Flavio Monteiro de Souza, MD

Dr. Flavio Monteiro de Souza has made numerous contributions on the Internet to Ob/Gyn in Brazil and around the world including OBSTET-L the international Ob/Gyn discussion list in Portuguese and Spanish.

Below are Flavio's answers to some questions we asked.

OBGYN.net: How are you serving the Ob/Gyn community with Internet Technology?

Dr. Monteiro de Souza: I have been doing some different things concerning the Internet and have at least 2 projects being currently implemented. As Webmaster of the Obstetric Department of the Rio de Janeiro State University (Obstetricia - UERJ - http://www.lampada.uerj.br/obst/). I am implementing a program where we are beginning to provide some technical and non-technical information about fetal medicine, management of obstetrical issues, medical procedures etc.

This web site was the first one about Obstetrics in Portuguese. In the beginning we focused on providing information on the organization and the scientific projects of our service. By July of 1997 the UERJ web site will be available in English too (it is only in Portuguese right now). In a few months we will publish an electronic quarterly magazine on obstetrics (Cadernos de Obstetricia - Notebook on Obstetrics), to be available on the Internet as part of our web site. It will provide original and revised technical articles.

After launching the UERJ web site January of 1996, I began my work as the list owner of OBSTET-L, the only discussion list about obstetrics and fetal medicine in Portuguese and Spanish. After only 10 months of existence we have a very animated list with physicians from all over the world discussing medical procedures daily. We have plans to launch a web version of OBSTET-L on OBGYN.net as time and resources allow that will include a searchable archive of past messages.

I have participated in the building of OBGYN.net from its beginning, as OBGYN.net International Representative for Brazil I have the responsibility to care for Brazilian's interests and assure that my counry is well represented in this huge database and helping tool to physicians and women of the world.

Currently I am beginning work on my largest "Internetian" project, an electronic helping aid in decision-making for physicians about obstetrics. It will be programmed in JAVA and be available on the Internet.

OBGYN.net: Why did you get involved with the Internet?

Dr. Monteiro de Souza: My interest in the Internet arose about 3 years ago. At first by curiosity and the necessity of having an E-Mail account to exchange ideas with colleagues from other cities and countries. When I got used to using it, I could see the marvelous universe the Internet has to offer. I became focused on how we can use it to exchange information, help people, in the education field, publish data, teach and update new concepts, ultimately to contribute to the evolution of the human race.

OBGYN.net: How long have you been using the Internet?

Dr. Monteiro de Souza: I have been using the Internet for 2 and half years right now. At first, I had only an E-Mail account and limited non-graphical access through an old IBM mainframe in the Rio de Janeiro State University. After I got graphical access, 2 years ago, and I could see all the graphical wonders of the WWW, I was hooked!

OBGYN.net: What has been your greatest reward in using the Internet?

Dr. Monteiro de Souza: This realization was the most recent. The possibility of helping people, physicians or not, all around the world through this astonishing communication media is really the greatest reward! I have been receiving E-Mails from some hidden corners of the Earth that I never even thought about. Through OBSTET-L, the discussion list in Portuguese and Spanish, I have the ability to discuss technical items with many different points of view represented between my country and other countries. I think this global interaction is the greatest reward to all of mankind.

OBGYN.net: What is the future for the Ob/Gyn community on the Internet- what is possible?

Dr. Monteiro de Souza: I agree with the Chairman of the Medical Informatics Discipline of my University, Prof. Homero Salazar, salazar@uerj.br, http://www.lampada.uerj.br: "Internet is the greatest of man's invention since the development of the printing press by Gutenberg". The Internet is causing a revolution in the communication media. Because of its interactivity, it will be more important than the invention of the TV or radio. It is just taking it's firsts steps now and soon we will see some wonders we can not even imagine. Right now we have some possibilities we could not visualize a few years ago like: teleconferencing, interactive teaching and information, cheap and fast mail exchange, long distance calls, immediate free access to Medline, etc.

The technology is improving and we can now promote workshops with the best specialists in their fields from all over the world participating without even having to stand up from their chairs. I think the development of these possibilities and the emergence of others is and will continue to be really useful to the OB/GYN community.

Flavio Monteiro de Souza, M.D., M.Sci.
OBGYN.net International Representative - Brazil
Flavio.Monteiro.deSouza@obgyn.net

About the OBGYN.net Outstanding Achievement Award