Renowned Argentinian physician Dr. Roberto Went recently retired from a long and influential career—with a particular focus on pain relief—that advanced palliative care provision locally, throughout the country, and internationally.

Lessons in Longevity: A Q&A with Dr. Roberto Wenk

IAHPC: You began your medical career as an anesthesiologist. What drew you to this specialty? What was it about palliative care that caused you to adopt it as your second area of expertise?

Dr. Wenk: Just as I began my medical studies, at age 18, I suffered a serious injury to my right hand that required multiple hospitalizations, with weekly treatments for about a year. During each procedure, I received general anesthesia, either intravenous or inhaled. It was then that I became familiar with the work of an anesthesiologist: their techniques, their role, and their impact on the patient. That experience left a deep impression on me and sparked a strong calling toward anesthesiology.

When I resumed my studies, I was certain I wanted to become an anesthesiologist. During my studies, I met a pharmacology professor who was researching the toxicity of anesthetics in animal models. He invited me to collaborate, and I worked with him for about two years. That experience allowed me to understand the importance of research and acquire knowledge that would prove very useful later on.

The impact of pain management

During the last two years of my degree, I began working with the head of the anesthesiology department at a major institution. In addition to her work as an anesthesiologist, she was particularly concerned with patients suffering from severe uncontrolled pain, whom she treated using anesthetic or neurolytic blocks. There, I witnessed the significant positive impact of pain management, and gradually my interest and practice shifted from anesthesiology toward pain management that, later, led me to palliative care.

This field taught me technical and humanitarian skills, as well as how to work as part of a team, set clear goals, and carry out projects effectively. I learned a great deal through my connections with international organizations.

IAHPC: What are some of your memorable experiences? 

Dr. Wenk: Throughout my career, I have had many meaningful experiences that have brought me great personal and professional satisfaction. 

After several years of working in my hometown, San Nicolás, I moved to Buenos Aires, where I built a strong team of approximately 20 professionals from various disciplines, providing care in clinics, at patients’ homes, and in hospital beds. For 15 to 20 years, we conducted numerous courses—both in-person and online—on refractory pain, palliative care and oncology, palliative care nursing, primary care, and pharmacology. 

We implemented palliative care as an elective course at two universities, enriching theoretical training with in-person visits to hospices. We also sought to promote public engagement by distributing materials about palliative care. 

IAHPC: What were your Bus Rounds? 

Dr. Wenk: In Buenos Aires we developed a model inspired by Dr. Eduardo Bruera’s work that involved traveling across the country by bus with a team of doctors and nurses to teach palliative care in primary care settings. 

We worked directly in patients’ homes, alongside their families, bringing by bus local healthcare professionals trained in palliative care as well as anyone else interested in learning how to provide palliative care: students, volunteers, other doctors and nurses. The trained doctor and nurse interviewed and treated the patient while the others, aboard the bus, observed in real time. These silent participants could ask questions after the visit, and a theoretical session was held to assess the achievement of the educational objectives. This method was very effective, but without institutional support it was onorous to organize and costly to do. 

IAHPC: What is your proudest achievement?

Dr. Wenk: One of my main objectives was to provide patients with free access to opioids for patients in the public system, which were otherwise unaffordable. My first attempt, in San Nicolás, involved preparing liquid morphine solutions that we distributed free of charge with the help of volunteers. A regulatory change ended the program.

Later, two pharmacists and I set up a laboratory to produce low-cost morphine and methadone tablets. The project complied with all regulations and was successful. I withdrew early on to avoid any ethical conflict providing palliative care while also being involved in the manufacture of opioids.

‘My greatest achievement’

It lay the groundwork for a project I launched in Buenos Aires to achieve large-scale production of morphine and methadone tablets in state-run laboratories for the public health system. It was a lengthy process of about seven years, with numerous bureaucratic obstacles. Government approval was finally attained, allowing free access to these medications for those who need them. This result—still in effect—constitutes my greatest achievement of my career.

IAHPC: You were a young man when you incorporated palliative care. Do you see the same level of interest in today's young practitioners? 

Dr. Wenk: I retired from teaching and clinical practice in palliative care five years ago. For a long time, I perceived a strong and sustained interest in palliative care. Today, I do not see the same intensity. I also notice a shift toward psychosocial aspects, while clinical issues have become more complex and less accessible to frontline professionals, who have little time for palliative care training. 

These circumstances influenced my decision to retire. However, I view this development a part of a natural process that I respectfully accept.

I am happy and deeply proud to have dedicated my life to palliative care.