Dr. Fernanda Filadelfia graduated in Biological Sciences back in 2004. She says she worked in different roles in the field, such as clinical analysis and teaching, but in none of these jobs did she truly identify with the work she was doing. A career in biology seemed very limited to her then, with insufficient opportunities.
When she found the specialization in Aesthetic Health and, with it, the chance to broaden the scope of her career, Dr. Fernanda threw herself into the course, so much so that she is among Nepuga's top-performing specialists of 2023.
The Academic Excellence Award
What matters most is, without a doubt, what all this performance is bringing to her career and her patients, but Dr. Fernanda's efforts are also being noticed and proudly recognized through the 2023 Academic Excellence Award. In this edition, Dr. Fernanda Filadelfia is a winner in the Academic Highlight Category.
For those who don't know it yet, this event is a way Nepuga found to honor the professionals who have been part of the institution's history and who, during their training, especially stood out, considering data such as attendance, participation and grades.
That is why we are dedicating the Success Stories section to this edition's honorees.
The reality of a career in biology
Returning to Dr. Fernanda's journey to the specialization, what she wanted for herself was, mainly, a career in which she could balance her personal and professional routine.
Talking with her about her career path so far, we gained some valuable insights into the reality of the field and the opportunities, both within and outside Aesthetic Health.
Although Biological Sciences is a field vast in knowledge, the job market reality Fernanda faced turned out to be quite limited and even insufficient to absorb a good share of the professionals trained in the field.
So, besides not identifying with the available opportunities, Fernanda found herself in a limited scenario.
From professional insecurity to feeling welcomed
When she started the postgraduate program, she says she feared she wouldn't gain enough credibility to work in the new field, but this insecurity didn't shake her; quite the opposite, it made her make the most of the content and immersions the postgraduate program offered.
Even before she started actually working in the field, she says the interactions with classmates and practice with real patients during the clinical immersions made her feel much more integrated and capable, overcoming the insecurities that bothered her at the start of the course.
“I was well welcomed and recognized by my friends from the practical sessions, and with that I became certain that all of us, when dedicated and passionate about what we do, are able to find our place,” the biologist recalls of her experience.
A recent specialty
Since aesthetics is a recent specialty among biologists, it is common for professionals from this background to still show some insecurity, not necessarily about their own potential, but about recognition in the market and among potential patients. After all, for many it is news that biologists can be so active in performing various aesthetic procedures.
The resolution that came to regulate Aesthetic Biology dates from the end of 2020, and even today, biologists who are specializing in the field may feel like pioneers, but they are already building brilliant careers.
Comparing biology to other health fields of study, Dr. Fernanda points out that they have a very similar foundation, so that each person's competencies depend greatly on their own depth of study and dedication.
The foundation of the specialization gave her a lot of confidence, but she felt the need to master peels even more, and so she took a course specifically on this procedure.
Tips for those starting out in aesthetic health
Besides all the study and dedication, we took the opportunity to talk about the difficulties of those starting a business in aesthetics and possible ways to overcome them.
“Start with patients who volunteer to be models, that's what will lead you to start promoting yourself. Showing yourself on social media is essential to reach your first real patients, who are trusting your work,” the biologist emphasizes.
Building a network of contacts makes all the difference
The value of building a professional network of contacts also makes all the difference for those starting out. Dr. Fernanda had already mentioned how important her relationship with her classmates was during the specialization, in the constant exchange of skills and experience, a fundamental part of what makes the postgraduate experience so transformative.
For those starting to do business in aesthetics, these partnerships again prove essential. As Dr. Fernanda says of her own experience:
“People who lend you a hand to work in the field, even when you don't have a place of your own, that already makes all the difference! You get to work with support and greater safety, and it makes you lose your fear safely, so that you can then work on your own! I'm grateful to God for putting such special people in my life.”.
Today, she has a space of her own, where she sees herself making dreams come true. And, always seeking the best in her career, she is pursuing a new undergraduate degree, this time in Biomedicine.
Laís Bianquini
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
