Zaldivar Robert and Roger.jpeg
Roberto and Roger Zaldivar: registered trademark in ophthalmology from Mendoza to the world and synergy.
►YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: Luis Battaglia, an architect and sculptor from Mendoza who combines luxury projects with popular art
The Zaldivar achieved a primordial synergy
Robert says that sharing the practice of the profession with his son “is something natural; it had to happen, as happened with me with respect to my father because good experiences are transmitted to children who, in cases like ours, decide to embrace the same profession: ophthalmology in our case”.
About Robert and his son Roger there is an advantage: the small age difference between them – 27 years – taking into account that, in contrast, Robert learned and interacted with a Roger senior who was 40 years older.
There are few in the family: the couple Robert-Estela Gaibazzi and the children Roger and Mercedes, who is a minor, is a lawyer and works at the Zaldivar Institute in Buenos Aires.
It is very difficult for the Zaldivars to talk about topics outside of ophthalmology. So much so that, many times, the women of the family, Estela and Enriqueta -Roger’s wife- put them in a box to integrate with the rest and share other experiences. “It is difficult for us to turn off the professional topic; we are very passionate”they agree.
“With my old man we play from memory. We have achieved a great synergy”says Roger who, he admits, has been getting rid of presbyopia, that little bug that starts to bite around 40.
“My son and I are a strong duo: we perform surgeries together and share developments, achievements and projects. We are a great team, along with the professionals who work with us in Mendoza and Buenos Aires,” says Robert in the run-up to Father’s Day, while preparing materials for an imminent conference.
Roger’s children are already rubbing shoulders with the profession. In the future, who knows? Will they continue the line of prestigious ophthalmologists started by Roger Sr.?
The Zaldivar (2).jpeg
When he was little, Beltrán Zaldivar already frequented the Institute to visit his father and grandfather.
►YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: Who is the man from Mendoza whose short film with Artificial Intelligence captivated Cannes?
-And the Sunday roast, who makes it?
“Me,” says Roger. My old man is kind of reluctant, so I take the lead with some entrañita, a pork matambre and ribs.
-It’s true! I never learned to barbecue and that skill, apparently, took a generational leap because my father was a great griller – explains Robert.
-Let’s talk about sports…
-We like to go to the beach and ski; play tennis and watch rugby, especially Los Pumas and Seven. We are fans of Independiente de Avellaneda but I – says Robert – had to enjoy the golden era: the Copa Libertadores of the ’70s – with Bertoni and Bochini – and the ’80s – with Bocha, Marangoni and Barberón and Pato Pastoriza -. My son did not have that fortune, but he also follows Rojo and I’m sure he suffers a little from this football present.
-We are also fans of Leprosy- adds Roger in reference to Independiente Rivadavia.
-Family vacation?
-Always. We are very familiar even though we are few – says Robert -. I am an only child and with Estela we had Roger and Mercedes. Roger’s wife, who is Uruguayan, has a large family: more than ten siblings.
Zaldivar with grandchildren (2).jpeg
The beach brings together the Zaldivar father, son and grandchildren on vacation.
Roger Zaldivar made his father a grandfather 3 and a half years ago, when Beltrán was born. That title was revalidated with the arrival of Rufina, who is now a year and a half old.
Zaldivar with grandchildren (1).jpeg
Grandfather Robert with grandchildren Rufina and Beltrán, children of Roger and Enriqueta.
►YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: From the Himalayas, Eve Bustos from Mendoza tells the adventures of cooking in extreme weather
-How do they complement each other in the transmission of professional knowledge?
-Today deadlines are accelerated and learning is faster because there is more technology; You can do things that you couldn’t do before. Today, access to information is horizontal, and that is key because before you had to go to conferences and sometimes, while there, the elite of doctors made it difficult to access certain knowledge. Not anymore, webinars and publications raise the general level of the profession. “You can spin it more finely and access the most serious and valuable things with scientific endorsement,” says Roger, who has already completed 13 years doing eye surgeries.
“It is very pleasant to work with my old man but we never stop having the father-son relationship. We discuss the best for each case with mutual respect. We are in the most beautiful stage of the relationship, with maturity and learning” (Roger) “It is very pleasant to work with my old man but we never stop having the father-son relationship. We discuss the best for each case with mutual respect. We are in the most beautiful stage of the relationship with maturity and learning”
-How was your experience working with your father? – Diario UNO asked Robert Zaldivar.
-Interesting but different from these experiences with my son. Remember that my father was 40 years older than me and he was retiring. Even so, when I returned from the United States, during Alfonsín’s time, he accepted ideas and innovations. In fact, the Zaldivar Institute building on Emilio Civit Street was my idea. He was a professor at UNCuyo and lived and thought about medicine differently. The advancement of communications and technologies, which he began with Menem, allowed us to contact many people from outside to continue learning.
