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Marta Bande
Interventional Cardiologist, Istituto Clinico
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Dream big, dream always.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Being an interventional cardiologist means mainly to take care of the coronary arteries, which bring blood to our hearts- if there is a blockage we go in and “open them up”, without having to open the chest, as it happens with coronary by-pass heart surgery (sometimes, though, necessary or a better choice for the patient). Now interventional cardiology has a much broader application, as we also take care of the “structure” of the heart, like its valves. It’s an exciting and very rewarding job. You create lifelong relationships with patients and you truly get to save lives!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD?
My dad used to be an interventional cardiologists; now he’s retired, although still very active in his clinical cardiology practice! He was truly passionate and dedicated and through him not only I could see the beauty of this job, but also got to experience directly the lifestyle of an interventional cardiologist, like being on call, getting an emergency call at 3 am in the morning and having to rush to the hospital to save a life. I literally fell in love with it- I wanted to be that person who has to run to the hospital and remove the blockage in the artery during a heart attack! It was a bit hard to find female role models, but then I had the huge luck to meet incredible mentors and to be trained by an amazing woman who is still now the best role model I could have ever hoped for!
WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT & THINK, "I WISH YOUNGER ME WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS POSSIBLE?"
Participating as a faculty member to a major interventional cardiology meeting.
WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING IN STEM?
I feel it’s a major challenge to work in a male-dominated field, but at the same time that’s also what makes it so interesting. We are setting new standards, it’s a work in progress. I always wake up thinking how I can become a better version of myself- as a doctor and as a woman.
BEST ADVICE FOR NEXT GENERATION?
Dreams do come true- do not give up! Dream big, dream always. You will wake up one day being what you had hoped to become!
INSPO / FUN FACT
Blaze your own trail.