Dr. András Novák

I wanted to be a surgeon since I was a little child. Although I had a year or two of youthful yearning in high school, when the watchmaker and jeweler profession also seemed tempting, I still wanted to bring my manual disposition to fruition in my original idea, my dream, the surgical profession – begins Dr. András Novák, born in Szombathely, whose mother worked as a laboratory assistant, so his encounter with healthcare happened early on.

He received his degree from Semmelweis University in 2008. During his studies, he was interested in several branches of medicine – from neurology to anesthesiology – but the surgical direction was not a difficult choice, as he stuck to his goals all the way.

Influential mentors

– During my university final exam, I met Dr. Gábor István, who is a defining figure in Hungarian laparoscopic colorectal surgery. During my residency, I wanted to work in his clinic, and in the end, I really learned the basics of surgery there, and this rapidly developing field, including laparoscopic, i.e. minimally invasive surgery, and the treatment of benign and malignant lesions. So, Dr. Gábor István started me on my surgical career, and on his advice I started learning proctology. He also sent me to his colleague and good friend, Dr. Péter Willner, so that I could learn from him as well – points out Dr. András Novák, whose interest turned to functional pelvic diseases, among other things.

– Dr. Péter Willner had noticed for years that there were pelvic diseases that were not at the forefront of diagnostics and treatment. These include complex pelvic floor disorders, rectal prolapse, sphincter injuries… Interdisciplinary knowledge is required to diagnose and treat these.

Austria, Germany, Japan…

Dr. András Novák has also gained diverse experiences abroad: during his university years, he went on a short study trip to Heidelberg, then to Vienna, at the Allgemeine Krankenhaus, which is also a special place. His most defining experience, however, was the several-month exchange program in which he strengthened the team at Saitama Medical University in Japan.

– It is an extremely exceptional and modern place, and perhaps it is no exaggeration to say that the Japanese are the people with the most modern medicine and the most precise attention in the world. It was a defining and fantastic experience, I always think back to the months spent there with great pleasure and nostalgia. Friendships were also made, we still keep in touch with them today, and we even meet in person at conferences. The mentality of the Japanese people, mutual recognition, respect for nature, and acceptance of life events were all very instructive for me.

Dr. András Novák added regarding the conferences: he has been regularly attending Pisa for years, the annual professional meeting of proctologists and pelvic floor therapists. He is also a member of the organizing committee of the Budapest Proctology Meeting.

Fourteen years at the Clinic

The doctor worked at the II. Sz. Surgery Clinic from 2008 to the end of 2019, where he worked alongside Professors Dr. Pál Ondrejka and Dr. István Sugár. – I learned a lot from them, both in terms of profession and humanity, and the empathetic ability to approach patients. Due to Covid, a slightly more unpredictable period followed. In 2021, the I. and II. Sz. Surgery Clinics merged, and then I worked at the I. Sz. Surgery Clinic for a year.

– In July 2022, it became clear that I envision my activities largely in private care. I am currently still involved in publicly funded care part-time, and this role has remained at the Vaszary Kolos Hospital in Esztergom primarily for the treatment of cancer. I have been working in my own private practice since 2015. In that private healthcare institution, I was able to initiate the organization of proctology and colorectal surgery practices, and this continues to this day. At TritonLife, patients can also contact me in the field of colorectal surgery, whom I treat with laparoscopic, i.e. minimally invasive methods. These methods are procedures used in both hernia surgery and biliary surgery.

Patients as active participants

Dr. András Novák believes that a successful doctor must not only have deep professional knowledge, but must also be good at communication and must also arm himself with basic psychological knowledge.

– The patient and the doctor are always equal. The doctor’s job is to help them pay attention and feel the problem. In addition to empathy, it is also important to emphasize that the patient decides about his or her own life, but for this the doctor must provide sufficient information, helping him or her to understand, with a kind of teaching role. The choice of treatment must be made taking into account the patient’s life, living conditions, and thoughts. Our job is to emphasize that the patient has a responsibility to decide together on a good treatment. In contrast to the archaic approach, the patient is not a passive but rather an active participant in the decision-making mechanism, not only does he or she “suffer” them, but makes the decision himself or herself, relying on the doctor’s instructions.

Yoga, travel, gastronomy, arts

The doctor shares the opinion that a healthy mind is a healthy body: he has been practicing yoga regularly since 2018, which is one of his most important forms of relaxation, both physically and mentally. – For me, it is a very good way to recharge, especially after stressful situations… I think that a doctor also heals with his personality, and we must set an example for patients.

In addition to yoga, Dr. András Novák enjoys spending his time getting to know different cultures, which he does with a good heart with his partner and friends. – I think that this can best be achieved through travel, experiencing culinary values, and through the arts. All three directions are very close to me.