Did you know that the human brain is made up of about 100 billion neurons? This makes it one of the most complex organs in the human body. Taking care of this complex organ is a huge responsibility – one that is trusted upon a Neurologist.
Dr. Roberto Pineiro Bolaño is a Neurologist. He has over 19 years of experience in general clinical neurology. Originally from Vigo, Spain, Dr. Bolaño has been trained at reputed Spanish institutions and has worked as a researcher, neurologist and lecturer in some of the best hospitals and renowned institutions in the world (primarily in London and Oxford). Since 2013, Dr. Bolaño has been practicing in the UAE. You can check his profile on Doctoruna.com to know more about him.
Have you ever wondered what a typical day looks like for a busy neurologist? Dr. Bolaño shared with Bayt.com what an average day in his life looks like to give you an idea:
Dr. Bolaño's Agenda:
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
A normal day for me usually starts at around 7:45. I like to live as close to the sea as I can, so getting up in the morning and enjoying a peaceful breakfast overlooking the sea is very relaxing -- I love it. I do not have kids and at this time my wife is usually asleep, so this is the perfect time for me to have a quiet moment and do some "meditation". Around 8:30 is the time to set off to the office.
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
I take the car and take two deep breaths to calm myself before facing the Abu Dhabi morning traffic. It takes me about half an hour to reach the office, and I spend my commute listening to the radio trying to keep calm (driving in Abu Dhabi is always a challenge!). If there are no accidents slowing down the traffic then I get to the office at 9AM.
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Once at the office, the first thing I do is catching up on emails, checking my agenda and finishing off any pending paperwork, and giving time to my patients. I spend the biggest part of my day attending to patients, doing reports, and from time-to-time, attending calls.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
I try to reset my brain by taking short breaks. I do that by reading a variety of news online (medical journals and general news) while taking the time to have my lunch, prepared by my beloved wife. Earlier I used to take longer lunch breaks along with my wife or friends. Now unfortunately the situation is not the same so I have to take advantage of any spare time, and usually get back to work at around 2 PM.
2:00 PM – 6:30 PM
I resume attending to my patient’s appointments from the earlier half of the day. On very busy days I am booked for about 5 to 6 appointments. Some patients may require an EMG (electroencephalogram) or EEG (electromyogram) diagnostic tests and it takes some time to study these reports. Though the time for each consultation may vary, generally speaking a typical session with a patient may last about 45 minutes.
6:30 -7:00PM
The same story driving back home.
7:00PM – 11:00PM
If everything goes without a hitch then I get home by around 7 pm. I say hello to my wife and have a little chat with her over a cup of hot chocolate or coffee. I go to the gym, or even take the time to relax by the sea! I usually always have my tablet handy and whenever I find some spare time I like to read my eBooks or non-medical journals, most of which are related to technology or diving. Later on, at about 9-10 PM my wife and I have a light dinner together, then I'm off to bed, or I watch some TV before falling asleep. And my day is over!
Do you have an interesting career, or simply love your job so much that you want to share your story? Send us an email at dayinthelife@bayt.net, and we'll get in touch with you!
