IAHPC Traveling Scholar's Report

A report by Mario López Saca (El Salvador)

I want to thank IAHPC for giving me a scholarship to engage in research study time in the Palliative Care Unit at the University Clinic of Navarra, Spain from September 2011 to December 2011. The objective of my stay was to learn new forms of studying terminally ill patients so that a similar program could be implemented in my country.

I am very thankful to the Palliative Medicine team at the Clinic who gave me a comprehensive review of the best ways to deal with terminally ill patients. My mentors were Dr. Carlos Centeno and Dr. Marian Portela. I also worked with the team psychologist Marina Martinez and two nurse specialists in palliative care, Juli Urdíroz and Ana Larumbe. Thank you all for your assistance. I participated as another member of the team and this meant a lot to me.  Dealing with patients and families in a palliative care setting is complex and it is paramount to be respectful of their dignity.

One of the practices I have learned during my training was how to use the subcutaneous route of drug administration. I also attended academic meetings, conferences, symposia and workshops that enriched my knowledge. This was a great experience because I had the opportunity to exchange ideas and points of view with other palliative care physicians from various centers.

Most importantly, I learned the proper use of opioids for the treatment of pain and dyspnea, as well as how to detect adverse effects and signs of neurotoxicity. Opioids in my country are less accessible, so I will have to work hard to navigate the bureaucratic procedures which will allow me to use them for the benefit of my patients.

I have seen the importance of teamwork and of supporting the patients’ families. I have realized how important it is to spend time with patients and to listen to them. They have many doubts and fears which often disappear with a quiet personal one-to-one conversation.

During my free time I was able to see Pamplona and to visit neighboring villages, go hiking on the weekends with some doctors from the Clinic and to make many new friends.

Thanks again to all the IAHPC team for facilitating this stay. I also thank my Hospital in El Salvador (Hospital "Dr. Juan Jose Fernandez" Resume), the Carolina Foundation and the University Clinic of Navarra for their respective grants and support. Without this scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to advance in my career, which will also help me to develop a palliative care unit and train others in El Salvador.

Dr. Jose M. Lopez Saca
Dept. of Internal Medicine
Hospital Nacional Dr. Juan Jose Fernandez Zacamil
San Salvador, El Salvador