Dr. Bruna Bastiani graduated from her Neuroanesthesiology Fellowship at University of Sao Paulo, Brazil in February 2024. The University of Sao Paulo achieved ICPNT accreditation in 2023 for its Neuroanesthesiology Fellowship Program. The Program Director is Dr. Cristiane Tavares.

ICPNT Fellowship Experience at the University of São Paulo, Brazil

From the first year of my anesthesiology training, I was interested in neurosurgery. During my training, I looked for institutions where I could improve my knowledge of neuroanesthesiology in other countries. Then, I was surprised by the opening of the first neuroanesthesiology training program in Brazil at the University of São Paulo (USP).

Training in neuroanesthesiology at USP became a dream that I kept for a few years. Finally, in 2023, I could apply for the program’s selection process. At the interview for the fellowship, I spoke to Dr Cristiane Tavares, the program’s coordinator, and it became clear to me that this was exactly what I was looking for.

I spent a year at Brazil’s most prominent public hospital, the Clínicas Hospital of the University of São Paulo’s Faculty of Medicine. I had the opportunity to visit several of the institutes in the Clínicas Hospital complex, such as the Central Institute, the São Paulo State Cancer Institute, and the Psychiatry Institute.

I followed extremely complex neurosurgical cases in skull base surgeries, vascular neurosurgeries, functional neurosurgeries, pediatric neurosurgeries, among other areas; in addition to contact with highly qualified and renowned neurosurgeons, I also had contact with the Intensive Care Unit and intensivists – in Brazil anesthesiology and intensive care medicine are different specialties -, working on the discussion of cases of elective and emergency neurosurgical patients, the management of patients with intracranial hypertension, as well as post-operative complications. I learned how to perform Transcranial Doppler, a future tool for neuroanesthesiologists in the perioperative period in my country.

In addition to the assistance part, one of the fundamental pillars of my training was the networking I could do during this period. I went to national congresses – in some, I was invited as a speaker – where we held clinical case discussions in our service and online scientific meetings with services from other countries. I went to the American Congress of Anesthesiology for the first time, where I had the opportunity to contact and talk to renowned neuroanesthesiologists from various American services. I had invitations to internships in these services, which I am evaluating going to soon.

Many fruits were born from this fellowship: I completed three book chapters – national and international books -, I was able to help train anesthesiology residents, I got closer to the field of education through.

Lectures and classes given, and I have just been approved to start my master’s degree, which will be in the field of neuroanesthesiology.

I’m very thankful for the opportunity to complete my training, which was a turning point in my career. I would also like to thank the SNACC, and I am honored to be the first neuroanesthesiologist in my country to be awarded this title by the SNACC and the USP School of Medicine. I was the first anesthesiologist in my country to receive this title, a source of extreme pride for me and my entire family.

I cannot fail to thank Professor Maria José Carvalho Carmona and Dr. Cristiane Tavares, who spared no effort to ensure I completed my training successfully. I have deep respect and admiration for Dr. Cristiane Tavares, as she is a pioneer in our country. As my mentor and coordinator of the program, she has inspired me and inspires me daily to continue my journey for knowledge.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my training and will always carry with me, it’s that everything is related to the people around you. I’m following in the footsteps of my master’s and continuing my research with the aim of inspiring future generations just as they inspired me.