Maria Berrocal (00:17): Hi, I'm Maria Berrocal. Virgilio Morales Canton (00:19): And I'm Virgilio Morales. Maria Berrocal (00:22): Well, today Virgilio Morales Canton, who is a dear friend who I have known for many, many years, had the honor of receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the VBS 2026 meeting. And I cannot think of a person who's more deserving than Virgilio. I've known Virgilio for many years, so I have known his academic trajectory and it is quite impressive, but I have also known him as a friend. (00:53): He is a wonderful person. He's a wonderful friend. He's internationally known. And he has really been instrumental in advancing the next generation of vitreoretinal surgeons because you were director of APEC, which is the largest eye hospital in Mexico and in Latin America, right? Virgilio Morales Canton (01:12): Yeah. Maria Berrocal (01:14): Yeah. For how many years? Virgilio Morales Canton (01:17): I was the chief of the retina department for 12 years. We know each other since many years. I don't remember how many years, but it's so nice to receive an award like this. Obviously, I was not expecting something like that. It's a real pleasure that the VBS is giving me this. It means a lot in my world, in my person to receive something like this. So I'm very, very happy. Maria Berrocal (01:50): So tell us a little bit, Virgilio. How did you get to become a vitreoretinal surgeon? Virgilio Morales Canton (01:59): It's interesting, because my father was a glaucoma specialist. And when I ended the residency, he asked me what I wanted to do after. And I really love glaucoma because my father was a glaucoma specialist, and I also like retina. And he said at that time, he said, "Well, if you want to do glaucoma, it's perfect, but always you will still be Virgilio Morales' son." And I didn't like that. And now, I see that was something insignificant, but this is really why I switched to retina. And at that time, he told me retina has much more filled than glaucoma. Maria Berrocal (02:40): He was right. Virgilio Morales Canton (02:41): He was right. Yeah. Yeah. This is why I went to retina and I'm happy because of that decision. Maria Berrocal (02:49): And why were you interested in leadership position, in teaching the next generation? This is something that you have done really well, not only in Mexico, but internationally by performing live surgery, by teaching at symposiums. What sparked your interest in doing that? Virgilio Morales Canton (03:08): I really don't know. I think when you start doing your profession, in this case ophthalmology and then retina, by some reason in my own person, teaching to the fellows has been always something very nice. So explaining them how to do the things and why they are doing this or this, it's something that I think it's natural in my person. And this is why I love to be in the academic and teaching positions in order to recognize that the new generation will do the things same as you or better than you. Maria Berrocal (03:52): And that is the biggest compliment, actually. Yeah. So what words of wisdom about life? It can be about ophthalmology. What pearls that you have acquired through your many years, being a great friend, being a great mentor, being a great ophthalmologist, can you give to the next generation of ophthalmologists out there? Virgilio Morales Canton (04:18): Well, one, today I would say something that it has to be. I mean, the next generations, they need to study, because we were talking exactly yesterday that these generations are looking only and waiting for a receipt of doing this and this. You need to study, you need to go into the textbooks and the old school way of learning and basically that. I mean, if you don't do that in your life, I think you will be stuck in some point and you will not progress in the knowledge of retina in this case. Maria Berrocal (05:01): And any life lessons? Virgilio Morales Canton (05:05): For me, it's like you enjoying life. Not all in the world is retina. There is family, there are friends, there are good moments, and try to enjoy all the time what is good in your life. And the things that are bad, you need to suffer that, but after that, you learn something else and then you go every day for a better way of life. Maria Berrocal (05:32): Well, thank you so much, Virgilio. Virgilio Morales Canton (05:33): No, thank you very much. Maria Berrocal (05:34): It's always a pleasure and congratulations again. I cannot think of anybody more deserving. Virgilio Morales Canton (05:40): No, thank you very much, Maria.