Mario Calvo Arellano, MD, FACP
— LOCATION —Valdivia, Chile
— CURRENT POSITION —
Professor, Austral University of Chile
Current Governor of the ACP Chile Chapter and previous participant in the International Fellowship Exchange Program (now known as the Global Physician Scholar Program)
What inspired you to pursue a career in internal medicine?
Too many things—the inspirations can be as numerous as your motivations. I like to assist a patient walking the route to good health, giving security and happiness during the journey, and sometimes consolation. Also, interesting challenges can be found along the way. That gives to this specialty a beautiful mix of humanity and intellectual skills.
What do you enjoy most about being an internal medicine physician?
I enjoy different aspects of my job every day: in diagnostics, when I find a piece in the clinical case that gives us the diagnosis; in the ambulatory clinic, when a patient arrives sad and leaves calmer; or in clinical research, when we resolve how to study an aspect we couldn't assess before. But maybe I like it most when I see the faces of my students when they can't understand an aspect of the patient, then finally, sometimes surprisingly, they can.
Can you share a memorable patient experience that has had a significant impact on you?
I remember when I learned that simpler things could be very important for patients. When I began my residency, one of my first patients was hospitalized with heart failure. After he was discharged, we stayed in contact and developed a close friendship over time. He even gifted me a blender when I got married (and it is still in my kitchen today). Once, he told me why he decided to come to me for treatment many years ago. “My apartment is on the third floor, and I have to climb four flights of stairs to arrive home. With the treatment of my previous physician, I needed to stop after the third flight but since I began your treatment, I can get to the door of my apartment without needing a break.”
What are the top three challenges you face in your daily practice as an internal medicine physician?
First, keeping updated with all of the information we receive every day.
Second, dealing with all of the administrative issues that have been incorporated in every country by regulatory agencies. I recognize that I supported them at the beginning, but I feel we are surpassing an edge where we can possibly harm the practice of medicine.
The third and most important is sharing optimism with my colleagues, my patients, and my family.
Can you share any innovative solutions or changes you have implemented to address these challenges?
I recommend three solutions, the first of which is sharing important knowledge with others. In the south of the country, we have a group of eight cities, all with less than 250,000 inhabitants: every month, we have an online meeting to share information and clinical keys.
For the challenge of administrative activities, I suggest setting aside some time each month to think about how to automate or improve your system.
For, the third challenge (sharing optimism), try to see the good part of every person, especially when you need to decide how to distribute tasks.
What motivated you to join the American College of Physicians?
During my first months of residency, I was invited by a friend to a meeting of the Medical Society of Chile. We were not more than 10 people. There, the president of the Medical Society of Chile showed us how we as internal medicine physicians could accomplish things together, which is of capital importance to me. I think a person can do their work just fine, however, the real possibility to improve the environment for ourselves and our patients depends on organized groups of physicians. By the end of that day, I had joined both the American College of Physicians and the Medical Society of Chile.
Which ACP resource do you find most valuable and why?
ACP JournalWise and ACP Journal Club. They are extraordinary guides for updates on the latest publications.
Please describe your experience in the International Fellowship Exchange Program (now Global Physician Scholar Program).
Observational study in virology at St. Boniface General Hospital, National Infectious Diseases Laboratory, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was one of the most remarkable experiences in my career. Normally, the curricula for clinical education in Chile are so rigid; the first time I could participate in the design of the activities to perform was during the 3 months I was in Manitoba.
In what ways has participating in the International Fellowship Exchange Program (Global Physician Scholar Program) impacted your personal and professional life?
When I participated in IFEP I had finished my infectious diseases fellowship 5 years earlier, and I had been working in intensive care and infectious diseases, but I felt lots of doubts regarding my next steps. The IFEP was like a golden compass and provided the guidance that I needed to make my next steps in my career.
In my personal life, I met beautiful people during my time in Manitoba. Sadly, my mentor during those months has passed away, but I maintain a close friendship with Dr. Andrew Morris, who was at that time Governor of the Manitoba/Saskatchewan Chapter (now part of the Prairie Provinces Chapter, which also includes Alberta).
How do you balance your professional responsibilities with personal life?
I don't know if I really have a good balance, but I feel happy in both places. I think the strength of spirit of my wife, son, and daughters is a crucial part of the success of this balance.
Back to the March 2025 issue of ACP Global