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A Conversation With Matilde Iorizzo, MD, PhD
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Any views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and/or participants and do not necessarily reflect the views, policy, or position of The Dermatologist or HMP Global, their employees, and affiliates.
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. The part of my work that gives me the most pleasure is the relationship with patients. Listening to them and knowing that I can help make their lives better gives me great satisfaction. Anamnesis is very important to perform the correct diagnosis but getting patients to tell doctors every- thing regarding their diseases is sometimes an art! I also really enjoy writing scientific papers and delivering talks at medical conferences; exchanging knowledge and experience with peers and colleagues is very rewarding and motivating.
Q. Which patient had the most effect on your work and why?
A. Rather than a specific patient, I would say that a specific type of patient is impactful for me. Among other diseases, I deal a lot with hair disorders, and sometimes I visit women and children who have lost their hair and face limited treatment options. As you can imagine, the psychological side is essential with these patients. I always put a lot of passion into these cases, especially with respect to listening to their needs and trying to positively motivate them.
Q.Who was your mentor and why?
A. My mentor is still Professor Antonella Tosti, MD, who supervised me from medical school through residency and my PhD program. She taught me a lot, but 2 key lessons became fundamental for my career. First, she taught me to never be superficial or opinionated because even when you think you know everything, there is always something you miss! Second, she encouraged me to study abroad, and this helped me to be exposed to new colleagues, topics, and working cultures.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received and from whom?
A. Probably from my husband, who has always taught me the importance of freedom of choice to pursue what I like the most.Up until now, I have been able to do that. As a result, I am passionate about my work. I hope this attitude lasts forever!
Q. Which medical figure in history would you want to have a drink with and why?
A. Probably Hippocrates because, as the father of medicine, he contributed immensely to the clinical method by emphasiz- ing clinical observation as an important tool for the diagnosis of diseases. In dermatology, observation is essential, and this allows us to often to make diagnoses easily and quickly, sometimes with- out additional diagnostic tests. I would love to have the Corpus Hippocraticum in my library to consult now and then, one of the pillars of modern medicine.
