In teh world of medicine, experience is an invaluable asset. Dr. Mercedes Cuesta, medical director of the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid, embodies this truth. As she prepares to celebrate her 50th anniversary as a physician in 2025,dr. Cuesta’s vast knowledge is complemented by a profound sense of empathy, humility, and a genuine desire to care for others.
“My father was a doctor, and I grew up feeling that vocation,” Dr.Cuesta reflects.“I have always liked it and never thought about being anything else. The truth is that I don’t think I could have dedicated myself to any other profession.”
Her journey began at the Complutense University in Madrid, where she graduated in 1975. After completing her residency in Internal Medicine at the Madrid Clinical Hospital, Dr. cuesta found herself drawn to the intensity of the Intensive Care Unit. “I liked it so much that I went back to do my residency to specialize and ended up working as an assistant in the Intensive Care Unit. They were splendid years, surrounded by a great team from whom I learned a lot and who are now great friends,” she recalls.
In 1993, Dr. Cuesta was offered the position of head of the ICU and Emergency Room at the Ruber International Hospital.“The experience was exciting,” she says. “I still stop by there almost every day because I love it.”
Then, in 2005, she was presented wiht a new challenge: the medical direction of the hospital. “I have never stopped seeing sick people,” Dr. cuesta emphasizes. “In fact, the only premise I set for accepting the position was to be able to continue undergoing consultations. Moreover, I think it is indeed enriching, as you don’t lose focus. my vocation is to care for the sick. I continue to see patients that I inherited from my father,because he died at the age of 62 and in the last months before he died he asked me to help him in his consultation. I know up to five generations of those families.”
Dr. Cuesta’s dedication to her patients is unwavering. “I do not understand retirement and I will continue seeing patients until the day my health supports it and this institution allows it,” she states. “Luckily in my house they have understood it very well, both my husband and my three children. Now I have six grandchildren and I try to dedicate myself to them at least one full day a week.”
DAVID JAR
THE REASON
Dr. Cuesta acknowledges that achieving work-life balance wasn’t easy, especially in a male-dominated field. “It wasn’t easy and obviously I wasn’t with my children as much as I would have liked,” she admits.
Dr. Mercedes Cuesta, a renowned medical director at a prestigious Spanish hospital, recently celebrated a remarkable milestone: 50 years dedicated to the field of medicine. Her unwavering commitment to patient care, coupled with a deep understanding of the evolving medical landscape, has cemented her legacy as a leading figure in the healthcare industry.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Cuesta emphasized the importance of family support in navigating the challenges of her demanding career. “I was lucky to have a supportive family,” she shared. “My husband worked fantastically well,and now that our children are older,they understand the demands of my profession. Without that family support, it would have been impossible.”
When asked about the key to her success, Dr. Cuesta humbly deflected the notion of personal achievement. “I don’t think about being successful,” she stated. “It’s more crucial to strive to do things as best as possible every day. My leadership style has never been about imposing authority or generating fear. Instead, I believe in fostering commitment, trust, and respect among professionals, allowing everyone to contribute without stepping on each other’s toes.”
She further elaborated on her approach to creating a positive work environment. “We aim to cultivate a motivating atmosphere, from the janitor to the manager,” Dr. Cuesta explained.”And I believe we’ve achieved that, as no one wants to leave.It wouldn’t make sense to impose my criteria when it’s clear that symbiosis is the smartest approach. I’ve been fortunate to have a great team.”
The hospital,known for treating high-profile patients including members of the Royal Family,athletes,and cultural icons,attracts significant media attention. However, Dr. Cuesta emphasized that the focus remains on providing remarkable care to all patients, nonetheless of their status.”The prestige comes from our fantastic doctors and the dedication of our entire staff, who go above and beyond for every patient, always respecting their privacy,” she said. ”that fame only helps us continue to give our best. Living off our reputation would be a serious mistake.”
Dr. Cuesta acknowledged the significant changes in the private healthcare landscape over the past four decades. “Competition is much fiercer now than when the hospital opened 40 years ago,” she observed. “But we’ve adapted well. Now, we’re part of a larger group, Quirónsalud, which brings many benefits. Importantly, they allow us to continue practicing medicine as we always have.”
Despite approaching her 50th year as a doctor, Dr. Cuesta’s passion for medicine remains undimmed. “I have the same enthusiasm as the first day,” she affirmed. “That’s essential for staying at the top of your field. It’s a challenge to face a patient, make an accurate diagnosis, and propose a comprehensive treatment plan, not just from a medical perspective but also a human one.”
“I honestly believe that a person’s prognosis improves greatly when they receive holistic care, addressing both their physical and psychological needs,” Dr. Cuesta added. ”Empathy is crucial. I can’t conceive of medicine any other way. Close, personalized treatment for each patient is essential.”
She further emphasized the importance of humanization in healthcare. “It’s a fundamental principle because patients feel less vulnerable when you treat their condition with empathy and understanding,” dr. Cuesta explained. “For me, this is key, as it leads to better outcomes. Understanding each person’s unique characteristics, their environment, their circumstances, and their concerns is essential. Humanization, understood as empathy and closeness, treating the patient as an equal with respect, affection, and proximity, is essential. Of course, this humanization cannot replace good training and solid scientific knowledge, but it must always be present.”
Reflecting on the advancements in medicine over the past 50 years, Dr.Cuesta highlighted the transformative impact of technology.”We’ve seen an exponential revolution thanks to technology,” she remarked. “When I started, there were no scanners, MRIs, or cobalt pumps. These advancements translate into more accurate diagnoses and more appropriate treatments, with fewer chances of error. I believe that Artificial intelligence will radically change healthcare, and we must learn to leverage its potential without seeing it as a threat to doctors, but rather as a powerful tool to enhance our capabilities.”
What place does research occupy in this mechanism?
There are very important research groups that are very active and the hospital greatly enhances this development, because they improve the quality of care. I believe that new advances in Neurology, Genetics and Immunology are going to change the way of doing Medicine and its dynamics.
How do you envision this Medicine of the future?
The challenge is to increasingly implement home hospitalization with technological support, with the aim of keeping the patient at home for as long as possible. This improves the quality of life and also helps reduce costs a little.
Has Covid-19 been the hardest thing you have faced?
In my early days I experienced the crisis of rapeseed oil poisoning and the beginning of AIDS, but the pandemic had an unparalleled impact. It was an captivating and fruitful time professionally, because we gave our best, but very sad personally. I think it has made us all better people,valuing more the affection and closeness that we talked about before.
Closeness that will continue to be put into practice for many more years…
That is my intention! I will stop seeing patients when I get sick or when they stop seeing me. Meanwhile, I understand that young people come with very good ideas and great desire. I respect it and appreciate it. But that is complemented by experience. it’s a perfect tandem.
