“I take great pride in my profession when I see that patients are already returning to their daily activities.” The distinguished Dr. Alejandro Badia, a hand and upper extremity surgeon, visited Peru to host a press conference aimed at patients and the general public. Highly relevant topics were addressed, including arthritis, sports injuries, joint replacement, and arthroscopy, among others.
“Advances in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery” is the conference that seeks to build bridges of development and progress in the medical field between the United States and Peru. Its objective is to raise public awareness regarding health treatment and protection, provide recommendations for minimally invasive procedures, and improve overall quality of life.
GENTE, a Peruvian magazine, had the opportunity to speak with this prominent physician, who did not hesitate to share his expertise.
What are your expectations for this visit to Peru?
I am returning to Peru after nearly 15 years since establishing myself in Miami. I believe the connection between Peru and Miami is very strong across many sectors, particularly in medicine. Some of the reasons for this include the infrastructure, knowledge, and technology we have in the United States to offer our Peruvian colleagues; to that end, we have established a new agreement with Clínica San Borja.
This means they can send a physician or a physical therapist to spend time with us for advanced training.
You are a hand and extremity surgeon.
How long have you been practicing this profession?
Throughout my entire professional career, which spans 15 years. I trained as an orthopedic trauma surgeon. Initially, I focused more on hand surgery, though I have operated on spines and knees. You offered a press conference on “Advances in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery” free of charge. Yes, it is interesting because we physicians always hold conferences among ourselves for the benefit of the patient, but now we can teach the patient how to manage these issues in a way that is not overwhelming, overly technical, or complicated.
Does this create a closer relationship between the patient and the physician?
Certainly. I believe the patient has a responsibility to conduct some research and have questions ready for their doctor, because ultimately, the outcome affects them directly. That is why on the website drbadia.com, which I have maintained for nearly 12 years, there are articles and videos available for patients to stay informed.
Is it difficult for patients to understand the importance of starting or continuing a treatment?
Every patient, like every human being, is different. The challenge lies in explaining to the patient what we are doing and why. Ultimately, I am an entrepreneur like any other; what I do is a human endeavor. We have a significant infrastructure that must be maintained, and it benefits me when the patient achieves better results. I take much more pride in my profession when I see that patients are back to their sports or activities—when they write to me and thank me, that is the ultimate reward for me.
Furthermore, one must keep pace with technological advancements. It is crucial to have an alliance with that sector of the industry, as there are companies dedicated to creating these prosthetics and fiber-optic instruments. We must stay up to date, and that is one of the reasons I am coming to Peru—because I would like to help the country. A very unfortunate event occurred last year involving an entrepreneur from Miami who sells and repairs arthroscopy equipment.
Customs did not allow the arthroscopes he brought to pass through, which were intended for a cadaveric workshop at the School of Medicine in Arequipa.
It is vital for the public and the government to be aware of these efforts because they benefit everyone. If the government or the Ministry of Health understood this, they would realize that it would have a very significant economic impact.
Dr. Alejandro Badia began his medical studies at the age of 17 and started practicing his career at 32. He is aware that choosing this profession is not only financially rewarding but also requires extensive dedication in a country like the United States. He consistently shows happiness in the work he performs and shares with great enthusiasm that working with medical advances for the benefit of the population is the most gratifying thing there is.
