Ep 2: Dr Francisco ‘Pachi’ Moniche | Transmitting passion to medicine

Meet neurologist Dr Francisco Moniche, “Pachi” to his friends, of whom there are many in the global stroke community. A neurologist for close to two decades, he knew right from the start of his residency that stroke was what he calls “the best part”. With degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s, a doctor could try preserve and improve a patient’s quality of life. But by treating a stroke you could give someone back their life – and that is something this doctor cannot get enough of.

Pachi is a stroke neurologist and researcher at Virgen del Rocío Hospital in Seville, the biggest hospital in southern Spain, famous among other things for the quality of its research. It is the country’s number one provider of mechnical thrombectomy, and a catalyst for stroke care excellence in the region - where it has helped many other hospitals improve their pathway.

Pachi is a great friend of Angels, freqently getting involved in training, often in developing countries far from home. 

“Medicine is something absolutely emotional,” he says in a conversation about transmitting passion to medicine. “It’s much more than just putting a drug to a patient. Sometimes you go home and you are absolutely sad.”

In this episode:

• Medicine is emotional
• The schoolboy revelation that medicine is his home
• The second revelation: becoming dedicated to stroke
• Research to benefit recovery
• Working with Angels
• The mission to share knowledge

The Virgen del Rocío Hospital in Seville is the biggest hospital in southern Spain, famous among other things for the quality of its research. It is the country’s number one provider of mechnical thrombectomy, and a catalyst for stroke care excellence in the region - where it has helped many other hospitals improve their pathway. The engine driving the excellence resides in neurologist Dr Francisco Moniche, “Pachi” to his friends, of whom there are many in the global stroke community. Pachi talks about his work with all the intensity you’d expect of someone who has time and again observed the difference between life and death. He still feels it deeply – the moment when the right decision at the right moment changes someone’s life. In fact, he has told his residents that if he ever ceased to become emotional when seeing a stroke patient regain their ability to talk and move, they should tell him to quit.