3 Questions with Víctor Silva Vargas, PhD

When Víctor Silva Vargas, PhD, was around 10 years old, he became very interested in biology, especially the latest developments in health sciences and biomedicine, which he learned about from encyclopedias and television shows. In high school, Dr. Silva Vargas realized he had a knack for learning about biology and chemistry. He took an elective biology class that covered advanced topics beyond the standard curriculum. During one activity, his teacher, Mrs. Olga Seguel, taught the class how to prepare and use agar plates to culture microbes from various sources, and prepared and stained smears to view the bacteria and fungi that had grown under a microscope. That first experience was the turning point for Dr. Vargas, who knew then he wanted to make a career in the laboratory.  

Here, Dr. Silva Vargas, CEO and Founder of VSV-Consulting-LATAM and an ASCPi Advisory Board Chair in Chile, shares his insight on the laboratory, patient care, and more.  

In what ways do cultural understanding and language shape how you interpret results, communicate with clinicians, or advocate for patients? 

It is very valuable for every professional to know, approach, and understand the cultural specifics of different laboratory users. This contributes significantly to effective communication with both patients and the medical and nursing teams. This is even more important today due to the high rate of migration between different countries in the region. We must remember that part of our job is to educate our peers, other health professionals, and the general public. The message must be clear so it can be understood and applied. Therefore, a lab professional's ability to transmit that message is key and understanding the culture of the group you are addressing is essential. 

As a consultant for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), I help improve professional, technological, and procedural capabilities at various levels, from national and state reference labs to tertiary hospital labs and primary care labs. Currently, the ASM, with financial support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is in its fourth year of a program to strengthen surveillance of whooping cough and antimicrobial resistance in Bordetella pertussis in Mexico, Brazil, and Peru. This work has allowed us to work and communicate efficiently with different stakeholders related to the disease, such as epidemiological surveillance, immunization, national and state microbiology reference labs, and national and state molecular biology reference labs, as well as the health authorities in each country. 

This work has led to great achievements and results, including the adjustment and incorporation of new standard operational protocols, which provides a new way of looking at the disease and addressing the challenge of detecting, culturing, and evaluating resistance of B. pertussis. The discussions and analyses based on the results have allowed health authorities to make improvements in public policies, and the Pan American Health Organization has shown interest in sharing these advances with other member countries in the region.  

What is something that has surprised you about working in the lab? 

The vocational commitment of my colleagues and the constantly evolving technology that supports our work. It is a great source of pride to know that our work is vital for diagnosis by providing scientific evidence of a person's illness, which helps support clinical decisions for the patient’s benefit. 

Can you share a moment where you felt especially connected to patient care through your work? 

As an expert in medical mycology, clinical sample collection is always a critical factor because the quality of the exam is directly related to the quality of the collection process. In my experience, collecting samples from children is a significant challenge because you have to gain the trust of both the child and their parents to ensure the procedure is done correctly. I have practiced and passed on this simple but meaningful act of humanization with patients, but I especially remember doing this during two of my advisory roles: one at the Pediatric Reference Hospital Clinical Laboratory in Hanoi, Vietnam, and another at the Hospital of Maputo in Mozambique. After that guidance, the way they approached the challenge of sample collection with children changed, leading to greater quality and safety in caring for minors. 

One aspect that helps me maintain a sense of purpose with all patients is to observe the person and put myself in their shoes to be as empathetic and assertive as possible. In the short time available for a health visit, I try to learn something about their condition but also about them as a person, and I explain clearly what we need to do. Another thing that helps is sharing experiences with colleagues to hear their opinions and jointly analyze actions that can contribute to a better connection with the human side of healthcare.