A toast to difference!

By Maria João Cardoso*

I was asked to write a few words for the BIP about the cooperation between the Faculty of Medicine and INESC Porto.

Maybe I should introduce myself first: I am a doctor, a surgeon dedicated to breast cancer treatment since 1997, working as a clinical practitioner at the Hospital de S. João in Porto.

In 2002, while I was looking for a theme for my PhD thesis, I was introduced to Jaime Cardoso from INESC Porto, member of the Telecommunications and Multimedia Unit.

Those who know us might safely say that we are quite different. That was my first impression when I was introduced to him. In fact, I had serious doubts that we could ever get along and create a successful partnership. I figure that that was also Jaime’s impression at the time (or maybe even worse!).

We talked about our paths and I explained that I was quite interested in evaluating the esthetic result of patients with breast cancer. During the surgery, our goal was not only to remove the cancer, but also to leave the breast similar in size and shape to what it was before. Also, we wanted it to be symmetric with the other breast.

We have decided that we would try to evaluate the patients’ pictures in order create an automatic evaluation system that was reproducible and different from the old subjective evaluation used thus far.

I can say with no false modesty that we were quite successful. We created our application and published several articles about it. And unlike those partnerships usually created to write PhD thesis, this one has already overcome that minimalist milestone.

I can also tell you that Jaime and his unique personality have contributed greatly to much of this success. In fact, he is different. He is different from all the doctors I usually work with. Those doctors, despite their good will, usually find it difficult to fulfill their tasks. I guess it happens because they have a large number of tasks, which makes it difficult for them to meet deadlines.

I guess this difference between us is a toast to success. His perseverance, his need to meet all the deadlines and fulfill his goals have been a great lesson to me. This contribution is, of course, mutual. Nevertheless, he taught me how to respect every proposal, deadline and established goals.

To all of you reading this, all I can say is that difference may be a good ingredient to a successful recipe.

Right now, I am working with INESC as a researcher under Professor Jaime Cardoso's guidance and there are many ideas and projects to fulfill in the area of medical image analysis.

For all that and for all we have already done, here's a toast to difference!

* Collaborator with the Telecommunications and Multimedia Unit (UTM)

THE READER’S ADVISER COMMENTS

Maria João,

I feel like proposing a toast to your toast...

It must be incredibly rewarding for Jaime to read what you have wrote, which is a public tribute. You've done that, a toast to difference, and we realize that, in a way, the qualities you see in Jaime surpass him. And because of the cultural context he is in, those qualities must surpass him. Otherwise he would become utterly frustrated and disappointed and would end up abandoning his projects or moving to another country.

The need to meet deadlines and fulfill our goals. That is the difference we wish to consolidate at INESC Porto. Doing this, we realize how important personal attitude is in order to satisfy such criteria. Some organizations disregard these criteria and maybe that’s why they find it hard to develop.


At INESC Porto we try to build a reality where meeting deadlines and fulfilling goals are as natural as breathing or walking out in the rain. We contribute to consolidate all the good things Jaime has to offer. And Jaime contributes back when he shows you a perfected version of what it is to be an exemplary professional. You, on the other hand, will contribute by adjusting to that same pattern and teaching it to others as well.

Thus, it is easy to succeed. Look at what you've done so far. Nobody made it easy for you. You've done that yourselves.