English Translation of the Clarín Article
Ignacio Pieckenstainer (28) was living in Rosario when he decided to move to Maggiolo, a small rural village in southern Santa Fe.
The idea came after seeing a call from the ES VICIS Foundation, which was seeking professionals willing to relocate to rural communities.
By Candela Toledo — November 10, 2025, Clarín
For a long time, Ignacio Pieckenstainer (28) believed that his life would take place in Rosario. That’s where he was born, grew up, studied, and trained as a doctor. But fate —and a decision made almost by chance— led him to Maggiolo, a tiny village in southern Santa Fe, where today he is one of only two doctors.
“My interest in medicine started when I was a teenager. I was always drawn to healthcare, but it was specifically after my father, Jorge, died from an illness we couldn’t diagnose directly. I was 15 at the time,” he recalls.
“When that happened, it motivated me to understand the causes and also to help. During medical school I realized that the most important thing is to accompany the patient — to try to solve what you can, or at least be there. Because many times you can’t solve the patient’s problem, but you can be present,” he describes.
That idea — accompaniment — became the guiding principle of his profession. Ignacio trained in general medicine and geriatrics, and recently began a specialization in sexology. Before leaving the city, he worked in telemedicine and at two well-known medical centers in Rosario: Hospital Italiano del Centro and Sanatorio IPAM.
“The shifts were very fast-paced, with the rhythm of the city. You can be calm for a very short time, and then everything gets hectic. It’s very important to be able to support your team. Even though it was a short stage, I learned a lot,” he emphasizes.
An impulse, three interviews, and a life change
The turning point came by chance.
“The opportunity started as a ‘what if I apply?’” he says. He was taking his final exam when his mother showed him a news piece about a call launched by the ES VICIS Foundation.
The non-profit organization, through its Bienvenidos a mi Pueblo (Welcome to My Village) program, was seeking professionals to help repopulate small rural towns with needed profiles. Maggiolo lacked a doctor.
“I signed up as a student, with zero expectation that they would call me. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I packed my things and left,” says Ignacio.
“It was a selection process with 34 doctors from all over the country. I had three interviews and was chosen. They were very interested in my profile. I was also very interested in village life because it’s calmer,” he explains.
According to the foundation, “Ignacio Pieckenstainer’s case is an example of how a personal choice can transform the life of a community while also opening new opportunities for professional and human development.”
ES VICIS works with residents and local authorities to promote settlement and sustainable revitalization of villages. In recent years, they have noted that access to healthcare is a constant challenge. That’s why Ignacio’s arrival was celebrated.
“He had just graduated and moved immediately. Today he is a doctor in a village of 2,000 inhabitants. He is very well-liked; he treats patients not only in Maggiolo but also in other nearby towns that need a doctor,” the organization points out.
A new life in a ten-block village
The change from city to village was radical.
“It was a 180-degree turn, you can imagine. Going from being in the city with friends, with family, having the possibility of doing a lot of things, the noise everywhere… and suddenly, the calm of the village. I’m still surprised that I don’t have to take a bus to go to work or study,” he says, laughing.
Maggiolo has barely “ten by ten blocks.”
“I like the closeness that exists with neighbors — we meet in the street all the time. I’ve been here for a year now, and we all know each other. I say we’re a big family of two thousand inhabitants. I arrived in my family’s car; they stayed with me for the first week, and luckily everyone treated me very well. There’s a lot of respect here — not like in the cities,” he tells Clarín in his calm tone.
He describes the place as “a beautiful locality, with a significant population of older adults. It’s very close to Venado Tuerto; people are kind and generous, and the main activity is agriculture and livestock. I highlight the peace and the closeness with neighbors, with daily life — something I wasn’t used to in the city,” he says.
The first consultation and the unexpected birth
The first time he treated a patient in Maggiolo was unforgettable.
“It was a woman I just ran into again yesterday, and we remembered it together. She was desperate because of lumbar pain — she had several herniated discs. She reminded me that, thanks to a recommendation I made, those pains decreased by 70 percent. I truly value those kinds of things,” he says.
But the most unusual case he faced was another one.
“We had been following a pregnant woman. She was due. She had come to the emergency room several times for possible labor. And it just happened to be with me,” he recounts.
“It was an extraordinary moment. I still have no words. Look, I remember it, and I get goosebumps. We arrived, and she was already in active labor. It’s something that really moves you. But as a doctor and nurse, you have to accompany that process. There’s little you can actually do at that point. But yes, the most remarkable thing was precisely being there — helping with the birth and untangling the umbilical cord from the newborn’s neck,” he still says, amazed.
Everything happened at the patient’s home.
“In those moments, you don’t get nervous — you’re fully present and act. The baby’s name is Yamal. I saw him last month for a check-up, and he’s doing great,” he says.
Daily work in the village
His days go by between emergency shifts, consultations, and referrals.
“There are three of us doctors. We provide primary care to patients; we try to do everything our training allows, but we refer to specialists when needed,” he explains.
“The hospital where I work is a primary care center with limited resources. It’s like a CAPS (Primary Health Care Center). We only have X-rays, no laboratory. In those cases, we support the patient, make an initial diagnosis, and refer. If it’s an emergency, we use the ambulance system. We have a connection with Venado Tuerto, where most referrals go,” he adds.
On days with outbreaks of pharyngitis or gastroenterocolitis, he may see 30 to 35 patients in a single day.
“I never get bored,” he says, smiling.
Although, generally, the atmosphere is very calm. He also makes home visits when necessary.
“They call the Samco health center, triage is done, and if needed, I go with the ambulance. If not, I walk and attend to the patient at home.”
The value of choosing another path
Ignacio learned to enjoy the silence, the birds, and greetings on the street.
“It’s very peaceful. Imagine — I can hear the cows. Sometimes I walk and run into chickens, sheep… no more cars, no more buses,” he describes.
When he’s not on call, his routine starts early. He works his hours at the Samco, sees patients at the retirees’ center, studies, and meditates. On weekends, he travels to Rosario to visit his family.
And although he acknowledges it was a profound change, he has no regrets.
“Yes, in that sense, for professionals like me who are just starting, I definitely recommend it. Also for other professionals finishing their careers and thinking of retiring — absolutely. Medicine has many branches. If you like primary care, that first contact with the patient, of course, it’s highly recommended,” he affirms.
In Maggiolo, Ignacio found what he had lost in the city: time, calm, and meaning. His story, as highlighted by the foundation that brought him there, is proof that one individual decision can change a life — and also that of an entire village.
MG
