Young ophthalmologist fulfills American dream with fellowship abroad

Giulia Corradetti, MD, explains what she learned during her strabismus training.

Issue: September 2015

ByGiulia Corradetti, MD

In our globalized world, the only way we can deliver the best care to our patients is by sharing ideas and practices across different centers of excellence. Formalizing part of our training at a center abroad helps to achieve this, and as Giulia Corradetti tells us, it can be an inspirational and life-changing process.

Anthony P. Khawaja, PhD, FRCOphth
Chair of the SOE Young Ophthalmologists committee

I believe every resident should have the chance to spend a period abroad.

A professional experience in a foreign country can enrich you as a physician, as an ophthalmologist, as a scientist and as a person more than anything else.

I thank my chairman, Francesco Bandello, MD, FEBO, for giving me the opportunity to spend part of my training at the Wright Foundation in Los Angeles, U.S.A., where minimally invasive strabismus surgery was invented, as well as many other strabismus procedures. I also thank Kenneth Wright, MD, for having me as a fellow.

I met Dr. Wright before starting my residency program, but at the time, I had no clue I would fall in love with strabismus. Destiny took me there: My first rotation was strabismus and pediatric ophthalmology with Monica Stoppani, MD, at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan. It was love! When Prof. Bandello gave me the opportunity to spend a period abroad, I had no doubt. I was motivated for a full immersion in strabismus and pediatric ophthalmology and ready to work hard.

I am living a true American dream. I am fascinated by Dr. Wright, his associate Luke Deitz, MD, and his amazing team. His leadership, energy, tremendous love for everyday work, passion, competence, professionalism and never-ending love for teaching impressed me since my first day in Los Angeles.

Teaching has been the core of the fellowship program. Dr. Wright’s passion and dedication to teaching are omnipresent and overwhelming: in front of the patient, reviewing the newest references, and supporting theories and practice scientifically.

Giulia Corradetti

I think that supporting every idea scientifically should be a key part of our everyday practice in medicine. By using sound scientific methods, we can achieve the best results and aim at making consistent changes and discoveries in our field.

The interactive approach to teaching that is used here gave me the opportunity not just to listen, but to ask questions, discuss cases daily and clarify doubts, going back home with convincing and clear answers.

I learned that our job will occupy 80% of our day. We have to love it, and we have to love our patients and try our best to improve their lives, expectations and dreams. I believe this is the right way to feel fulfilled.

This experience gave me a tremendous impulse to grow professionally, enhance my career, improve my skills and build my knowledge.

Often, we prefer to coddle ourselves at our home institution, where we feel more confident and safe. Often, we prefer working on projects someone else told us to work on.

The challenging and fun face of our job is to develop an idea, convert it into a real project and then into action. Changes are hard for everybody, but they are exciting.

Thanks, Prof. Bandello, for encouraging me and all your “baby ophthalmologists to be” to build up our careers abroad with the strongest motivation possible, working hard and bringing home positive changes.

Thanks, Dr. Stoppani, for introducing me to the strabismus world and supporting me every day since the beginning of my journey.

And thanks, Dr. Wright, for this great experience, your powerful never-ending energy, and giving me the impulse to grow every day and follow my dreams.

For more information:
Giulia Corradetti, MD, can be reached at giulia.corradetti@gmail.com.
SOE Young Ophthalmologists website: http://soevision.org/yo.

Disclosure: No products or companies that would require financial disclosure are mentioned in this article.