"... , and don't anchor yourself or put down roots immediately": the advice of the young ophthalmologist featured in our interview.
In 'I'll tell you a story...' we host a young and brilliant 'female' promise in the field of medical and surgical retina: Federica Fossataro. Dr. Fossataro has already honoured us with her collaboration in our last monograph dedicated to AMD, and now she tells us about her professional career and her first experience - crowned with success - in a complex case of vitreo-retinal surgery.
A very short presentation: who you are today and how you chose your path in ophthalmology
I am currently a senior ophthalmic physician at the Ophthalmic Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco in Milan, directed by Dr. Stefano de Angelis and I deal in particular with retinal diseases. Since this year, I have also been a member of the vitreo-retinal surgery group at the Ophthalmic Hospital, under the leadership of Dr Matteo Cereda.
I started attending the ophthalmology clinic at the University of Naples Federico II, where I focused on medical retina and OCT angiography. Eleven years ago, OCT Angiography was a novelty for the entire ophthalmic world and when I was entrusted with the study of diabetic retinopathy using OCT Angiography, I was immediately enthusiastic and my passion was born from there. After four years as an ophthalmology trainee, I passed the national competition and chose to stay at the school that had seen me take my first steps.
However, as the years went by, I felt the need for other educational experiences and this is where the journey began!
Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to move around and started by following colleagues at Moorfields in London, the oldest eye hospital in Europe, and then worked at Souraski Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, under the Prof. Anat Loewesteinamong the world's most famous retinologists and a leading woman in her field.
Back from Israel, enriched by the experience and always open to new projects, with my teacher and guide, the Dr Alfredo Pece, we created the WOM, Weekly Ophthalmological Meetings, weekly online meetings with discussion of two clinical or surgical ophthalmological cases with experts from Italy and abroad. Believing firmly in this project, which is still going strong after a good 15 months and more than 130 speakers, on 10 May next we will hold in Milan the first live WOM Congress completely focused on "mystery cases" with the opportunity to learn from the comparison.
Also last year, I did a Medical Retina Fellowship in Los Angeles at UCLA with the Prof. David Sarrafwho has since become my mentor in science and with whom I continue to work today.
A 'strange' or 'complicated' case that you managed to handle and solve?
Working in an ophthalmic hospital, right in the centre of Milan, 'strange' or 'complicated' cases are very frequent! I report that of a haemorrhagic endophthalmitis with Roth's spots, hyaline vessels and vitritis manifested in a patient after intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF. The patient had come to my attention during an emergency room shift and underwent vitrectomy with vitreous withdrawal and antibiotic injection within a couple of hours. Endophthalmitis, although rare, is a serious post-surgical complication, but if diagnosed correctly and treated promptly it can have a favourable prognosis. Dedicating myself to vitreo-retinal surgery has always been my dream and being able to perform this surgery was an important first step in my learning process.
Any advice for young colleagues starting out in Ophthalmology?
I advise colleagues younger than me to travel a lot to learn, not to anchor themselves or put down roots immediately. Knowledge in ophthalmology today is considerable and it is necessary to have a comprehensive view. Knowing how to work outside Italy is mandatory in a world that is evolving faster and faster. Furthermore, it is an excellent opportunity for training and exchange with colleagues from different cultures. All these paths have enriched me greatly and I therefore invite anyone who is moved by a true passion for this subject to be curious and always learn from others.
On the subject of endophthalmitis after treatment with anti-VEGF, we point out:
Sachdeva MM, Moshiri A, Leder HA, Scott AW. Endophthalmitis following intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents: long-term outcomes and the identification of unusual micro-organisms. J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect. 2016 Dec;6(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12348-015-0069-5. Epub 2016 Jan 12. PMID: 26758203; PMCID: PMC4710619.
Under the heading "I tell you a story..."
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