In the Author Spotlight ...
Dr. Alberto Peña,
Author of
Monologues of a Pediatric Surgeon

 

Successful pediatric surgeon Dr. Alberto Peña has been fortunate enough to make his mark on the field of pediatric surgery. He has traveled around the world treating children with congenital malformations and pioneered a technique used in pediatric surgeries. In his new book, Monologues of a Pediatric Surgeon shares his optimism and an inspiring message for pediatric surgeons and parents of children with congenital malformations.

Dr. Peña was born in Mexico and graduated from the Military Medical School of Mexico. After the birth of a son with a congenital malformation, he decided to focus on the field of Pediatric Surgery, specializing in the treatment of congenital malformation. "When I was in Mexico, I was fortunate to have the help of a professor of mine to take my baby to Boston Children’s Hospital," he explains. "For the first time I was on the other side of the table - I was a patient.  I was the father of a child with congenital malformation.  I interacted with the local surgeons and doctors and then I interacted with the American surgeons , which was something completely new for me.  My son survived for four and a half years and then passed away. During those four and a half years, I had many positive and negative experiences.  I became highly motivated to become a pediatric surgeon and work in the same area."

Dr. Peña believes that experience made him a better doctor.  "It was key to my professional career and my success. For instance, I never get upset with the parents of my patients.  Sometimes we see parents that are angry and upset and they have a reason to be like that.  Actually they are suffering human beings.  Because I’ve been there, I know how they feel."

After practicing in Mexico for over 30 years, Dr. Peña was recruited as a Chief of Surgery at Schneider's Children's Hospital in Long Island, NY. In 1982, Dr Peña described a novel approach to repair anorectal malformations. He travelled all over the world giving lectures and demonstrating his surgical technique. "I've received many invitations to travel all over the world and operate on children and give lectures, he says. "I consider that a great human experience. Some days I was operating in a rich country and operating along with all kinds of equipment. The next week I was operating in another country where there was nothing to work with. All of this have given me a perspective of the world, full of incidents, episodes and anecdotes."

Dr. Peña wrote Monologues of a Pediatric Surgeon to share his optimistic view on the field of pediatric surgery. "I think it’s healthy for the new generation of pediatric surgeons to read something that is enthusiastic and positive, particularly in this time of commercialism and litigation in medicine and surgery," he says. " Some young doctors are discouraged by pessimistic nurses and doctor and I think this is good for them to hear an optimistic voice, particularly in those surgeons who are born and educated in the so-called developing countries. When you are born and get your education in developing countries you feel a little bit of an inferior kind of complex.  The main message of the book is go ahead and try – believe in yourself.  There are many things that you can do."

For the last 6 years, Dr. Peña has been the Director of the first Colorectal Pediatric Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. He has written numerous technical books and articles. He continues to travel, performing surgeries around the world.

To learn more about Dr. Alberto Peña and to purchase Monologues of a Pediatric Surgeon, visit
http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/03323.htm

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