Today we’d like to introduce you to Teofilo Matos Santana.
Hi Teofilo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in the Dominican Republic, I come from a family of doctors. The medical journey started very early when me and my brothers started interacting with patients. We were three children, now doctors, who used to play with syringes, injecting insects with medications from my mother’s pharmacy. We would help my father, at his Orthopedic practice, taking care of injured patients after having accidents, the privileged or the vulnerable, during the day or during the night. I noticed how mental suffering was more significant than physical suffering. Even though relieving the pain of a fractured leg was rewarding, for me it was more important to be available to people who were emotionally hurting, even if all I did was to listen. At my mothers pharmacy we would do our homework as we listened to people in distress, some were unable to afford the prescriptions and for those my mother would make a payment plan while dispensing the needed medication, others would complain about their doctors bedside manners or the lack of thereof. To a few incapacitated psychiatric patients my mother would apply injectable medications at the request of their families and when they were locked in a room in their backyards. To me it was cool to see that after a few months they would come voluntarily to the pharmacy to thank her with a little gift. The complexity of people and their behaviors was very interesting to me. Going into medicine and then into psychiatry was more than a decision, it was a natural progression.
I came to the USA in 2011 to continue my training in medicine. Even though I started in General Medicine I found my passion in Psychiatry. It was not an easy choice as there is a biased view of psychiatry as less scientific and somewhat taboo field. Furthermore few people pointed out that given English is my second language communication could be a challenge. Psychiatry relies a lot on verbal communication, its was a fair advice. Many times I was asked why was I planning to go into Psychiatry, and for that I did not have an answer. In fact I still don’t have an answer. I knew though, that I did not need to have an answer, because it was never a question for me. I bet on human connection and the understanding of basic human experiences as key elements to communication and practicing in this field.
I got into Yale, I enjoyed every day acquiring the knowledge and skills to be able to master the art of Psychiatry. I specialized in Addiction Psychiatry. I practiced in the medical setting, treating conditions that fell in between medicine and psychiatry. I got into Management and became Section Chief of Psychiatric Emergency Services at Yale. I became a Faculty and trained medical students and phycisians. When it felt like I found my place in academic medicine, I took off to FL.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Changes can be challenging. Starting again, growing and discovering new ways about life. Some of us have changed countries, State, and the field of work. Every new beginning, the uncertainty of the outcomes, learning new territories, finding new restaurants, developing confidence, making new friends or new professional relationships in the community, all of that is stressful. We have to wait and see if it is going to work, if I we will be happy at last.
We will do it, over and over again. As long as we are driven by meaning and purpose. As long as we make sense of the journey and we believe it as the story of our lives.
Leaving Connecticut and all my academic relationships behind was tough. Betting on Miami, changing my model of patient care, starting private practice and making new connections in Miami was not easy. Especially when you assume that people don’t come to Miami to get well and live productive lives, although that is probably true if you only ask spring breakers.
Miami is full of people with my story, and that was important to me. I found people that picked up their stuff and left, and started again in Miami. That is refreshing to see. It is my belief that in this city people connect on the basis of lifestyle, hobbies, sports, and enjoyment rather than on the basis of an overarching career goal or rigid personal expectation.
Despite the challenges, it has been worth it. The calculated risk of changing has produced satisfaction. I opened my practice in Coconut Grove and I identified deeply with this community. I live and work in the neighborhood and I feel like I can relate well with my patients.
I was once talking with the mother of my good friend Nancy, a direct and witty Dominican, and I asked her, how do you know if this is the right city for you, when do you settle? She replied “You will know when life happens”. I believe live is happening.
As you know, we’re big fans of Personal Psychiatry. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Personal Psychiatry is a solo psychiatric practice that focuses on personalized and private care. It’s led and handled by me from your first phone call to the point where I am receiving you in my office. It’s small enough that it allows me to be available for my patients and affords me the pleasure of enjoying every encounter.
Having worked in medical administration and patient in care at Yale- New Haven Hospital, a big, prestigious university-hospital showed me how to practice evidenced-based medicine in a responsible way, guided by outcomes and offering best practices. However at Personal Psychiatry I can go further. I can implement the type of care that is individualized, humane, flexible, in alliance with today’s standards of living.
I pride myself with having a genuine and direct demeanor. I see psychiatric conditions in the context of the social circumstances and the biologic predisposition. I work with other doctors with the goal of advancing general medical goals, whether it has to do with improving depression or anxiety or improving energy level, productivity, maintaining weight. In my approach to patient care I am always looking for ways to improve general satisfaction, decision making and level of functioning.
I believe in collaborative decision making when it comes to medication management. I welcome the patients views, goals and values. I provide education and together we make the best choice, while providing a road map of where we are headed. I work with patients starting at age 16 providing psychotherapy for personal growth, relationship dynamics or work environment challenges. A 30% of my time is dedicated to treatment of addictions or the combination of psychiatric struggles and addiction. Motivational Interviewing is present in my interviews, it is a humanistic way of speaking that promotes change, enhance confidence and readiness to improve life.
I am proud of accepting some insurances and having affordable out-of-pocket consultation fees. I benefit from this approach because it diversifies the patient population and keeps my practice accessible and current.
In the practice of medicine but more so in psychiatry, it is important to be a good fit and to find a good therapeutic doctor-patient match. The Miami community itself is a good promoter of this chemistry because many of us were drawn to this city by similar reasons, we have that link and we share similar experiences.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I enjoy reading Latin-American literature the likes of Jorge Luis Borges. I also spend a lot of time reading texts on psychodynamic theories as well as on cognitive theories of mind. I also enjoy reading online reviews of items that I have purchased, to compare other people’s perspectives on the item, to mine. Any Invariable it prompts big laughs, unsatisfied customers can be creative, poignant and humorous. A blog or podcast that focuses on travel or music is a favorite. I enjoy popular music, I think it is a way to stay current, to read popular sentiment and to connect emotionally with others. About travel, it’s another form of therapy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.personalpsy.com
Image Credits
Enrique Matos M.D.
