«I would like to be remembered as someone who tried to do her best as both a physician and a writer.»

Dr. Britton is widely known in Panama. This renowned physician, gynecologist and oncologist served a long tenure as director of Panama's Oncology Hospital. She's penned fifteen outstanding literary works that have made grab a number of recognitions in her own country and overseas. She shares her life with her family, her friends and patients, as well as her readers. This remarkable woman has visited Cuba, Spain and the United States. Right now, Rosa Maria Britton is the chairwoman of the National Library Foundation and an outstanding writer. Excelencias magazine is honored to put her name on its pages and invited her to answer this brief questionnaire.

- How do you manage to juggle so many hats, so many commitments at the same time? I think it's all about discipline and dedication on what you like to do. I'm a person with a life plan who tries to make the most of a day's 24 hours. Even when I'm sleeping some things cross my mind, I rehearse my speeches and organize my schedule. Indeed, I'm a short sleeper and I hate wasting my time shopping around or attending social functions. This country bugs you with so many invitations. I only attend those meetings related to the library. Weekends are reserved for literature.

- Every so often, your characters seem to be blows dealt to the sensitivity and eventually shatter the boundaries of written words. What's your source of inspiration? Nearly all my characters and stories are the result of my memories, my experiences. I've lived life in the fast lane. They are also born out of the many women I've heard talking about their problems. I think this only completely fictitious novel I've written is «I Don't Belong to this Century,» and it took me a lot to write that novel. I was bound to do a lot of research to support my fantasy.

- Now from the perspective of a renowned writer. How did you cut your literary teeth? I've found in literature a way to escape the ministerial red tape and the many meetings I had to attend. I used to write out of hours, in the middle or boring meetings, during the many trips I had to make during my time at the helm of the hospital. Since then, I haven't stopped. I think I've poured my entire lifetime into novels, plays and short stories. Now, it's more of painstaking effort and I demand more from myself. However, «The Casket in Use» goes on to be my bestselling novel. It has been read in schools for the past quarter of a century.

- Can we pigeonhole you as a feminist writer, and thus that's the way you project your intimacy? There's friendship and harmony in my home. I've been married for 48 years, I've got two great children, both college graduates who spare every moment to drop by or give us a call. I do the cooking at home and I leave disciplinary matters to Carl. I certainly did something good around the house, regardless of my many responsibilities. However, I'd like to be remembered as someone who tried her very best as both a physician and a writer.