Professor – Researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Azuay
I am a physician specializing in general surgery with a subspecialty in trauma and emergency surgery. My research focuses on trauma and emergencies, exploring their various aspects, including databases, prevention, promotion, training, and management. As a surgeon, I also use video-assisted surgery daily, which is highly dependent on technology, hand-eye coordination, and ergonomics. We have been working in these areas for many years, participating in research projects and publishing articles both locally and internationally.
I found out through the social networks of the CEDIA Network and the application process was easy, timely and viable for my proposal to be awarded.
Our research group is pursuing a line of inquiry within occupational safety and ergonomics applied to video surgery. We are studying postures, movements, and body angles during the use of video surgical instruments, monitors, operating tables, and other equipment that surgeons use to perform minimally invasive procedures. In this case, we are relating anthropometry to the organizational standards of a video surgery operating room and demonstrating that these measurements are not appropriate for Ecuadorian surgeons. Instead, the designs are based on North American or German anthropometric standards, which causes fatigue, muscle pain, and, over time, musculoskeletal disorders.
The most important thing is to show the results of our work and the research we have been carrying out within this line of ergonomics and video surgery, to demonstrate that other realities must be taken into account, in this case the differences in anthropometry according to geographical latitude.
It's very difficult; I think research is still seen as a hobby and not as the highest scale of knowledge or as the source of knowledge or the creation of our own reality.
There are indeed many long-term projects planned within my work as a surgeon, mainly in the area of trauma and emergencies, and I hope they continue to bear fruit, demonstrating to my colleagues and students that as Ecuadorians we can generate knowledge and that from our reality this knowledge has more value within this globalized world.
Of course, I have known CEDIA since its beginnings with internet 2 and I have been working since 2014 within the telemedicine working group in trauma and emergencies.
They offer many opportunities, create research networks, allow for inter-institutional and inter-disciplinary work, and teachers should be aware of them to motivate themselves and seek support to advance their ideas.
The CEDIA Network has come a long way and has clear goals in terms of research, networking, support, and training. I invite teachers through their universities to be part of CEDIA and always stay tuned for good news.
