“Be humane in your practice. Personalized care matters.”
After more than two decades of practicing pediatric ophthalmology at a large hospital in Greece, Klio Chatzistefanou, MD offers these heartfelt words of advice to new doctors entering the profession.
Dr. Chatzistefanou, an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, oversees the strabismus service at a major tertiary care hospital in Athens, Greece. She completed her fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, WI, in 1999.
Reflecting on her training, she remarked, “I applied to the University of Wisconsin because I was seeking a program with a robust adult strabismus component within the pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship. I was so excited and grateful when I was informed that I had matched with the University of Wisconsin. And I still am!”
Dr. Chatzistefanou credits the faculty in the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences with enhancing her ability to improvise in the operating theater, integrate current practices with new techniques, and navigate the stress of advancing through the academic ranks.
In addition to the top-notch training she received, Dr. Chatzistefanou fondly recalls one magical night. “I remember a Friday afternoon when everyone rushed home because of a forecasted snowstorm. I was so absorbed in my studies in the University Station Clinic library that I completely forgot the warning. When I finished studying, I looked out of the window and discovered everything covered in snow. I will never forget the magic I felt as I walked back to my housing late that night, in absolute silence, unable to distinguish between the pavement, the road, and the bushes in between.”
She also reminisces about her first presentation at the department’s weekly Grand Rounds. “I presented on ‘Antipodean Strabismus,’ and I remember the joy and pride my mentors expressed when I completed the presentation.”
Dr. Chatzistefanou, who enjoys conducting a thorough literature search and navigating through combining standard and innovative means of treatment when faced with a challenging case, considers academic credit as well as her patients’ gratitude the most rewarding aspect for her hard work.
“I am motivated by the deep gratitude my patients show for the diagnostic care and treatment I provide, which improves the functionality and quality of their lives.”
Dr. Chatzistefanou considers pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus one of the most rewarding niche fields in clinical medicine. “Above all, I would encourage anyone thinking about pediatric ophthalmology to be humane and comprehensive in their practice,” she said. “Personalized care matters.”