IAS Professional Development for Members - Seize the Opportunities!

Diego Cecchini works as an infectious diseases specialist in Buenos Aires. As an IAS member who has participated in various educational initiatives at International AIDS Conferences, he shares with Gurmit Singh, IAS Education Coordinator, the benefits of continuous professional development, where personal initiative and collaborative learning are the keys to success.

Gradual induction

"I got my first scholarship to attend IAS 2005 in Rio de Janeiro. I presented a poster and was exposed to the world of professional learning at conferences.Since then, I have received scholarships to AIDS 2006 in Toronto, and for the Education Programme at IAS 2007 in Sydney. This year, I used the online Abstract Mentor Programme, and my abstracts were accepted. With each opportunity, I have been able to present my ongoing research on an opportunistic infection – cryptococcal meningitis - to a global audience, as well as update my knowledge in my areas of interest, especially Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT).”

Advancing my career

“Attending conferences is a new feature in my professional life. For many HIV professionals from middle- and low-income countries, IAS scholarships are the only chance to attend and network with global health leaders. In Sydney, I met two senior researchers from Argentina. Both invited me to work with them at the Argerich Hospital to work in PMTCT and at Helios Salud in developing HIV and STD prevention programmes. “With a stable position, I can now network with more people in cutting-edge basic and clinical science. I always bring back what I learnt to share with my colleagues. This is definitely another motivating factor.”

New professionalism

“What I find exciting about attending IAS Education Programmes at international conferences is learning about advances in the field from leading experts. Though it was challenging at first to understand all the science presented, I found myself growing over the years. Because of the high scientific quality of IAS programmes, I now have a better understanding of the field, and can apply what I learn to improve my clinical practice, gradually taking on new roles within my hospital.

"For HIV professionals to move into an enabling role in global health, we must take ourselves to a new level of professionalism. We demand more of ourselves as empowered people, because the task at hand is so much more critical. Personally, my gratification comes because I am now equipped with the skills and knowledge to be much more directly involved in improving the quality of care for people living with HIV. This focus makes my job more rewarding and challenging."

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