WHO IS THE
DR. LUIS A. WADSKIER?

HELLO, MY NAME IS LUIS ALFREDO WADSKIER

Urology has become in a family tradition.

My grandfather was a urologist and founded urology in Valencia, Venezuela where I was born. At that time, urology was a novelty and did not exist in many cities of the world. He was president of the Venezuelan Society of Urology and head of the Urology Service of the Central Hospital of Valencia-Venezuela, whose service proudly bears his name, Luis Fernando Wadskier. Later, my father, following in his footsteps, also studied urology in Mexico City and to date, continues to practice and enjoys great prestige in Venezuela.In addition, the influence of medicine also came from my mother’s side, who is a pathologist, among other family members who practice other medical specialties.

I ALSO DECIDED TO STUDY UROLOGY AND I WANT TO TELL YOU ONE OF THE ANECDOTES OF MY LIFE I LIKE THE MOST.

When I was graduating from high school my dad asked me what I was going to study, and I proudly told him medicine. He sent me to sit down and for a long time he explained to me how demanding this career was, trying to convince me to study something different.
I, stubborn as always, told him it was a done decision, then he gave me a hug and told me he had his full support.

Then, when I was about to graduate as a doctor, he asked me what I was going to do as a postgraduate and now, even prouder, I told him urology. Another time he sent me to sit down and explained to me why I should study plastic surgery and not urology. I told him that my dream was to cure sick people and improve their quality of life and health, and that I was going to do urology “like my grandfather and like you”. Once again, he expressed his unconditional support.

I studied 6 years at the University of Carabobo in Valencia and graduated as a general practitioner. Then I studied 2 years of general surgery at the Central Hospital of Valencia as a prerequisite for urology. I decided to move to Bogota looking for a better education and studied 4 years at the San Jose Hospital with the University Foundation of Health Sciences (FUCS) where I graduated as a Urologist.Then, I studied for one more year the Fellowship (sub-specialization) in Advanced Laparoscopic Urology and here I have my second anecdote: I was with my dad in a course of Laparoscopic Urology in Argentina and on the plane back he tells me:“This laparoscopy thing looks very difficult and even at 60 years old, it is too complicated. If it appeals to you, dive in headfirst because I think this is the future.”Since then it has become my passion.

I moved to Valencia to fulfill my biggest dream: to work with my dad. We worked together for 3 fantastic years where I was able to learn and enrich a lot from the experience of someone who has been practicing urology for more than 50 years. My dream had come true! Unfortunately, the conditions of the country did not go hand in hand with my dream and with much regret, I was forced to leave Venezuela, leaving behind all the legacy that my father and grandfather created.

After 13 years of tireless study days, late nights and countless sacrifices, I started working in the Urology Department of the Hospital de San José, where I was trained and where we created the Section of Endourology and Laparoscopy. I served 4 years as undergraduate and postgraduate university professor at FUCS, as academic coordinator of the urology postgraduate course and as director of the Section of Endourology and Laparoscopy, but as physicians we never stop studying in order to be at the forefront, I trained in prostate laser surgery and minimally invasive surgery at Vall d’Hebron Hospital. in Barcelona – Spain, and then in Robotic surgery and endourology at UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX.

my current stage

I chose to move to Barranquilla in 2016 because it is the largest city in the Colombian Caribbean, where laparoscopic surgeries were not performed and because the culture of the coast is very similar to that of Venezuela. I started working at the Portoazul clinic and with the most prestigious group of urologists at Urocentro.

Moving to a new city, where you don’t know anyone and you have to start from scratch, is not an easy task, but that’s where Armando Juliao, my urological “godfather” in Barranquilla, came in. He helped me open many doors, taught me the dynamics of the city and more importantly, introduced me to my wife Stephy and to whom 2 beautiful girls were born: Valerie and Sophie. In the near future, we want to have 1 more child.
.

Later, I completed a master’s degree in Uro-Oncology at Cardenal Herrera University, Valencia – Spain and a training in Phalloplasty and MaleGenital Aesthetic Surgery with Paul Perito, the world reference in phalloplasty at Perito Urology, Miami, FL, USA.

I also served for two years as director of the Section of Endourology and Lithiasis of the Colombian Society of Urology.

As you can see, you graduate as a doctor and then as a urologist and you are just beginning to study, but these constant studies are what have allowed me to work as a urologist today with multiple subspecialties, both in laparoscopy, oncology, phalloplasty, genital aesthetics and minimally invasive laser surgery.

Currently I have my office in the Portoazul clinic where I attend and operate my patients, both there and in other clinics in the city, and I operate patients to 19 urologist colleagues, since laparoscopy has had a great reception throughout the guild. Likewise, several urologists from the rest of the country call me to operate their patients by laparoscopy in Cúcuta, Armenia, Pereira, Valledupar, Cartagena and also in Venezuela in Valencia and Caracas. This has allowed me to have a very high volume of surgeries, acquiring a vast experience and a prestigious position in the Colombian coast.

To date, I have performed more than 2,500 laparoscopic surgeries, 600 percutaneous nephrolithotomies and more than 8,000 general surgeries.

To this day, when I tell my dad that I spent the night in the hospital or that there is a patient who is very sick and it is Sunday night; that a patient with a very complicated disease showed up or that I stayed up late preparing a presentation for a congress, the only thing my dad answers me is: “I told you…”.

In spite of that, for the first time in my life I can say: “thank goodness I didn’t listen to my dad”. I am totally convinced that there is no profession more rewarding than medicine.