During the Young Stroke Physicians and Researchers (YSPR) session at ESO 2021 virtual conference, four early career stroke physicians and researchers will present their planned or ongoing projects and receive feedback from two renowned stroke experts.
The session took place on Wednesday 1st September at 08.30 in Hall A and will be avaliable to watch on demand via the ESOC platform until 3 December 2021.
In this series of interviews, we are going to meet them and hear about their stories.
Today we are meeting with Marco Antonio Lobo Chaves.
Marco Antonio is a PhD Researcher in Manchester, UK and he presents “EXPLORING MARKERS OF STROKE CARE AND STROKE ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA IN STROKE UNITS ACROSS ENGLAND AND WALES.” Please stay tuned!
Tell us something about yourself.
I’m a physician originally from Costa Rica in the final months of my PhD in stroke medicine.
How did you get involved in stroke research?
I got involved because I found that my current PhD project was interesting and a challenge at the same time, and it went with my previous expertise in the field of vascular diseas
Why did you choose this topic?
The topic of the project is part of a larger study, looking at stroke associated pneumonia variation as a whole in England and Wales, and this study is critical to understanding the different aspects that could be associated with the development of SAP.
What have been the most difficult challenges regarding your research career so far?
Working with big data as a clinician has been a challenge, but learning about the different statistical approaches and pitfalls of big data has been an amazing experience.
How do you balance work life and free time/home life?
I have a clear schedule, no work should go on from 6 pm any day. And should work needs to be done during the weekend, I usually stick to my workweek schedule as well.
What do you think a mentor should do to support the projects and the career of a mentee and, conversely, what should a mentee expect from a mentor?
A mentor should provide clear guidance to the mentee, not only from a research or career perspective but also from a personal one. Conversely, a mentee should provide clear goals, and initial steps on how to reach those goals. This way, it is easier for both the mentor and mentee to work on achieving those goals.
