He graduated and left the city to become one of two doctors in the town of 2,000 people.

Ignacio Piekensteiner, 28, believed for a long time that his life would take place in Rosario. There he was born, raised, studied and trained as a doctor. But fate, and an almost random decision, led him to Maggiolo, a small town south of Santa Fe, where he is today. one of two doctors what is there

“My interest in medicine began when I was a teenager. I was always interested in the health field, but it wasn’t until I entered university that I became particularly interested. my father passed awayJorge, as a result of a disease that we could not directly detect. I was 15 years old at the time,” he recalls.

“When something like that happens, I understand the cause and want to help. During my degree, I understood that the most important thing is to accompany the patient. Try to solve or accompany the patient as much as possible, because often you cannot solve the problem that the patient has. But the patient can accompany you,” he explains.

That idea, the idea of ​​accompaniment, became the core of his profession. Ignacio was trained by General internal medicine and geriatricsand recently started professionally sexology. Before leaving the city, he worked at two renowned centers for telemedicine and rosary: ​​Italiano del Centro Hospital and IPAM Sanatorium.

“The guards had a very fast pace and felt the rhythm of the city. You can calm down for a split second, but then everything goes out of control. And being able to contain the team is very important. Even though it was a short stage, we learned a lot,” he said.

The twist happened by chance. “This opportunity started with, ‘Why don’t I apply?'” he says. While he was taking his final exam, his mother showed him a news article about a phone call from the Es Visis Foundation. Through its “Welcome to my Town” program, this non-profit organization was looking for professionals with the required profile to repopulate small rural towns. There was a shortage of doctors in Maggiolo.

“I registered as a student and had no expectations that I would hear back later. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I grabbed my things and left,” Ignacio says. “it is Contest between 34 doctors All over the country. I went to three interviews and stayed. They were very interested in my profile. I was also very interested in village life because it was peaceful,” he says.

From the basics they explain: “The case of Ignacio Piekensteiner… Individual choices can change the lives of communities “S Vicis works with neighboring residents and the local government to promote the rooting and sustainable revitalization of the town. In recent years, they have realized that health care has been a constant challenge, which is why Ignacio’s arrival was celebrated.”

“He just graduated and moved right away. Now he’s a doctor in a town of 2,000 people. He’s much loved, and not just in Maggiolo. in other towns “They need doctors,” the organizers say.

The change from city to town was rapid. “It turned 180 degrees. You can imagine. I went from being in the city with my friends and family, potentially doing a lot of things, to hearing noise everywhere… and then all of a sudden the city went silent. It still amazes me.” No need to take the bus to go to work Or study,” he says with a laugh.

Maggiolo is truly a “10×10 block”. “I like the closeness with the neighbors. We pass each other on the street all the time. We’ve been here a year, and we all know each other. That’s what we say.” Large family of 2,000 peoples.I arrived in my family’s car and they stayed with me for the first week and luckily people treated me very well. “There’s a lot of respect here, unlike in the city,” he says. clarion in his calm tone.

He describes the place as “a beautiful town, with a large population of elderly people. It is very close to Venado Tuerto, the people are very kind and generous, and the main activities are agriculture and livestock raising. I emphasize the peace and closeness with the neighbors and how they live, something I was not used to in this city”, he claims.

His first time at Maggiolo was unforgettable. “Just yesterday, there was a woman I passed by again, and we were reminded of this together. She was desperate because of lower back pain. She had a lot of herniated discs. And thanks to my prompting, she reminded me of the following: Their pain was reduced by 70%. To tell you the truth, I really value those things,” he says.

But the most unusual case he had to face was another. “We were following up on a pregnant girl. She was on schedule. She had come to the ward many times thinking about the possibility of giving birth. And she just happened to touch me,” he says.

“It was a rare moment. I still have no words. You know, I get goosebumps remembering it, because since we arrived… I was already in the middle of labor. And that’s a very impressive question. But as doctors and nurses, we have to accompany them through this process. In fact, there is little intervention that can be done at that point. But the most unusual thing was, yes, exactly what accompanied the process of childbirth. Then remove the umbilical cord from the newborn’s neck,” he said, still surprised.

Everything happened at the patient’s home. “At that moment, you are not nervous or anything, but you are firmly connected to the present and act. The baby’s name is Yamal. We met last month for a medical checkup and he is doing well,” he says.

His daily life takes place between on-call, office, and referrals. “We are three doctors. We provide primary care for our patients and try to do everything our training allows us to do, but we also have to refer them to specialists when needed,” he explains.

“The hospital I’m in is a primary care hospital, but we have very few resources. It’s a kind of CAPS. We just have X-rays, we don’t have a lab. In those cases, we attend to the patient, make the initial diagnosis, and make referrals. If it’s an emergency, we use the ambulance system. We’re connected.” one-eyed deerThat’s where we primarily make our introductions,” he explains.

On days when pharyngitis and gastroenteritis are prevalent, there may be 30 to 35 consultations per day. “I’m never bored,” he says with a laugh. Overall, it’s a very calm atmosphere.

He also makes home visits as needed. “They call Samco, triage is done and we assist with the ambulance if necessary. Otherwise, we walk and treat the patient at home.”

Ignacio learned to enjoy the silence of the street, the birds, and the greetings. “It’s very quiet. Imagine you can hear the cows mooing. You might see chickens or sheep as you walk. There are no cars or buses,” he explains.

His routine starts early when he’s not on the phone. He works many hours at Samco, commutes to his retirement center office, studies, and meditates. On the weekends, I travel to Rosario to see my family.

And while I realize it was a big change, I don’t regret it. “Yes, in that sense, I definitely recommend it for budding professionals like me, but also for other professionals who want to finish their career and retire. There are many branches of medicine. If you like primary care, of course I highly recommend first contact with patients,” he asserts.

In Maggiolo, Ignacio found what he had lost in the city: time, quiet, and meaning. His story, as highlighted by the foundation that convened him, is proof that individual decisions can change lives, and the lives of entire nations.