Top Contributor – Jorge Rodríguez
This month we are highlighting the awesome work of Jorge Rodríguez, more affectionately known as “J” among the team. J wears many hats, including being the Spanish Translator for Plus content and associated Physiopedia pages while also being an Implementation Specialist with Plus. This means he helps out behind the Plus “technical curtains”, with both the interesting and the tedious jobs. J is recognized for his positive energy, communicative smile, outstanding analytical talents and his ability to see the big picture. J is also very curious and enjoys discovering new tech developments. For all these reasons and more, J is a very valuable member of the team and our Top Contributor this month.
Your name: Jorge Rodríguez
Time active with Physiopedia: 1.5 years
Current role with Physiopedia: Spanish Translator with the translation team and an Implementation Specialist with Plus.
Where did you go to university/college? I went to the University of Malaga in Spain and the Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia.
Where do you work? While I have had a clinical job as an MSK physiotherapist for many years, both in Spain and the UK, currently, I have the privilege of working remotely from Estonia (where I hold my residency), or any other location in the world. Essentially, my office is not fixed but instead travels with me.
Describe your role: As a member of Plus, my main role involves acting as the link between the tech team and other teams, such as partnerships, the Communities of Practice team and the translation team. My primary responsibility is to facilitate the implementation of new features and pages, as well as to provide technical assistance for any issues that may arise.
What is the most rewarding part of being a physiotherapist? As a physiotherapist, the most rewarding aspect of the profession is assisting people in their journey to recovery from injuries or illnesses. Witnessing them resume their daily activities is a truly gratifying experience.
What are some of the more challenging aspects about being a physiotherapist? One of the significant challenges of being a physiotherapist is dealing with the emotional stress that comes with the job, mainly caused by the uncertain nature of our profession. As health concerns are seldom straightforward and often involve a range of complexities, it can be challenging to navigate the various shades of grey that arise.
What are some of your professional passions? My passions are technology and innovation applied to health, health promotion and health education. I have the need to learn something new every day, which makes my days typically veeeery long.
What are a few of your personal passions? Sports, travelling and nature, and when I can combine them, it creates an incomparable experience.
What would be your advice to a newly graduating physiotherapist? Learn soft skills, because they are often undervalued in our profession and are key to successful treatments. Also, take care of your mental well-being and be aware that you will not be able to help everyone (and that is okay).
What are the best things about being a Physiopedia volunteer? Being able to contribute to facilitating access to healthcare education for people from all around the world, regardless of their financial status, is the most rewarding experience.
How has being a Physiopedia volunteer helped your professional development/career progression? Physiopedia offers an exceptional opportunity to enhance your skills as a team player by collaborating with colleagues from diverse backgrounds around the world. By working with Physiopedia, you have the privilege of experiencing continuous learning opportunities every day, not just through their courses, but also through daily interactions with your colleagues.
What are your hopes and aspirations for Physiopedia? I would like Physiopedia to remain an active participant in the global rehabilitation community. Additionally, I hope that the accessibility of the information provided by Physiopedia will be enhanced to reach beyond our profession and become truly multi-disciplinary in the field of rehabilitation, focusing also on creating content that is easily comprehensible for patients.
What is your favourite Physioplus course? Difficult question, as there are many good courses, but perhaps the Rehabilitation in Disaster and Conflict Programme.
Anything else you would like to share? I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the remarkable Physiopedia Team for their openness, helpfulness and kindness. Collaborating with such great people is an incredible experience.