Prof. Raul Rosenthal: patient’s satisfaction keeps me progressing all the time
The 2017 Digestive Disease Institute Week (DDI Week) organized by the Cleveland Clinic was held successfully in Boca Raton, Florida, from Feb 14th to 18th. As a grand feast in the field of digestive disease, the symposium attracted numerous experts from all over the world to get together to have deep discussion on hot topics in the digestive field, including transanal endoscopic surgery (TES), transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME), fecal incontinence and rectal prolapse, revisional bariatric/metabolic interventions (RBMI), etc.
During this symposium, Prof. Raul Rosenthal, from, Cleveland Clinic Florida, had brought an excellent presentation on “Mental Conditioning for Surgeons to Optimize Performance”, earning a lot applause from the audience. Seizing this opportunity, the Editorial Office of Annals of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery (ALES) was honored to have an interview with Prof. Rosenthal (Figure 1).
At beginning of the interview, Prof. Rosenthal introduced with us how the mental conditioning developed from other fields, like application in music, then to be applied in medical field and how it works for surgeons to optimize performance.
During this symposium, there’s a section for the discussion of RBMI, in which numerous sparkles were inspired through all the participants. As a pioneer in the bariatric surgery, Prof. Rosenthal actively devoted to the discussion and gave his precious views on almost every question. In the interview, Prof. Rosenthal also shared with us many of his opinion about the RMBI, including its indication, result to our patients, future focus, etc.
Moreover, Prof. Rosenthal as well told us three of his way of updating himself with the latest progress—social media, meetings and reviewing of papers.
When talking about “what’s in bariatric surgery that keeps you going ahead”, Prof. Rosenthal instantly told us his answer—patient’s satisfaction keeps him progressing all the time (Figure 2)!
Interview questions
- In your previous presentation, you shared with us a topic on “Mental Conditioning for Surgeons to Optimize Performance”, which is interesting. Here would you share with us some main points of your presentation? How should surgeons do to optimize performance via mental conditioning?
- We know that you previously were the president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and a pioneer in the bariatric surgery. In the symposium, there’s also a section for RBMI. Here based on your experience, would you tell us what’s the indication for the RBMI? What you’ve discussed about the indication?
- RBMI increases quite fast. In your opinion, why is the prevalence of RBMI increasing dramatically?
- Does RBMI always have good result to our patients?
- What should be the focus of RBMI in the future?
- Would you tell us what’s in bariatric surgery that keeps you going ahead in this field?
- As we know, you’re so busy. Then how do you update yourself with the latest progress?
Expert introduction
Prof. Raul J. Rosenthal, MD, serves as Scientific and Clinical Advisor of Barosense Inc. Prof. Rosenthal serves as the Head of Section of Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Surgery at CCF. Since 1999, he has been Chairman of the Department of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida. Prof. Rosenthal serves as a Member of Medical Advisory Board of MST Medical Surgical Technologies Ltd. Prof. Rosenthal serves as Member of Commercialization Council of Cleveland Clinic Innovations. Prof. Rosenthal serves as Professor of Surgery and Chairman of Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. Prof. Rosenthal serves as Program Director of Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Florida. He is Graduate of Medical School in Rosario, Argentina. He trained as a general surgeon at the Provincial Hospital in Rosario Argentina between 1981 and 1983, and emigrated to Germany to repeat medical degree and general surgical residency training between 1983 and 1990. He is revalidated the MD degree and obtained title of general surgeon from the German Society of Surgeons. He worked as attending surgeon at the University Hospital, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, he immigrated to the US to work as a research fellow in MIS at UCLA/Cedars Sinai Medical Center until 1996; revalidated MD degree (ECFMG) and repeated surgical residency training at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York from 1996 to 1999. Professor of Surgery Florida International University and Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida. He holds Director of the Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Fellowship Program, Cleveland Clinic, Weston Florida. He is Active Member of the Training Committee, Institutional Relations, Clinical Outcomes and Emerging Technology Committees of The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons, Secretary and Board Member of the SAGES education and research Foundation. Prof. Rosenthal is the editor of Bariatric Times Magazine, is member of the editorial board of Obesity Surgery and Journal of Surgical Oncology. Prof. Rosenthal has published over 150 papers in peer reviewed journals, is conducting multiple FDA and clinical research trials. In addition, he is the editor of 3 textbooks in general and endoscopic surgery and author of over 50 chapters in general surgery books. He is Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Fellow of the German Society of Surgery and Corresponding Fellow of the Argentinian Society of Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons and Honorary Fellow of the German Society of Visceral Surgery. He is Active Member of the Board of Governors of SAGES, Chair of the International Centers of Excellence Program in Bariatric Surgery of the SRC, and Co-Chair of the Go Global Initiative, SAGES. He is Chair of the International Committee of the ASMBS and active member of the Executive Board of the Fellowship Council.
Acknowledgments
Funding: None.
Footnote
Provenance and Peer Review: This article was commissioned by the editorial office, Annals of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery. The article did not undergo external peer review.
Conflicts of Interest: The author has completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/ales.2017.04.05). The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
Ethical Statement: The author is accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
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References
- Gao S. Interview with Prof. Raul Rosenthal. Asvide 2017;4:240. Available online: http://www.asvide.com/articles/1549
(Science Editor: Skylar Gao, ALES, ales@amegroups.com)
Cite this article as: Gao S. Prof. Raul Rosenthal: patient’s satisfaction keeps me progressing all the time. Ann Laparosc Endosc Surg 2017;2:102.
