Please share with us where you attended medical school and tell us about why it made the top of your list.
I attended Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina for medical school. It is a well-known and recognized university in Brazil and located in the city where I grew up, (Florianopolis/Brazil).
Please share with us where you completed residency and how/why you ended up choosing that location.
I completed training in emergency medicine twice. My first training was in Brazil at Hospital das Clinicas da Universidade de São Paulo. I decided to train there because it is the university hospital with the most renowned medical school in Brazil and I was part of the first class of emergency medicine residents (EM was only formally recognized as a medical specialty in Brazil in 2015). After I completed my training there, I decided to continue it in the US. I completed my US training at Carolinas Medical Center (CMC). A few things made me pick CMC for my training including the great and super high-quality leadership there along with many internationally known faculty members. Everyone was extremely friendly in the residency program and ultimately, I really enjoyed Charlotte, it had everything I wanted in a city that isn’t too big, including the mild weather.
Tell us more about how you came to choose the field of medicine.
I’m unsure when I decided to pursue a career in medicine, but my father said he always knew I’d be an ER doctor because I would watch every episode of any type of ER TV show that was airing at the time.
What about becoming a physician was attractive?
I believe helping others played a big role in my decision to be a physician, and I’m not sure I ever really considered other professions – I think I was fixated on it and any thought about doing something else never went far.
How did you choose Emergency Medicine as your specialty?
The ER is fast paced and can be somewhat chaotic, which I love. If I had to be in the office all day, it would be repetitive in nature and make work very painful.
What do you enjoy most about your day-to-day practice?
I think the high variability of what we see every day is what really makes me enjoy my work and, obviously, having the chance to help people who present to us seeking help.
What led you to practice with MEMA? How long have you been with MEMA?
I just joined MEMA. I wanted to stay in Charlotte, I love the area and met my wife here and we didn’t want to move somewhere else. My wife’s family has moved here as well and staying here is important. MEMA is by far the best group in the Charlotte area and once I knew that I wanted to stay here for the long term, joining MEMA was a no-brainer. MEMA has partnered with Novant for so long and has low turnover in staff; these are all factors considered when picking the best place to practice.
What are some of the biggest challenges of your practice, for a clinician practicing in the emergency department?
At my prior hospital system, the biggest challenge was definitely the difficulty in getting patients moving through the hospital. Since Charlotte has grown so much in recent years and because of laws that limit healthcare growth there’s a clear shortage in healthcare assistance in the city, leading to backups in the entry point of the hospital system – the emergency department.
Are you a member of any associations, societies, or organizations?
I am a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians and involved with airway management education in Brazil. During my residency training in Brazil a couple of colleagues and me became the exclusive franchisees for The Difficult Airway Course, a US based airway education course, in Brazil.
Have you received any awards or been recognized from your peers? If so, tell us about it!
I was the resident’s representative in the residency committee during my training in Brazil, which is akin to a chief resident position in the US.
Who/what did you want to be as a child?
Like just about all other little kids, it alternated between being an astronaut or firefighter.
What about Charlotte excites you?
I love how easily accessible everything is. Charlotte has everything one would expect from a bigger city but also has a smaller-town kind of feel.
Do you have any Hobbies, interests, or secret powers that are unique to you?
I’m by no means an expert, but I definitely enjoy working on my car. I currently drive a 99 Lexus LS400 and the plan is to keep it going for as long as possible. Other hobbies include playing pickle-ball and discovering new restaurants in the area.