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 Name: Antolin Flores, M.D.
Program:Anesthesiology, PGY-2 (CA-1), Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio
Medical School: Medical University of Ohio at Toledo
What attracted you to medicine and anesthesiology?
"My uncle needed serious medical attention when I was in high school and, ultimately, received a liver transplant in Cleveland. I took multiple trips back and forth to Cleveland with my father to visit him. I was intrigued by the field of medicine and the possibilities that existed. I found that anesthesiology combined the cognitive aspects of medicine and the procedural aspects of surgery -- both of which I enjoy. I am also passionate about pharmacology. It was these factors that helped to instill a profound interest in the field of anesthesiology."
What attracted you to Mayo Clinic for residency training?
"There are many great places to train today, but Mayo had two advantages that really were undeniable. First, it’s the people here who give Mayo its great reputation. The employees take pride in their jobs, and the physicians are not only extremely intelligent but very collegial. Second, the resources here are unparalleled. The ability to have so many resources at our disposal, in my opinion, lends a unique advantage in providing optimal care to our patients."
What makes the Mayo Clinic Anesthesiology Residency unique?
"There are an overwhelming number of surgeries and procedures, both conventional and exceptional, completed annually at Mayo Clinic. This provides for more than an ample medium in which to learn the art and science of anesthesiology. However, the most unique and humbling aspect of this department is the caliber of physicians that practice here. They are, unquestionably, the most collegial, intelligent, and caring physicians I have met. I consider some of them role models on which I pattern a number of my approaches."
Anything surprise you about Mayo's program?
"The biggest surprise is the number of national and world leaders in medicine that practice here. One might casually speak with a consultant in another department and have no clue they are speaking with one of the world-renowned specialists for Parkinson’s disease. Once again, it’s the quality of the people that work at Mayo Clinic."
What is living in Rochester like for you?
"Rochester is a great place to live. Granted it is far from a sprawling metropolis; however, it has consistently been ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. by various magazines (e.g., Money, Kiplinger’s). It is a city with minimal traffic, relatively little crime, and a good environment. There are many activities throughout the city geared for families and adults. My wife found an excellent support network organized by the spouses of the residents and fellows at Mayo and we have both made many close friends."
What does your future look like right now?
The future, for me, is very bright. I have just embarked on my path to becoming an anesthesiologist. I have no doubt that my training here will prepare me well to provide exceptional consultation in anesthesiology. And although I have aspirations of going on to complete a fellowship and pursue an academic career, I am undecided as to which subspecialty best suits me. The opportunities that exist here are limitless and when I finally decide on a fellowship, I will have had an exceptional fund of clinical experience and knowledge on which to build.
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