Roberto Zaldívar
{{short description|Argentine doctor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Roberto Zaldivar
| image = Roberto Zaldivar.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|5|27}}
| birth_place = New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
| nationality = Argentine
| education = National University of Cuyo
| occupation = Ophthalmologist
| known_for = Bioptics, phakic intraocular lens (ICL)
| spouse = Stella Gaibazzi
| children = Mercedes Zaldivar, Roger Zaldivar
| website = [http://www.institutozaldivar.com www.institutozaldivar.com]
| organization = Instituto Zaldivar
}}
Roberto Zaldivar (born May 27, 1957) is an Argentine doctor of ophthalmology and a refractive surgeon.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-11-02 |title=Is Your Ophthalmologist A Refractive Surgeon? |url=https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/is-your-ophthalmologist-a-refractive-surgeon/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Refractive Surgery Council |language=en-US}} He is credited with several breakthroughs in the use of laser to correct visual impairments.{{Cite web |last=Admin |first=Mario |date=2015-12-17 |title=Roberto Zaldivar |url=https://ois.net/roberto-zaldivar/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Ophthalmology Innovation Source |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Roberto Zaldivar |url=https://powerlist.theophthalmologist.com/roberto-zaldivarzal |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Power List |language=En}} Zaldivar is credited for a technique called bioptics, a term he introduced.{{Cite web |date=2007-04-03 |title=Bioptics popularity is on the rise - American Academy of Ophthalmology |url=http://www.aao.org/education/sit_refractive/0024.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403215400/http://www.aao.org/education/sit_refractive/0024.cfm |archive-date=3 April 2007 |access-date=2024-11-27 }} He is the president of the Instituto Zaldivar in Argentina,{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=James |date=2018-03-21 |title=Argentina: Mendoza eye surgeon's services prove top attraction |url=https://www.ft.com/content/36a66d6a-25eb-11e8-9274-2b13fccdc744 |access-date=2024-11-27 |work=Financial Times}} and the founder and first president of the Argentine Society of Cataract and Refractive and Corneal Surgery.{{Cite web |title=Zaldivar creó un software en Mendoza que analiza la calidad de las lágrimas y lo exportó al mundo |url=https://www.losandes.com.ar/roger-zaldivar-la-incorporacion-y-desarrollo-de-tecnologia-de-punta-es-un-atributo-fundamental-de-oftalmologia-zaldivar |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Los Andes |language=es-AR}} He also introduced excimer laser technology to Latin America,{{Cite web |date=2020-03-30 |title=Zaldivar, uno de los oftalmólogos más importantes del mundo |url=https://www.elsol.com.ar/el-sol/zaldivar-uno-de-los-oftalmologos-mas-importantes-del-mundo/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Diario El Sol Mendoza |language=es-AR}} and was the first in the world to implant the first collamer implantable lens in a patient,{{Cite web |title=Un médico argentino figura en el ranking de los 100 oftalmólogos más influyentes del mundo |url=https://www.ambito.com/informacion-general/un-medico-argentino-figura-el-ranking-los-100-oftalmologos-mas-influyentes-del-mundo-n5991629 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.ambito.com}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-17 |title=STAAR Surgical celebrates 30th anniversary of Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL). |url=https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/staar-surgical-celebrates-30th-anniversary-of-implantable-collamer-lens-icl- |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Ophthalmology Times |language=en}} for which he has been considered a pioneer of phakic intraocular lenses (ICL).
Career
His father was Roger Eleazar Zaldivar, an ophthalmologist who founded the first cornea bank in Argentina and in 1959 inaugurated the Zaldivar Institute in the city of Mendoza, where the first corneal transplants in that country were performed.{{Cite web |last=Corradetti |first=Cecilia |date=2023-08-19 |title=“Es triste ver emigrar jóvenes talentos; podríamos tener un país rico y brillante”. Roberto Zaldivar, el oftalmólogo que atendió a Susana Giménez y Brad Pitt |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sabado/es-triste-ver-emigrar-jovenes-talentos-podriamos-tener-un-pais-rico-y-brillante-roberto-zaldivar-el-nid19082023/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=LA NACION |language=es}} {{Cite web |date=2017-10-28 |title=Murió Roger Zaldívar |url=https://www.infobae.com/2008/09/30/406380-murio-roger-zaldivar/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=infobae |language=es-ES}} He was the first to bring and operate with a ruby laser in South America in 1961 and was president of the Argentine Council of Ophthalmology between 1972 and 1974.{{Cite web |title=Institucional |url=https://oftalmologos.org.ar/servicios/9-institucional |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Consejo Argentino de Oftalmología}} Roberto was born in New Haven, Connecticut, while his father was pursuing a master's degree at Yale.{{Cite web |last=Wengrod |first=Jackie |date=2015-12-17 |title=Roberto Zaldivar |url=https://ois.net/roberto-zaldivar/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Ophthalmology Innovation Source |language=en-US}}
Roger Eleazar Zaldivar was the dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Cuyo based in Mendoza, where Roberto studied Medicine between the ages of 16 and 22.{{Cite web |title=Entre las carretas y el láser |url=https://www.uncuyo.edu.ar/prensa/entre-las-carretas-y-el-laser |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=UNCUYO |language=es}} In 1983, he obtained Research to Prevent Blindness Scholarship, and that same year he completed a subspecialty in the anterior segment of eyeball in Boston, Massachusetts.{{Cite web |date=2011-11-13 |title=Fayad distinguió la trayectoria del oftalmólogo Roberto Zaldívar |url=https://www.sitioandino.com.ar/n/15238-fayad-distinguio-la-trayectoria-del-oftalmologo-roberto-zaldivar |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Sitio Andino |language=es-AR}}{{Cite web |title=Royal Medal Lecturers |url=https://www.doctorjorgealio.com/assets/History-Plaques-7-Medals.pdf}} There, he attended to the Kennedy family, Arab sheikhs, and the presidents of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, and his opponent, Benigno Aquino.{{Cite web |last=Testa |first=Valeria García |date=2012-10-19 |title=“Sueño con producir tecnología de punta” |url=https://noticias.perfil.com/noticias/personajes/2012-10-19-sueno-con-producir-tecnologia-de-punta.phtml |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Noticias |language=es}}
In 1985, he returned to Mendoza to work with his father at the Instituto Zaldivar in the anterior segment, including refractive surgery and cataract surgery. In 1992, he became the second surgeon in the world to install and use the combined Excimer-Holmium laser equipment for myopia and hyperopia operations.{{Cite web |title=Distinción cumbre de la oftalmología mundial - ABC Revista - ABC Color |url=https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/suplementos/abc-revista/distincion-cumbre-de-la-oftalmologia-mundial-103315.html |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.abc.com.py |language=es}}{{Cite web |title=ESCRS:Heritage Archive - Timelines, Videos, & Interviews |url=https://www.escrs.org/heritage-archive-timelines-videos-interviews/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.escrs.org |language=en}}
On September 22, 1993, he was the first ophthalmologist in the world to perform surgery with phakic intraocular lenses (ICL), which correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-22 |title=Roberto Zaldivar became the first foreigner to receive the top prize in ophthalmology in the United States |url=https://www.infobae.com/en/2022/04/22/roberto-zaldivar-became-the-first-foreigner-to-receive-the-top-prize-in-ophthalmology-in-the-united-states/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=infobae |language=es-ES}}
In 1996, he created a technique called "bioptics" which consists of combining the use of phakic intraocular lenses with laser surgery. This development earned him the Innovators Lecture award in 2007, and he was the first Spanish-speaking physician to receive it.{{Cite web |last=Corradetti |first=Cecilia |date=2022-05-05 |title=Orgullo cuyano. Roberto Zaldivar repasa su fascinante historia: “Elegí quedarme en el país y nunca me arrepentí” |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/lifestyle/orgullo-cuyano-roberto-zaldivar-repasa-su-fascinante-historia-elegi-quedarme-en-el-pais-y-nunca-me-nid05052022/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=LA NACION |language=es}} Bioptics was considered by the International Society of Refractive Surgery, the German Ophthalmological Society, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology as one of the 17 innovations that marked a milestone in ophthalmology worldwide.{{Cite web |last=Czubaj |first=Fabiola |date=2007-06-28 |title=Un argentino, entre los 17 oftalmólogos innovadores |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/ciencia/un-argentino-entre-los-17-oftalmologos-innovadores-nid921101/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=LA NACION |language=es}}
Roberto Zaldivar was the first president of the Argentine Association of Refractive and Corneal Surgeons and of the International Intra-Ocular Implant Club (IIIC),{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://iiiclub.org/about-us |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=iiiclub.org}} the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the International Society of Keratorefractive Surgery, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.{{Cite web |title=Roberto Zaldívar recibió prestigioso premio en Inglaterra |url=https://www.unoentrerios.com.ar/roberto-zaldivar-recibio-prestigioso-premio-inglaterra-n895303.html |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Uno Entre Rios}}
Throughout his career, Zaldivar has attended to renowned figures, such as the actresses Susana Giménez and Graciela Borges; the former president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri; the journalist Bernardo Neustadt; the film director Juan José Campanella; the soccer players Diego Maradona, Enzo Francescoli, and Enzo Fernández; and the actors Ricardo Darín, Guillermo Francella, and Brad Pitt.{{Cite web |title=El oftalmólogo mendocino que está entre los 100 más influyentes del mundo |url=https://www.losandes.com.ar/sociedad/el-oftalmologo-mendocino-que-esta-entre-los-100-mas-influyentes-del-mundo |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Los Andes |language=es-AR}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-03 |title=Roberto Zaldivar repasa su fascinante historia: “Regresé a Mendoza con 500 ideas nuevas para trabajar junto a mi padre” - Mendoza Today |url=https://mendozatoday.com.ar/2023/12/03/roberto-zaldivar-repasa-su-fascinante-historia-regrese-a-mendoza-con-500-ideas-nuevas-para-trabajar-junto-a-mi-padre/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=mendozatoday.com.ar |language=es-AR}}{{Cite web |title=Premiaron en Inglaterra a un oftalmólogo argentino |url=https://www.elterritorio.com.ar/noticias/2012/09/27/319237-premiaron-en-inglaterra-a-un-oftalmologo-argentino |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=El Territorio |language=es-AR}}{{Cite web |title=Lentes multifocales, la nueva revolución de la medicina óptica - Salud - ABC Color |url=https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/suplementos/salud/lentes-multifocales-la-nueva-revolucion-de-la-medicina-optica-843421.html |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.abc.com.py |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Badaloni |first=Roxana |date=2023-01-11 |title=Roberto Zaldívar, el oftalmólogo que opera a celebridades y ayudó a ganar el Mundial |url=https://www.clarin.com/viva/roberto-zaldivar-oftalmologo-opera-celebridades-ayudo-ganar-mundial_0_nyiwsk8FSu.html?srsltid=AfmBOorTZ2cOt0DOH_tWI-8i_Yx9KcsWUVbUp5_-cUGXXOG7uS_qMBDP |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Clarín |language=es}}
In 1996, he opened a branch of the Instituto Zaldivar in Buenos Aires and in 2002 in Asunción, Paraguay. In 1990, he formed the Zaldivar Foundation, which provides support to patients without resources.
Prizes and awards
In 1998, he was the first non-resident specialist in the United States to receive the Lans Lecture award, granted by the International Society of Refractive Surgery.{{Cite web |date=2010-04-10 |title=Premian en Estados Unidos al oftalmólogo Roberto Zaldívar |url=https://www.diariouno.com.ar/mendoza/premian-en-estados-unidos-al-oftalmologo-roberto-zaldivar-10042010_ByfFmjtGB7 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Diario Uno |language=es-AR}}
In 1999, he was distinguished by the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa with the Epstein Lecture Award.{{Cite web |title=Award Lecturers {{!}} SASCRS Congress |url=https://sascrscongress.co.za/award-lecturers/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=sascrscongress.co.za}}
In 2002, he was recognized for his contributions to refractive surgery with the Robert Coles Memorial Lecture from the New York Academy of Medicine, while in 2007, the International Congress of German Ophthalmic Surgeons awarded him the Innovators Lecture.{{Cite web |title=Galardón al Dr. Zaldívar |url=https://www.ambito.com/informacion-general/galardon-al-dr-zaldivar-n3424645 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=www.ambito.com}}
In 2005, the Argentine Senate awarded him the Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Honorary Mention, which distinguishes entrepreneurs who stand out for their work for the good of the community.{{Cite web |date=2005-06-12 |title=En voz baja |url=https://www.clarin.com/ediciones-anteriores/voz-baja_0_r1xxx3_JAFx.html?srsltid=AfmBOooE_01YF764oJb2d_DL6oJLI7CAZrGGPub-kdqzTRZSsrDBFWw7 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Clarín |language=es}}
In 2010, he received the Jan Worst Medal Lecture from the International Intra-Ocular Implant Club (IIIC) of the United States. Between 2016 and 2018, Zaldivar was president of that institution.{{Cite web |title=Roberto Zaldivar |url=https://www.theophthalmologist.com/power-list/2018/honorees/roberto-zaldivar/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.theophthalmologist.com}}{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://iiiclub.org/about-us |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=iiiclub.org}}
In 2012, he obtained the Rayner Medal Lecture from the United Kingdom and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.{{Cite web |title=Rayner Medal Lecturers |url=https://www.doctorjorgealio.com/assets/History-Plaques-7-Medals.pdf}} In 2014, he won a Gold Medal from the Spanish Society of Implant-Refractive Ocular Surgery. In 2017, he received the Benedetto Strampelli Medal from the Italian Ophthalmological Society{{Cite web |title=Strampelli Medal Lecture focuses on history and potential new developments of ICL |url=https://www.healio.com/news/ophthalmology/20170602/strampelli-medal-lecture-focuses-on-history-and-potential-new-developments-of-icl |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.healio.com |language=en}} and the Gold Medal from the Indian Intra-ocular Implant and Refractive Surgery.{{Cite web |last=Lagos |first=Carlos |date=2020-03-29 |title=El mendocino Roberto Zaldívar fue elegido como uno de los oftalmólogos más importantes del mundo |url=https://mendoza.puntoapunto.com.ar/el-mendocino-roberto-zaldivar-fue-elegido-como-uno-de-los-oftalmologos-mas-importantes-del-mundo/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Punto a Punto |language=es}}
In 2021, the Executive Committee of the Argentine Council of Ophthalmology awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Medal.{{Cite web |title="Con sentido de pertenencia" |url=https://oftalmologos.org.ar/noticias/1150-mo-2021-02-con-sentido-de-pertenencia-nota-de-tapa |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Consejo Argentino de Oftalmología}} The following year, he was the first foreigner to be recognized by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery with the Steinert Refractive Lecture.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-04-22 |title=Roberto Zaldivar became the first foreigner to receive the top prize in ophthalmology in the United States |url=https://www.infobae.com/en/2022/04/22/roberto-zaldivar-became-the-first-foreigner-to-receive-the-top-prize-in-ophthalmology-in-the-united-states/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=infobae |language=es-ES}} Also, the Italian Ophthalmological Society awarded him the Innovator Medal Lecture.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-01 |title=Premiaron en Roma a Roberto Zaldivar por sus aportes a la innovación oftalmológica |url=https://www.diariouno.com.ar/economia/premiaron-roma-roberto-zaldivar-sus-aportes-la-innovacion-oftalmologica-n1020869 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Diario Uno |language=es-AR}}
In 2024, he was recognized for the third time as one of the 100 most influential ophthalmologists in the world by the English magazine The Ophthalmologist. He had already been included in that list in 2019 and 2020.{{Cite web |title=The Ophthalmologist Power List 2020 |url=https://theophthalmologist.com/power-list/2020 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=theophthalmologist.com}}
In July 2024, he and his son Roger Zaldivar received the Visionary Award from the American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery (AECOS) for their work in the development of ICL.{{Cite web |title=AECOS Awards |url=https://aecosurgery.org/aecos-awards/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=AECOS |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Roberto Zaldivar is married to Stella Gaibazzi. His daughter, Mercedes Zaldivar, is a lawyer, while his son Roger Zaldivar is also an ophthalmologist and is the medical director of the Instituto Zaldivar.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-16 |title=Roberto y Roger Zaldivar, padre e hijo que juegan de memoria en la oftalmología y en la vida |url=https://www.diariouno.com.ar/sociedad/roberto-y-roger-zaldivar-padre-e-hijo-que-juegan-memoria-la-oftalmologia-y-la-vida-n1326449 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Diario Uno |language=es-AR}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.institutozaldivar.com/ Instituto Zaldivar]
- [http://www.fundacionzaldivar.org/ Fundación Zaldivar]
- [https://crstodayeurope.com/articles/2016-oct/meet-the-zaldivar-family/ Meet the Zadivar family]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaldivar, Roberto}}