Dear EASD Community
On our never-ending legacy of bringing public health and state of art knowledge to the surfing community, the EASD is focused on Europe. But the goal of surfing doctors is a worldwide afford shared by many ambitious colleagues. Especially to be mentioned are the decades of work done by our idols from the USA and Australia. Hence, the world and the needs of the surfing population don´t end on the borders of Europe the USA or Australia. On the contrary in many other countries worldwide we have individuals working on the same goals.
Although not supported by an association, they strive and achieve great things for the surfing community and humanity in general. One of these individual is a young colleague from Brazil. Being a Surfing Doctor, working in the favelas of Sao Paulo, helping people and living his dream. Let us introduce you to Mario Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, MD.
Colleagues like Mario make us, even more believe in the goals of our legacy. He shows us that professionalism and knowledge are to be shared in order to achieve the best for the health of the surfing community. Him and many others give us the opportunity to learn from their personal know how and share it in order to grow together this single global world.
The EASD is welcoming the global community of Surfing Doctors and Allied Health Professionals to share their experience, knowledge and case studies with the EASD.
If you have a case study or original scientific work related to Surfing Medicine send us your original work to press@surfingdoctorseurope.com
S. Wanderer, MD, FEBO (Head Press and Content)
O. Markovic, MD (Outreach & Education)
Profile
Name: Mario Cavalcanti de Albuquerque
Age: 28
Profession: physician
Surfing since: 1995
Board: A 5’10 Lost Stealth
Homespot: the beaches in the north of the State of São Paulo.
About me: I’m a really easy going guy, never stressed and always loving what I do: spending time with my family and friends, surfing and working.
Where did you do your medical training?
I did my medical studies in a University called UNICID (São Paulo City University), from 2005 to 2011. In addition to med school, I also attended some courses and seminars on emergency care, always focusing on critical patients.
When and where did you start surfing? Where is your homespot?
I learned how to surf in a place called Laranjeiras. My family had a house there, it’s located almost on the division between the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. I surfed there for almost nine years, as well as in some secrets spots around that area. Then, my family and I moved to Florianopolis, a surf city in the South of Brazil. I lived there for two years and came back to São Paulo to study Medicine. Since then, I’ve been surfing (not as frequently as I used to) in São Paulo’s north beaches. We have some sick beach breaks over here!
Mario in action on his board
These last years I went to Australia, Fiji, Mexico, Costa Rica (3 times), California, the Maldives, Fernando de Noronha. Costa Rica and The Maldives are two of my favorite places! I also travel a lot with my wife and kids, to places like Orlando, Cancun.
Have you ever witnessed and treated a surfing accident?
I’ve witnessed many surfing accidents, such as little cuts, reef cuts and bruises, joints and bones injuries, but I didn’t have to treat any of them. There was this one time when I helped a woman who was getting drowned; we were able to remove her from the ocean before anything more serious had happened.
What is your experience in “surfing medicine” so far?
Besides lots of study, none yet… My work as a rescue doctor takes a lot of my time, and the cities where I work, unfortunately, aren’t beach cities.
How did you take notice of the EASD?
It was during the World Tour event in Peniche, Portugal. When Dr. Nuno stitched a cut on Miggy Pupo, he was wearing a t-shirt with EASD written on it. That was when Google helped me find out about this really nice and important association.
What is your “ordinary day” like?
Actually it’ll be easier to say what’s my ordinary week. On Mondays, I spend some quality time with my wife and kids and at 6:00 pm I drive to work. I go straight from one job to another, during the days of the week, and drive back home on Friday. At work, while I’m on our base, waiting for eventual emergency calls, I manage to read, study and watch movies. We never know how the shift is going to be. Some of them are peaceful and I stay most of the time on the base, but there are some really turbulent ones, with car crashes, gun shot victims, strokes, heart attacks, and some other critical situations.
What in your opinion must not be missed when talking about “surfing medicine”?
When we talk about surfing medicine, we have to look at the patient as a whole, not only at his medical condition, but also at his physical, mental and nutritious conditions. Thinking this way it’ll make it easier to treat his illness.
Mario at work in ambulance
Ha,ha! It’s very interesting that you asked that, because, actually I do! And my friends always pick on me because of that! They say that I’m way too precautious, that carrying that kind of things will “attract” bad stuff! But it never did, thanks God! I usually take some painkillers, antibiotics, bandage, antiseptic solutions and, if I’m going to a very remote area, a suture kit.
How do you see yourself as a surfing doctor in the future?
I see myself and fellow surfing doctors working in world tour events, doing researches, making speeches about surfing medicine and its new discoveries in this field, treating common injuries among surfers and, who knows, starting a training program for surfers, teaching them basic life support, for example, recognizing and rescuing drowning victims.
