επιμέλεια κειμένου: Θεόδωρος Σπίνος, ειδικευόμενος Ουρολόγος & Φίλιππος Νικητάκης, μέλη συντακτικής ομάδας του Newsletter.
T.S.: How did you decide to become a urologist? What led you to specialize in Pediatric Urology?
Prof. S.T.: Choosing a job for oneself is a significant decision that requires careful consideration of various factors, such as personal inclinations, talents, passions, interests, job opportunities, and income. When I made the decision to become a urologist in 1986, about 40 years ago, the field of Urology was much different than it is today, with a focus on mainly open surgery and the emerging field of endourology.
I was attracted to urology because of the diverse range of surgical procedures it offered, including radical, microsurgery, reconstructive surgery, and endoscopic surgery. The evolution of endoscopic and reconstructive procedures in urology further solidified my decision to pursue this specialization.
However, when it came to Pediatric Urology in the early 1990s, it was a different story. I realized there was a growing need for specialists in this field, as there were limited pediatric urologists in Europe at the time. Despite the challenges and lack of popularity of Pediatric Urology within the urology community, I saw an opportunity to establish myself in a niche area that would open up future prospects. I believe that choosing a specialization with opportunities for growth and development is crucial. By focusing on a less popular area within a field, one may have a better chance of achieving success and recognition. In my case, following the path of Pediatric Urology proved to be a wise decision in the long run, despite initial reservations. I would advise others to consider the availability of opportunities when selecting a career path. It is important to choose a specialization where one can stand out and excel, rather than competing for a small share of a saturated market. In today's landscape, there may be more pediatric urologists in certain regions, but there are still areas, such as Greece, where the demand for specialists in this field remains high. Overall, I believe that strategic decision-making and foresight are key in choosing a career path that offers ample opportunities for growth and success.
T.S.: You have done a Pediatric Urology fellowship training at University of Washington, Children's Hospital with Dr. Mitchell. Could you describe us your experience back then?
Prof. S.T.: That was a wonderful time. Dr. Michael Mitchell was the first graduate of the Harvard Boston Children's Pediatric Urology fellowship, so he was certainly a leading figure in the field. I had communicated with him and he accepted me. He recognized my passion for Pediatric Urology, and I was excited to go there in 1994, which is exactly 30 years ago now. Augmentation and various reconstructive bladder procedures were becoming popular at that time, and Michael Mitchell was considered the pioneer of augmentation techniques. He performed different kinds of augmentations and reservoirs, such as the Indiana pouch and gastric augmentations. I had a great experience learning from him and assisting in various complex surgeries, including exstrophy cases. During that time, he was based in Seattle, which was a major referral center for exstrophy cases. I also had the opportunity to conduct some lab work and publish some valuable research. One of the interesting projects we worked on was studying the bladder response to obstruction in an animal model of posterior urethral valves, in order to understand how the bladder changed in response to obstruction. It was a rewarding experience that reinforced my passion for Pediatric Urology. Working in a children's hospital where Pediatric Urology was the main focus, I realized the importance of specializing in this field. We were a part of the Department of Urology at the University of Washington, and only attended general meetings once a week, as our main focus was Pediatric Urology. This experience shaped my decision to pursue full- time Pediatric Urology, as I saw the significant impact we could have in this specialized area. I was inspired by the busy and dedicated team I worked with, which motivated me to focus solely on Pediatric Urology.
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